Chapter 3 #2
He steps out of the car, standing taller than I remember and clutching his tweed suit jacket on his arm.
His sleeves are rolled to his forearms, with his warm brown hair pomaded neatly with a few waves of curls threatening to break free.
Nestled in the crook of his arm is a small parcel, wrapped in brown paper and tied with string.
A hint of remorse rests on his face. I stifle a noise of annoyance as he approaches.
“Lord Claremont, apologies for the delay,” he says, handing the small parcel to Grandad. “It wasn’t ready when I went to pick it up, and so I had to wait.”
Grandad smiles, taking the parcel. “No apology needed, son. Thank you for your help with this.”
He nestles the parcel underneath his arm. I look between them and wonder what could be in the parcel, and why they’re being discreet about it. It seems, at least, that Mr. Ashford has a valid reason for being tardy besides his lack of consideration for everyone.
Grandad gestures with his hand to me. “Henry, I believe you already know my granddaughter, Miss Clara Fairfax. She studied ancient history and archaeology at Oxford and completed her degrees a few months ago.”
I stare into his hazel eyes, checking for a hint of recognition. After a few seconds, a small smile forms on his face, recollection settling in.
“Yes, indeed, I do. It’s a pleasure to be reacquainted again, Miss Fairfax.” He takes my hand and tilts downward, lightly pressing his lips to it.
My cheeks burn at the sudden touch. I stare back into his eyes in disbelief as he releases my hand and straightens.
“Uh, yes…” I stammer, then quickly cover my impropriety with a cough. “It’s great to see you again, too, Mr. Ashford.”
A brief smile of amusement flashes on his face, then he turns his attention to the ship and the chaos around us. Silence falls as we take a moment to take in the sight.
“I can’t believe the department approved the expedition,” he murmurs, shaking his head.
Tilting his head, he gestures toward Grandad.
“In sincerity, thank you for letting me accompany you, Lord Claremont.
It will no doubt help me complete my dissertation.
And I appreciate your thoughtfulness in including me.
I know you're keen on finding any remnants of the lost Six Wonders, and I promise you I will do everything I can to help you achieve that.”
I blink a few times in disbelief. In all the times I’ve come across and interacted with Mr. Ashford on campus, not once have I ever heard a genuine or earnest word come from him. Yet here he stands, speaking such words out loud.
Grandad places his hand onto Mr. Ashford’s shoulder and gives it a tight squeeze, glancing between the two of us.
“You two have the brightest minds I’ve ever encountered.
If we end up coming home empty-handed, rest assured, I will know we put our best efforts into it.
No regrets. No questioning. And may I add, it is an honor and a privilege to go on this journey with my two favorite people. ”
Two favorite people? I know why I would one, but he considers Henry Ashford to be as well?
I feel as though I’ve stepped into a different world—one where the Henry Ashford I’ve always known has been replaced by someone else entirely.
Or worse, that I’ve been made a fool through deceit and games meant to question my own sanity.
Although I harbor suspicions about what might prompt such behavior from Mr. Ashford, the fact that Grandad is tied to all of this stops me from pursuing such thoughts. It offers some reassurance, yet I remain deeply perplexed by what is unfolding.
Grandad reaches for his pocket watch, noting the time. “We should head on board, considering we are already a bit behind schedule.”
As I follow behind them onto the ship, Grandad’s words repeat in my mind.
They may not have been spoken aloud, but expectations are set high on this expedition, whether we’ve realized it or not.
And when standards are set so high, loyalties and friendships—old and new—will be tested.
I worry that we might return to the shores of Dover full of regret and resentment, with empty hands.
Oh, how I hope that does not come true; it would not only break my heart but shatter Grandad’s as well.
Once all our luggage is onboard, I lean against the stern’s railing and watch as the crew removes the ramp connecting our ship to land, unfastens the ship's massive rope securing the vessel to the dock, and hauls up the anchor.
The ship’s horn blares as we prepare to depart, coal-fueled engines blowing smoke from the two large chimneys.
Slowly, the captain steers the ship away from the dock, then turns it in a complete circle to face forward.
I watch with fixed eyes as we sail further away from the place I thought I would never leave.
All the excitement and jubilation I’ve been feeling is suddenly overtaken by uneasiness, now that I’m leaving my familiar world and heading into one filled with the unknown.
Remaining on the stern, I watch as we sail further from shore, then sense another presence beside me.
A quick glance to my right reveals Mr. Ashford.
I manage to suppress an annoyed sigh and continue to gaze at the seascape, pretending he isn’t there.
Standing my ground, I don’t speak, hoping he gets the hint that his presence is unwelcome.
But after a few moments, he either ignores it or fails to notice.
I cannot contain the annoyance fuming in my body.
In my vulnerable, peaceful moment of saying one last goodbye to England, he has to waltz in and ruin it.
Not just now, but during times of homesickness over the next five months, I know I will not be able to recall this moment without remembering him, and that makes it worse.
I refrain from any reactionary movement, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of the annoyance he is inflicting upon me. If this is what I must endure for the next five months, I’m not certain how I can overcome this to ensure his existence does not ruin the experience of my first expedition.
I sneak another side glance at him and wonder what about him makes Grandad want to be friends with him. Being in the House of Lords, Grandad is quite the expert in detecting a man who is dishonest, arrogant, and an imbecile from miles away.
How is it he didn’t sense any of that in Mr. Ashford?
When I’ve reached my peak of tolerating this moment, I lean back away from the railing, about to make my way inside my cabin. Until Mr. Ashford decides, at this very moment, when I’m about to leave, he wants to speak up.
“You’ll get used to the motions over time,” he smirks, turning around and leaning back against the railing. “But I recommend looking out at the horizon and having some peppermint tea in case it gets bad.”
Confused by what he means, I don’t stop myself from reacting however my body chooses, which is by giving him a perplexed look.
“The seasickness,” he clarifies, motioning toward the Channel waters with the cockiness I know he embodies so well. “That helped me during my first voyage.”
He thinks I was looking at the water because I’m feeling unwell.
Well, I was feeling unwell, not from seasickness, but from my first taste of homesickness, and it’s only been fifteen minutes since we departed.
I’m left confused once again, unable to tell whether his unsolicited advice is genuine or merely meant to sound insincere and mocking.
Deciding to think like Grandad, I choose to believe his intent was benign, but I will proceed cautiously. “Thank you. I suspect that will be helpful to know over the next few days.”
I linger in awkward silence longer than I need to, and before Mr. Ashford says anything else to ridicule me, I decide now is the time to leave.
“Enjoy the view, Mr. Ashford.” I smile, making my way across the deck and inside the ocean liner.
Looking out the windows in the hallway, I see that our distance from the dock has widened so much that I can barely make out the flags flowing in the sea breeze. The ship's horn blares above me one last time as we reach the farthest point from the dock, signaling our final farewell.
As I head toward my cabin, I analyze the exchange with Mr. Ashford. Once enough questions and explanations run wild in my head, I decide to shut it all out and forget the interaction ever happened.
I want to focus on what truly matters: putting all my effort into this expedition so I can secure a place in the post-graduate program.
Nothing else.
Upon reaching my cabin door, I take a deep breath and close my eyes, making a wish to Athena—asking for her help to ensure this expedition will be the adventure I have always dreamed of and the saving grace I need it to be.
Placing my hand on the gold door handle, I step inside, ready to take this journey head-on.