An Unsinkable Love - By Terri Benson Page 0,12

left this until the last moment. I'm not sure you can help me." She led the way through a large sitting room into an equally large bedroom.

On the bed lay a beautiful gown in the popular new Oriental design. Emerald green silk shimmered with elaborate gold embroidery of storks, windswept hillsides and cherry blossoms. Handkerchief folds of embroidered tulle draped from the high waist. The dress had narrow shoulder straps and tiny pleats across the bosom with a low, straight neckline.

"You see, I seem to have lost some weight, and now this dress is simply hideous on me. My husband particularly insisted I wear the gown to dinner tonight at the captain's table. My dear friends, the Astors, will be attending, and Eldon will be quite put out if I show up 'looking like a half-starved old crone', as he so eloquently described it." She wrung her hands and peered over her shoulder as if she expected her angry husband to arrive at any moment. "On top of that, I'm afraid I don't have a maid to help me dress. I realize it's a great deal to ask, but if you could perhaps fit the dress a bit and assist me to get ready tonight, I would appreciate it ever so much."

"I'm sure we can manage, ma'am. I'll just help you slip the dress on so I can see what needs to be done."

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An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

As the woman removed her wrapper, Bree gathered the voluminous silk skirt up and turned to drop it over the taller woman's white-blonde head. Through the sheer fabric of the woman's shift Bree saw an extensive bruise covering the woman's entire side, from armpit to thigh, colored in deep purple, red and yellow. She gasped. " A Thighearna! Whatever happened? That must hurt uafàsach!" She realized she'd lapsed into Gaelic in her concern when the woman gave her a confused glance. "Horribly. It must hurt horribly!"

Elizabeth looked away. "I'm so clumsy, you see. I fell. I hit

... er ... the edge of the bathtub. It does hurt quite dreadfully.

I knew I wouldn't be able to manage this by myself."

Bree frowned. "You should be in bed." She bent down and inspected the brilliantly colored bruise. " Dhuine! Didn't your husband hear you cry out?"

Elizabeth wouldn't meet her eye. "No. No, he wasn't here.

He left before it happened," she said in a dead voice.

Bree felt sick to her stomach, afraid she really did see. Not again. "I think you need a doctor. I'm sure you've broken a rib or two and they could do a great deal of damage if not taken care of. Let me see if Mr. Cave is nearby and I'll have him fetch the ship's doctor." She laid the dress on the bed and started to turn away.

"No," Elizabeth said firmly. "I won't have a stranger poking and prodding at me. I'll be fine. Let's get the dress fitted. I don't want to be late tonight. It would so distress Eldon."

"Ma'am, you won't be all right. I've seen something like this before. It will be very painful every time you move, and if the rib is broken, you might cause further damage. You must 46

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

have it wrapped." Bree knew what might happen and refused to stand by and watch the gentle woman go through it.

Elizabeth's shoulders slumped. "Oh, very well but not the ship's doctor. There is a woman I met, she seems ever so nice. She's a doctor. Her name is Alice. Alice Leader. Perhaps if Mr. Cave found her?"

Bree dashed to the door and opened it. As luck would have it, the steward glided toward her with a pair of boots in his hand.

"Is there something the lady requires, miss?" he asked with a disapproving glower. Obviously, he thought Bree was getting above herself and expected him to cater to her.

Bree didn't waste time on the etiquette of servant classes.

"Yes, sir. The lady needs a doctor."

His irritation immediately changed to concern. "What's happened? Has she taken ill?" He craned his neck to see past Bree.

"No, she took a bad fall earlier. I think she may have broken a rib or two. She refuses to see the ship's doctor, but she met a woman—a Doctor Leader. Do you know her?"

"Why, yes. She has a double with her husband just down the corridor. I'll see if she's there, and if she isn't, I'll find her straight away."

"Thank you, Mr. Cave." He gave her a look that might