:Peacock Feathers - Chapter Thirteen:

Chapter Thirteen

Within a few days, my time was spent between my duties in the Engine Room and making my small cabin livable.  I had clean sheets on my bed now and clean pillows.  Mariel had given some things from her travels.  The bundle included a book about Gypsy wagons in Romania.  It also held a sheer bed curtain of purple material with a row of small gold coins along the top ruffle.  She had also given me a vase made with pieces of purple glass.  The shelves were bare save for a my journal of the Peacock's engine as well as a few notebooks to jot down ideas.  There was also a nest made on the end of the bottom shelf out of soft wool cloth where Baxter slept.  A night table beside my bed held a small gas lamp to light my reading.  My bed was against the wall with the porthole so I could sit there and watch the world pass by.  A small, sheer curtain of green hung from it too.  Hanging over my head was also a small gas chandelier I had draped small, colorful paper lanterns that were also in Mariel's care package to me.  Slowly my cabin was coming together much like one of the wagons in the book.  Perhaps when we reached Marrakech, I could find something there to add to it.  

A knock sounded at my door and I got up from my bed, setting down my book of "Sherlock Holmes" stories that I was now halfway through.  I opened the door to see Gideon standing there dressed in light brown pants and a beige tunic, one arm behind his back.  

"Good evening, Lizzy.  You look lovely."  He said, looking me over.  I was in one of Max's button down shirts and loose pants.  My feet were bare and my hair was pulled into a messy bun at the top of my head.  

"I highly doubt that.  Can I help you?"  I asked him.  He moved inside the room without my asking him in.  I was a bit offended that he had taken such a liberty, but I didn't bring it up.

"I was wondering if you had eaten dinner yet.  If you hadn't, I'd like you to accompany me."  He said, bringing his arm out from behind his back; he produced a boquet of brightly colored silk flowers.  "For you.  I apologize they aren't real, but the ship doesn't have much by way of wooing a woman."

"Oh.  Thank you, Gideon."  I said, taking them from him unsure if I should or not.  "No, I haven't eaten yet, but I'm waiting for someone."  I said and looked down the hall just as Max turned the corner.  He regarded Gideon oddly as he walked toward my room.  

"I see."  Gideon said, following my gaze to Max.  The Engineer stood beside me and kissed me softly and put his hand in his pocket after we had parted.  The other man regarded Max's action with a certain scrutiny.  "Well, my dear, should you ever wish to know the affection of a gentleman rather than the liberties of a mere pirate; you know where to find me."  He said as he turned on his heel and left before I could offer his flowers back to him.

"What the bloody hell was that about?"  Max asked looking in the direction where Gideon had gone.  I stepped farther into my room and smiled as he followed me.  I put the flowers in my vase and chuckled as Max closed the door behind us.

"Appears you have competition, Max."  I said.  He stepped up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist from behind.  His mouth close to my ear as he held me.

"Ah.  That 'gentlemen' trying to win your favor is he?"  Max whispered kissing behind my ear.  Goosebumps crossed my skin and a fire lit low in my belly as his hands moved over my skin; my shirt the only thing preventing it's contact.  

"If he is, he's trying too hard."  I replied.  He kissed me again and let me go.  I went to a small closet near by the bed and pulled out a brown leather jacket and a pair of boots.

"You know, that shirt looks better on you than it ever did me."  He said, he sat down on my bed and watched as I pulled the jacket over my shoulders and zipped the fitted garment to my breasts.  I walked over to him, reaching up to pull the band out of my hair and let my curly locks flow freely over one shoulder.

"It's a good thing because you're not getting it back."  I winked.  He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me down onto my bed.  I chuckled as he wrestled me gently to my back leaned over me.  He moved some hair out of my eyes.

"Have I told you that you are lovely today?"  He asked, kissing me softly again.  
I smirked and returned his kiss, when we parted.  "Gideon already beat you to it."  I said.  He sat up and let me go.  I moved to sit beside him and started to pull my boots on.  Bringing my knee to my chest, I rested the three-inch heel of my boot on the bed frame as I tied them.

"Oh he did, did he?  That scoundrel."  He teased.  He slipped his fingers beneath my jacket and my shirt and rubbed the bare skin of my lower back.  Making me shiver a little, that flame burned hotter and he could see it.

"You're cheating."  I said with an aggrevated look, but he just grinned at me and didn't stop.  "Maxwell Dempsey, I am surprised at you.  Only together a few short days and already you wish to bed me."  I teased.  

"One day you will give in.  I just have to keep the faith that my romancing skills still cannot be beat."  He chuckled, he leaned forward and kissed me tenderly.  He put his arms around me and held me close.  His lips were soft against mine and he kept the kiss gentle and loving, but firm and full of want at the same time.  I moved a hand to his cheek as we kissed.  He pulled away from me slowly and smiled.  

"We better go get something to eat before it's all gone."  He whispered.  "We'll make Marrakech by tomorrow night providing nothing happens."

As if on cue, the speaking tube next to the door alarmed with something like a servant's bell hanging beside it.  I sighed, "Dammit."  I cursed as I untangled myself from Max's arms.  He chuckled and let me go.  

I pressed a the small typewriter button to open the tube.  "Yes?"  I said, a mild irritation edged my voice as I heard Max move behind me.

"Am I interrupting something?"  Came Ambrose's jovial tone over the tube.

"You could have been."  I grumbled.  

"Ah yes, the flowers of love bloom wild and vibrant on The Peacock, don't they?"  He chuckled.  Max walked up and placed a hand on the wall next to me.  

"What do you want, you slimy Air Pirate?"  Max teased.

"Max!  There you are.  Well, why wouldn't you be? Anyway, I request both of you onto the main deck, please.  We have a small situation."  

"We'll be right there."  I said and closed the tube.  I finished tying my boots and grabbed the key to my room.  I looked over at the shelf to see Baxter sleeping peacefully and decided it was best not to disturb him.  Max and I walked through the hall toward the top deck, I slipped my key through my belt loop as we did.  Deckhands passed us by and gave us curt nods as they did.  Emerging on the top deck, we found Ambrose at the wheel with Mariel bent over a table behind him, looking over a map.

"What seems to be the trouble?"  Max asked as we neared them.  "You might have ruined just about the best night of my life, you rotten bastard." He said to Ambrose.
Ambrose smirked but didn't chuckle as he would have.  I felt movement beside me as Gideon took position on my left whereas Max was standing to my right.  "We're being followed."  He said simply.  "Mariel spotted scouts hiding in the clouds above our heads.  How long till we reach Marrakech?"  He asked Max.

"Well, by tomorrow night unless you want me to give her all we got to get there by tomorrow morning."  The Engineer said, he shrugged one shoulder and looked at the Captain.

"Do that.  We're going to need to get there and docked as soon as possible.  She was just reparied.  I don't want to have to ease her into port like we did in Paris."  He said, I glanced toward the clouds above us and saw the sunlight reflect off of a small silver glider craft, then it vanished.  I looked back down at Ambrose.

"Cloud Runners."  Mariel began to explain.  "Usually scout ships for the highest bidder.  They are smooth and light, and can only hold one person.  Imagine a hang glider, only enclosed and mechanical.  They move fast and silent."  

"They're too easy to maneuver so getting a shot on one is nearly impossible, which is why many high payers employ them."  Gideon continued.  

"Lizzy, Max - you two get to the engine room.  Give her all you can to get us into port by sunrise.  They'll probably follow is into port, if so we have a better advantage on the ground than in the air."  Ambrose ordered.  Max and I nodded.

"What about me?"  Gideon asked.  

"You stay up here, we made need you at the helm Mr. Danforth in case we are attacked.  Mariel and I will have to man the Tesla Cannons."  Ambrose said.  Gideon nodded as Max and I headed below deck to the engine room.