She wanted it to appear as if she had been offended by Edmund's remark saying that Hall's death was a joke, and then that she kept the emotion for herself and tried to smooth out the awkward situation. "For the best comedian, even his death is a joke!" A sip of tea brought them back to more serious matters. "I've heard he saved someone very important. He saved me, too, long ago. Go as far south as there is, he told my mother and me, before he sent us to Sydney in one of the company's freighters. Otherwise I could still be there, on Leeds. Who did he save now, I forgot?"
Edmund took a sip of whiskey, His death was no Joke my dear. The prelude to it was, or so he thought, but the event itself? No. I say this because it was I whom he saved. That is why you are here, we do not make a habit of inviting people to our home for no reason. You see, in his sacrifice, he has secured your future, whether he did it on purpose is something we'll never know. But we now own him something in return, but since he is dead, we obviously cannot repay him. But you, my dear, we can look after you. You see we owe a debt of honour to your father, and we are men of our word. As such, you may, if you wish, call upon us at anytime for anything. He paused again, taking another sip Bear that word in mind carefully, anything means exactly that.
Elizabeth froze for a moment, gazing, as if stunned. "If he saved you, Sir, then you must be quite a character." She glided to her aim over another sip of tea. "Actually, there... is one little thing that I would be very grateful for you if you could do. I didn't escape violence on Sydney as father had hoped, you know. A couple of years ago the Corsairs bombarded us from orbit. They aimed at the Coalition's colony, they said, but I guess one can't be very precise from thousands of kilometers above. I saw a whole town catch fire. My town. Mother and I lost everything but ourselves. I saw a man burn alive. He was covered in fuel, and even when they poured water all over him, he kept burning. He was screaming for all the time, until the heat reached his internals, and then, instead of sound, only foam and hot blood were coming out of his mouth. And he was still rolling, trying to, I suppose in a reflex, to snuff it out. He never did. It's cost me much, but it has hardened me. I believe you have already allowed yourself to imagine something like this on New London, Sir, should the enemy reach the orbit. 15 billion. 16? Leeds has already seen it, I fear. This is why I'm really enlisting, but I only understood it when they took someone close to me. I have learned to not be a very needy person, but I humbly ask you: could you, please, enlist me among the crew of my father's flagship -- the Thunderer, if I'm right?"
Am I who? He said, stuffing his pipe before continuing Victor, see that this lady and her belongings are moved into the house here. If we are bound to ensure her safety and well being, we will do it correctly.
For the first time her emotion was true. It was disbelief. "My good Sirs! I am eternally grateful to you! But I don't wish to be your burden. I will buy my own place as soon as the wages allow me, if I am indeed enlisted. Real estate should be cheap now on New London, since everyone's running away."
Now she understood it. The Steiners wanted her with them not because they felt indebted to her father, but because they wanted to observe her. She would agree to that, for a relatively short time at least, as it also allowed her to observe them.
The wages won't allow you to do so for sometime, and you will not be a burden, I trust you saw the size of this house, there is more than enough room for you here without being a burden William said
"If there is some mysterious force running the world and maintaining the balance, then all the difficulties that have fallen upon me, have so they could be balanced now. I am your eternal debtor. I am yours."
Show lady Hall to the east wing please Hugo Alfred said to the elderly butler. Once she had left, the brothers gathered to discuss their thoughts.
Well...she's pretty Victor said, which resulted in groans and a few sarcastic remarks from the others. Victor's remarks aside, something we'll be sure not to mention Lady Dagon, she seems oddly sociable. This isn't a crime, but it is something the aristocracy would frown upon if it is not....tempered. John said.
I agree, she will need to be taught...and observed, given the proximity and the odd circumstances in which she finds herself, I presume that'll be Edmunds job. William replied.
I can do that Edmund said, pouring a large glass of whiskey for himself.
Strange that she didn't put up more resistance Alfred said, finally lighting his pipe and taking a few puffs. She's probably just happy to be here but..hmm..still.
Cut her some slack, this is all very new to her. She'll spend a majority of time in the Armed Forces, so i she's up to any plots, which I really doubt she will be, Edmund will keep an eye on her. John said
Coor really putting on me aren't you? Came Edmund's reply. Look, we can worry about it later, let her look around for today, settle in and all that, I'll deal with her later.
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