Cold All the Way Through, But Warming

Checking In

Ruth fretted over her desk, flipping through a few dozen papers that were spread across it. Statements from her factories, her shipyards, her clients, and reports from Britain. It was the latter that concerned her the most, because they always mentioned Anastasia. She hadn't demanded that Welton write her about her daughter's activity, but she had mentioned in her letters that it would give her great comfort to know what her daughter was doing.

If Anastasia ever found out Ruth could say with a clean conscience that she had never asked Welton to spy, only to monitor.

He wrote glowingly about Anastasia's efforts at the company, her new venture at the hospital, and the charity she was doling out to family and friends. Her daughter had written a rather ashamed letter asking for more food to be sent over for her, and it was only with Welton's explanation that she figured out it was because her daughter had begun giving it away.

According to him she was supporting the Lightollers, William's family, the girl who looked after the house, and the men in the hospital ward she visited. Ruth had smiled when she had read the list, she was proud that her daughter was helping so many but she shouldn't do it at the expense of herself. It was no hardship for Ruth to include extra crates of food, Ezekiel never minded.

What was a hardship was the copy of a statement from their bank in England, detailing a purchase of a house in Edinburgh. Anastasia had apparently decided to be closer to William, although the bank statement also included money withdrawn for partial wages for staff, so she wouldn't be there all the time.

Ruth was glad for that, although she was still going to write her daughter a sternly worded letter. She didn't care about the money, Anastasia barely touched the British accounts, but the papers had been decrying the actions of German zeppelins. And Ruth could think of no better target than one of Britain's largest naval bases, with her daughter playing housewife right beside it.

Anastasia needed to be careful, the Germans were quite clearly not respecting the role of civilians, as she should know! The Lusitania and the attacks on Scarborough had only been months ago, James was still concerned about his family there. Not to mention what had happened in Belgium, according to the papers.

A cold breeze ruffled the papers on the desk, the lights around her flickering. Ruth sighed, running her hand down her face. "Yes, dear, I know I'm worrying."

"At least now I don't have to worry about it putting lines on my face." Gareth rumbled behind her, "You always told me that when I did the same thing."

"You usually had a glass of whiskey while you did." Ruth muttered, turning around to see the ghostly glow of her husband. "Would you like one now?"

Gareth sighed, "Unfortunately some pleasures are denied to me in my current state, you enjoy it for me."

Ruth stood, stretching before making her way to the bar and pouring herself a glass. "You enjoyed it too much when you could, my love. I believe it's my turn now."

"Could you flip this one over?" Gareth was leaning over the desk, "God, Welton always wrote a lot."

"He still does," Ruth turned the letter over. "Anastasia's been finding ways to occupy herself."

"I can see that." He pursed his lips, "Damn her, she should have just stayed home."

"On that, we both agree." Ruth sipped her whiskey, "Although according to her letters she's been speaking to some of the higher up in the Navy, she says she made quite an impression on Admiral Beatty."

"Still, I wouldn't have let her husband run off to go to war." Gareth rolled his eyes at her, making Ruth smirk.

"You would have bought her an estate over there to wait for him to be done and you know it."