Omine Secundo

Albany

February 17th, 1903 - Off the coast of Western Australia, near Albany.

The day dawned clear and sunny, with a few wispy clouds high up as a proof of the fine weather that should yet accompany them as they left Australia later that evening.

Ada had risen early, as was her usual habit, and had taken breakfast before most of her fellow passengers were awake. She had walked the decks as the Runic had slowed and approached the smoky blue coastline, the port of Albany their destination. Children in white clothes and straw hats to shield them from the sun ran along the granite-rock formations of the coastline as the ship passed, waving to the ship. Ada waved back, which elicited some excited jumps and shrieks from the kids which just managed to reach her across the water as the ship made her way along the coast into the harbour.

The ship would unload a few passengers, a little cargo and the mail, then taking on the same before heading out in the late afternoon into the Indian ocean bound for Cape Town. The voyage thus would take two weeks – with nothing for the passengers to do but find ways to while away the days until land would be sighted once more.

After watching the ship approach the Princess Royal Harbour and dock at the small but serviceable pier jutting out from the shoreline, Ada found herself a deck chair with a decent vantage point to watch the goings-on of the men as they went about their work. The town was nestled between two large hills, the buildings at the base and the road running down to the jetty where the ships came and went. The tallest of the buildings was the red-brick post office, with a clock tower jutting above the rooflines of the houses scattered about.

She had dressed stylishly but simply, as was her usual habit – a serviceable linen suit in a pale blue trimmed with ivory accents, with a slightly cropped skirt length for ease of walking up and down the steep deck stairs, and a straw hat with a striped navy- and sky-blue ribbon about the crown perched atop her Gibson-esque coiffure. Navy leather high-button boots made a nice contrast to the ensemble, and a navy belt cinched her waist beneath the cropped puff-sleeved jacket she wore.

There was a light breeze which made for a pleasant morning, taking the edge off the heat which would no doubt become oppressive later in the day. She had settled in with a book and had been reading for some time, caught up in the story that it was probably an hour that passed without her being aware of it, surrounded by the sounds of the ship and port, gulls screeching again in welcome sound now that they were near land again.

As she turned a page, a sudden shadow fell across the paper.

"'Tis a fine morning indeed for reading, Miss Banks." William's voice was almost playful, and as she looked up, she could see his handsome face was a little flushed, no doubt from walking all over the ship in the course of his duties once they had docked. But now, it seemed he was finished with all that as he took off his cap and tipped his chin to the empty chair next to hers. "May I?"

Ada nodded, returning his greeting with a smile. "Very fine, Mr Murdoch," she said; conscious of the other passengers seated nearby, she did not use his given name although they had both agreed it was permissible between them.

William sat down, tugging at the Russian collar of his white officer's jacket as he did so, placing his cap down on the end of the lounger. "A good book?" he queried, leaning forward slightly and giving Ada a smile.

She returned it with a smile of her own, she really was glad to see him. She angled the cover up for him to read, and he nodded, again with a smile.

"Ah, Persuasion, a very good book indeed. A tale of constancy and devotion despite time and separation," he commented. "Although perhaps I am biased; given my occupation," he finished with a chuckle.