Sky Pirates

Chapter 44

Mildred sat quietly at the breakfast table. The newspaper rested next to her brother's place setting. She wanted to pick it up and read it. She instead sipped tea from a delicate cup and waited for her brother's arrival to ring the bell for service of her breakfast. Her feelings of helplessness, while less in the morning light streaming through the open dining room windows, persisted. But, it was nice to have sunlight instead of storm clouds and she longed to eat and get into her garden to see what all the rain had produced. She knew the flowers would be happy to have the return of the sun and hoped they might be putting on a show for her.

Yet, she didn't rush. She didn't have breakfast alone. She waited for her brother to emerge from his room and for them to find some form of normalcy between them once more, at least in their routines. Mildred thought of his haggard look as she tucked him, clean, dry and warm, into his large bed. While he'd been in the bath, she'd tidied his room a bit by moving stacks of belongings and folding shirts and trousers. She'd had the serving girl take away his soiled clothes, so they could be cleaned and pressed. She'd taken Mrs. Wickliffe's advice and had not spoken about any of what had happened with Cole with any of the servants. She did make one small comment as the young girl with wide eyes looked about Cole's room: "Not a word about this to anyone." The girl didn't speak, but curtsied and hurried away.

So, now she sat, thinking once again about the improvements she would make to this house once she was able to have installed the steam powered drive shaft. She envisioned that it would run not below the floor, but instead under a drop ceiling of ornately carved wood panels. They would add elegance to the house, while also allowing simple access to the mechanisms they concealed. The shaft, behind secret walls, could be connected to all manner of items she'd design and have built.

Mildred, sometime between working in the garden and dreaming in her bed, had decided that she didn't want to become a builder of inventions, but simply the inventor and the overseer of their construction. She'd realized that there was some level of enjoyment found for her when getting her hands dirty with the rich soil, but yet she drew a line at having her hands covered in grease and oil.

"Good morning, Sister," said Cole.

Mildred looked up from her thoughts to find her brother, tall and handsome, smiling as if nothing had happened in his life.

He sat at his spot at the table, glanced at the day's headline, and pushed the newspaper aside. He reached for the tea pot, "I thought there would be coffee."

Without a word, Mildred rang the bell and placed a hand atop her brother's. The servant girl arrived. "Please, bring our breakfast and a pot of coffee for Mr. Parker."

The girl removed herself from the room with a "Yes, Ma'am."

"Well, look at you, playing Lady of the Manor."

She smiled shyly at her brother.

"It suits you well," he said, taking the paper in hand and opening it.

The siblings sat in silence, Cole reading the news and Mildred simply and patiently waiting for her food to be served. She wanted to speak again of last night. She wanted to assure Cole that she loved him and stood behind him no matter what might come of the recent events. But, she held her tongue and willed her stomach not to make a sound as her hunger grew.

While she waited, she contemplated, too, telling Cole about her own romantic encounter with Edith. But, once again decided there was not reason or need at this time to share such a story. It might only serve to upset her brother and it was nice to see him so calm and even in his tempers.

Two girls arrived from the swinging door and placed plates in front of the Parker children. The taller of them poured Cole a cup of coffee and placed the silver pot on the table. They ate with gusto, while remaining silent. It was only after he'd finished his first cup of coffee and the meat from his plate that Cole, while pouring a second cup for himself asked: "So, what plans do you have today?"