New York Bride

by Christine Sterling

  The woman with the red hair and fire in her eyes turned to her companion. “Com’on, Lady Shannon, let’s get you back to your room so we can fix up your hair.”

  Lady?

  Mac didn’t realize she was a Lady when he initially saw her, but she carried herself as such. He saw her straighten up, adding at least an inch to her height.

  “Thank you, Aofie. I am feeling rather faint. The sea air must be getting to me.”

  Aofie took Shannon’s arm and guided her towards the stairs. Mac quickly reached out and grabbed Shannon’s arm as she passed. “Lady Shannon?”

  “I told you I dunna want for any trouble on this trip,” she rebuked him softly, pulling her arm from his grip. “If you excuse me, I need to return to my quarters.”

  “Would you do me the honor of attending dinner with me tomorrow evening in the main dining room?”

  Mac watched her falter. She lifted her fingers to her lips and shook her head. “I’m afraid that would be impossible.”

  “Why ever not? As your companion said, you paid passage the same as I.”

  “I – I.”

  Aofie stepped forward and placed her hand on Shannon’s arm. “Lady Shannon could not attend dinner with you, as her luggage was lost when she boarded the ship. My poor mistress had to resort to wearing my spare dress.”

  Mac thought for a moment. “Well, we can remedy that quite easily. I have a dress you can borrow for dinner tomorrow night.”

  “I don’t know. I wouldn’t want to be a bother.”

  “It isn’t an inconvenience at all. The dress is a sample from my recent buying trip to France. I think it would fit you beautifully.”

  “That would be grand,” Aofie interjected. “I can help Lady Shannon prepare.”

  “I’ll have the dress sent to your room. What is your room number?”

  He watched her rub her eye. “I don’t think…”

  Aofie stepped forward once more. “I’ll stop by and pick up the dress, if it suits you, sir. That way Lady Shannon can have another bath before she gets ready.”

  Mac thought about it for a moment. “I’ll have my sister drop it by the bathing room tomorrow at four o’clock. Dinner is at five-thirty. Until then.” He gave a sharp bow. “Good night, Lady Shannon. Miss Aofie.”

  Mac watched as Aofie giggled and pulled Shannon down the corridor. Why a lady would allow her servant to handle her as such, he didn’t know. Perhaps the Irish had different customs.

  He couldn’t wait to see this Irish beauty in the stunning green dress.

  Mac gave one more glance down the deck to see the two ladies disappear behind a corner. Giving a low whistle he proceeded past the dining room to find his companions, enjoy whiskey and cigars and think about the lovely lady with the dark brown hair and green eyes.

  Chapter 5

  Shay sat on the edge of the bed and held Mariah’s doll. She stroked the yarn hair down and straightened the handkerchief dress. Mariah was sound asleep on the bed. Etain had disappeared earlier that morning when the sun was out, and she hadn’t been seen since.

  Neem was sitting with Aofie on the bed opposite them. When Aofie relayed what happened the night before, Neem howled with laughter.

  “Lady Shannon! I can’t believe it.” Neem wiped the tears from her eyes with the edge of her sleeve.

  “Shush, Neem,” Shay admonished. “I don’t want anyone else to hear. You know what they would do if they thought we had ventured off the third deck.”

  “Yes, your ladyship,” she said between giggles.

  Shay rolled her eyes. There was no point in trying to quell the laughter.

  “She’s going to meet him this evening,” Aofie said in a hushed tone.

  “You are?” Neem asked. She wasn’t giggling now. “That could be very bad, Shay. What happens if he finds out you are from down here?”

  “He won’t find out,” Shay said, picking a piece of invisible lint from Bet’s dress. “He won’t find out because I have no intention of meeting him.”

  “But just think Shay,” Aofie said. “You can go get a proper meal. Take another bath.” She flopped back on the bunk. “Pretend you are someone else for the night and not think about all this.”

  “Is that what you would do, Aofie? You’d risk bein’ caught? What if he finds out I’m not a second-class passenger, but just an indentured girl living in the filth that comes with the steerage class?” She lifted her eyebrow. “Would you risk being at the Captain’s mercy if he finds out?”

  “I don’t answer to no one but me God and meself,” Aofie said, sitting back up. “And mesself is saying I want another bath and a good meal. Why, you could probably even get something to eat to bring back here. I know Finn would love something other than soup and wormy bread.”

  Shay thought for a moment. Aofie knew exactly what to say to get her to reconsider.

  “How would you recommend I get back up there? We were lucky yesterday; most of the folks had gone to dinner.”

  “I’d recommend we go up the same way we did yesterday.” Aofie smiled. “But this time it will be Lady Shannon and her lady servant. They wouldn’t dare stop you.”

  Shay finally giggled. “I’ll do it,” she said. She turned somber. “For Finn, of course.”

  Shay and Aofie waited until most of the steerage passengers headed to dinner. Shay asked Neem to watch over Finn and to not say anything about what was happening. Once she got a promise from Neem, Shay and Aofie headed to the upper deck.

  Shay held her shoulders back and lifted her chin. She walked purposefully, holding her breath until they slipped inside the bathing room. The lock on the door wasn’t working, so Shay let Aofie bathe first as she watched the door to make sure no one walked in. When her friend was done, Shay quickly changed and slipped into the second tub.

  “Here, use this,” Aofie said, handing Shay a small bar of soap.

  Shay sniffed the carved bar. Roses. It was a sweet scent and she quickly washed her hair twice. She was scrubbing her feet when she heard the knock on the door.

  Aofie signaled for Shay to stay in the tub. She took a deep breath and straightened her skirt before she walked to the door. Placing her hand against it, she counted to three and then cracked the door. She peered out, using her body to block anyone who might try to sneak a peek inside.

  Shay heard Aofie talking to someone, but she couldn’t understand the words.

  “Who is it, Aofie?”

  “It is Miss Macalister, mum.”

  “Does she have the dress?” Shay asked.

  “May I come in Lady Shannon?” a lyrical voice called over Aofie’s shoulder.

  “Give me a moment,” Shay replied. She ducked under the water once more before standing. Aofie handed her a wrapper that was hanging on the wall. Shay had never worn anything so luxurious, as she wrapped the cool silk around her body. “I’m ready,” she said, nodding to Aofie.

  Aofie opened the door and lowered her head as Miss Macalister walked into the room.

  Miss Macalister was around the same age as Shay. She had blonde hair curled high against her head, and there were flowers secured between the curls. She was wearing a brown skirt and jacket of shiny material. Her blouse underneath had ruffles that poked through the jacket. Her porcelain skin shone in the humidity and she pulled a fan out of her reticule and started waving it in front of her face.

  “My word, it is hot in here.” Her eyes glanced around the room and settled on the clothes piled on the floor. Shay saw the corner of Miss Macalister’s mouth shift slightly in a smirk.

  Shay thought the woman looked just like her brother when she did that. One more quick glance around the room and Miss Macalister’s eyes snapped to Shay standing next to the tub.

  “Are you Lady Shannon?”

  Shay nodded. “I’m sorry I wasn’t ready when you arrived. We were a little delayed in getting here.”

  Miss Macalister stared at Shay for a minute longer before a grin broke out on her face. “Well, you are certainly not w
hat I was expecting.”

  “What were you expecting?” Shay asked, lifting her chin a little higher.

  The woman laughed and snapped her fan closed. “Don’t take offense. I must say I’m delightfully surprised. You weren’t at all what I expected when Mac told me about this little errand of his.” She took a step closer to Shay. “Please call me Alyth.”

  “That’s Scottish.”

  Alyth nodded. “My mother was Scottish. She married my father when he was visiting to collect fabric patterns.” She gave Shay a big smile, showing her white teeth. “Well now, we should get you ready for dinner tonight.”

  “We was told you were bringing the dress,” Aofie said, stepping forward.

  “This is your…,” Alyth offered, pointing to Aofie.

  “My lady servant?”

  “Of course,” Alyth said, lowering her hand. “Well, I wasn’t going to bring this dress into this room. It is way too damp; it will ruin the velvet. If you get dressed, we’ll walk to my suite and get you prepared there.”

  “What about Aofie?” Shay asked stepping forward.

  “She can come as well.” Alyth sniffed. “I might even have something more appropriate to wear in my room. When was the last time you ate, Aofie?”

  “I-I-”

  “I see. Help your lady into her dress and then come outside. When we get to my room, I’ll see about having a tray sent.” Aofie’s eyes opened wide. Alyth smiled again. “I’ll be waiting outside. When we are on the deck, walk two steps behind and don’t say anything. You don’t want to draw attention to your situation.” Shay watched as Alyth cracked the door and slid out of the room.

  “She knows,” Aofie said, panic lacing her voice. “She knows and she is going to say something and then we’ll be thrown overboard for sure.” Aofie started to pace.

  “Pull yourself together,” Shay commanded. “If she knows, she isn’t going to say anything. She even offered a dress and a meal to you.” Aofie continued to pace. Shay grabbed both of Aofie’s arms and held her tight. “This was your doing, so now you are going to see it through. Play your part, Aofie.” Shay stared into Aofie’s eyes. “Can I count on you?” Aofie blinked several times and then slowly nodded. “Good. Let’s get dressed and get out of here before anyone else comes by.”

  Shay and Aofie followed Alyth to her stateroom. It was huge with a private privy, a large dressing table, a sitting room off to the side and a large bed.

  Shay just wanted to lay down on the bed and sleep, it looked so comfortable.

  “Sit there and let me do your makeup first. Then we will figure out what you are going to wear. Emily!” she called to someone in the other room.

  “Yes, ma’am?” A young girl of about fifteen came out of the sitting area. She was wearing a plain blue dress with an apron over it and a white cap with lace.

  “This is Aofie,” she said, pointing to Shay’s friend. “Please get her something to eat and a proper dress to wear.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” she said, taking Aofie by the arm towards the sitting room.

  “Now, sit in that chair there and let me make up your face.”

  “I don’t normally wear cosmetics,” Shay said as she watched Alyth pull a small train bag from underneath the bed and place it on top of the comforter.

  “You have beautiful skin. I’m just going to do something to accentuate your eyes and give you a pop of color on your lips.”

  “I don’t know…”

  Alyth sat back on her heels. “Trust me?”

  Shay reluctantly nodded and scooted further back into the chair. She felt Alyth press a soft blotting paper to her skin and smoothed it around. When Alyth was done she picked up a small jar and rubbed her finger in a lightly colored balm before dabbing it on Shay’s lips.

  Shay watched as Alyth lit a match, the scent of sulfur filling the air. She shook it and then used the tip to gently trace Shay’s eyes.

  “Take a look in the looking glass and let me know what you think.”

  Shay stood and walked over to the looking glass, leaning forward to admire herself. The reflection looking back at her was a stranger. Her eyes appeared larger and brighter green. Her cheeks, which were normally red, were instead a light rose against whatever magic powder Alyth put on Shay’s skin. And her lips looked larger.

  “I don’t even recognize me,” she said, gently touching her cheek.

  “You don’t want to smear the rouge,” Alyth said. “Now, let’s find you a dress.”

  “I thought Mr. Mac already picked out a dress.”

  “He mentioned a green one, but now seeing you, I have something else in mind.”

  Alyth disappeared into the sitting room. Shay followed. Aofie had already changed into one of Emily’s frocks. It was much too short, and Shay could see Aofie’s worn boots under the hem. Shay gave a little giggle.

  Alyth took no time going through trunks to find a dress for Shay to wear. In fact, she found three of them. Emily helped get Shay undressed and into proper undergarments, including a corset, that Shay wasn’t too pleased about.

  When she was properly outfitted, Alyth handed her a light green ruffled skirt made from a sheer material. It had a solid green lining to block her legs and undergarments.

  “It is beautiful,” she said.

  “We aren’t done. Emily, help her put this dress on.”

  “But I have a skirt on already,” Shay said.

  “This will be over that skirt.”

  Emily helped Shay dress in a deep brown dress with cap sleeves and a georgette skirt with gold threads woven through the fabric. Shay twirled from side to side letting the fabric swoosh against her legs. “This is stunning.”

  “It matches your hair. Try on this jacket with it.”

  Shay took a green velvet jacket and shrugged her arms into it. The jacket was warm, but not too warm. She had never felt anything so buttery soft in her life. She ran her fingers along her arm, watching the fabric change colors with every movement.

  “I have never seen anything so fine.”

  “We need to get your skirt fixed,” Alyth said, pulling a small stool from beneath a chair. “Stand on this,” she directed Shay. “Emily, hand me a box of pins please.”

  Alyth talked to Emily asking her to lift the brown and gold fabric so the green could be seen underneath. Alyth went around the skirt, holding the fabric and inserting pins here and there.

  “I want to design gowns once we get back to America,” Alyth said. She pulled a pin from between her lips and secured another ruffle in place.

  “You are very talented. Are you going to sew this?”

  Alyth shook her head. “No time. Just don’t move too much, and you’ll be fine.”

  “What about sitting?” Shay asked. “I don’t want a pin pricking me bum.”

  Alyth laughed. “They shouldn’t, but just lift your skirt slightly just in case. Once you are seated, don’t shift around.”

  “Oh, my, Shay,” Aofie said coming around the corner. “You look like a real lady, you do.”

  “Shay?” Alyth said.

  “I mean Lady Shannon,” Aofie corrected quickly.

  “Your secret is safe with me. I won’t tell.” Alyth looked at Shay. “That name suits you.” She directed Shay to a seat in front of a large looking glass. “Practice sitting and we will do your hair,” she said. “How was your dinner, Aofie?” Alyth asked, reaching for a brush on the dressing table.

  “T’ain’t never had anything finer, mum.”

  “What did you have, Aofie?” Shay asked. Her own stomach rumbled in response. The sound wasn’t lost on Alyth who leaned over to whisper something to her lady maid.

  “I had a sandwich filled with ham and cheese. It was the best meal I et in months.”

  “Months?” Alyth said. “What have you been eating here on the ship?”

  Aofie looked mortified as if she had said too much. Shay watched her brow curl, as if in distress. “I forgot my place, mum,” Aofie said, lowering her head.


  Alyth looked at Shay. “Where exactly are you staying on the ship?”

  Shay watched Alyth in the mirror. The woman’s eyebrow hitched as if demanding Shay release her secrets.

  “I t’ain’t no lady,” Shay finally responded.

  “You weren’t born a lady, you mean. But you are one, Shay. You too, Aofie.”

  “We’re in the steerage,” Shay whispered.

  “Steerage?” Alyth raised a hand to her lips as if she was regretting her appraisal of Shay. “Where they store the cargo?”

  “Actually, below that, mum,” Aofie interjected.

  “Below the cargo?” Alyth’s gaze intensified on Shay.

  Shay nodded. “Yes. It is a dark room, with only one window for light.”

  “You two share a room?”

  Shay waved her hand. “There were at least one hundred in there.”

  “One hundred? How do you live like that?”

  “T’ain’t got no choice, mum,” Aofie said. “At least there is more room now the beds are freeing up.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “As folks die it frees up the beds.”

  “Die?” Alyth looked horrified. “What do they do with the dead bodies?”

  “Throw them overboard,” Aofie said pumping her fist. She looked at Shay who was shaking her head. “Sorry, mum. I heard the men’s steerage had more folks.”

  Alyth shook her head, her blonde curls bouncing around her face. “Men’s steerage? You mean they separated the men and the women?”

  “Aye. My brother Finn is in the men’s steerage. I think it is harder for him, being alone.”

  “Finn. Finn,” Alyth said, placing her finger against her cheek. “He’s the lad that was running errands for Mac and James.”

  Shay nodded. “He wants to earn some money before we arrive in America.”

  “What are they feeding you in steerage?”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Shay said, growing uncomfortable with the conversation.

  “We get oatmeal, then a cup of broth and some maggoty bread.”

  “Aofie!” Shay admonished. “I’m sure Miss Macalister doesn’t need to hear of that.” She stood, wincing as one of the pins pricked her side.