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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3842772" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Two-hundred-fifteen, “The Eastman Home“, Saturday, June 17th, 2:00 P.M. Ruby grasps George's arm and as they enter his home she takes a good look around. "Are we going to get the tour?" He leads them on a tour of the house. It has a total of fifteen rooms, five on each of the three floors. The first floor consists of a sitting room, a formal dining room, a causal dining room, a study and a combination kitchen/pantry. The second floor has the master bedroom, a guest bedroom, a library, an office/workroom and bathroom with marble tiled floors and ceramic bathtub with both hot and cold faucets. The third floor has two more guest bedrooms, two rooms that he says belongs to his servants and another bathroom that is less elaborate than the one on the second floor. "I'll take this room!" Ruby chirps, pointing to the guest room next to George's. Then her cheeks turn pink at her obviousness, "If that's okay..." George replies, "That is fine." The man William is coming up the stairs now with the bags so George directs him which bag goes in which guest room. Ruby says, "So... what should we do first George? What about tonight? I hope we didn't mess up any of your plans for this weekend." George gives her a surprised look and says, "Plans? Ruby, your being here with me is better than anything that I might have ever planned." Ruby smiles sweetly at George. "Well, good. I like to hear that. I guess I should take a bath and then we can all have some lunch together?" He replies, "Good, enjoy your bath. It will take a little while to get something ready. I'll have to send William out to get some food. My cook is away for the weekend and she only left enough food for the two of us to get by. What type of food would you like? I can telephone ahead to a restaurant so that it will be ready when William arrives to get it." "Oh, I'm sorry. We should have called ahead with our food needs before becoming fugitives," Ruby teases. "Why don't you surprise us for lunch and dinner? I love surprises. And I'm not too picky about what I eat, I like everything. Of course, I looovveee chocolate," she smiles. She lightly kisses both George and Richard on the cheek before heading into her room. "Enjoy your little chat!" she calls out over her shoulder. Once inside her room she hums to herself while she prepares for her bath. The next two hours fly by as Ruby is lost in her thoughts. She bathes, enjoying the running water in the tub she continually turns the hot water on to heat up the bath water. After her bath she takes her time getting ready, dressing and doing her hair, applying a light layer of makeup and accessories. Her cherished ruby ring still adorns her finger, but it's on her right hand and not her left. Feeling dressed and confident she breezes downstairs, looking for the boys. "Hello?" she calls out, "Where is everyone? I'm starving!" She sees William dining alone in the informal dining room and reading a newspaper while he eats. He doesn't get up but instead gestures towards the formal dining room and says "They await you in there young lady." As she approaches the room she takes in a variety of aromas. She sees Richard and George have both changed into fresh suits. They welcome her into the room and George holds out a chair for her to sit. The table is set for the three of them, with a dozen covered silver platters and bowls in the center of the table. A wine holder has two chilled bottles of wine in it. Ruby pulls her dress out and sits. "Thank you George. This all smells wonderful, what did you do? All this just for lunch?" There is a smile on Ruby's face as she gazes over the covered platters covering the table. George says, "Well, I wanted to make sure there were enough leftovers for the icebox to sustain us through the weekend, I'm not expecting Al and Rosey to be back until some time on Monday." "So we'll be all alone all weekend, huh?" He replies, "Not completely alone, William will be here too." Ruby nods towards the food. "This is exciting then! What did you get?" She starts pulling covers off the food, curious as to what is underneath. He begins to remove the metal lids to the containers and he describes each dish "For the soup you have a choice of New England Clam Chowder or Minestrone, a fresh garden salad, main dish choices are roast duck, beef tenderloins and butter-fried-mackerel. Side dish choices are a cheese-pasta, corn-on-the-cob, and sweet peas mixed with pearl onions. The rolls are still hot, with a choice of wheat rolls or corn rolls. And make sure you save room for the dessert, which is in the ice box, chocolate ice cream with strawberries and cream. Ruby's eyes widen. "This is wonderful George! Thank you! We certainly won't starve this weekend." Ruby stands. "What would you like to have?" She doesn't wait for his response, she just starts making him a plate. "You sit," she orders, "You did all this, the least I can do is make your plate." She puts the covers back on everything and spoons out some soup and salad for everyone to start with. "George, after lunch I'd like you and I to talk, just the two of us. Is that okay with you? I would wait, but I have some things to say and it's weighing on my mind. If we get it out of the way then we can enjoy our time together." She keeps her eyes averted as she speaks to him, even as her rosy cheeks give away her nervousness. She returns to her seat to begin her lunch. Richard says, "I have some reading to do up in my room for after lunch, you two can have the first two floors of the house to yourself then provided that William agrees." George says, "I'm sure that he won't mind having a few hours off." Ruby nods, and gulps to herself. "That works." She is quiet as they eat lunch, not paying attention to Richard and George's discussions. Suddenly she was very nervous about talking to George and being truthful but now there was no turning back. She is lost in her thoughts, trying to think of the best way to break the news of her past. Lunch flies by without a word from Ruby. Richard had apparently brought up the subject of his Tucson factory idea with George while Ruby took her bath. They continue the discussion during the meal. George shows some enthusiasm to becoming more directly involved with the acquisition and processing of silver, saying that he needs to talk to his geologists and scientific staff about possible refinements to the process to better enhance photography. If there are indeed improvements that could be obtained it would be worthwhile to take over the ownership of that aspect as well. George is up front with Richard that he has no intentions of entering into a business arrangement with a person who he just met, but that he will give the idea serious consideration and won't rule it out either at this point in time. Ruby finally pipes up. "And that's why you do so well for yourself George, you know your business. You'll find over time that Richard is reliable and will make a good partner for you but it's good to find that out for yourself." Ruby stands from the table. "Excuse me for just a minute gentlemen. George, I'll be right back and we can have our talk." She nods at both of them before heading upstairs to the bathroom. Ruby stands in the bathroom staring at herself for moments, trying not to get too worked up. She smoothes her hair and dress and takes a few deep breathes before heading back downstairs into the sitting room. She takes a seat but sits on the edge of the chair, obviously uncomfortable and waits for George. She waits for around twenty minutes, during which time she notices several of the photographs mounted on the walls. Most have been taken on his travels but she notices a few taken in the Rochester area, including one of the beach where she threw the ring into the water five years ago. She smiles as she lightly runs a finger over the picture of the beach and recalls that day, the day she gave up her ring and George professed his love for her. But the memory also makes her heart race and a warm flush comes over her. She suddenly realizes the summer day is hot and humid, and having been in the West for a while she isn't used to the humidity. She removes her more formal jacket, leaving a white, low squared necked short sleeved blouse to go along with her pale peach colored skirt. She wished she could remove the shirt and her skirt too and just lay around in her undergarments. She holds her long hair off her damp neck and considers putting it up as she gazes at the picture. The quiet is broken up by an odd ringing sound. it takes her a minute to figure out where in the room it is coming from, until she sees a Bell Telephone on a table in the adjacent hallway. She hears the sound of footsteps approaching and it is William rather than George. William picks up the telephone receiver and states, "Eastman residence. Yes sir, he is here. Information on..... Well I am sorry sir but I am not at liberty to say. If you will please stay on the line I will go and get him sir." William then sets the receiver down on the table beside the phone. Ruby just waits and wonders what is taking George so long to join her. And of course, who is on the phone. George now begins to approach. Ruby sees that he has changed his wardrobe, now attired in a silk shirt and a gold and silver patterned vest with matching bow tie. A wrapped present is in his hands. William steps away from the table with the telephone is says in a hushed voice that won't be heard on the other end of the telephone, but that Ruby with her deep-rooted curiosity manages to pick up "Sir, Mr. William West is on the Bell Telephone. He is seeking further information about his daughter." Ruby gulps and her heart begins to pound even more than she thought possible. Not wanting to make like she was eavesdropping she stays put, holding her breath, waiting to hear what George will say. Keeping his voice low as well George says to William, "Tell him I can not come to the telephone right now or in the immediate future. But please let him know that I have learned that the man in the newspaper photograph with her was somebody other than Deadeye Douglas and that she is in no immediate danger." Ruby steps into the hallway and approaches George, pretending she didn't notice the call. She takes him by the arm and leads him into the sitting room. "While I was waiting I was looking at your photographs, they're lovely. I especially love the one of our beach. Perhaps you and I can take a trip there this weekend?" His eyes light up in alarm at her suggestion and he then says, "Perhaps we could but not today, not until after that newspaper retraction is printed." William enters the room and says, "I passed on your message sir. He appeared impatient and wishes for you to call him at your earliest convenience." George replies, "Thank you William. You may take the remainder of the day off." "Thank you sir," William states and heads away. George looks back at Ruby and says, "That was your father on the telephone. He called this morning after seeing the newspaper, anticipating that Deadeye Douglas would be getting in touch with either or both of us with ransom demands. All that William told him now was that the man wasn't Douglas and that you are safe. He does not know that you are here with me." Ruby keeps hold of George's arm and she looks up at him with concern. "I'd, uh, like to keep it that way, at least for now. It's important to me that I not have problems with them, I don't think I am ready to see them yet, you understand, don't you George?" She gulps. "Besides, I don't know how long I will even be welcome here so it doesn't make sense to get their hopes up of seeing me." George says, "I understand, I know that things between you and them were rather tense. Today's paper came as much as a surprise to him as to me. We both figured that the only reason Douglas would have brought you here was to get money from us. I'm glad that it was all just a case of mistaken identity. I didn't want to call him until after I had spoken with you, but since he called I thought it best to at least relieve his fears. To be honest, I'm not sure if he was more worried about your safety or just that the supposed kidnapping might cost him money." Ruby smiles sadly. "You know them better than you think. I'm quite certain they would be upset about having to spend a penny on me that didn't directly benefit them. And to be honest with you, I'd rather die from Douglas's hand than be in any kind of debt to them." Ruby shakes her head, her hair swinging around. "Enough of that for now. I appreciate you handling that with discretion." Her sweet smile returns. "What's in the box, if I might be so bold to ask?" He hands it to her and says, "A present for you. Open it." "Me?" she says surprised, while taking the box. "George, I...I..." She doesn't finish her sentence. Instead she looks down at the beautifully wrapped box in her hands, pausing only for a moment before opening it, curiously looking inside. She removes from the box a gold gown. It is in the low-cut decollete style with the upper shawl of in ivory shade with dried violet flowers. A matching floral headpiece and bracelet comes with it. <a href="http://www.fashion-era.com/images/Victorians/berthamrbx20.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.fashion-era.com/images/Victorians/berthamrbx20.jpg</a> "Oh my gods... this is beautiful. Where did you get it?" she asks, pulling it out of the box. He replies, "I purchased it for you at a dress shop in Pennsylvania on my journey back here from Arizona. It was made by a French designer whose family immigrated to the United States back during the French Revolution. I hope that I got the sizes correctly." Ruby holds the gown to her chest. "It looks like it will fit perfectly. And you've had it all this time..." She pauses only a moment before clearing her throat. "Well, you'll have to take me somewhere fabulous so I can wear it for you. Thank you, it's very sweet of you." She stands on her toes and kisses his cheek quickly before lovingly placing it back inside the box, keeping her attentions on the dress and not him. She sighs to herself. Let's just get this over with and see what happens... She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small black box, one that George knows well. She stands before him, reaches her hand out, palm up with the box with the diamond ring in it and says, "I believe this belongs to you. You need to take it back." She only lets her eyes meet his at the very last moment. He takes the box without protest and replies, "I understand. There are a lot of mixed emotions regarding the circumstances when I gave that to you. I will take this back for now, but please understand that between now and when you decide to leave I may very well offer it to you again. For now why don't we just continue to get to know each other again without having to worry about possible futures, the present suits me just fine." Ruby nods and trying to make light says, "Well, if I am going to wear a ring on my finger for the rest of my life it should be perfect, right? That is the most beautiful diamond I have ever seen but I much prefer silver. Or platinum really." She regrets her words as soon as they leave her mouth. She clears her throat again. "I'm sorry George, I'm just nervous. The ring is beautiful." She fidgets and takes a few steps away from him, wringing her hands together. "It's not the future I'm worried about, it's the past and we need to talk about it now." She reluctantly says, "Do you have any idea what it was like being a 15 year old girl out on my own?" He replies, "Not entirely, but I do understand taking on adult responsibilities at a young age. My father died when I was very young and I had to drop out of school at age fourteen to work and support my mother and two siblings. From the next four years I worked menial jobs for minimum wages. Only in 1872, when I was eighteen and took a job at Rochester Savings Bank, did things finally begin to change. Your family is impressed by my family's wealth, but it wasn't inherited, I earned it all myself through hard work and innovation during the last decade." Ruby smiles at him. "You've worked very hard for what you have, you deserve it and should be proud." She paces around, "Me, on the other hand, I don't have much to my name, only the things I have been working hard for in the last half a year. Before that, things were very... difficult. And I made some bad choices and did things I'm not proud of. Things that could affect you if you were to decide to stay... my friend... and someone cared enough to go digging. I have been trying to change, I really have, I don't want to go back to living like that ever again... and I won't... but I can't lie anymore and act like it never happened. Not to my friends and most especially not to you." Ruby steps close to George for a moment and stares into his eyes. She holds his gaze intensely before stepping back from him. She breaks their gaze by holding George's wallet up between them, the wallet she just effortlessly stole from his pocket. "You remember that I was always good with my hands, right? And that I was good at this," she offers him back his wallet. Her cheeks flush and burn, her embarrassment much more than she thought it would be. He replies, "Ruby, During my visits to Santo Domingo I saw a great deal. The Spanish colonial leaders lived like kings and the expense of the majority of the population. Tens of thousands of people had to do what they could to get by. When I was there I must have had my pocket picked and wallet stolen two dozen times. I didn't mind, I just learned to only keep a small amount of money in it. The boys and girls who robbed it were not evil, only poor, to the point of starvation. If I had just handed them money they would have taken it, but it would have cost them their pride, instead they felt they had earned it, albeit through criminal actions. Ruby, you did what you had to in order to get by. I understand that fully. But those days are now behind you." "Yes, and I'm very glad they are." Ruby let out the breathe she didn't even know she was holding. "I'm... I'm really happy to hear you say that. I should have known better, you are a good man and very understanding at that. I want you to know whatever it is you want to know. So you tell me... how much do you want to know? I'll tell you anything." She looks at him nervously, waiting for his answer. He states, "You can tell me whatever you are comfortable talking about. Things that you are uncomfortable with you can keep buried, I don't care about those times Ruby. As far as I am concerned our present relationship began this morning when I opened the door to my office and saw you there, every thing prior to that is irrelevant." Ruby couldn't believe this was going so well. There was no point in forcing information on the man he didn't care about, and it seemed he was being truthful with her. There was still more and the time might come when he did need to hear what she had done. But for now... she had offered to be honest and he, a good and honest man, wanted her no matter what was in her past. She fans her face, "My, it's very hot today. I'm not used to this weather!" Her normal smile starts to return, "Aren't you hot in that suit? Don't worry about being formal for me. If it was up to me we'd be sitting in our underwear!" Her cheeks quickly flush again. "Uh...I just meant it's hot out... Oh! You're making me crazy!" she blurts out. Changing the subject she quickly continues, "So, how do you feel about magic?" He replies, "I wholeheartedly support the use of clerical magic." Ruby hesitantly continues in a soft voice keeping her eyes averted from his again. "What about the other kind of magic?" He replies, "Other magic is illegal, I seek to find technological means to accomplish the same result rather than to be dependent upon the arcane. And I've actually had more success with photograph image transfer than the French, who have sought to use magic to accomplish it. I realize that your spending time so near the Mexican border you would have been exposed to some from those Mexican wizards, but I would advise you to not attempt to dabble with such wizardry." Ruby gulps. Who knew this was going to be more of an issue than her past?</blockquote>

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