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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3985411" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Two-hundred-fifty-five, “Ruby’s Ultimatum”, Tuesday, June 20th, 8:30 P.M. Ruby suddenly feels a strange sensation which takes her a few seconds to identify. She then realizes what it is, that she senses the presence of wizard magic now being used within the room. She looks across towards her mother as a potential source but senses nothing from the woman. Her younger brother is no longer present. She considers it possible that he might have done something on his way out from the room but then rules that out as Miss. Hellborne had him under close supervision as they departed. Ruby is unsure of what is going on, and confused especially about the magic issue. Ruby stutters, "W-why do you want me to come home anyway?" William West says "You are our daughter Constance." Eastman interjects, "Mr. West, please calm down. Constance Grace is your daughter but she is also now an adult, you can't order her around as you once did. She came back here of her own accord and all you are doing is pushing her away again. And is it my reputation, hers, or yours that you are really concerned about?" Alma West interjects "All, reputation is reputation, it effects every one of us." Ruby shifts herself towards George, until she is standing next to him. "I am your daughter, yes. Perhaps if you admitted you loved me you would have had a chance of convincing me. But I have long known your hearts are cold and will never under my own accord live in your house again. I know your reputations are so important to you, so much that you would LIE about my whereabouts over the past years. And even more so, that you would lie about that child, my brother... my HALF brother's real paternity. Tell me, does Uncle Luke know?" Following Ruby’s outburst Alma West's face takes on a shocked look. William West says in a low guttural voice, "We are done here. Alma, get to the carriage. You want her Eastman you can keep her, she's no daughter of mine." She exclaims, "You were always good at treating me like I wasn't father. It's one of your great talents." She pauses then stands a little taller. "If you expect me to keep your secrets as to not ruin your reputations, I require something in return." The Wests were already exiting towards the door when they hear Ruby's proposal of the ultimatum. They stop and William West turns back and looks at her. In an angry voice he snaps "What do you want?" Her heart is pounding so loudly in her chest that it was practically deafening her. She summons all her courage and says, "The boy." William West exclaims, "What boy? You mean Alma's little bastard?" Alma screams "Shut up William!" She turns to Ruby and says, "I will not give up my remaining child Constance. I lost one child I will not lose my other one." A small laugh actually escapes from Ruby's lips. "I don't want the boy mother, what would I do with him? I want you and Daddy to raise him like a child should be raised. He should be acting like a three year old, not a rag doll with the life sucked out of him. Let him play in the mud, get him some friends, so he doesn't have to go out and find unsavory ones because he is so lonely, like I was. Get rid of that Hellbourne character and find a better, more loving and caring Nannie. Act like you love him, even if it kills you and that includes hugging and kissing him and TELLING him you love him. Daddy will stop calling him a bastard." She adds, "And I want to see him regularly, he is my brother after all." She pauses and lets that sink in. "If you do these things I will keep your secret. If you don't, not only will I tell the papers about your lies and prove it but I...I will come and take the child," she says forcefully. George Eastman steps forward and says, "Mr. West, Mrs. West, you do not have to agree to anything right now when tempers are high. Please, go home now and discuss this privately among yourselves. We could meet somewhere tomorrow night and discuss this further. I will be taking Ruby to see Mr. Verne's new play, perhaps we could meet in a quiet corner the lobby or outside during intermission to revisit this subject." Ruby takes George's hand in hers and squeezes it. He was a calming influence on her and she stands quickly, waiting for her parents to respond. "We will contact you tomorrow," William West states as they head out the door. Ruby holds her breath until they leave and once they are gone she exhales it in a big puff and blurts out "Oh-my-gods, that didn't go so well, I mean, I guess it well as well as it would. My father is the same as he always was but my mother seems somehow different... softer if you could say that. I thought they would try to get me to go with them but I didn't think my father would use physical force... really... and a brother! I have a brother!" She stops suddenly, turning to George. "Why didn't you tell me?" George replies, "I didn't know. From his age I would say he was born when I was down in Santo Domingo. He wasn't present during any of my three meetings with Mr. West this last month." Ruby nods. "For a moment I... I... Anyway, I can't believe I stood up to my parents! It feels good, like such a relief! I still don't understand why my father would want me home. They never wanted me, they were always embarrassed by me." George replies, "Control Ruby, it is all about control. You heard them, reputations are all that matter to him. He needed you home to make a public spectacle of your return from the Swiss boarding school, that way he can go on with his public reputation of being a good father." She sighs. "Control, I know. It obviously why I have so much trouble trusting people when they say they love me. I do worry about the boy. He IS my brother and I can't sit back and watch him be brought up so abused like that." She smiles, "We wouldn't want him turning out like me, right?" "I think he could do worse," is George's reply. Her smile widens as she throws her arms around his neck. "And you, taking on my father like that, it was so... brave of you." She thinks twice before speaking the next line, but decides to do so anyway. "Almost like a knight saving his princess." He says, "Almost. Well, I notice that neither of us have finished our dessert. Why don't we do that now, Alvina may even have some more." Ruby kisses his cheek then releases him. They return to the table to eat their dessert. "You know George, they are right in a way. Maybe you should be worried about your reputation. You've worked so hard and built up so much I don't want to be the one to tear it all down. Maybe...maybe it is best if I don't stay here much longer." He replies, "And maybe I don't care. Wasn't that one of the things you asked me about before?" Ruby says, "Yes, yes it was. But that was before I saw with my own eyes everything that you have done. I am sure in your business your reputation has helped you get further than if you hadn't had one. I just...just would never forgive myself if I caused you to lose your dreams." He says, "Ruby, having you with me is one of my dreams, nor do I think that you wish to deprive me of my other dreams.” Ruby smiles at him and picks at her dessert, obviously still thinking over what happened. She eventually manages to enjoy it, despite her worries. She asks, "You don't have to go into work tomorrow, right? Should we make it an early night tonight or do you have other plans?" He replies, "I have no great plans. At some point in the morning I was going to get the books that I borrowed back to the person who got them for me so that they can be returned to Canada but there is no fixed timetable for that. Other than our theater reservations for the evening the schedule is rather open." She suggests, "Then why don't we make it an early night tonight. Perhaps we could enjoy a warm, soothing bath together?" He states, "Er...the tub isn't large enough and I also wouldn't want to do that with Al and Rosey back. Why don't we just go for a walk around the neighborhood." "That's not exactly the same thing..." She begins but stops. It was no use to fight now, “Alright, let's go for a walk." He says, "No, I have another idea." He goes over and picks up the telephone, giving the operator a telephone exchange. Once connected he says, "Hello, this is Mr. George Eastman. I have two tickets for tomorrow night's show and am looking very much forward to it. I would like to be able to send some friends of mine to the show tonight if there were three tickets available. Yes, I will wait." A short while later he says, "Yes, excellent. Charge them to my account and please hold the them at the box office. My friends will be along shortly. He calls for William who comes downstairs and says, "Get the carriage hitched up. I'm sending you, Rosey and Al to see Mr. Verne's show. It starts in a half-hour so you had better get a move on. He then goes into the kitchen where Alvina and Rosey have finished putting away the leftover food and were beginning to start the dishes, telling them that it can wait and to go get ready for the theater. Ruby gazes at him curiously while his employees make a mad dash to prepare themselves to go out. "What are you doing?" she asks in a soft voice. He replies, "Well, I can't exactly just say "Take the night off and get out of the house can I? Al and Rosey appeared interested in the play, and I figured that being a Tuesday night there might still be tickets available. There were." Ruby smiles warmly. "And you did that for me? So we could...?" George says, "So we could spend some time alone. I think that you need it after that confrontation." The servants quickly gather their things. On her way out Alvina pulls Ruby aside and says, "There were two doors shut between your dining room and the kitchen but we still heard the yelling. Everything that our friends had said about your father's temper appears to be accurate. We understand George deciding that the two of you need the house to yourself to discuss what happened in private. Have a good talk, or a good cry, if you need to and try to get to bed early. We'll be quiet when we get in so as not to wake you." "Thank you Al, really, it means a lot." Ruby hugs the woman tightly. "I am very glad George has you." Ruby pulls away. "My parents... well, you heard. We can talk about that tomorrow if you wish, I'll answer all your questions." Ruby shoos her. "Now be off! Enjoy the show, I hear it's very good." The three of them head off. Ruby watches the carriage head down the driveway and onto the street. She looks around to see where George has gone off to and finds him in the kitchen putting a bottle of red wine into an ice bucket, with a pair of crystal glasses beside it. Ruby removes her jacket and throws it over a chair back. She kicks off her shoes and leaves them under the table. "Where to?" she asks George. He replies, "Where ever you wish. Let's relax, have a drink, and talk about tonight." "Let's go in the parlor for now." Ruby leads them into the room, which looks much cleaner than the last time they left it. Ruby sits on the couch and pulls off her stockings. Her dress suddenly felt constricting, the extra fabric on the back that was so in style was just in the way. She sits uncomfortably on the couch, trying to find a good position. She sighs, "Maybe it didn't go as well as I first thought. What do you think? You never told me how you felt." George replies, “In business we look at the end-of-the-day results. They came, they left, you're still here. As for the rest, well, it could have gone better or worse. And how was it that you knew your father hadn't sired the boy? Some of your magic?" She replies, "He looks just like the partner my father had an issue with, Luke. I remember him quite well from my childhood and Ben looks just like him, the eyes and hair." Ruby shakes her head. "Wow, I just can't believe I have a baby brother." He replies, "Yes you do, you seem pleased about that." She says, "I guess it depends. George, I just can't sit back and let him get raised like I did. I mean, did you see him? He was almost lifeless, the poor child." Ruby reaches for the wine. "If we could be like a real brother and sister, that would be amazing. A miracle." He replies, "Well, now is the time for it. Do you know the name is of Mr. Verne's play that the staff has gone to and we will see tomorrow?" Ruby shakes her head. "No, I don't know. What is it?" He replies, "It is titled Journey through the Impossible. That seems an apt description of your last few days doesn't it?" Ruby laughs. "Yes, yes that is exactly how it seems. Every bit of it." "A brother. A new...," she looks funnily at George. "What are we George? Are we friends? Boyfriend? Just lovers?" He replies, "Let's give it a while longer and then decide Ruby, but for now very close friends at a minimum. So, what would you like to do?" I already gave you my idea, but you didn't like it!" she teases. "It's been a really emotional day. I'm just... I don't want to think. Let's just drink this wine and... drink this wine. I don't know." She shrugs. "I do have a question for you and I want you to answer it and not say later. Just tell me your first reaction. It's my last question of the evening." She waits a moment then says, "What are you looking for in a wife?" He answers, "Beautiful music, and by that I don't just mean a fine singing voice, although that is a plus. I mean a type of inner-beauty, just as a song flows I want a relationship that will flow, one with up tempos and down, exciting sections and slow times too. And I want it to harmonize with my life, not a duet but more like an orchestra piece where the different instruments can play different pieces of individual music that when combined create a synergy that neither could accomplish individually. Does that make any sense?" "Yes, it does. And you are so sweet and romantic..." Ruby leans forward and kisses him softly on the lips. "I hope I have what you're looking for," she says softly. "You do from what I've seen so far," is his reply. She speaks softly, her face inches from his, "Make a toast baby." Ruby holds up her glass and waits. "To old friends," is his toast. "To old friends." She clinks her glass against his and then takes a long slow sip, gazing at him from over the top of the glass. He looked so effortlessly handsome, even though put together he never looked over done like some men could. Her nostrils flared at the scent of his clean smelling cologne, her eyes admired his neatly trimmed chin beard and sparkling brown eyes. Tall, dark and handsome fit. She bet every single girl in town probably imagined themselves on his arm at some point, her own heart pounding just sitting next to him. She never would have guessed he would mature so well. Then again, she had never really thought about. She knew one of her faults had been living in the present and it was something she had been working on. But that led to worry and worry led to her making bad decisions. But was George a bad decision or not? She breaks her reverie with a shake of her head. "I know what I want to do. Let's take our wine, go upstairs and prepare for bed. I'm so uncomfortable right now in this dress, I just want to put on my nightgown and relax. What do you think?" He says, "I think that is a wonderful suggestion." They head upstairs, he kisses her and says, "I will see you shortly" as he gestures for them each to head into their own respective room. He brings the wine bottle and glasses into his own room, shutting the door partially but leaving it open a crack. Ruby retreats to her room, anxious to be free of whatever was weighing her down. She didn't really believe it was the clothes but more what had come since she put them on. She quickly removes the gown, stepping out of it and leaving it on the floor. Off comes the tight corset yet she doesn't fully breath until her underclothes are off and she is completely naked. Sitting at the vanity she pulls out the hairpins that Alvina had so expertly placed in her hair. She had been dressed up since leaving Rochester, and dressed up frequently, she enjoyed it. But this dressed up symbolized something she thought she had long ago forgotten. Each time the pin pulled at her hair it was like a little poke reminding her why she left it all behind. When the last pin is gone she shakes her hair free and breathes a sigh of relief. She runs a brush through her thick hair, grateful to finally be rid of the last bit of society that was crushing her. Once her hair is thoroughly brushed she heads over to her bag and chooses a nightgown. She chooses the thinnest one, a white cotton gown that was so thin it was nearly see through. She pulls it over her head and stares at herself in the mirror. Even the nightgown was more than she felt like wearing at the moment. She begins towards the door, but instead ends up at the window. The night sky was clear and the stars bright. The stars always grounded her, always made her feel at peace. She opens the window as wide as it would go, then kneels before it, resting her arms on the sill. And looking into the night she then did something she rarely did. She prayed. “Aphrodite, I know I was supposed to learn from Jane, learn how to do this the right way. Being a goddess and all, I’m sure you know what happened with that. Anyway, I’m talking to you now because…I don’t know what’s going to come of the future and I’m a bit… well… frightened. So much has happened in so little time, sometimes I know I’m right, doing the right thing, other times, well, not so much. All I’m saying is that it would be nice to have a little of your guidance, if you think you could give it, I would be most grateful.” She sits for a few moments, just looking up at the sky and hopes her small prayer is enough to be heard. She stands and again walks to the door, suddenly remembering she never checked the Western Union office. She reasons she should send Kate another telegram anyway and decides to make the trip the next day. Leaving her room the smile springs back to her face. She was going to the one place she now felt safe. Finding George’s door cracked open, she lets herself in letting her calling his name act as her announcement. “George?” "Come in," he states. She sees that he has changed into his silk robe and has poured two glasses of the wine. He turns and says, "You may get tired of hearing this from me, but you look remarkably beautiful." She takes one of the glasses and sits on the edge of the bed, gesturing for him to sit next to her. "No," she smiles, "I will never tire of hearing you say it. I'm happy I can please you. And that you really, truly mean it." He finishes the glass and pours himself another. "Ruby, these last few days have been so special. I do not want them to end." "I wish they would never end too." She sighs. "But unfortunately they will have to." He says, "No, they don't. But we can talk more of that later. Right now I just want to enjoy our time together." He sets his wine glass down and moves closer to her, wrapping his arm around her. She finishes her wine and hands the glass to George so he can put it down too. She places one palm on his face and her lips turn into a smile. "There's always later with you." She leans in for a soft kiss. "Thank you for standing by me today. It means the world to me." He states, "I told you that I would. Plus you're Father is a bully, I‘m always willing to stand up to a bully." She laughs, "Where were you when I was a kid!" Ruby flops back on the bed, so her head is resting on George's pillow. She finagles her legs and turns so she is lying on her side facing him, her curvy form accentuated. "Come and lay with me," she calls to him. He lies down beside her and gives her a soft kiss across the lips. She returns the kiss, snuggling closer to him and enjoying the tender moment. It was the first time she was just lying in bed next to him and it filled her with emotion. She runs a finger around his face and asks softly, "So, now will you tell me if you enjoy laying with me?" He replies, "Why don't I show you instead." She smiles. "I love you George Eastman," and gives him a soft kiss. "Now you can show me..." Passions flow for an indefinite amount of time. Eventually George falls asleep beside an exhausted but still conscious Ruby. Ruby rests her head on George chest and drapes a leg over him. She smiles as she just lays still, listening to the beating of his heart, feeling his chest rise and fall with each breath. Ruby is still barely awake when she hears the sounds of the three servants returning from the theater and heading up to the top floor to their rooms. She stays very still, hoping George doesn't wake up and ask her to leave. Eventually Ruby falls asleep herself.</blockquote>

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