Page 60 of The Missing Pages
Emilie Barrington
That afternoon we had gone together to retrieve it, and after it was safely in Ada’s hands, we returned to Holland Park where we read passages aloud to each other as the stock doves flocked above.
Each day that followed, from Kensington to Cambridge, our conversations deepened. Our formality loosened. When I was with Ada, a weightlessness came over me. I felt free to speak my most private thoughts. But most strange and exquisite was that we could also be completely silent with each other. And in those rare pauses, I did not feel I had offended or overstepped. On the contrary, the quiet seemed to bond us closer.
Even more than did our words.
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
TWO DAYS BEFORE WE SET SAIL ON THETITANIC,IMETQuaritch to bid farewell to him.
“I still have the Bacon in my pocket,” I said as I tapped my chest. “And I give you my promise that I’ll make sure Miss Lippoldt’s journey is a safe one and that she’s well taken care of,” I said, shaking his hand.
“She took the morning off to finish some last-minute things before the trip,” he told me. “But she will be here any moment. Would you like to see theRubaiyat? Sangorski just delivered it and it’s in my office.”
“You know me well enough to know the answer,” I said, laughing. “Absolutely.”
I followed Quaritch to his office. There, on the large wooden table in front of his desk, the book was wrapped in several layers of protective brown paper.
“I must like you a lot, Harry. You’re one of the few people I’d unwrap this for,” he said as his hands worked deftly to remove the packaging without destroying it. When he’d finally revealed the ornate volume, my eyes grew wide. It was a sight to behold.
Quaritch held it between his hands. The warm rays of light from his window made the bejeweled cover sparkle, and its sheer opulence was blinding.
“Do you know who finally bought it?” I asked as I eyed the two embossed peacocks on the front. I knew he had previously mentioned the collector was from New York.
“A man by the name of Gabriel White,” he said.
“I don’t recognize the name.”
“Neither did I,” Quaritch admitted.
We both gazed at the blue and green tourmalines on the front cover. “I don’t believe White’s a book collector, but rather a collector of beautiful and expensive things overall.”
It gave me pleasure to know Quaritch thought of me the former or he wouldn’t have spoken with such an unguarded tongue.
“In any case, Miss Lippoldt will take good care of it,” he said as he began to rewrap the book.
“I have no doubt about that,” I agreed.
I walked with him out of the office and toward the exit. Just as the clerk handed me my coat and hat, Ada walked through the door.
“Mr. Widener,” she said, her eyes catching mine. “Are you already on your way out?”
“Sadly, yes. But you must have so much you need to get done now that the big departure is only a couple days away,” I said and grinned.
“I have packed my trunk. I now only need to get theRubaiyat.”
“Probably best to pick it up here on your way to Southampton early Wednesday,” Quaritch suggested. “I know your boarding house is a reputable one, but just to be sure.”
“I agree, Mr. Quaritch,” she said sweetly. “It’s always best to err on the cautious side.”
“Speaking of which, may I pick you up on my way to the train station that morning?” I asked. I had arranged for a car to take me from the Ritz to Waterloo station, where we wouldtake the train to Southampton. From there, another car would transport us to the dock. TheTitanicwas slated to leave from there at noon.
“Aren’t you staying at the Grand Hotel the night before?” Quaritch asked. His tone had a whiff of surprise.
While I had contemplated arriving at Southampton a day earlier to make my boarding the ship easier, I ultimately had decided against it. My parents were no longer with me, having left a week earlier for France, as Mother wanted to purchase more things for my sister’s trousseau in Paris and Father wanted to meet up with friends in Cap Ferrat. They had arranged to board theTitanicin Cherbourg, France, the boat’s second stop.
“I wanted to maximize my time in London and the ship doesn’t depart until noon. There will be plenty of time to get there that morning.”
