Social Testing

Chapter Eight

Night had long fallen and the constant click clack of the trains steel wheels on the tracks had long ago lulled Millicent to sleep. They would not reach Stranraer and the glorious Victoria Regina bridge until well after dawn so the housecat was grabbing sleep while she could. Once they started crossing the Irish Sea she knew that she couldn’t sleep. Riding steel rails a hundred and thirty feet above the North Channel would have her on the edge of her seat until they arrived in Donaghadee, Ireland. Millicent knew that she could swim, but the thought of such a fall simply terrified her.

Across from her the vixen Monica sat watching the stars through her window. Having never been North of London she was simply too excited to sleep. That Millicent was taking her to North Ireland was a dream come true. Of course the entire trip, publically announced as a holiday excursion before shipping off to the cold, bleak and unfriendly nation of Nunui Hale was only partly the truth. They would be spending several weeks seeing the sites, as well as visiting some of Millicent’s distant relatives, but the real reason for their expedition was to mouse-nap the Chinese woman Pinyin Jinghua. She was scheduled to visit Belfast with her husband-to-be just before the two of them were to return to London. Why, Millicent had so closely scheduled their travel that should they be a quarter of a day late they would miss the ship that Lord Bromley had arranged transportation upon.

Monica reached up, pressing one paw over her left breast, feeling its softness and warmth. She knew why they were mouse-napping the Chinese Ambassador to Spontoon Island daughter. She had fallen under Millicent’s spell exactly as Monica herself had, and would be an excellent addition to the international team the housecat was planning to build for her wife’s need. At the thought of Tatiana Monica took in a deep breath. Though she had given herself to Millicent, the idea of being taken by that powerful Russian Sable made her dizzy. What kind of magic had these two cast to so envelope so many women, as three were three English women currently on Spontoon Island wearing their claws to the flesh just to become useful to Millicent Wei. What, Monica asked herself, was happening?

Eventually though she did slip into a deep sleep, neither having bothered to open the berths available to them. There was time enough to sleep in Stranraer as the weather was failing and crossing that great bridge in a storm was tantamount to suicide. It was many hours later, when the train’s brakes squealed and awoke the vixen. Watery sunlight was streaming through the Eastern side of the train, but their cabin was on the Western side. Monica found Millicent watching her, having made no attempt to waken her.

“The Conductor was kind enough to warn me that you did not fall asleep until after three” the feline remarked. “Thus I allowed you to sleep until our arrival. The IRISH ROVER is currently crossing the Victoria Regina bridge from the Irish side. She will arrive by late afternoon but the weather, as we were warned, will be too poor for a return crossing until day after tomorrow. Thus we shall enjoy ourselves in Stranraer until we may depart. Now, if you will see to our bags I will arrange transportation to the Thistle Inn where we have reservations.”

“Of course Miss Wei” Monica answered, gathering her things before standing. “And I wish to thank you for allowing me such a delightful rest.” She stood, finding that Millicent had preceded her even though she had as much herself to gather. Hurry she managed to be ready before Millicent was out of polite earshot. “I will be but a short time Miss Wei” she continued, turning left as she exited their cabin while Millicent had turned right.

Finding a cab proved to be more difficult than the feline had expected, oh there were plenty of cab’s waiting, their horses exhibiting a bored lack of interest in the bustle about them, but the businessman and upper class were grabbing them as quickly as they appeared. With effort she managed to engage a cab just as Monica arrived, a porter carrying their luggage behind her. “He wishes a single shilling Mrs. Wei” the vixen whispered when she arrived.

Taking a look at the grey furred terrier who had lugged their luggage Millicent made a quick decision. As soon as the elderly man had loaded their luggage aboard the cab she slipped two shillings into his waiting paw. “Honest work demands honest pay” she told him when he tried to return one of the coins. “You have earned this and my heartfelt thanks.” Seeing that he finally accepted the extra coin she turned to the cab and with Monica’s assistance boarded it as though it were some effort. Tatiana’s training though had made her a much stronger felina than she appeared, though Millicent would be the first to admit that any Songmark second term first year could wipe the street with her.

“47 Dalrymple Street, Thistle Inn driver” Monica called before entering the cab herself. Before she had comfortably seated herself the cabby had his horse moving in a walk. Both women knew that it was but a short distance to their destination, one either would have walked every day while on Spontoon. This though was England, and in England proper women did not trudge through town dragging two heavy bags each, even though they had and often on that little island paradise.

“I would a bath” Millicent admitted as the carriage made its way from the train station, “and a meal. Yourself?”

“The same” Monica admitted. “Yet at this time of day would such be available?”

“With enough coin of the realm, anything is possible” the housecat admitted. “Though I would prefer not to spend upon such a luxury, it would be improper to appear in polite society with the stench of burnt coal upon us so we shall wash each other then find something to silence our stomachs. Once we have managed those to tasks, what say you to a leisurely stroll around town?”

“In this rain?” the vixen asked, looking out the cab’s glazed window at the downpour that had just appeared as though from nowhere.

“This little sprinkle?” the feline asked, then blushed. “I keep forgetting that we are not in the Spontoon’s dear Monica. I much enjoyed walking in the rain with my Tatiana.”

“And doing other things best not seen in public I hazard” the vixen added, a blush coming to her own face as certain images came to mind.

“And that” Millicent admitted, laughter following her words.

Upon their arrival at the Thistle Inn Millicent discovered it to be a small two story affair of brown sandstone, that was until they pulled into the carriage park. Instead of a small Inn they discovered the hidden from the public view were a great number of small cottages and attached rooms. Even as Monica opened the carriage door two burly young hounds hurried up, ignoring the rain in order to gather their guests luggage while a young woman in a maids uniform appeared with an umbrella. Much to Millicent’s embarrassment Monica turned to pay the driver with money the feline had slipped her in the cab, leaving Millicent to take protection with the offered umbrella. Accepting that it was her place to be the privileged one this time Millicent allowed the maid to escort her to the Inn’s lobby.

Here she found that their reservation was in order, their cabin was waiting and that a small meal would be delivered to their rooms to slack the hunger from such a long trip. “And a bath?” Millicent asked gently. She did not wish a reputation for being snobbish or demanding as her acts would be remembered for a very long time.

“Each cabin has a tub Mrs. Wei” the well dressed clerk, an Irish Shepard assured her. “Though I am afraid that at this time of day there is but enough hot water for one bath. You will be staying until the IRISH ROVERS next departure?”

“Yes, if that is at all possible” Millicent agreed. “Though I do not wish to put you or potential guests out by overstaying my welcome.”

Giving her a warm smile the Irish Shepard barely shook his head no. “Mrs. Wei, this time of year it is quite common for the ROVER to be held up on one side or the other. Such holdups can last a week or more, and in Winter the train hardly runs. We are quite used to such things, if anyone appears needing a room, well if we have none I will assure you that we are able to find someplace.”

“Stranraer lives and dies on the travel trade, almost anyone with a spare bed us quite happy to make a few shillings by renting out that room for a night or three. You and your servant will be no trouble at all. Now, your cabin in number five, I will have your luggage delivered immediately ahead of you. Here is your key, Dinner will be served between noon and one thirty with tea from two until five and Supper from six thirty until eight. Will you be taking your meals in your rooms, or at the restaurant?”

“I think that today we shall have dinner in our rooms” Millicent decided. “Depending upon the weather I would prefer to eat in your restaurant, the gentleman who suggested your establishment had nothing but high praise for your establishment, and I would much like to experience it myself. Still if it is storming, we will take supper in our rooms. I will most certainly send Monica to inform you should I decide upon the latter.”

“Very good Mam. Then if you will please go with Elizabeth she will see that you get to your cabin with the least rain upon you as possible.”

“Thank you sir, you have been more than kind” Millicent replied. Accepting the key she gave it to Monica, then followed her little caravan back out into the steadily worsening storm.