The Ocean's Daughter (Sequel to Sirene)

Dedicating this chapter to AdriannaEllefson. Thanks for your support :)

Seriously, all of you guys are so amazing :)

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Chapter 16

Oceana sat biting the tip of her pen, wondering who to write first. After some indecision, she dipped her pen into the ink and began.

May 10th, 1910.

Dear Miss Patterson,

I know you may find my intervening very annoying and I apologize for it. Yet I feel I must step in and intercede for Beth. I know you disapprove of the match because Dr. Blackwood is just a doctor and a Scot at that. I can also understand you are angry with Beth for doing things behind your back. I have been trying to get her to tell you for over four months. The only reason she ever hid anything from you was out of fear. She knows of your very strong views and didn’t want to come into conflict with them. We both know how Beth is always avoiding conflict. I am not excusing her behavior, but I thought it would be good for you to understand her.

Miss Patterson, I don’t know what rules and regulations make up your views on life and by what fixed ideas you go by, but I hardly think it fair to impose them on Beth. You were very kind in taking her out of that orphanage and bringing her up in the wonderful way you did, but Miss Patterson, do you really think it fair to put her in a gilded cage? Remember how long ago you asked me why I didn’t want to come and live with you, this is exactly why. There is no freedom in the life you live.

Dr. Blackwood is a good man, he may not be very rich or have some fancy title of famous family, but we both know that is not what a girl should look for in a match. It is honesty, integrity and a loving heart that matters. It is the ability to make the right choice, to stand strong when things go wrong and to help and support one another. I know Dr. Blackwood has these qualities. Edward Burmmington was considered a good match and look what became of it. Do you not think it would be better for Beth to be happy than rich?

Miss Patterson, please, for once in your life put aside those silly rules that you have been brought up with. You hardly even know the man you have already set prejudices against. Would it not be fair of you to get to know him at least a little?

If your one reason for taking Beth in was just so you could have someone to amuse you, then I think it would have been better if Beth would have remained in the orphan asylum. Beth is not a little dolly you can pamper and dress and do whatever it is you want. Beth is a soul and I think she should be given a little freedom to make her own choices. We both know that Beth will never dive into something without thinking it through. She is not impulsive or foolish, she evaluates all the pros and cons before going along with something. She wants to do the right thing in life. It is not something evil or harmful she wishes for, so why not give her a little space to breath? And if she should make a choice that does not agree with those standards you follow, then perhaps you should just understand that Beth wasn’t destined to live the same sort of life you were. Perhaps she is just like me and all her heart desires is a little bit of freedom.

I know Beth will never go against your wishes, if you forbid her to see Dr. Blackwood; she will put her communication with him to an end. But why rob her of happiness? Why snuff out this little flame? Miss Patterson, I beg, look deep inside your heart, do you really think that Dr. Blackwood is a bad match, or do you only say that because it is what you have been told.

Miss Patterson, remember the conversation I had with you, when you came to Scotland so long ago in the hopes of taking back with you to London. Remember all the words I told you, all the arguments I presented. Remember it all and then think of Beth and her predicament in the same light.

If you need someone to vouch for Dr. Blackwood and prove that he is a gentleman, then I will be more than happy to do so. I know you can trust him, I give you my word that there is nothing vile or evil about him and he is clean in all respects. The name of Blackwood is respected in the city of Edinburgh as is the name of MacMorrow. Maybe you have never heard of them down in London, but up here people like to associate with those two names. Perhaps this will bring you some comfort.

Whatever conclusions you come too, I hope you will measure them by your conscience, for as Martin Luther so wisely put it, to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.

Yours Truly,

Oceana.

Having completed that letter, Oceana straight way began the her second one.

Dear Beth,

I think it will be best if you apologize to Miss Patterson for courting Dr. Blackwood behind her back. You must try and help Miss Patterson see that Dr. Blackwood will be good for you, but if you run off with him without telling her, it isn’t exactly painting everything in the a good light. Logic works very well with Miss Patterson, I should know, I’ve persuaded her of things before using sound logic. You must be firm but kind and help her to understand. I know you aren’t fond of conflictions, but I’m afraid it’s time for you to learn to stand your ground. Chandler once sai that if love isn’t worth fighting for, then it is just not worth it. If you really think that your love for Dr. Blackwood is worth something, you had better be ready to fight for it. But don’t be angry, be calm and help Miss Patterson get away from her prejudice and see him for who he really is.

(and no more sneaking around with him without her permission.)

Much love,

Oceana.

Oceana smiled with satisfaction as she put the letters into separate envelopes.

“Callum, I’m off to the post office,” she said, putting her coat on.

“That whole drama wi Beth an’ Miss Patterson still playin’ out?” Callum asked with a chuckle.

“It is. Beth was right, this is all much ado about nothing. I’m sick and tired of it and I just want it to stop. Drama, drama, drama.” Oceana gave a loud sigh to get her annoyance across, and then left the house in the direction of the town.

***

May 30th, 1910.

Dearest Oceana,

I don’t know how you did it, but your correspondence with Miss Patterson worked wonders. We had a long talk recently about what I wanted from life and what she had wanted for me. It was nice; I don’t think we ever had a talk like this before. She asked me for all my reasons for liking Dr. Blackwood and I explained everything with complete honesty. During the course of the conversation I asked why she had never married. She had said that marriage had never appealed to her and while she did admire several men, she never considered actually marrying any of them. Her mother was very disappointed in her decision to remain an ‘old maid’ but there was no changing Miss Patterson’s mind. I just thought I would add that as an interesting fact. Anyway, back to the matter at hand. Miss Patterson said she was going to give Dr. Blackwood a trial period and if he proved to be all that I was claiming him to be, she would no longer be as harsh on the two of us.

Basically, she has given Dr. Blackwood permission to court me until the end of summer. All this will be done under her watchful eye. It’s not exactly what I was hoping for, but it is a start. I know Robert won’t let her down. Of course, at the end of summer he will travel back to Scotland, but I think we can work something out. Either way, everything is finally turning out for the better.

You were right about one thing, I should have told Miss Patterson right away. It would have made everything a lot simpler and less emotional for both me and her. But then, we learn from our mistakes, and I hope I am coming out the wiser thanks to all of mine. I have asked her forgiveness and she said she’ll forgive me as long as I promise never to run around courting men behind her back again. Of course, the way she put it you would have think I was secretly entertaining scores of suitors, all of which were scoundrels and womanizers. But I understand the point she was trying to make and I promised her I wouldn’t do things in secret anymore. It just makes things complicated and annoying.

So, alls well that ends well. Of course, I don’t know how it this will end, but I’m willing to take it one step and a time.

Thank you for all your help and support.

Your loving friend,

Elizabeth.

P.S. Sneaking around with Robert behind Miss Patterson’s back? You couldn’t have put it in a slightly nobler way, could you?

***

May, 1911.

“Oceana, there is post fur ye!” Callum hollered as he walked into the house.

“Shhhh, why are you so loud?” Oceana grumbled, looking up from her book.

“Och, right, she can bang doors an’ sing on th’ top ay her lungs all she wants, but I hae to be silent as a mouse.”

“Just give me my letter.”

“Not wi’ that attitude, I won’t.” Callum winked at Oceana and sitting down pretended to open her letter.

“Callum, you vicious old snake, give me that!” Oceana leapt from her seat and snatched the letter from Callum’s hand. Callum chuckled and tugged at Oceana’s long braid.

“It’s from Beth,” Oceana stated, sitting back down. “That girl has hardly written me in the space of this whole year. She’s been so caught up in her Robert. Funny how even though her letters were far apart with me, her correspondence with Robert Blackwood has been very active during the winter and spring. Beth even weaseled Miss Patterson to let her go to Edinburgh to visit him. With a chaperon of course, but guess what, that chaperon wasn’t me! It was some crabby old lady Miss Patterson knew and trusted. When Beth does remember to write me, all I hear is Robert this and Robert that. Or if it not Robert, it is the MacMorrows or the MacDarrens. I am sick of hearing about that family! Why did I ever convince Miss Patterson to let him court her?”

“Just read th’ letter, I want to ken what she has to say,” Callum said.

Oceana buried her nose into the letter and was silent for so long, Callum at last lost his patience.

“Out with it, young lass, before I grab it frae ye an’ read it me-self.”

 “Beth has invited you and me too…” Oceana’s voice trailed off as she folded the paper and she winked at Callum.

“No, she’s gettin’ married?” Callum’s eyes widened.

“Aye, Callum, aye. Our Beth has accepted Dr. Robert Blackwood’s proposal of marriage. The wedding will take place the twentieth of June.”

“How did they convince Miss Patterson it was a good idea?” Callum asked incredulously.

“They didn’t convince.” Oceana’s eyes twinkled. “Wasn’t it you who once said that I had magical persuasive abilities? I don’t want to boast, but Beth owes her current happiness to me. If I hadn’t interviened and sorted things out, none of this would have happened.”

“Where is the wedding going to take place?”

“London.”

“And after that, where do they plan to settle down?”

“I don’t know, she didn’t tell me. The letter is very short; she said she wants to tell me all the details when I arrive. So, Callum, are you going to come with me to Beth’s wedding?”

“Sorry, but my answer is nay.”

“Callum!” Oceana scowled at him. “Why not?”

“Two good reasons, I hate th’ city and I dinnae want to see Miss Patterson again. No offense, lassie, but me an’ that woman jus’ don’t git alang. I dinnae think she’ll be very glad to see me either. Let’s not spoil th’ weddin’ for everyone. Ye go along, I’ll be perfectly fine right here.”

Oceana knew there was no changing his mind and he did have a good point about Miss Patterson.

“When do you plan to leave?” Callum asked.

“As soon as school is over, Beth wants me to help with the preparations. She also wants me to be her bridesmaid.”

“Careful that ye dinnae accept to be a bridesmaid agin.”

“What do you mean?”

“Seeing as you were Abigail MacFeerson’s bridesmaid this winter, an’ will be Beth’s bridesmaid this summer, that makes you a bridesmaid twice.”

“And?” Oceana lifted an eyebrow.

“They say thrice a bridesmaid, never a bride.”

“Oh Callum,” Oceana rolled her eyes. “You know I don’t believe in those superstitions. It’s all hogwash. I’ll be a bridesmaid fifty times and then settle down and get married just to prove that saying wrong.”

“Where are you going to find fifty brides who will want ye as their maid ay honor?”

“Oh, you get what I’m trying to say?”

“Ye need to learn not to exaggerate so much.” Callum waved his finger in Oceana’s face. “An’ ye had better not go spoilin’ Beth’s wedding as ye did her engagement.”

“Don’t bring that up! And besides, there is no danger; Dr. Blackwood has seen me before. It’s not at all like with Edward Burmmington.”

“I’m just sayin’ ye must be careful, ye ne’er ken what to expect in London. Somethin’ strange always happens when ye are there.”

“I suppose you are right,” Oceana said as a smile appeared on her face. “And I can’t help but wonder what surprises await me in the capital of England this time.”  

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whew, we got that drama sorted out :) I'm sorry if I dragged it out a bit. Sometimes characters are a littler more stubborn than you originally suspect. :)

So, Oceana is on her way to London again. Let's hope she doesn't make a mess of thing this time ;)