George frowned, he was having absolutely no luck with the ladies tonight, and his sister had indeed made a good point the did have a match to play and smiled as he was reminded. âYes my dear sister, I do have a match, perhaps Miss. Annamarie Huntington you will do me the honor of another dance later on, we do have five or four beautiful days on board this magnificent ship.â George gave Annamarie another winning smile of his and nodded to both glaring parents. âMr. Huntington, my father George Stanly II of Stanly and Son printing company sends his warmest regards and best wishes to you and your family. However my sister is right and Iâm afraid a dance with your beautiful daughter will have to wait till tomorrow evening. If she accepts that is.â
George was not a fortune hunter, he had his own money. George could care less if you were the poorest lady in all of the ship, he would still ask you for a dance, if he thought you were worthy of his time. George was very proud of his fatherâs efforts, and his. For they both worked long and hard hours to get the printing company going. He was older than Elizabeth by 4 years, so he was only 5 when he she was born, but there had been plenty of work for him to do with his father and their mother. George gently took his sisterâs soft warm arm and led her towards the room where they were going to start the first Chess game at eight thirty, people could warm up with practice games until then.
Georgeâs memory flashed back to when Elisabeth was just born, neither parent thought she was going to be a girl and couldnât come up with a name, George had wandered off during and just before the birthing and met a woman who sat with him, she was a beautiful angel. She told him about a day when he would be on something so grand and everyone would be scared but he wouldnât be and that was when he would see Elisabeth again. When George had gotten back to the birthing room the parents were at a loss of what to name there little girl whom they thought would be a boy, and when George asked if he could name her they both looked at each other and shrugged and said if he could pick a good strong name, then they would most likely use it. Thatâs when he told them about the strange woman in the lobby with him and asked to call her Elisabeth. Georgeâs father nodded in agreement and thought it was a fine name and looked to his wife who shrugged, she didnât want a girl, she had wanted a boy..
âElisabeth Marie Stanly.â George came up with her full name. From then on George knew that Elisabeth would need his love and attention, for he didnât think either parent wanted a little girl.
A tear came to Georgeâs eye as his memory faded and he came back to reality and softly pulled Elisabeth into him, he didnât care who was there and who would approve or not. âMy dear sister⊠I should have given you more attention than I had in the past few years.â he whispered to her âI know you have been wanting mom and dadâs attention butâŠâ George looked her in the eyes âitâs been me all along⊠they always forgot your birthdayâŠâ George whispered and it was true, they almost always forgot Elisabeth was even around, even when she was little, it had always been George who took care of her. Their father was in both their lives but mostly focused towards his only son and heir to the big fortune. âAnd Christmas time cameâŠ. Well, lets just say our parents just paid a little to much attention to the boy in the family.â Why was he talking about this? He didnât want to make Elisabeth sad or any more mad at him. He frowned âPunishment is over, you can stay in First class, and eat in first class all you want, but our beds are unfortunately in second class.â George sighed âAlso I want to know where you are in case of an emergency.â George looked around this ship and suddenly got an uncomfortable feeling âElisabeth make me that promise, you will tell me where you will be?â George said softly.
When they came to the chess room George saw the beautiful woman he had been gawking at all night and smiled gently at her, he had Elisabeth in his arms and they looked like they were together, but Elisabeth and George were just siblings, and they looked the part too, they looked like twins almost.
âAlright, ladies and gentlemen when I call your names you will stand next to your partner, if you have signed up late and have no partner, you will find one by the end of the first rounds of the game!â The announcer smiled âYou will play off in groups of two, each having their own challenger, but in teams. It is five pounds to play per day you play, except the warm ups.â George imideatly rose his hand. âYes sir.â
âThat hardly seems fair, what about Second class or third class if they wanted--â George felt glares all around him and he sighed âAlrightâŠâGeorge trailed off âI thought this was the land of opportunityâŠâ George looked at his sister âWould you like to join?â he asked he saw the look in her eyes of desire âMy sister will sign up, I will pay her fee.â
âThat is acceptable.â the announcer stood up and listed the matches out loud, Elisabeth was paired up early on and got to play some practice rounds, âMs. Aubrey Hunt, and oh dear⊠it says here you havenât paid your due.â The Announcer sighed âGeorge, Iâm awfully sorry, but sheâs the one you would have been paired up with and there are no othersâŠâ
âItâs alright,â George smiled âNever disappoint a lady my friend.â He took out fifteen pounds and then looked at Aubrey. âYou owe me.â he grinned mischievously as he sat down and began to warm up with his partner. âNames George Andrew Stanly the third.â he smiled gently as he took her hand and softly kissed it. âBefore you say anything, the woman with me is my sister and we are traveling together for hum⊠her punishment.â George chuckled a little at this. âIt is a pleasure to finally meet you properly. May I escort you to our chess board?â