Love Under Lock & Key

“Mrs. Hughes,” Daisy started with a sigh. “Is there any way you can…”

Elsie Hughes could barely hold back her grin. “Now Daisy, what do you suppose I do about it?”

Daisy tilted her head in defeat. “It’s just that I’m trying to finish this chapter and I can’t, I can’t, oh for heaven’s sake!”

Beryl Patmore laughed and added, “If you don’t do something about it, I will.”

Elsie rolled her eyes. Beryl didn’t have the nerve!

Just then a familiar head popped round. “In all seriousness, Mrs. Hughes. No one can think straight up here either. In fact, I may certainly be speaking for the whole of the passengers at this point.”

“Sit down, Thomas. We’re almost there.”

No sooner did Thomas Barrow’s head retreat than Anna’s made it’s way round the opposite corner.

“Are you sure everything’s quite alright?”

“Everything’s fine Anna. I’m quite sure it’s just fatigue.”

“If you say so,” she said quietly, disappearing back to her seat

Beryl began to slowly reach across the space between. “Don’t you dare,” Elsie tersely whispered before leaning over just slightly, extending one finger, and gently nudging Charles Carson’s chin upward to close his mouth.

“Thank God,” came a loud declaration from the other side of the partition behind their heads.

Charles suddenly jerked awake, momentarily confused by his surroundings.

“Was I asleep?”

“You may have nodded off.”

“Surely for just a moment.”