Was getting a sleeper berth ticket that important?
He had helped Brother kay, hadn’t he?
Even Leo was pleased, but Kay, as the person involved, felt the subtle change in Whitaker Scarlett’s attitude even more keenly. If he didn’t seize the opportunity, wouldn’t he be a fool!
“Scarlett, I know you’re smart, but it’s never too cautious to be careful when you’re out. The train from Harborfield to Sablewick takes about thirty hours. You’ll arrive in Sablewick before us. I’ll see if I can find a guide for you there to help you get familiar with the place. I’ll meet you in Sablewick.”
Kay hadn’t found a suitable guide yet, but he was confident he could solve this before the train arrived in Sablewick.
Whitaker Scarlett nodded.
Going to Sablewick to buy goods was a long journey. She wasn’t satisfied with the clothes in the Harborfield wholesale market; Sablewick’s styles should be the newest in the country. Whitaker Scarlett was willing to spend more money to investigate in person. The southern economic environment was more open; she was currently reselling clothes, but she wasn’t limited to that… Whitaker Scarlett had other plans, but now that Kay was involved, she couldn’t do that yet.
She was eager, yet also apprehensive.
Next time, she would investigate again.
Kay told her how to contact the guide. At 5:30, he first took Whitaker Scarlett to change her hard seat ticket to a sleeper berth, then saw her off at the platform. Whitaker Scarlett had brought food for the train, but Kay still bought her a bag of pears and apples. Skyhaven Province’s jujubes were delicious, and pears were refreshing, perfect for the train.
“Scarlett, see you in Sablewick.”
He walked Scarlett to her sleeper berth. As the train was about to depart, Kay quickly gave Whitaker Scarlett a hug, his warm breath falling on her ear. It was a perfectly normal farewell, yet Kay’s voice was rather resonant.
He seemed afraid Whitaker Scarlett would be angry, so he jumped off the train and waved to her through the window.
Whitaker Scarlett swore that Kay’s eyes held mischief and satisfaction—this guy, this guy was flirting with her, wasn’t he?
Comrade Kay was a bit out of line today.
The hand-holding kill and the embrace ambush, he did them without the slightest hesitation.
The train whistle blew long and loud. Kay followed the crowd a few steps, his figure gradually fading into the distance as the train pulled away. Having seen the man’s face, Kay, with his roguish air, was suddenly gone, leaving Whitaker Scarlett feeling a little lost. Leo had found Whitaker Scarlett a lower berth, no climbing up and down, the most comfortable for rest.
Changing from a hard seat to a sleeper berth saved Whitaker Scarlett a lot of trouble. Regardless of their background, those who could afford sleeper tickets at least had some connections, and this was also a place where the attendants would pay close attention… For a young and pretty girl like Whitaker Scarlett, safety was the first consideration.
What’s more, the sleeper berth was the most luxurious experience on the train, how could she possibly complain!
Only after Whitaker Scarlett’s train had traveled far did Kay leave the platform. He was sorting out his contacts, figuring out who in Sablewick he could trust. After much deliberation, he remembered a fellow soldier who was from Sablewick; maybe he could help. By the time Kay finally made all the arrangements, it was nine o’clock at night.
Leo was squatting beside a freight car, yawning, then suddenly jumping up:
“Kay, is everything settled for Sister-in-law?”
Kay nodded, “You’ve worked hard. Whose connections did you use today?”
“My aunt has a classmate who works at the Duskhaven Railway Bureau. It was a simple matter, no need to mention hard work.”
Leo himself didn’t think much of it, but Kay wanted to acknowledge the favor. Leo was a posthumous child, holding a unique position in the Howard family. Because the elder couple doted on him, others had a more complex attitude towards him. His uncles and aunts all held good jobs, yet Leo rarely asked them for anything.
“When you get back to Washington, be sure to thank your aunt properly. Though the matter was small, she still showed concern for you.”
