Simone doesn't bother to look at Georgette as she walks out onto the deck. She keeps her eyes fixed on the horizon as her maid hesitantly approaches and stands stiffly beside her. She's not mad at Georgie, not really, but she isn't in any mood for company now. The night sky swirls dark and angry close by, the first drops of rain beginning to spit from the clouds. She leans on the rail and watches the brewing storm, waiting for Georgie to decide how she wants to begin this conversation.
"You really shouldn't have stormed out like that, miss. Your mother is furious."
"She'll live, unfortunately." Georgie clucks at her disapprovingly. "If she thought I'd quietly go along with this, then that's her own fault. I've made my views on marriage perfectly clear to her in the past."
"With all due respect miss, you need to look at the reality of the situation. I understand you don't want to be wed, but it is, unfortunately, a man's world. You're nearly twenty-seven, and still unmarried. Your mother is trying to secure you a husband while she still can to make sure you're taken care of."
"You mean so she doesn't have to deal with the shame of a spinster daughter."
"Yes, she's looking out for the family's reputation, which is also your reputation, miss."
"Bad enough she arranges a marriage for me to some pencil-necked dandy, she has the nerve to spring it on me while trapped on a ship. Now I have to suffer the idiot's presence until we reach Alianza."
"That's a very strong opinion for someone you've exchanged fewer than ten words with."
"Georgie, my mother has been parading me before suitors since I was fourteen. I know her type by now. They are, invariably, self important, overconfident in their abilities, and completely deaf to any sound but their own voice. I sincerely doubt this one will be any different."
"Will you please just come back inside, miss? You don't even need to talk to him tonight, or even acknowledge he exists, but the weather's getting worse and I'd rather finish this where I wo-" Suddenly the ship lurches violently, throwing both women hard into the rail. The wind is driving now, rain pounding hard and fast as Simone tries to regain her bearings after having the wind knocked out of her. The squall is fully upon them now, in all its fury. Georgie is saying something to her, screaming it, but she can't hear it over the wind. The ship heaves again, plunging terrifyingly toward the ocean, and Simone slides off the deck and over the rail as her grip comes loose on the slick metal. Georgie lunges over the rail, grabbing her ankle with both hands. She braces her body against the rail, feet threatening to slide out from under her as she attempts to pull Simone back onto the ship. Before Simone can even call out to let her go, that she should get herself to safety, the ship lurches again, pitching Georgie off the side and sending both of them into raging waters below.