Charles stormed into his room, slamming the door after him. He was livid, pacing around his bed, his shoes leaving muddy stains on the pastel rug, but he was oblivious to it, the only thing he could think about was his father’s words.
He was so unaware of his surroundings, that the silver-haired woman seated on his chair by the fireplace went completely unnoticed.
“He declined, didn’t he?” she asked, with her hands resting on her crossed legs.
Charles jumped, his heart racing, it took him a few seconds to realize it was only Lucy. “How many times have I asked you not to appear out of nowhere like that?” he said, as he wiped his sweaty hands on his khaki pants.
“I lost count, to be honest. But this time it was your own fault, I’ve been here the whole time,” Lucy got up and straightened her white dress, almost the same shade as the easy chair she was seated on. “But more importantly, he declined, didn’t he?”
“Is it that obvious?” said Charles, as he passed his right hand through his dark, brown hair, it normally felt silky to the touch, but now it felt greasy.
“Well, you wouldn’t have done 12 laps around your bed if he’d have said yes, would you? Unless he did say yes, and you’re having second thoughts.” Lucy said, while fixing her eyes on his, raising a suggestive eyebrow.
“I’m not second guessing myself! I have no doubts that this trip is the right thing to do,” said Charles, gazing back, he had always been told that his blue eyes could pierce through a heart of steel, but that was nothing compared to her. Lucy’s purple eyes were so keen and intelligent that it always made his knees weak.
“Good, if all we have to do is convince him, it’s still doable; much easier than if you were the one that needed convincing.”
“As if he was that easily coerced!” Charles exclaimed, throwing his hands into the air, “He is behaving just like he did with medical school. Who, in their sane mind, would send a man, who can’t stand the sight of blood, to the best medical school in Britain? And he had the nerve to complain that I wasn’t putting enough effort into it.” Charles’ voice boomed, and a red vein pulsated on his large forehead.
“Try looking at it from his point of view, you are asking for a hefty sum. And besides, didn’t you learn some useful things at the medical school? Edinburgh was good for you.” Lucy said, as she played with her silky, silver hair.
“I did learn interesting things, a lot of them, actually, from politics to taxidermy, just not medicine,” he hated when she took his father’s side. “Wasn’t my personal guide supposed to help me? Are you sure you are not his guide?” he said, more to himself than to her, while sitting on his bed.
“Don’t be like that. You know I’m on your side.” Lucy said, sitting down next to him.
“I know…” Charles still felt uncomfortable when she got too close, it was difficult for him to get over the whole ‘ghost-like’ idea.
“Good,” she said, with a white smile so perfect that even the skeletons from the medical school would be jealous. “Now that we got this out of the way, let’s discuss our plan to convince him.”
“I wish I had your confidence… You should know that father is not an easy man to deal with.”
“So, what? Are you going to simply give up, then? Maybe you should just become a parson as he wishes,” she stood up and made her way to the window, deliberately avoiding his gaze.
“That’s just the second-best thing for him after a doctor. But wouldn’t it be good for you if I did become a parson? I mean, you are a guiding angel, aren’t you?” It never made sense to Charles that she pushed so much for him to work with science, and on top of that, she rarely ever mentioned religion, definitely weird behavior for an angel.
“What can I say? I’m unusual, I guess.” Lucy said, turning her back to the window and locking eyes with him again.
“Unusual? You show up in my dreams, appear and disappear at whim, and seem to know just about everything. I don’t think ‘unusual’ is a strong enough word to describe you.”
“You forgot to say that I’m gorgeous,” she said, between laughs.
Charles could feel his cheeks burning, “You will never let it go, will you?” he averted his eyes from her, fixing them on his vast, beetle collection on top of his wooden shelf.
“But it was so cute! The first time we met you wouldn’t stop staring. How many times did you say I was gorgeous, again?”
“Eleven…” he confessed, grudgingly, but it was true, she was indeed beautiful. Her short nose and fair skin, free of any marks, paired together with those profound, purple eyes, it was such a sight that he wasn’t even surprised when she revealed herself to be an angel. “But let’s focus on the pressing matter! You said something about a plan?”
“I thought you had already given up,” Lucy said, raising an eyebrow.
“We might as well try it. It’s better than being a parson.”
“Not only that, but it’s your best chance of actually making a difference. If you were to give up now, I’m sure you would regret it… Now, all we have to do is to convince your father that this expedition isn’t just an excuse for you to go on a riding and hunting trip around the world.”
“It isn’t! I really intend to work!”
“I know, but there will be a fair share of hunting and drinking involved, right?”
“I suppose…” Charles said, scratching his head. “But that’s not why I want to go…”
“I know that, but you don’t have to convince me, you have to convince him, and all he sees is his son trying to get free tickets to travel around the world, instead of becoming a doctor or a parson.”
“What do you suggest I do, then?” Deep down, he already knew what his father thought, Charles just couldn’t see any way around it.
“You better get a quill and something to write on, this may take a while,” she said, lying on his bed and getting comfortable.
“Just a moment,” he said, as he hurried to fetch them. He wondered again at her strangeness. As she adjusted herself on his bed, the springs did not squeak in protest as they did when he moved. That’s because she weighed nothing. Because technically, physically, she was nothing. He could see her, but she wasn’t really there. If he tried to touch her, his hand would pass right through.
I wonder how can she touch the bed, while she doesn’t have a body, but better not ask unnecessary questions to an angel, he thought, or else she might perceive me as disrespectful.
“Why are you taking so long?” she sounded impatient, despite how comfortable she seemed to be on the bed.
“Pardon,” Charles let go of his useless thoughts and focused on the task at hand. A few seconds later he had a few pages of parchment, ink and his favorite quill ready. “I’m ready.”
“Great, let’s start by getting some allies, your brother-in-law, Josiah, might fit like a glove…”
***
It was early morning when Charles arrived at the small harbor. The weather was good, clear sky and calm sea, apparently this time they would actually set sail, unlike their failure 2 weeks earlier. Charles had been so disappointed when the boat had to return to shore, that not even Lucy could lift his spirits.
The only ship in sight was the HMS Beagle, Charles took a moment to appreciate the vessel’s size and beauty. It was over 90 feet long, and the two tallest masts seemed to be almost as tall. They would travel around the world in it, using only the force of the wind and human ingenuity, the thought alone brought a smile to Charles’ face.
“Are you ready to make history?” Lucy asked, suddenly appearing by his side on the busy dock, good thing only he could see her, otherwise it would surely cause a commotion.
“You may be exaggerating a bit. I’m just excited for the chance to investigate the geology of so many different places,” Charles was finding it difficult to keep his excitement in check.
“Maybe you are being too humble,” she said, flashing a blinding smile.
“I’m just glad I will be able to follow Lamarck’s footsteps.”
“You will do much more than follow his footsteps, Charles.” Her voice was so full of confidence, that he wasn’t sure the boat would be big enough to carry it.
“What do you mean, exactly?”
“You will prove him wrong.”
“Prove Lamarck wrong?” Charles was left dumbfounded by the very notion of it. Sure, I have a few theories that diverge from some of his ideas, but proving one of the most brilliant scientists of his time wrong isn’t such an easy task, he thought, but before he got the chance to answer her, he was interrupted.
“We are setting sail around noon, I think you got here a bit too early, Sir,” said one of the sturdy sailors, carrying some heavy-looking wooden boxes inside the vessel.
“I know, I just couldn’t wait anymore. Is Captain FitzRoy around here?”
“He is in his quarters, but I can fetch him for you, sir. What name should I give to the captain?” said a younger sailor, already on the boat.
“Charles Darwin.”