Arrival in New York Chapter 24

Upon the trains arrival into the train station, Miriam and her party exited the train, and their servants went and got their luggage.

They then got a coach ride to a second railroad and once again got off a train.

The train station smelled a little of coal from the materials used to power the train.

Miriam was trying to decide if she liked horses or not, they looked abit scary afterall from her short stature.

After getting off the train, they rented a coach to take them to a nearby steamboat.

On the way to the steamboat, Miriam saw many people littered the streets. Going on about their daily lives.

One was a hawker hawking their wares to the pedestrians, while another was a group of youths probably around 12-15 in age range walking down the street with their hands in their pockets looking like old timey thugs.

Bannon was also looking out the carriage window in wonderment, and looking the buildings they passed by up and down with his big brown eyes.

The ground was still covered what looked like animal fecies which Miriam didnt appreciate the faint stench of drifting in through the cracks of the doors of the carriage.

Miriam also saw many women who's skirts were caked in dirt from traveling through the streets to get to their destination. Men walking on the side closet to the street with women walking nearby them hugging the inside of the sidewalk.

A cat or two could be seen stalking through the alleys.

Children's laughter was occasionally heard when they passed by residential areas of the city.

A loud church bell was suddenly heard, almost making Miriam jump out of her seat.

Oh, they just went past a church, no wonder the bell sounded so loud.

Miriam was acting like a kid her age again, her physical age at least.

A shop that had the word 'Music' on it went past their carriage

Miriam also saw what looked like a pet store.

Looking to her father who's facial expression was calm and composed she decided to simmer down. Sometimes she forgot she wasn't actually a child.

It would be nice to have a mom to depend on, it had been over 2 years since ber mother's death and she no longer had to wear the drab looking mourning clothes and boring color schemes that came with them.

The carriage eventually arrived at a dock next to a bay, and everyone got out of the carriage.

Many boats were located at this dock, and to Miriams surprise quite a few were steamboats. Almost all entirely forgotton about, she now remembered they were a thing during the Victorian period.

Getting onto a certian steamboat, it was certianly bigger than Miriam imagined. It was pretty large. After an overnight in the steamboat, and over half a day more onboard, they got off the steamboat and into a carriage.

The carriage eventually came to a abrupt halt outside a small two story house with a small garden in back. It was located in the residential area of Staten Island, New York.

It was a brown brick two story flat that had a small little potted tree out front that looked like it was getting ready to be transplanted into the ground.

The window curtains on the second story were a lavender color and Miriam distinctly saw them move aside and reveal several little heads peaking out.

Raising her brow, Miriam looked at her father who was opening the carriage door to get out first.

The First Footman George had earlier decided to ride up front with the driver out in the open, so as to leave more room in the carriage for others.

Mr. Stuart beat George to opening the carriage door and helped himself down, sending a look towards the not fast enough servant. He held his hand out to help Miriam get down and out first before turned to give the rest of the party a cold shoulder and leave it to George to help them out and down.

Miriam carried with her two bags that she had kept underneath her feet in the carriage.

One of course had Samantha inside and on this rare occasion a tiny little snake head was just barely peaking out from the shadows of the bag, little tongue flickering to taste the scent.

Bannon happened to look over and see this and almost screamed, but after quickly thinking twice he decided he'd better not.

He thought it'd be a good thing if his little sister got scared by a snake, then she wouldn't force him to study hard things.

'Hehe...' Bannon thought to himself and snickered slightly.

Of course the younger sister he was thinking of scaring currently didn't give a care in the world about him.

She was much too busy entering this foreign land she had never entered before.

A different house. It could be said that in her whole second life thus far Miriam had rarely ever gone off of the Stuart family's property.

Besides church services and one or two picnics at Aunt Hilda's house, she had never really been around the proverbial block much.

Excluding the Inns they stayed in on this trip, of course.

As soon as her father entered the threshold of the house a boy about age 14 came out of the drawing room and looked up in shock and surprise upon seeing his father!

Why was there father here? He rarely ever visited them.

His questions just got more intense when he saw his father holding a beautiful little girls hand.

The girl immediately upon seeing him looked at his father with a brow arched and said as if mock scolding, " Ah, are we replacing Alard already father?"

Mr. Stuart almost choked on his saliva upon hearing his youngest daughters question.

Replace his heir?! Pa-tooey!

The male youth dressed in trousers and a nice quality shirt blinked upon hearing what Miriam said.

Why did the little girl call his father, father as well?

He already had three little sisters! Why did he need another one?

Miriam watched the expression on the boys face go from happy to confused, to sad, and then a hint of anger.

Letting go of her fathers hand she walked up to the boy and decided she would introduce herself.

"Hello, My name is Miriam Mavis Maltilda Stuart, youngest daughter of Stephen Henry Stuart and Genevieve Stuart of Germany, I am pleased to make your aqquantince Sir."

Miriam said as she slipped a folding fan out from her bag and fluttered it in front of her face like a shy maiden.

She was so amused by this that she almost bent over to laugh!

The youths face went pale and he looked at his father seeming to ask a question with his eyes.

Mr. Stuart coughed once, to clear his throat then spoke to his ignorant son.

"Nathanial, this is my youngest daughter born in wedlock. And the boy coming into the room now is her brother Bannon. Hes... uh, your younger brother."

At hearing this Miriam threw her fan at Bannon who miraculously fumbled to catch it in time.

Her eyes going big, Miriam toddled up to Nathaniel and and put her chin in her hand.

Fair, complected, similar jawline to her father, coffee brown hair, and blue grey eyes.

"He kind of resembles you, now that you mention it. So who's son is he? Is his mother here?" Stated Miriam before following up with a question and leaning sideways to look behind Nathaniel to see if there was a woman approaching them.

Nope, only a boy around a similar age to to Nathanial who looked like his jaw was dropping to the floor.

"Oh, hello. How do you do? Are you also my big brot- WAIT! Is that a Stradivari Violin?!" Gasped Miriam as she eyeballed the youth at the entrance to the drawing room holding a beautiful violin and bow.

Bolting for the violin, Miriam reached the unidentified lad in less than 5 seconds before she daintily pulled the youth arm lower so she could take a closer look at the violin.

"Dont worry I'm just looking it over, I won't break it or drool on it." She added, as she saq the youths face turn green at her approaching his prized violin.

"Ah it is a Stradivari. You must have either great luck or great wealth." Said Miriam as she lightly stroked the violin for a few seconds before controlling herself and bottling up her urges.

The youth looked very annoyed at her behavior but decided since she looked like a toddler to let it go.