After dinner, rather than making her way back to her room, Jessica went in search of Ms Moore.
Trevor let her know which room was hers, but at this time she was more likely to find the head of house working through a pile of paperwork in the library.
Thanking him and bidding him a good evening, she set off in search of the library, as, although she had found it earlier, finding again may prove tricky.
As she walked she thought about the meal that had just passed her by.
All five members of staff were present and after initial introductions and a few bits of information learnt about each of them, a brief summary of Jessica’s situation and a rather lengthy silence the conversation turned to local gossip and personal news.
Jessica listened intently to the conversation, however she refrained from remarking on much or joining in with her own opinions.  To take an active interest would be to involve herself, which, until she knew how long, if at all, she would be staying, seemed like a relatively irresponsible idea.
To allow herself to become attached to anyone, especially here, would only bring pain, confusion and distraction.
Right now the only task which had to be undertaken, was that of convincing Ms Moore to either help her in finding another placement, or… so far she could think of no viable alternative.  She would also have to discover a way to gain her confidence, keeping her whereabouts and activities silent from David.
Eventually, she rounded a corner to find herself walking along shelves of books.
She followed them along until they opened out into a large space that boasted a roaring fireplace with comfy seating.  From what she could see from where she walked, the library’s stock could easily rival that of the grand library on the cruise ship.  Near to the seating area sat a desk, scattered with various papers, folders and envelopes.  Ms Moore sat amongst them, seemingly absorbed by what she was working on.
As she approached, Jessica couldn’t help but notice another grand portrait above the fireplace, the same woman from the pictures in the entrance hall.
“His mother,” said Ms Moore without looking up, “she died when he was only seven.”
“Oh, that’s awful, is she badly missed?” Jessica found herself asking, “she certain is very beautiful.”
“Yes,” said Ms Moore as she finished what she was writing and looked up, “such a shame, she was a lovely woman and we miss her dearly, although the master rarely speaks of her these days.  She is always on his mind,” she explained, “he was old enough to remember vague images and experiences with her, but the woman herself he can barely put a voice or face together without the aid of pictures or videos.  More and more often over the years he seems to be actively trying to forget her.”
Jessica thought back to the time they had spent together, to any conversations with David about his mother.  Only one came to mind, he had told her she had died in a traffic incident when he had been quite young.  Come to think of it he had only told her this when they had been talking about his father and she had asked about his mother and, when she saw the look of pain that had crossed his face, momentary as it was, she couldn’t bring herself to ask any more.
“Why do you think her refrains from her memory?” she quizzed Ms Moore.
“He’s never said, and the one time I brought myself to ask him,” she shook her head, “he grew agitated, very agitated, so much so that I withdrew the question.  It does worry me.  But I think that now he’s found someone to love, maybe he’ll talk to her about her.”
Jessica’s eyes flicked quickly from the picture to the desk before Ms Moore.  There had been something in the way she’d said that, something that she couldn’t put her finger on.
“Speaking of the master’s new bride,” now it had come to it, she could feel the words trying to stick in her throat.  She coughed in an attempt to clear it, “ahem, when was the last time you heard from him exactly, out of curiosity?”
Ms Moore narrowed her eyes slightly, “it’s odd you should ask that.”  She furrowed her brow to match her eyes, “It has been almost a week since we last spoke to him.”
It was Jessica’s turn to furrow her brow, “a week, but that doesn’t make any sense,” she said aloud before she could stop herself.
Ms Moore’s face straightened, becoming unreadable, “what do you mean by that, Miss Faileas?”
Jessica swallowed hard, there was nothing else for it.
She swallowed again, trying to force the rather sizeable lump that had risen and proceeded to explain just exactly what had happened between David and herself since their first encounter on the port side observation deck.

Relating the entire tale in full took more or less fifteen minutes that felt like more than an hour.  She found herself side stepping the issue of the identity of the killer, the parasidic demon, the disembodied voice, not to mention the portal and weapon that had appeared in her room.
Ms Moore sat in silence the entire time, barely even nodding as she took in all that the young woman had to say.
When Jessica had finished, she just sat there staring at her, as though she were trying to decipher her.
“Please say something,” Jessica pleaded after several minutes had passed, the tension was killing her.
Ms Moore stood up and, walking to the comfy sofas, beckoned her to follow.  She motioned for Jessica to sit, before seating herself in an opposite chair. 
She gazed at her for a few more moments.
“Well,” she said finally, “You do realise how this sounds, don’t you?  And, had I any sense, I should have called for help or the police maybe?”
Jessica nodded her head solemnly, her hands set firmly in her lap.
“I expect that it’s a good thing that I believe you then, isn’t it?”
Jessica’s head snapped up, “You believe me?  But why?  How?”  Seeing a brief look of amusement flit across Ms Moore’s face, she tried to rephrase it, “I don’t mean to push my luck, but even I would have had a hard time me, in fact I’m not even sure I do most of the time.”
The smile that grew on Ms Moore’s face was surprisingly warm and friendly, “I’ve known most of it since you arrived earlier today, and most of the rest I guessed.  Admittedly I was not completely clear of a few things until now, but I did know.”
“But how…?”
Ms Moore patted the necklace around her own neck indicating Jessica to do the same.
She raised her hand to the chain but before she reached it, it struck her, the ring David had given to her when he asked her to marry him.
“It was his mothers that he had sent for especially for the woman he loved.”
“But that’s just what I don’t understand,” Jessica confessed, “you said that you last spoke to him about a week ago, but he didn’t know that he was going to propose to me then, surely?”
Ms Moore’s smile spread slightly, “I would have though it obvious why he sent for the ring and made arrangements then,” Jessica forced her face to remain calm despite the sudden palpitation of her heart, “he was planning to ask you to marry him, and he was going to do it at the Orbit Ball.”
Jessica couldn’t suppress the slight gasp that escaped her lips.
A wave of pain and sadness swept over her following the momentary elation of joy that came first and quick.
No tears threatened her, but a choking feeling began building up from the inside causing her breath to come in short, sharp bursts.
Forcing herself to calm she whispered, “He never said, oh David,” an involuntary sniffle at her nose brought her back to her senses and seeing Ms Moore supporting such a pitying look made her want to curl up into a ball.
Instead she said, “Please forgive me, I just had no idea he was planning…”
Ms Moore cut her off before the choking feeling could return, “it’s quite alright my dear, from what I’ve heard, and seen, from Mr Jacobs and yourself, I think you are well within your rights to be a little upset.”
Jessica gave a thankful smile.
“The question is now what should you do?”
“Before I arrived here, I had thought to work for about a month,” she confided, “to save the money I need to find out a few things and hopefully uncover the truth.  But now…?” she shrugged, I don’t know, I’ve been completely thrown.  There’s no way I can stay here, at the very best I can avoid dishonouring Davi… I mean Mr Jacobs’ name and reputation.”
Ms Moore looked impressed, and said so, “I’m glad you’re a good woman, your values are all in place, may I assume that it was for this reason that you did not accept his proposal.”
Jessica nodded.
“Then you have my respect and gratitude, and for your consideration, I am very much willing to help you.”