Roger hid his smirk behind his hand at Bea's mention of burned tea. Yeah, he had a few unfortunate tastes of that...interesting concoction. His eyes danced slightly mischievously. "Some?" He asked, his face now a bit 'serious', though his eyes still danced. He chuckled at Bea's reaction before sitting down beside her. Accepting a cup of tea with thanks, he indicated how many lumps of sugar (one) he wanted as well as milk (none, thank you) before stirring it. Like all British, he was very fond of tea and preferred it over coffee. He was a bit surprised though that an American had taken the courtesy to make it for them. But then again, Rebeca was a perfect hostess.

"So how is the traveling going?" He inquired. "Last I heard you were on the continent for awhile."

He didn't mention anything about the current state of affairs in mainland Europe. The Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire had signed a mutual defense treaty recently. Both nations had been gearing up militarily, making war machines and enlisting more soldiers. There was talk that there might be war. It was talk now but the treaty between the two nations had the Rhineland League and United Provinces worried. To counter they were in talks the Republic of France to form a mutual treaty as well. Denmark, Norway, and Sweden had already formed a mutual treaty - though more for fear of the Russian Tsardom who also was building up. It was almost an arms race with each nation quickly forming allies and turning out weaponry. 

The tensions of all this probably made business for Will and Rebeca a bit difficult. But then again, borders were still open for trade and probably would be so for a bit. Still...not something to really bring up in polite conversation.

~ ~ ~ 
The engine room was a mess. Fredericks apparently had no rhyme or reason to what he was doing. Estella put her hands on her hips, her lips pursed as she figured the best place to get started. Though not necessarily a mechanic, she was a tinkerer and had the gift to take apart or put together anything - whether she knew how it went or not. Even if it didn't go back the same way, it most always went back improved. 

She looped the strands of hair that had fallen loose back into her ponytail. Then she went to work. At first, she was a bit nervous with the captain in the same room. It wasn't like he was looking over her shoulder but it almost felt like it. However, that quickly passed and it wasn't long before she absentmindedly called out for something or had him doing something: holding a part up so she could secure it, grabbing a tool, the works.

Also as she got a bit more into the roll of working it wasn't surprising to have her talking to herself - or the ship, hard to say - in Danish or Yiddish. Occasionally a sharp word would slip off her lips as she hit something a bit more difficult or seemingly insane. The previous mechanic was a complete shmuck. Some of what he did infuriated her. The frustration or anger in her tone was evident. 

Sliding out from underneath the engine she ran the back of her hand across her face wiping some perspiration aside but leaving a smudge of grease. She looked at the captain. "She'll be airworthy shortly, Sir. But I wouldn't take her over water just yet. She still got a lot of work that needs to be done. The..." She caught herself before going into a tirade against the previous mechanic. Oh, she didn't hate the guy she just thought he was incompetent. And a schmuck. And a few other things. Her mother would be so disapointed. Taking a breath, she calmed herself. "She'll be fine as long as you don't push her too fast or take her to high. Some of the stuff I can fix while we are in flight. Some will need to be done on ground." 

She was definitely not the type to be afraid of getting dirty. In fact, she didn't notice at the moment. Grease on her clothes, bare arms, and face. Hair slipping out of her ponytail. In fact, the only thing she even seemed to notice was the loose strands of hair in her eyes and that was more due to the annoyance. Brushing them aside, she looked up at the captain.