TITANIC: THE NOVEL
SAM PEMBROKE
I
Philadelphia in the winter of 1881 was seen as dank and snowy. The city slept through the winter, as if the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty had come to fruition. Sixteen year old Ruth DeWitt dreaded this day. Today, January 1st was the day she would marry the scion of shipping magnate Charles Bukater. Her mother, Allison had no qualms about this match. The Dewitt's had business in textiles. Ruth's father, Horace owned a slew of textile mills from Reading to Quakertown in the west and north and Newark and Chester in the southwest. Horace needed an ally to ship his finished goods to places such as New York and London. He found that ally in Charles Bukater. In secret, Allison and Horace met with Charles. The wedding was arranged in the span of an afternoon over tea and cigars.
The DeWitt's not only controlled the mills in the region, but Horace's brother Lucien was also a "boss" in the political sense. He had backed Garfield and Arthur, as any republican would have. In return, Horace was paid handsomely for his contribution. Horace hated unions and the news coming from central Pennsylvania had been troubling. He cheered on the Pinkertons and their union busting. All of these ideals did not captivate their youngest daughter, Ruth. Ruth had graduated from the Gettysburg Womens College. As far as her parents were concerned, she would make a fit mother. If not in the future, now.
The engagement had to be made in secret. Ruth's free spirit wouldn't have allowed for her to settle down. Her classmates would be allowed to marry for love. Even her sister Harriet married for love. As far she was concerned, Harriet was living in Boston and a happily married wife of the Boston Dawson's. She could sense that it wasn't the whole truth. The truth was something that she had longed for. Horace and Allison kept many things from their daughter. The impending wedding was one of those secrets. From the start, Ruth was one of the most difficult children. A governess once described her as "delicate as a flower, yet as tough as iron." Whenever she got into a household scrape, she would simply take whatever it was that was nearest to her and hit the offending child or children. Her piercing green eyes would stop anyone in their tracks, as if they were in a trance.
When her parents told her of her marriage, she was devastated. She would no longer be allowed to do the things she had longed to do. Now, she wouldn't be able to travel and see the world. Instead she would act as a conquest. As her mother helped her dress for her wedding, she warned her daughter;
"No funny business Ruthie. You're the property of the Bukater family now. We no longer have control of you. Always honor your husband. Bow to his wishes. If you fail, then your father and I will disown you."
The service was grand. Samuel Bukater was eighteen years old. He looked impressive. Samuel looked well built for a man of his age. He came from good stock, for he was the only surviving son of his family. His mother, Mehitable was a stout figured woman that looked stern. She had her doubts about this marriage, but in this day and age she knew it was best not to question her husband. Secretly, she found the young Ruth to be quite abhorrent. She did not like Horace or his wife, Allison. Charles on the other hand found the young Ruth to be quite stunning. He admired her auburn hair and piercing green eyes. Something he also saw in Mehitable.
After the wedding, the reception was held at the DeWitt's mansion in Bryn Mawr. Ruth's uncle Lucien made an appearance. She hated her uncle, not because she was associated with Philadelphia, but because he was quite chintzy. He had numerous affairs that he had to keep secret from his wife, Sarah. Once, his cover was nearly blown when Sarah came home early from a luncheon. They had a son named Adam, who was quite a terror. He was thirteen years old. Ruth hated him more than she hated some of her siblings. Ruth frantically looked for her sister Harriet. She couldn't find her. Surely, she did receive the invitation. As she was having another glass of champagne, she heard her father talking low to her uncle
"Of course, Harriet's been taken care of. James couldn't stand to listen to her delusional ranting about things that do not exist in a woman's world. So, he did the responsible thing. He locked her up in that lunatic hospital south of the city."
Ruth could feel the hot sting of tears forming. Her father turned to her.
"See? Ruth's crying tears of happiness." Her father said to Lucien.
In reality, she was not crying for her wedding. She was mourning her sister. Nobody would care about her thoughts now. Beginning on this day, she would bottle up her feelings. She smiled. The hatred began filling her heart.
After the reception, Samuel took her to the bedroom. He was like an animal. He viciously tore at her stays. That night, Ruth became a woman. She hated it. This was her first encounter with sexual intercourse. She cried in agony. Her hair was becoming a mess. Samuel was like a dog that had been starved. She tried to resist, but he slapped her hands away.
"Honor me, dear wife. I know you want me." He whispered into her ears as he was getting ready.
This was strike one.
Secretly, Samuel didn't want to be like this. He had to keep up appearances for his parents.
A month later, Ruth had found herself becoming sick at the smell of certain things. No longer could she stand tea. The smell of it made her vomit. She asked a maid why she had been sick.
"Miss Ruth, you're pregnant."
Those words sent shivers down her spine. She did not want a child. She was carrying the child of her husband. A man, who before they were married, did not exist to the young woman. The maids who had been attending to her often remarked of "the master" as choosing a good wife. Little did any of them know that he was under incredible stress.
On September 8th, 1881 their first child, a son named Samuel had been born. The baby looked like his father, black hair and blue eyes. Ruth had to agree that he was handsome. As a reward for her successful pregnancy, he bought her a diamond necklace. This seemed to match the gaudy ring on her hand. Charles stopped by to see his grandson. Mehitable wouldn't show her face.
"He takes after you." Charles said to his son. Charles was proud that his son now had an heir.
"Father, I've noticed mother hasn't come to visit."
"Oh, she's being her typical self."
Samuel shrugged his shoulders. He already had plans for the next child. Two days later, they slept in the same bed. The nurses and the nanny had taken over the care of Samuel Junior. If it was tea the first time around, this time it was something else. This time she couldn't stand the smell of chicken.
"Ruth, eat something, you'll starve!" Samuel barked.
She picked at her food. Two months later, she was bedridden. She would remain that way for the rest of the pregnancy. June of 1882 brought another child. This time, it was a girl. Her name was to be Harriet, after her oldest sister. Ruth only held her for a few moments before she was taken away. Samuel held her with Ruth's permission. This girl took after both of them. She had her mothers auburn hair and green eyes, yet his facial build. Harriet was a reminder to Ruth of her sister. This time, Mehitable came to see her granddaughter.
"She's quite impressive, Ruth. If you have more girls, I'll come to see them. No boys." Mehitable said.
Ruth did not like Mehitable in the slightest. She viewed her much like she had her own father. She wondered if maybe deep down, Samuel didn't like his mother. In time perhaps.
"Are you keeping to yourself, girl?" Mehitable asked.
She nodded. Inside, she was terrified of this woman. Mehitable was domineering and in the worst way imaginable.
"Mother, please leave us for a few minutes. I need to speak to my wife." Samuel said.
Mehitable snorted.
Samuel closed the door.
"What is this?" She asked.
"Look, I have a plan. I don't want her controlling our lives. I lived with it my entire life. Just bear with me Ruthie."
They left the room and walked out to see Mehitable.
"I should hope that you at least have a nanny to look after Samuel and Harriet?" She asked.
"We do. It's taken care of, mother."
"Who is she? Is she reputable?" Mehitable asked.
"Yes! Why do you feel the need to interrogate us? We're married now. You have no say in our affairs." Samuel replied. For the first time, he was standing up to his mother. The woman that had bullied him when he was growing up. Samuel felt free inside.
"See what happens in the future." Mehitable hissed.
Samuel didn't care.
"I want my wife to participate in my life. She's a partner. I'm sorry that you have grown up in a world where people like you played second fiddle. The world's changing, mother. In our lifetime as a wedded couple, I see Ruth playing a major role in everything." He replied.
"You're lucky I didn't raise a weak child. I'll see to it that you're blacklisted from every event and that no one will want to do business with you." Mehitable sneered.
Mehitable's threats ultimately carried no weight. The husband and wife were seen at every social function. The business was booming. Behind the scenes, however Horace was having second thoughts.
"He's what? Wanting to educate her? No. I will not allow that." He shouted at Allison.
His wife cowered.
"I'll speak to Mehitable." Allison said.
Two days later, Mehitable was sitting in their parlor.
"This is very bad. Ruth can't handle knowing about the world around her." Allison said quietly.
"I've tried reaching out to them. He rebuffed me. My own son. Telling me off, how poor." Mehitable cried.
"When I see Ruth again, I'll box her on the ears."