Helen stared glumly at the plate in front of her. She felt ill as it was, and just the sight of the prawns made her want to throw up.
Her mother had ordered, much to her dislike as she gazed around the beautifully decorated room, wondering who could possibly acquire such taste.
"Helen," muttered Clarissa bitterly.
"Stop gawping and eat your meal."
Helen Reily Barbour glared at her mother with grey eyes.
"For your information mother I was admiring the decor."
Some of the party stared at Helen in shock.
"Have you seen what she's wearing?" squealed Arabella, rushing over to their table and bobbing down between Helen and the kind and handsome young gentleman on her right.
Helen exchanged amused glances with him.
Suddenly Arabella fell about laughing as the Robertson's entered, causing Helen to grin a little.
Elena wore bright pink that made Helen's eyes hurt, her mother wore navy blue and her sister wore a horrid lime green dress that made the young man next to Helen snort in his wine at Arabella's howling.
Helen giggled and looked down at her plate.
"Tom...Tommy-"
The gentleman turned to Arabella as she pointed to Mr Robertson, and also dropped his head to hide his laughter.
"Perhaps Elena would prefer to sit with the younger party?" suggested Mr Barbour kindly.
"Oh dear god," said Arabella a little too loud, causing Helen and 'Tom' to suppress laughter at their mutual friends antics.
"Helen, have you met Tom before?" asked Arabella, her eyes twinkled mischievously.
"No, I don't think so." replied Helen.
"Thomas, this is Helen, Helen this-" Arabella waffed her hand gesturing to the young man.
"Is Thomas Andrews. Ship builder extroidinaire ."
And with that, Arabella started to giggle.
Helen finally shook hands with Thomas, but as their hands locked together, it was like she had been struck by a bolt of lightening.
It took her a moment to realise that what had just happened had been eye lock. She regretfully tugged her eyes away, too alarmed by what had just happened.
Helen avoided -if she could help it- from looking at Thomas for the rest of the evening, but it was obvious to Arabella that the pair kept sneaking small glances at each other every now and again, and that just amused her even more.
"May we join you?" asked Elena.
Arabella snickered.
"Of course," shrugged Thomas, gesturing to the spare seats beside Arabella.
Elena sat, and so did her sister.
Thomas watched Helen as she stood to walk to the bar, his brown eyes studied her well developed and exquisitely curvy figure as she ordered a drink.
"You fancy her don't you?" mused Arabella. She knew that her cousin wasn't one for chasing women about.
He gazed at Bella awkwardly to see if she was merely mocking him, but instead she looked serious before he casually shrugged, hoping to throw her off of the trail.
"Oh come off it Tom, I've never seen you look at anyone the way you did just now."
"At who?" asked Helen, smiling as she returned to her chair.
He glared at Arabella slightly.
"Oh nothing," shrugged Bella, leaning back in her chair.
"Helen, would y' care to dance?" Thomas asked her quietly as the quartet started to play.
"I'd love to but I'm a terrible dancer." she admitted.
"S'alright, so am I." he grinned and stood, offering his hand which she accepted and allowed him to lead her to the dance floor.
Arabella rushed to James Barbour's side as Helen's parents watched her dancing with Mr Andrews.
"He's a ship builder."
"Dont be ridiculous."
"He is actually, a master ship builder," chimed in Bruce Ismay.
"Y' can talk Y'know, I won't bite," mused Thomas.
Helen laughed softly, but Thomas also noted that it was genuine.
"Sorry, I was just enjoying the music,"
He chuckled.
Helen lowered her lashes as he chuckled, for it made her heart flutter.
As the evening carried on, Helen and Thomas had grown exceedingly closer to one another and by the end of the evening, Helen didn't want to leave Thomas's arms.
She felt so safe there, so protected, loved even.
They had talked, told each other their life stories, and now much to Arabella's delight, they were discussing the future.
"Helen, come along now," called Mrs. Barbour for the second tine.
"Helen, might I write to you?" he asked quickly.
"Of course, I'd like that."
"Helen!"
She felt so embarrassed by her mothers shrieking, but that all disappeared when Thomas kissed her gloved hand.
There was something about him what she couldn't quite place. Something which was nagging in the back of her mind.
"Come along girl! You can see Mr Andrews in the morning."
Helen's eyes flew to Thomas's. She didn't want to leave. Something told her that he would no longer be here in the morning.
Reaching up, she pressed her lips against his warm cheek. There eyes met then, the eye lock returned, but they were brought back to reality when Helen's mother tugged on her free arm.
She obediently but reluctantly left with her mother, looking back at Thomas over her shoulder.
"What in god's name was that?" asked Arabella, watching Thomas stare after her.
"I don't know," he murmured.
Arabella smirked. "I bet."
"Please don't."
"Why?" She probed, folding her arms.
"Because you're always damn right, that's why."
Her smirk widened into a grin.
"Alright fine, I'll just keep my bet to myself then," she sang innocently, flicking her beautiful auburn hair behind her shoulders as she skipped off to annoy Elena.
