"Josephine, watch your step." Kendall Knight warned his fiancée. Carefully she lifted up her skirt and walked up the ramp. Behind her came Kendall. Already on board were Kendall's old friends and their fiancées.
"Oh! Kendall! Here they are!" Josephine cried out. Kendall smiled up at the three men he knew so well.
"James! Logan! Carlos!" He said, in turn taking their hands. Carlos grabbed Josephine's wrist and led her into an open door. Inside the room was a great dining hall. At that moment the room was filled with women and men sitting at tables having their afternoon teas. One table, at the center, had three women sitting around it. Josephine and Kendall had never met the other boys' fiancées. Carlos was, of course, excited about them meeting.
The women at the table were all, well, not exactly complete ladies. It was something about them; it really didn't have to do with the way that they acted. But Josephine was a well-bred young lady and she could spot an uncultured woman a mile away. The only woman at the table who seemed able to cover her heritage well enough was the one with black hair. Oh, Logan's fiancée.
"Hello." The woman said, kindly. But in her eye was a calculating glare. Josephine took her hand and acknowledged her.
"I'm sorry, I don't believe I caught your name." Josephine commented as she took her seat.
"I don't believe I mentioned it, Josephine." She responded. Josephine was surprised, how had this woman known her. "I'm sorry, you don't remember us do you?" The woman asked. Josephine shook her head. "I see. My sister, Linette and I worked as your seamstresses when you lived in Paris."
"Monique?" Josephine asked after a moment's thought. Monique nodded and laughed. Josephine smiled. If she remembered correctly she was now having tea with the descendants of a fallen king and his bar dancer wife.
"You ladies know each other?" James asked as he sat down next to Linette. Carlos sat next to the Irish woman and Logan sat next to Monique. The Irish woman took advantage of the moment's silence and heartily shook Josephine's hand.
"My name's Ciara O'Hara ma'am." She laughed. Josephine slowly pulled her hand away. Certainly unlady-like. Kendall placed his arm across the back of her seat and lounged. Josephine stiffened. She would have none of that.
"Kendall, you're lounging like a lazy dog, please right yourself." She commanded. Kendall sat up and removed his arm. Carlos barely hid his laughter. Suddenly Linette stood up, James with her.
"We're going for a walk. We shall meet you for luncheon." James said and offered his arm to Linette. Gratefully she took it. Once out in the on the deck, Linette noticed that they were quite a way out from port.
"Oh, James, it's beautiful!" She exclaimed, in spite of herself. James smiled down at her. He hated seeing her crowded in with those stuffy old prunes that were 'perfect ladies'. Much like that Josephine. Those women held down the carefree girl that he had fallen in love with. Still smiling, he pulled out the pin holding Linette's hair up. Her blond locks fell down about her face and her cheeks flushed with happiness.
"You are very beautiful." James whispered in her ear. Linette giggled like a silly schoolgirl.
"Why, James Diamond!" She teased. The sea was so peaceful. It thrust Linette into a mood that she was rarely in. "James, will life always be this nice? When we get to America, what will happen then?" James laughed silently. He knew that she was serious, but it was hard to see her as such a person.
"Oh, I suppose we'll move to New York. It's quite a city you know." He said, leaning against the railing. "Then we'll get married. We'll find some lovely little church with a cute little altar." He paused. Linette noticed.
"Are you as terrified as I am?" She asked, a joking tone in her voice. James looked at her. Though her voice was joking, her eyes were truly terrified. Their beautiful green splendor was stained with fear. All at once James wanted to take her in his arms and protect her from all harms. So he gently took her hand in his and squeezed it.
"Absolutely." He smiled. Then he kissed her forehead and hugged her to him.
At this time Logan and Monique had also abandoned the table. Logan, who planned on being married by a priest who was actually on board, openly showed affection to Monique. Tightly he gripped her hand in his.
"Logan, what are you thinking about?" Monique asked. Logan looked at her.
"Just about what the future holds." He answered. Monique smiled.
"I've already decided that I want a family, right off. A nice little boy to start. We'll own a small cottage and have a cute little picked fence." She sighed and leaned her head against Logan's. For one moment, all of the women, Josephine, Ciara, Monique, and Linette, all had the same thought.
'What a wonderful life I'll have after this.'