Chapter 1:
This story is based on two characters I created on a Role Play. I'd like to thank brianna.d.97, for coming up with the title. (You're pretty awesome Bri, I hope you know that!) Without Further Ado:
I sat on my bed. Well, it wasn't really my bed, it was the campus' bed. I was at a finishing school. I glanced at the clock on the fireplace, frowning. It was half past four. Mother and Father should be here by now. But they weren't. I sighed, knowing that they were probably very reluctant to pick me up. They had been quite eager to drop me off last year. But I really couldn't blame them, at least, not entirely to much. After my older brother, Taylor DiVois had died last year.
(Pronounced: Dih-Vwah)
My parents were devastated, probably because Taylor was more proper than I was, hence why I was sent to finishing school, to become proper. Taylor, despite our families interestingly...um...high social ranking, Taylor had always been interested in ships. Joining the Royal Navy, that's what my parents thought that he had meant.
No. Taylor had meant building ships, designing them. This did not exactly please my parents. But, despite my parents' pleas, Taylor had gone off to study drafting, and later, he apprenticed under Mr. Thomas Andrews. I was quite proud of my brother, he was probably the only one in our family who would ever live their dream. But then, the accident occurred. Mr. Andrews had felt horrible afterward, saying that it was solely his fault. I knew that it wasn't though, Mr. Andrews was simply being kind. Taylor and Mr. Andrews had been designing a ship for the White Star Line. Taylor beamed every time it was brought up, proud of his accomplishment. My parents, however, were not. They had expected him to marry some Lady, the daughter of someone very high up, so he could take my father's place one day, yet, he was a ship architect.
Oh dear, I'm getting off track! Back to the accident. Taylor had been supervising the building of this exquisite ship. A young man had made a mistake, and my dear brother went to help him. Taylor had fallen off the scaffold, after trying to help the man, failing. Taylor had died on impact. My parents, angry as they were, shut everyone out, including me. The only person I could turn to, was my life long friend, Jack Phillips. Jack had been nine years older than me, but we got along great. He always considered Taylor, who was thirteen years older than I, his brother, and I, his sister. Jack, was the only one who wrote me letters when I was at boarding school. My parents did not write, one single time. They were probably angry with me, as I could never get anything right.
A knock on the door, squelched my thoughts of my brother. I stood, my light yellow gown cascading onto the floor. I walked to the door and lifted a white gloved hand to open it. Standing there was a twenty-five year old Jack Phillips. "Jack!" I cried, hugging him. I knew it wasn't proper. He knew that it wasn't either, and would have stopped me from hugging him, had I been anyone else.
"Elissa! How is my favorite little 'sister'?" I laughed. Jack had taken on the role of my older brother ever since Taylor had died.
"Well, I would be better, but my parents have not yet come to collect me from this atrocious school!" Jack laughed and put a hand over my mouth,
"Shhh! The Headmaster will hear you!" I smiled ruefully,
"She already knows that I hate this school," I changed my voice quickly, so I could imitate, Headmaster Delilah Vespar's annoying, voice, "That Elissabeth DiVois! She just cannot hold her tongue!" Jack frowned, feigning shock,
"Lady Elissabeth Marie DiVois! Are you imitating the Headmaster?" I grinned,
"Do you know me at all Jack?" he smiled gently, before offering me his elbow,
"Actually, Elissa, your parents sent me to take you home."
"Oh," I said, sounding slightly disappointed. I just wanted my parents to acknowledge me, and not see me as simply a disgrace to our family. Jack, seeing my disappointment smiled, "But..." he pulled out a lovely purple rose!
"Jack!" I grinned. This always made me feel better. It had started ever since I was ten. Every time I was sad, Taylor would give me a purple rose, my favorite flower. He would always say, "It's beautiful and unique, just like you." To this day, I never found out where he had acquired such rare flowers. After Taylor died, Jack would get me purple roses when I was sad. It was a sweet gesture, that always cheered me up. Jack smiled, glad that I was pleased with his gift. He helped me into a Renault and sat down beside me.
"DiVois Manor," he told the driver, a thin man with greying hair. The man nodded and drove off. "I have something to tell you," Jack spoke up suddenly, excitement in his voice.
"What?" Jack grinned,
"I'm going to be Marconi officer on the Titanic!" I smiled,
"That's wonderful Jack!" He grinned, before looking down, "The Titanic...that was the ship that Taylor was working on." I looked at him, horror filled my expression,
"The ship he was working on when he died, "I pointed out bluntly. Jack nodded once,
"I'm sorry Elissa, I don't exactly feel right about it either, but you know, I do need a job." I nodded,
"I know Jack, it's fine." He smiled, glad that I wasn't angry with him. "Ah, we've arrived." I looked up to see that we, indeed had stopped in front of DiVois Manor. I grimaced at the thought of it, but allowed Jack to help me out of the Renault. He picked up my bag and walked me to the front door. Mother answered it, "Elissabeth, you're home." She looked, strangely at Jack, "You may leave Mr. Phillips." Jack handed me the bag and waved, Mother ushered me inside before I could say goodbye.
"Well, that was rude Mother." Mother glared at me,
"He is not like us." I glared at her,
"So?"
"It is not proper!"
"Who's to say what is proper? If it was agreed that proper was wearing a catfish on your head, would you do it?"
(Sorry, just HAD to put that little Alice in Wonderland quote in there ;D )
Mother frowned, "I will not discuss this any further, come." I followed Mother into Father's study. My father stood,
"We're leaving." I gaped,
"Pardon?" Father sighed, annoyed,
"You heard me Elissabeth, we are leaving England tomorrow."
"Why?" I whined. Mother frowned at me disapprovingly,
"Do not whine." I nodded once.
"Because, "my father continued, "We have business in America to attend to."
"Business? What Business?!" Father did not answer. Mother did,
"We already bought new clothes for you. They're in your armoire. Pack Elissabeth, we need to leave soon, so that we can go to Southampton, where the ship is."
"What ship." Mother looked down. "What ship?" I repeated slowly. Father looked my in the eyes,
"Titanic." I staggered back,
"Why would we go on that ship?"
"It is the grandest ship in the world."
"But why not another ship?"
"Because the Titanic is befitting to our station, do I make that clear?" Father replied, dangerously. I nodded once before turning on my heels to go mope in Taylor's room. because that was certainly a very ladylike thing that my parents would love. The only good thing about this voyage would be Jack.