April 10, 1912br
The car moved slowly through the mobs of people on the pier to see the 'unsinkable' Titanic. I was sick of hearing about it- about everything. No ship is unsinkable. Anyone can see that- except these thick skulled rich people that we are acquainted with. It's always the same gossip, the same stiffness. Who really cares if Mrs. Astor is wearing fur, so maybe she likes it. What I'm most sick of is my family. It's not that I don't like them, it's just that everyday is the same- the same news, the same boring old routine. But this trip hasn't been boring- touring Europe was exciting, when I went out for walks by myself. And on this trip, my mother expanded my wardrobe even more with gaudy, uncomfortable, 'fashionable' dresses. "Isabelle," she would say, "you have to look nice for the gentlemen and carry on our family name and fortune." God, I'm so sick of hearing that, I want someone who will love me for who I am, not for the amount of feathers I wear in my hat.
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A servant opened the car door for me, holding out his hand.
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"No, thank you, I can get down myself," I said as I pushed past his hand and into the shadow of the great Titanic that loomed over us.
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"Here we are girls, that grandest ship ever built," my father said as mother took his arm.
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"It's marvelous, daddy," my sister, Marie, said in her 'grown up' tone. She's only fourteen and she thinks that she's better than me. I really don't care, but her attitude is enough to drive you mad. I think she gossips more than mother! And if that isn't enough, she repeats things, and whines if I don't pay attention!
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"Yes, it's big," I said, a bit annoyed by my family already, and it's only five 'til twelve!
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"What cabins are we in again, darling?" my mother asked my father. He took out a scrap of paper.
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"Let's see, you and I are in B98, Marie, you're in B96, and my Belle, you're in B94," he said as we walked up the gangplank. I was walking as fast as mother would allow me, I wanted to get in my room and take off the hideous hat that she insisted I wear when we board.
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"That's too bad we couldn't get a parlour suite," my mother said for the third time that day, and for the thousandth time that week. "I hear Mr. Hockley is in one along with the Dewitt Bukaters, you know, those red haired ladies."
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"Yes, mother," I said with an exasperating sigh. My father stopped to ask a steward to direct us to our cabins when we entered the grand ship, in the D deck reception room, or so read the sign.
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We followed the steward to the lifts, and went up to B deck. We walked around the Grandstaircase, which I thought were beautiful. I saw a man pushing a green safe ahead of us, I think he turned into a parlour suite.
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Our cabins were at the end of the hall, and unfortunately, my cabin was connected to Marie's. As soon as I got into my room, I took off my hat and flung it on the bed by the door. My cabin included a sink, a couch over by the window, and a small desk/vanity. What I really liked was the reading lamp above my bed. The only free time I get to read in peace is at night. My father had given me a book called 'Futility' for my birthday two days before, and I was anxious to read it.
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The door opened and a steward with my trunk came in, and my maid, Becky followed him in to unpack.
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"Um, excuse me," I said to the steward before he walked out the door.
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"Yes, miss?" he said turning to face me.
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"Do you have a map that I could have?" I asked him.
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"Certainly, miss," he said, pulling a piece of paper out, "I'll even mark your cabin for you." He smiled as he handed me the map.
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"My name is Mark, and I'll be your steward. If you need anything, just ring. Enjoy your voyage on the Titanic," he said before turning and leaving. The ship jolted slightly with the start of the engines, so I told Becky to tell my mother that I went up top, and I left the room. Checking my map, I found that my cabin was right next to the Aft Grandstaircase, so I used those up to A deck, and went out on the crowded covered promenade. I found a spot at the rail and looked down at the crowd of people below on the docks. It looked as if they were slowly moving instead of us. Almost all of Southampton was there, at least that's what it looked, just to see the Titanic off on her maiden voyage.
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Soon we were out of the port and steaming down the river. My small wrist watch read 12:20. I knew that my mother expected me to accompany her to tea soon, so I walked along the promenade for a while before heading to the Grandstaircase. As I walked back down the hall, which was bustling with people, I saw Becky standing outside the separate corridor to our cabins.
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"Miss, your mother said to change and meet her in the Cafe Parisen," she said as I approached her.
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"Thank you, Becky," I said as she helped me change. "I don't know why mother insists I sit with her and listen to pointless gossip."
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"Just go along with her, miss, she's not one you'd want to mess with," Becky said as I walked back out the door. A smile crept across my face, even Becky was afraid of my mother!
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The rest of the evening was the usual bore, although around dinner time, when we were stopped at Cherbourg, I did get the pleasure in meeting Mrs. Astor. She's actually quite nice. Margeret Brown also boarded at Cherbourg, the one my mother disliked, and ALWAYS talked about. I liked her, she wasn't afraid to just be herself in front of everyone. She sat with us at dinner, and she and I had a good conversation.
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"Are you charming and young lads, Belle?" she asked me, shocking me from the forward question, no one else would have asked me that.
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"No," I said, "my parents have selected suitors in the past, none who were to my liking."
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"You'll find someone," she said warmly, winking at me. For the first time in a while, I actually enjoyed the company at dinner. After dessert was served, I excused myself from the table and walked out to the stairs. From there, I took out my map, and followed the stairs up to the boat deck. The wind was chilly, and stars were blazing bright overhead. My watch said 9:30, but I wasn't a bit tired. I sat down on an empty deck chair and just took in every moment of being alone.
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I was sitting there a long time, when Becky came up. "Miss, your parents are looking for you," she said, helping me off the chair.
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"Oh, all right," I said reluctantly, going along with her.
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"Miss, are you aware that it's nearly eleven o'clock?" she reminded me.
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"Oh no! I had no idea! Mother's not going to be too happy," Becky and I practically ran down the deserted boat deck back to the Grandstaircase. Bursting out of the lift, I ran right into a tall gentlemen.
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"Oh! Excuse me, I'm so sorry," I said, looking up at him. His green eyes sparkled at me, his shaggy brown hair was long but not too long, and his bangs fell to the side of his forehead.
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"Are you all right? No need to apologize, it was my fault, really," he said warmly.
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"I'm fine," I answered.
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"I'm Robert Wellington," he said, extending his hand to me. I took it.
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"Isabelle Martin," I said.
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"I'll see you around, then? It's mighty lucky of me to run into a beautiful women such as yourself on the first day of sailing," he said, his eyes twinkling. I smiled at him.
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"It's nice to meet such a fine gentleman," I said.
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"Miss, we really should be going," Becky reminded me, taking my elbow.
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"Hope to see you around," I said over my shoulder.
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"He was a handsome fellow," Becky said as we walked down the long corridor to my cabin.
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"Yes, he was. Did you see his eyes?" I said in a low whisper as we turned into our small hallway.
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Mother was sitting on the couch in my room.
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"Where have you been?" she asked, a little annoyed.
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"Out on the boat deck, I needed some air," I said, taking clips out of my dirty blonde hair.
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"Becky?" my mother looked at her with a questioning look.
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"Yes, that's where I found her, ma'am," she replied quickly.
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"All right. Belle, don't go off wandering without telling me again, surely too much salt air can't be good for a girl," she said haughtily, as she closed the door behind her, Becky on her heels.
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Changing into my nightgown, my eye lids began to get heavy. I flipped on my reading lamp and crawled under the cool, crisp, new sheets. 'Futility' was going to have to wait.
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My thoughts kept drifting to Robert's emerald eyes. The way the sparkled made my heart race. I've seen plenty of men, but Robert was different. Before I knew it, I was asleep.