A/N: STORY COMPLETELY FICTIONAL. ENJOY J
Excitement pooled in the pit of stomach as I dressed for the evenings dinner. I spent a great deal of time choosing my dress eventually opting for a simple champagne coloured dress with black lace covering the short sleeves and thick lace covering the chest. It had a plain gather on the waist and a split in the fabric up the side of the leg but was covered with the same sort of material that was on the chest only with thicker density. Also on the lace fabric on the skirt was a black lace flower that matched the sleeves.
I called my personal maid Eleanor to come and help tie my corset and help me into my dress. After this I went over to my vanity to sit and have my hair done and choose my jewellery. My hair was tied up a French bun with a pearl headband wrapped around it and held in place at my hairline on forehead. I matched this with a pear necklace. It was just as I had finished getting ready and went t grab my purse there was a knock on the door. Instantly the knot in my stomach became a lot tighter. Eleanor went to answer it and I finished gathering my bearings before gliding elegantly towards the door.
I gasped when I saw him. He looked even more handsome than I could imagined. If I had thought he had looked good earlier well times that by 100 and you have what he looked like. He was dressed plainly in a black and white suit but there was something about that made it look striking. I bowed his head slightly when I approached him and in response I curtseyed.
"Why Leah you look breath taking," he complemented.
"Thank you, I could say the same about you," I returned.
He offered me his arm and I took without hesitation.
"I do hope your room is satisfactory?" he asked.
"Oh yes, more than satisfactory it is quite delightful," I assured him.
"Oh that is good news,"
"Who thought of the ship?" I asked curiously.
"Well that would be Mr. Bruce Ismay. I only designed her," he told me.
"Well I think the design is most important and you certainly did a good job of that," I complemented. He thanked me using the smile that made my heart skip a beat.
By this time we had reached the grand staircase we descended it slowly. As we did this I took in the beauty of the ship. The staircase was made of solid oak the tile on the floor and pattern on the wall was intricate it seemed like it belonged in a dream. At the bottom of the stairs were couples milling around making small talk with fellow passengers. All were dressed extremely elegantly. I suddenly became nervous of these people disliking me instinctively I clung closer to Thomas. If he realized this he didn't pass comment. As we reached the bottom of the staircase people began to approach us making small talk with Thomas. After a moment of accepting their praise of his ship he introduced me.
"I would like to introduce you to Miss Ophelia Carter. She will be dining with us for duration of our journey," I curtseyed to them and shook my hand. After this introduction we made our way to the table which would be belong to us for mealtimes during the voyage.
On the table sat an older couple who apparently owned their own underwear company, Mr Bruce Ismay who thought of the ship, a older large American woman called Mrs Margret 'Molly' Brown, a older man and his young wife who had I read about in papers, Mr and Mrs Astor. Also seated at the table was a man engaged to a young woman with red hair who I found out name was Rose and her mother. The man who's name was Cal seemed to be quite possessive over her and when he touched her she seemed to stiffen and force a smile. Well from what I'd seen of couples in love this wasn't was mean to be happening so I made a mental note to talk to her later.
Through the first course the conversation was generally steered to Thomas - who sat next to me - about his ship, I was content with this until half way through the second course when Rose's mother Ruth suddenly turned to me and asked me why I was travelling with Thomas.
"I'm not," I told her honestly.
"Oh," she seemed taken aback, "Who are you travelling with?"
"I'm travelling by myself."
"A young girl like you? Why you cant be anymore than twenty. That is not proper!" she exclaimed. My face hardened into a glare at this.
"Why not? I'm eighteen and for your information the reason I'm travelling alone is because two weeks ago my parents died. Now Mr Andrews here has been so kind as to let me dine with you all because I am alone with no one at all on this ship who I know, so please be so good as to explain what your problem is?" I asked in a agitated voice.
"I'm sorry I didn't realize," she said in a cool and collected manor. She then turned away from me. Next to me I hear Thomas give out a small chuckle.
"If you'll excuse me," I said placing my napkin on the table and standing up.
I walked hastily back to my room. I ran inside to sit down at my vanity. I had angrily removed my necklace and let my light brown hair fall in natural ringlets around my face. My large almond eyes. They naturally dark colour of them had turned almost black with my anger at the woman who had so wrongly made assumptions about my life! I was seething with anger when three quick raps on my door were heard. Eleanor got there before I did and when I entered the sitting room stood by the fire was none other than Thomas Andrews.
"Hello, may I help you?" I greeted.
"No Its just that you left in such a hurry I was worried so I came to check you were alright," he explained.
"Oh well then I'm fine," I said in a dignified tone.
"No, your not. I can see that. Please talk to me Leah. I want to help I really do," he said pleadingly. He walked over to me and placed a hand on my back guiding me over to the couch. We sat and I started to explain.
"Its just that that awful woman was making assumptions about me and my life and the way she spoke to me was like I was vermin. And people don't understand. The loss of family is still a fresh wound to me and I'm finding it so hard to act proper and not break down and cry because I haven't been allowed to do that since the day they died. I don't what to do anymore. I don't want sympathy though just someone to understand," I broke down crying. Thomas put his arms around me and buried my face in his chest. This felt so right. So natural.
"Its ok. Everything will be fine. I promise. Everything will turn out fine," he reassured me as I sat sobbing my heart out.
At some point whilst crying I must have fallen asleep because when I woke up was laying down. Thomas under me. I guessed that whilst crying I fell asleep and some time later so did he. I removed his arms from around me and got up. I smoothed out dress and walked over to a mirror. My hair was messed up strands flying all over the place. My eyes were red and bloodshot. My face was tearstained and my cheeks pink. I walked back to the sitting room. Thomas was awake, sitting up and looking around the room disorientated. His clean, fresh suit he had worn for dinner earlier was now crumpled and messed up. His hair was in a similar state. Yet right now he looked more irresistible than ever. No I couldn't think thoughts like that. So I composed myself and my thoughts.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have cried or fallen asleep on you like that, do forgive me?"
"Its fine I don't mind one bit," he assured.
"No, no I thinks its best if you leave. I will dine elsewhere for the rest of the voyage and leave you alone. Please forgive me for burdening you," I said as I escorted him out of my room. He attempted to speak once again but I silenced him with a pointed look. I shut the door with a hefty sight then walked solemnly over to my room. The clock hanging on the wall in there said that it was five minutes past 11. I didn't know what to do but given my situation a bath seemed appropriate.
I relaxed into the bubbles, revelling in warmth of it. I back, closed my eyes and began to think. I liked Thomas and I was obviously attracted to him. But what was I going to do? I wanted him to know how I felt and I wanted to get to know him better. So I came to the conclusion that I would go see him. I scrubbed down my body and dried myself off. Obviously I couldn't start wondering about the ship in my nightgown so I opted for plain black dress. I knew I couldn't get the corset on without Eleanor and I didn't want to go get her now as she would start wondering where I was going. So I decided to forego a corset and just slipped the dress on over my under dress.
As I started walking around the empty ship - for it was gone 11 and people were all in the rooms - I realized I had no idea where Thomas's room was. As I wandered I saw a lone steward. I approached and said,
"Excuse me I'm looking for Mr Andrews room if you please? Its just that something has broken in my room and I wanted to notify him."
"Ahh yes madam well if you go down the hall turn left and it's the 2 door on your right," he informed me.
"Thank you kind sir," I said walking off in the direction he had gestured. I gave 2 quick knocks on his door and less than a minute later Thomas himself answered the door hair untidy and shirt unbuttoned giving the perfect sight of his muscular chest. His confused expression took over his face and as he welcomed me inside it dawned on me that if I wasn't careful I was going to fall in love in with this man. But for that I think it may already be too late.
A/M: R&R IF YOU PLEASE…? J