Author's Note: I own pretty much,..nothing...Margaret...and that's it. And I'm a feedback whore...I live for feedback...

CHAPTER ONE

"Your own suite, what else? Father wanted the best for this trip, after all you are to meet your betrothed when we dock in New York. We cannot have you looking tired and unattractive" my eyes lifted from my fixed gaze on the mantel of the fireplace. In the few minutes he'd been talking to me I'd memorized every detail of that mantel, right down to which direction the rich, dark wood flowed. The gold details. I'd remember it forever.

I gave Cal a small smile and nodded, "Father is good to me…." breaking the smile and walking into the bedroom, Trudy was already unpacking the clothes. Closing the door behind me, I sighed heavily, leaning against it. Sprawled on my bed was Rose, expression mirroring my own. Her hat was thrown carelessly on the floor, my glittering gowns and dresses being hung in the closet by our silent travel companion.

"We haven't even left port and you already want to jump off don't you?" she asked me, sitting up and making room for me on the bed. The bed was soft when I leaned back onto it, I ran my hand across the silky bedspread. The feeling of quality things never got old.

"It's true. I don't want to go back to America." I sighed loudly, leaning my head against Rose's.

We were good friends. Best of friends. We'd met two years ago at a party thrown by my father, Rose's mother Ruth introduced her to my brother, Cal,…and now they were engaged. I knew Rose didn't want to marry him. I wouldn't wish Cal on anyone. Hr was angry, brash and abusive, like our Father. It was how he learned to love. I was thankful I found my own way,…the right way. I just hadn't found the right person to love.

"Maggie, you haven't even met your fiancé, he could be…." Rose paused, trying to come up with something positive, "….old? Very rich? Give me all I want? I doubt it Rose." I finished for her. She gave me a defeated look. Trudy looked over her shoulder and hung up my final gown, she looked apprehensive about staying. She curtsied quickly, zooming towards the door.

"S'cuse me, Miss's" Trudy said, leaving the room quickly. Now we were alone, not that it mattered. Trudy was our friend, and we trusted her.

Rose stood up, adjusting her dress and plucking her hat off the floor and walking to the door, "I'll see you at dinner"

I stood there, expression blank as I examined my room for the first time. It smelled heavily of paint, it was so new. Rich mahogany everywhere, everything seemed to have this blinding shine to it. I pulled back a corner of the plush comforter and ran a hand over the crisp sheets. They'd never been slept on. There were hundreds of people who would've wished they were in my place right now, but I'd pay anything to get out of my life.

My name is Margaret Anne Hockley. I turned eighteen three weeks ago, and at my party I'd received news that we'd be traveling to America for Cal and Rose's wedding,…as well to meet my fiancé.

I'd been thrown into an arranged marriage, because heaven forbid, I wasn't married by the "ancient" age of nineteen. He was rich, very high in the society rankings of Philadelphia, and his name was Theodore Larchmont. That's all I knew. That and he had a horrible taste in jewelry. I looked down at the large, garish diamond ring on my finger. If my ring finger snapped off any second, I wouldn't be too surprised.

After calling Trudy back in, with her help, a restricting corset, and a sky blue dress later, I snuck out of my rooms onto the promenade, enjoying the cool ocean air as it rippled my dress and long dark brown hair. I slowly walked the deck, taking in everything. The cables, the people, the small children that ran around playing games. It loved being on a ship, the smell, the sounds, the interesting people I'd stare at longingly, wanting to make conversation but couldn't.

Someone towards the bow of the boat screamed loudly, it caught me off guard, not used having loud distracting noises around me. I was such a girl.

I shrieked at the sudden shout from the bow of the boat, I stumbled back, colliding with a solid object. It grunted and barely caught me as I headed towards the ground. Catching my breath I was stood back up, brushing the hair that had tumbled out of my hat out of my face. Looking up to see who'd caught me and if Cal or his creepy manservant Lovejoy, were anywhere around to have seen my less than graceful display, I looked directly into a pair of gorgeous blue eyes.

Stopped by the intensity of them I forgot momentarily what had happened and where I was.

"Miss I'm so sorry. Are you alright?" came a Welsh voice. The blue eyes belonged to a voice. A very nice voice. I stepped back and put a hand to my head, looking at the Officer that stood before me. A few people stopped and stared at me, sticking their noses in the air and continuing on their way.

"Yes,…I'm fine. Just a little stunned" I said, getting my breathing under control. He looked concerned and took a step towards me, putting an arm out incase I needed further steadying. I took it, feeling the scruffy material of the navy blue Officer's uniforms under my fingers.

"Are you sure Miss-.."

"Hockley…Margaret Hockley. But don't call me Margaret, I prefer Maggie" it all came out in a nervous rush, no man had ever had that affect on me. He was just so….wow.

I blushed furiously, walking away from the Officer and leaning on the railing, staring down at the dark water bellow. I'd never been so embraced either.

"I'm Fifth Officer Harold Lowe,…but I prefer Harry" he said., coming up beside me and leaning on the railing as well. Typical, getting friendly then ratting on me to Cal. I scoffed, looking up at him.

"Why are you being so nice to me? You're just going to go tell my brother what I've done" I demanded.

Lowe looked taken aback, "Why would I tell your brother?"

"Because! I can't do anything remotely of my own choice! Damn it,…I just keep going and going don't I? Don't answer that! Great, now you think I'm this mad woman ranting about!"

I stopped my livid behavior and looked at him, he seemed to be holding back laughter. I glared at him.

"What the hell is so funny?"

"I'm sorry, you're not like any woman I've met before. So…blunt!" he laughed, I sighed angrily, crossing my arms in front of my chest. A habit that no governess could break me of.

"Blunt? Thank you very much for that lovely compliment but I really must be going" I said quickly, storming off in the opposite direction.

Well that was embarrassing, making a complete fool of myself in front of the handsome Officer. Not like it mattered, I was engaged. Engaged to a complete stranger. That thought after seeing someone as handsome as Officer Lowe…Harry….no, Officer! I must have been mad, thinking I could go around calling an Officer by his first name!