With A Love That Was More Than Love
Chapter Two

"My heart to joy at the same tone
And all I lov'd-I lov'd alone..."
-Edgar Allan Poe

The next day I was itching with excitement as the time to tour the ship with Mr. Andrews rolled around. He was prompt in arriving at my suite, arriving at exactly the promised time of 10 A.M., but I felt as if I'd been waiting centuries.

We strolled the decks first, conversing about the lifeboat shortage. Mr. Andrews assured me that when the ship arrived back in England, it would be one of the first things he brought up to the White Star Line board, and this appeased me.

We then made a quick stop in the steering gear room, I believe it was called, so that I could meet a few of the officers. Mr. Murdoch was quite handsom, and kept a blush on my face the whole time. Mr. Andrews was quick to pull me away, however, much to my dissapointment.

Our tour continued until I had to head back to my room to get dressed for lunch. I had a maid, Lilly, help me into my corset and a pale blue dress, and fix my hair. Mr. Ismay would be coming to escort me. Afterwards, I would be taking a stroll of the decks with Molly Brown. Although she could be crude, she was just about as kind as first class comes, and she reminds me of the South. Not bad company at all, if I do say so myself.

Lunch was uneventful as ever as I chatted with the other ladies, Mrs. Brown and the Dewitt Bukaters. Mr. Andrews complimented me on my 'beautiful' southern accent, which left a permanent blush on my cheeks all throughout lunch.

As promised, Molly Brown accompanied me on my stroll of the deck. We mostly made small talk, enjoying the fresh air. I told her all about my plans for when I got home, and gave her an official invitaion to my birthday gala, to which she responded that she 'had nothing better to do, so why not?'

We stopped at the gates seperating the first class and lower classes. There weren't many people below us. A young girl and what looked like her brother, playing together, and an elderly couple.

"Miss Brown...I want to go down there." I pointed. I shouldn't have said anything, probably. It wouldn't be appropriate for someone of my class to be down there, and lord knows the whole ship would find out withing minutes if someone were to see.

"Well, go on then, girlie! Don't go askin' my permission!" Molly laughed, slapping my shoulder, causing me to let out a giggle.

"O-okay.." I trailed off. Now what? Do I actually go down there? The shove Molly placed on the small of my back told me that, yes, that's exactly what I do.

I looked around to make sure no one was watching before unlatching the gate and taking the steps down. All four pairs of eyes were on me the second my shoes touched the deck. The boy who was playing with the little girl, who I see now is more of a man and looks nothing like the girl, looks at me for a moment before standing up.

"Are you lost, ma'am?" He asked, Irish accent thick and warm. It gave me chills. I shook my head.

"Uhm...no. I wanted to come down and...well...introduce myself, I suppose." The man kind of nodded before relaxing the smallest amount.

"You suppose so..." I nodded, once again. "Or you know so?"

I was stunned into silence. What kind of question is that?

"I know so...I'm Sage. Sage Emerson."

"Beautiful name for a beautiful young lady," I blushed, "I'm Tommy Ryan. And this is Cora. I supposed I'm babysitting for a little bit."

I noticed that the elderly couple was gone. When they left, I could not tell you. The little girl smiled shyly before tucking herself behind Mr. Ryan, only half of her face poking from behind his back. She didn't stay long, she was more excited that she found someone new to play with her. We sat on a bench, playing with her baby dolls, while Tommy and I talked. Not about anything particualrly fun, mostly weather and such, but I felt like I couldn't take my eyes off of him. He was beautiful on another level. Angelic blonde curls, eyes as deep and blue as the Atlantic we were sailing across, cherub cheeks.

It must have been a while that I sat there talking to them, though it didn't feel like long, because before I knew it the dinner horn was sounding. I looked away from where my eyes had been focused, a curl that Tommy had been pushing out of his eyes since we started talking, startled that I had been away so long.

I apologized to Tommy and Cora for having to leave so suddenly, before explaining that I had to get to my room before Mr. Ismay arrived to escort me to dinner.

"Wait, Sage! Why don't you come to a party with me tonight? I'll show ya' where the real fun on this ship has been hiding." Tommy said, smile twitching on the corners of his lips.

"Yeah, Miss Sage, please come!" Cora begged. If Tommy hadn't already done the trick(he had), her huge doe eyes would have definitely done me in.

"Okay..I'll come...I have no idea where to go though!"

"I'll meet you here, right after your dinner is over, yeah?"

"Yeah...perfect." I smiled before rushing to my room, even more ecstatic than before.