Chapter Two

Old Friends

"Elinor, promise you will wire us just as soon as you have boarded."

She laughed, leaning out of the window of her car, "Of course mother, and we will let you know just as soon as we arrive in New York, right Dafyyd?" Elinor beamed at her brother.

"As soon as, if not sooner," he laughed.

"And Louisa will take good care of the both of us," Elinor assured her mother as she reached for the hand of her maid. They had been together since Elinor had married Joseph, and now the two could not be separated.

"Louisa, do try and enjoy yourself on this trip," Mrs. Davies urged the maid.

Louisa laughed, "Yes ma'am."

"I love your mother," Elinor said, beaming.

"I love you too mother," Dafyyd said, leaning in closer to his sister.

"You two behave and come home soon," Mrs. Davies told her children. She leaned over and kissed them both on the cheeks, "Stay safe."

The car pulled away from the old worn house that Elinor and her brother had grown up in, in Wales and headed north for Southampton. She was elated to finally be going to New York and to see America. She was already very well known throughout Europe's social circles for her performances, having traveled to Europe, Germany, and even Russia to perform for aristocrats and royalty. Her family always remarked on how Elinor had gone through the most dramatic change in status and life. She had not done bad for herself, considering she grew up the daughter of a quarry worker. This trip to America however, it was sure to be a wonderful opportunity for her career to expand her horizons. When combined with the thought of traveling on the Titanic, the most talked about ship in England, Ireland, and Wales combined, it was sure to be a wonderful experience.

Elinor and her brother arrived in Southampton on the evening of April ninth, and very early the next morning they arrived at the docks. The ship was even grander in person, and Elinor was awestruck.

"She is beautiful, isn't she?" Dafyyd remarked, staring up at the ship.

"Indeed." Elinor watched as a steward unloaded her car and began to load a cart on wheels with their trunks. "Sir, where do we board?" She asked politely.

"Just down that way, ma'am!" He pointed towards a gangplank that other people were walking up.

Elinor looked down at her mauve colored traveling suit, pulled a hair off the jacket, and began to walk towards the gangplank. Louisa and her brother followed closely behind, with the steward not far off after them. When they arrived at the entrance, a man in a blue uniform greeted them, "Your tickets ma'am?" He asked in a polite but firm voice, that sounded vaguely familiar.

Louisa quickly handed the boarding passes to Elinor, who showed them to the man, paying no attention to the individual, instead admiring the fine wood finish just inside the entrance to the ship, "Right, go down here to the right and a steward will help you the rest of the way." He handed the boarding pass back to her.

"Thank you sir," Elinor finally looked up at him and smiled kindly before beginning her journey to find her stateroom.

Louisa nodded at the man and Dafyyd tipped his hat at the officer before following Elinor.

The fifth officer felt as if his whole body had gone numb as he stared after the trio. He never would have known it was her because of that accent, she sounded so British-but that smile was still the smile. Her bright blue eyes were still bright and twinkling, and her hair, though covered by a large hat, was still shiny and think. He continued to stare, completely dumb struck, until he heard an impatient voice, "May I board now?!" He turned to look back at the older woman whose shrill voice had interrupted his reverie and he vaguely remembered nodding, "Of course ma'am. Welcome to Titanic."

–

"I say," Dafyyd said as they got farther down the hall, "That man looked terribly familiar, didn't you think so Elinor?"

She shrugged, "I barely noticed." It was true, Elinor had been so focused on how beautiful the inside of the ship looked, she had barely looked at the officer. At long last, they finally arrived at their staterooms. The steward turned the key in the lock and allowed them entrance into the room. "Oh it is so lovely!" She exclaimed.

Dafyyd and Louise followed closely behind her and he quickly took his hat off, setting it down onto the sofa, "Indeed. The white star line surely have outdone themselves this time. I shall have to tell Ismay what a fine job they have done."

Elinor made a face at the mention of Bruce Ismay. She had met him once before when he and his wife had attended one of her shows, and she had never been very impressed with him. He was always boasting and full of himself. He was however, a customer of her brother's bank and the two had developed a rather good friendship, so she was polite to Ismay if only for that reason. "I think I will change," she said, changing the subject, "And take in the air on the boat deck. I would love to see the ship off and see what it is like just being out on the open water."

–

"Harold, mate, you have barely said two words since we took off this morning. What has gotten into you?"

Harold looked up from the cold cup of tea that was in his hands. He had been standing in the bridge, for god knows how long, staring out at the ocean that was ahead of him. After he had finished loading passengers onto the ship, he had gone to fix himself a cup of tea, hoping that would help the cold feeling that had gripped his insides. It was Elinor. It had to be Elinor-his Elinor. He had been a storm of emotions since, guilt, sadness, and love. Of course he still loved her, he had never stopped loving her. It had gotten complicated though, and he was gone for so long that it got hard to get letters out. Then he had gone to London, he had flowers and he was going to surprise her at her grandmother's house, but he had seen her in the front parlor, another man sitting beside her who was absolutely beaming at her. She had not seemed completely interested, but he thought it best to leave her alone, she was clearly being courted and it would not be proper for him to intrude. He looked up at Jim Moody who was staring at him, exacerbated, "Yeah I am fine...just saw someone I never thought I would see again."

"Oh, I see. Well if you-"

"Lowe, can you fetch a cup of tea for me?"

The two men turned to see Captain Smith standing there and Harold nodded quickly, "Yes sir."

He rushed off to the kitchens and quickly prepared a cup of tea. He remembered Murdoch telling him that morning that the Captain liked it with two sugars, which he carefully dropped into the cup. When the beverage was complete, he carefully carried it upstairs and found the Captain standinge out on the deck, looking down at the lower decks. It was a beautiful day and the ship was moving so fast and smoothly. Harold normally always felt better when he was on the sea. He loved sailing and this was supposed to be no different. However, he could not help but think about Elinor and how much he had lost with her.

"It is a gorgeous day," Captain Smith said, a smile in his voice.

"Indeed sir," Harold looked at the Captain and then looked out at the decks below. People must have gotten settled and were now moving towards the decks to take in the fresh sea air. He scanned the faces, wondering if Elinor would be one of them. He would give anything to say hello to her one time.

–

"Ow!"

Harry had been running and Elinor had been chasing him but Elinor's pained exclamation made him stop and he turned to see the girl on the ground. Her stockings were ripped and she was on the ground. "What happened?" He rushed back over to her and offered her hands to help her up.

Elinor tried to stand, "Ow ow ow!" She cried and this time fat tears welled up in her eyes, "Oh lord that hurts!"

Harry bent down to look at her closer, "What happened?" He repeated.

"My foot got caught in that loose brick over there," she pointed to where there was now a stone loose from the road, "And my foot kind of twisted when I fell down."

"Shit," Harry whispered.

Elinor hit him on the arm, "You aren't supposed to say that word!"

Harry rolled his eyes, "Alright put your arms around my neck right here." She did as she was told and then without warning, Harry slipped his arms under her, one wrapped around her waist and the other held her legs. He stood to his full height , held Elinor tightly and began to carry her home. "You might've sprained it," He told her quietly.

"My mum is goin' to kill me," she moaned, "Look at my tights!"

"I am more worried about your foot," he told her, but he smiled.

When they finally reached the front door of her yard, Harry carefully set her down into the swing that hung on the front porch. He went to the front door and then knocked politely. Elinor's mother greeted him a moment later, "Yes, what is it Harold?"

"Uh Elinor fell and hurt her ankle." He stepped to the side so that Mrs. Davies could come out of the home and see her only daughter on the porch.

"Oh Elinor Anwen Davies, I have told you time and time again not to run!" She fussed, "Can you walk?"

She shook her head, "It hurts too much mum."

"Well your pa and brothers are not here and I will have to go and fetch the doctor," Mrs. Davies pinched the bridge of her nose, "Harry can ya carry in her inside and put her upstairs?"

Harry's ears turned red. He had not been in Elinor's room since they were small children, but he just nodded his head, "Yes ma'am." He carefully picked her up again and carried her upstairs to her room. Elinor was giggling the entire time, almost completely forgetting about the pain in her foot.

"I will be back soon. Behave and Harry help yourself to whatever is in the kitchen," Mrs. Davies said when she appeared in her daughter's bedroom a moment later.

"Okay," Harry said quietly.

Elinor had already placed a pillow under her injured foot and was looking at her mother in the doorway. She watched her mother leave the room and listened for the sound of the front door shutting. "I don't think I've ever seen ya so embarrassed." She giggled mirthfully.

Harry looked back at Elinor, "If your father came home and found me in here he would murder me."

"Oh daddy won't be home for awhile yet," Elinor glanced at the clock.

Harry carefully tucked a stray piece of hair out of her face, "You are going to get me into trouble."

She shrugged, "You kissed me first."

Harry leaned down and kissed her right on the nose, "And I have paid for it everyday since then."

–

"Hi I am just looking for Mr. Ismay, he's a customer at my bank and he told me to say hello. Someone said he might be up here."

Harold turned around and there was Dafyyd, Elinor's older brother. He was talking to Murdoch who was listening intently to Dafyyd's request. "I'm sorry Mister Davies, but I have not seen him this morning," Will told him politely. He turned to look at Harold and Captain Smith, "Lowe, Captain, have either of you see Mr. Ismay this morning?"

Harold shook his head quickly but did not respond.

"I believe he may be taking in tea at the cafe," Captain Smith said warmly, "He invited me but I declined."

Dafyyd nodded his head and was about to respond but then his face screwed up into one of confusion, "Hold on, Lowe did you say?"

"Yes, this is fifth officer Harold Lowe," The Captain smacked Harold on the back, "A fine officer indeed."

"Harold Lowe!" Dafyyd rushed over to him, "Old sport, it is so good to see you again!"

"Hello Dafyyd," Harold's voice came out in a higher pitch than normal and he cleared his throat, "How have you been?"

"Oh just marvelous. I am accompanying Elinor to America. She is going on a tour of the country's big theaters to do her Shakespeare performances," He laughed, "She has become a marvelous actress. She'll be elated to know you're here!"

Harold almost choked, "Shakespeare performances?"

"Aye, she is a renowned actress! Surely you've seen the posters in London!" Dafyyd said, "Your mum and dad came to one!"

Harold's face soured, "What?"

"Oh when are you off duty? We have to go find Elinor, she'll be so pleased!"

Harold looked nervously to the Captain and to Will then back to Dafyyd, "Your estimation that Elinor would be happy to see me seems a bit overstated. It uh-" he pulled at his collar. Was it hot in here? He felt so uncomfortable and like he needed air, except he was outside in the fresh air in the middle of the ocean, "Things did not end well between us."

Dafyyd just laughed, "Oh she is fine. She married and they were quite happy! She never even talks about you so I doubt she even remembers what happened between the two of you."

"Were?" Harold repeated.

"Aye, Joseph died just a few years ago. She moved on from whatever you two were doing as children," Dafyyd shrugged, "You have to join us for supper if your Captain will allow it!"

Harold looked at the Captain again. Captain Smith shrugged, "Your shift will end at five today so if you wish to dine with old friends then you may do so."

Harold sighed, "I don't know Dafyyd. It just seems like a bad idea to me."

"No it will be great! Join us tonight in the dining saloon. I think Elinor is dining with some of her socialite friends but we can make room for you at the table. She will be so happy to see you!" Dafyyd assured Harold.

"I guess," Harold mumbled quietly.

"Well it is settled then," Dafyyd beamed, "I will see you tonight!"

Harold watched Dafyyd shake hands with the Captain and Murdoch and then take off.

"What was that about?" Will asked, looking at Lowe who still seemed shaken.

"I grew up with him and his sister Elinor-" He broke off, "I courted her when I was fourteen."

"Oh," Will's face suddenly turned into one of understanding, "Stopped writing, eh?"

Harold shrugged, "It was complicated."

"Well now is your chance to make right any wrong doings on your part," the Captain said with a warm smile, "In the meantime you still have work to do. So please go do so."

Harold nodded his head, "Yes sir." He took one last glance down at the decks and spotted Dafyyd rushing over to a beautiful woman who was leaning over the sides of the ship looking down at the water. He could just barely make out her face when she looked up at her brother, and she was so incredibly beautiful, it overwhelmed Harold.

"Oh Dafyyd, I hate surprises!" Elinor complained. She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear that had come loose in the wind, "Who on Earth could you have run into that you do not want to tell me?"

"You will see tonight, but you will be happy!" Dafyyd told her.

She shook her head, "I will have to tell Lady Duff Gordon since it is HER supper table!"

Dafyyd rolled his eyes, "Then go find your fancy friends and tell them."

Elinor glanced over at Louise who was standing on the other side of her at the railings of the ship, "Come on Louise. If I am going to get lost on this ship I would rather be with a friend rather than my annoying big brother."

Louise laughed, "Yes ma'am."

Thankfully, Lady Duff Gordon had been quite alright with the new guest, assuring Elinor that any guest of her brother's was a guest of hers. Elinor racked her brain all afternoon, trying to figure out who the guest could be but she could not quite place her finger on any one individual. Finally the time came to change for supper and she wore one of her finest gowns. She wore a long red velvet gown that was beaded with a red lace train that draped around her front and back. It was pulled together with a diamond belt around her waist. Elinor's long blonde hair was pulled up with a diamond headband placed around the crown of her head. She looked every bit the famous actress and intended to stun her friends at the table that evening. She glanced at the photo of her husband Joseph that was sitting on the dresser. Though she had not wanted to marry him, and never truly loved him the way a wife loves a husband, she had come to adore him as a friend and there were days when she missed his companionship desperately. When it was time to leave for supper, her brother Dafyyd escorted her to the saloon. They nodded at people and shook hands with acquaintances or those who knew of her as the actress. They finally arrived at their table and Elinor went around greeting everyone. To her dismay, Mister Ismay also joined them at the table. She had yet to see who this surprise guest was. They all sat down at the table and Elinor was just picking up her glass of wine when Dafydd jumped from his seat.

"There you are, old sport!" He exlaimed. "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce a very dear old friend of mine and Elinor's. Fifth Officer Harold Lowe."

Elinor's eyes locked with Harold. Her glass tumbled from her hands and then everything went black.