Chapter 3
One of Those Nights
That evening, Charlotte dined at a table with maids of other first class passengers. She could spot them a mile away, though to many it may have looked like just a bunch of stewardess', but Charlotte noted that the stewards and stewardess had red flag lapel pins, so people knew who they worked for.
At the table, Charlotte met Rosalie Bidois who worked for the Astor family and Ms. Ellen Bird who worked for the Mrs. Straus. From these two maids, Charlotte learned stories of New York City and the American culture but Charlotte soon discovered that the two hadn't actually been to America yet and they were just telling her stories from books. However that discovery made everyone laugh and it made for an enjoyable supper.
The men made jokes which caused even more laughter and an overall enjoyable atmosphere. Soon people started saying good night because they had to attend to their masters and mistresses and so Charlotte took that as her cue to return to the stateroom.
Ten minutes hadn't passed when Charlotte heard the door open and she went out into the sitting room to greet Isabel, her parents, and Luke. She curtsied to show respect, "How was supper?" she asked.
Isabel was beaming, "Oh it was so lovely. The people were so kind and welcoming and we even met the Captain!"
"Well that is exciting!" Charlotte smiled.
"Come along and as you help me into my nightgown, I will tell you more!" Isabel said and she turned to Luke, "Good night love."
He kissed her on the cheek, "Good night Isabel."
Mr. Phillips kissed his only child on the forehead and then Isabel walked into her room, Charlotte following close behind.
"So as I was saying we met the Captain and he was so polite and interesting. We were subjected to the company of that Ismay again but we also met the Master Shipbuilder, Mr. Andrews, OH and we met the Astor's from New York!" Isabel said in a rush, her words spilling out on top of each other.
Charlotte hid her smile as she began help Isabel out of her dress, "Well I met the Astor's maid who was very funny. Actually everyone in that group was very funny; it was good company I found myself in."
"Were you able to find the room with no trouble?" Isabel asked as she stepped out of her dress.
Charlotte took the dress over to the wardrobe and hung it up before moving back to loosen the strings on Isabel's corset. "Well I admit I was a little lost and I found myself on the deck. I stopped at the room where the officers eat and one of them helped me to find the dining room for the servants and crew."
Isabel was momentarily distracted as the corset loosened and she was able to breathe again. Charlotte carefully replaced the corset where it belonged and pulled a nightgown out, which Isabel took and went behind a screen to change. "An officer?" Isabel finally asked.
Charlotte stood at Isabel's vanity as she began to put all of the jewelry and hair accessories away into the little jewelry box, "Yes an officer."
"Was he handsome?" Isabel asked, reappearing a moment later.
Charlotte turned to watch Isabel who was moving to a basin that stood near the door. She sat down and began to dip a cloth into the warm water and wiped her face, removing the traces of makeup.
"Well?" Isabel asked again after a moment.
"Well what?" Charlotte had clearly gotten lost in thought.
"Was the officer handsome?" Isabel repeated.
Charlotte shrugged, "I was not really paying attention."
Isabel made a noise of impatience and moved to her bed, "You are quite silly," she sat down and seemed lost in thought for a moment. Charlotte was about to ask if she was dismissed but then Isabel said, "Tomorrow after I have lunch, you and I shall take a leisurely stroll down the deck. We shall be keeping an eye out for your officer; I want to see if he deserves my Charlotte."
Charlotte raised an eyebrow, "And you say I am the silly one?" she shook her head; "I suppose there is no way out of it?"
Isabel had a glint in her eyes, one of pure joy, "Of course not."
Charlotte sighed, "Well if we are to be running off to find my one true love tomorrow, may I at least be excused to my bedroom so I can sleep?"
Isabel nodded, "Oh yes of course! I am quite exhausted from our trip this morning and I wish to be well rested tomorrow."
"Very well, good night Isabel," Charlotte said.
"Good night Charlotte," Isabel replied as she snuggled under the blankets.
Charlotte turned the lamp off and quietly exited the room, checking on Mr. and Mrs. Phillips to see if they required anything, and then after seeing they were fine, Charlotte retire to her own room. In the dim light she changed into a night gown and pulled the blankets down on her bed. She sat up in bed for a while, reading from the ship guide that had been given to all of the passengers. Finally sleep threatened to take her while the lights were still on, so Charlotte turned them off and curled under the blankets and within moments she was asleep.
The next day after lunch, true to her word, Isabel dragged Charlotte up on deck. Isabel had a parasol that Charlotte held up to shield them both from the sun light. It was a beautiful day and the passengers were taking advantage of the beautiful weather. Children were laughing and playing games, people were taking tea and reading, and then there was Isabel who was asking Charlotte every time they passed an officer, if that was the man she had met.
"Do you not have a wedding to plan?" Charlotte asked, trying to keep the annoyance from her voice but she was sure it was still evident.
Isabel simply shrugged, "My mother is handling what remains of the planning stages."
Charlotte was about to say something when she saw Charles and she stopped. Isabel looked at Charlotte and smirked, "That's him, is it not?"
Charlotte gave a curt nod just as he came up to them, "Ah, Charlotte wasn't it?" Charles asked, taking his hat off.
Charlotte nodded, "Yes sir."
"I thought we established there would be no formalities?" he asked, giving her a stern look.
Isabel was practically grinning like the Cheshire cat, "Hello officer, it is very lovely to meet you," she said.
Charles smiled at Isabel, "Hello," he bowed to her, "A pleasure to meet you, miss."
"And you sir," Isabel said, nodding her head to him.
Charles stood to his full height again, "Well Charlotte, did you get a good meal last night?"
"Yes Charles and again I thank you for all of your help," she said, refraining from smiling at him.
Isabel eyed the two, "Well Charlotte, I think I am going to return to my room to rest before lunch."
Charlotte looked at Isabel, "Alright miss."
"Oh no," Isabel took the parasol, "You stay up here, enjoy the sea breeze and all of that," she winked at Charlotte and then nodded at Charles before leaving.
Charlotte watched the young woman leave, irritation flaring up inside of her. Oh what she would give for that child to not be the reason she even has a job, if only for five minutes. Isabel always saw things as a game and it was moments like this where it drove Charlotte batty.
"Your young miss is an interesting character," Charles commented.
"Oh, you have no idea," Charlotte said. She turned to look at Charles, "I have been that child's maid since she was nine years old. I love her very much but sometimes she just-" Charlotte bit her lip, "Forgive me, I must not speak ill especially to a stranger."
Charles gave her a small smile, "Your words are safe with me."
Charlotte sighed, "I do not know you well enough, I guess..."
He nodded, "Fair enough."
The two stood there for a moment in a sort of awkward silence. Charles was trying to find something to say, to make small talk since he was on a break and there was a pretty girl standing there, but as usual, he could think of no words. Charlotte was also sharing in an equal battle of what to say to make the uncomfortable silence go away. She had never been alone with a man before and she was quite sure she had no idea what to do. It was an even stranger situation for her because of the fact she had just met him the night before and now they were being thrown together because of Isabel's silly little whims and ideas.
"So, have you been enjoying the journey so far?" Charles finally asked, deciding the ship was as good a subject as any to start.
Charlotte nodded, "Quite, this ship is beautiful and everything is so smooth."
"Had you ever been on a ship before?" he asked next.
"No, this is my first time crossing the Atlantic," she answered.
"Ah," Charles brightened as they found a subject that they could easily fall into. "And what brings the trip?" he asked, moving his hand to indicate they should walk and talk.
She gave Charles a small smile and began to walk away from the first class passengers and their children, towards the side of the ship, "Well Miss. Isabel is to be wed to some wealthy young man from Boston. She wanted me to come with her, to be her servant in America so I came along."
"Ah a wedding," he nodded, "That does seem to be a common theme with most ships."
Charlotte nodded and looked out at the ocean; it was vast, endless, and a little bit overwhelming.
Charles was about to say something but instead heard his name. Charlotte turned to see another officer, who appeared to be a tad bit younger than Charles beckoning him.
"I suppose I am needed," he sighed and looked at Charlotte, "It was lovely seeing you again."
She nodded, "Yes, very lovely."
He gave her a slight bow and then dashed off towards the officer who had called his name.
Charlotte watched the two men disappear into a room and she sighed deeply. She debated with herself whether or not she should return to the room yet. If she went back immediately, Isabel would think something had gone wrong, but if she waited then Isabel would think Charlotte and Charles had been talking together that entire time, no matter what Charlotte said. Finally she decided that returning to the stateroom would be the better option, despite the third degree that she was bound to receive from Isabel.
However, when Charlotte arrived at the room, she found that Isabel had gone to have tea with her parents and Luke. After seeing there was nothing in the room that she could do, Charlotte retired to her room and fell down on to the bed. She sighed deeply and stared up at the rich ceilings that were beautiful and glossy, giving off the new feeling. She was surrounded by so many new and strange things that she thought she might scream at it all. Charlotte closed her eyes and saw Ethel and Jones' faces vividly, smiling at her and telling her various stories and teaching her life lessons. She yearned for something familiar to anchor her back down so that she would not feel so lost.
Charlotte appreciated what Isabel was trying to do, to an extent anyways, but she had to make the girl realize that if love is to be in her future, it had to be in her own time. As she stayed in the bed, her fingers working on their own accord to flatten out the bed spread around her, she thought about the best way to approach the situation. Finally all she could think of was to sit Isabel down and tell her exactly how she felt about her playing matchmaker, being firm was the only way Charlotte could think of.
When Isabel finally returned, Charlotte rose from where she had been laying, straightened out her dress and apron, and left the room to greet the family.
"Charlotte!" Isabel exclaimed in surprise. Charlotte couldn't help but feel like Isabel was not expecting her to be back yet.
Charlotte gave a curtsey to show respect to Isabel's parents and to Luke, "I hope your tea was enjoyable," she said.
"Yes Charlotte, thank you," Mrs. Phillips said.
"Come along Charlotte," Isabel said as she started towards her room.
Charlotte followed Isabel to the room and they closed the door behind them. Almost instantly, Isabel pounced, "How was it? Is he nice and a perfect gentleman? What did you talk about? How long did you talk together? Tell me all about him!"
Charlotte felt like she was being attacked from multiple different points and she took a deep breath, "Look Isabel, I need you to not try and force something to happen between me and a man I just met. If something is to happen then it will happen, but in the meantime can you please let me do my job as your maid and not focus on my romantic life?"
Isabel stared for a moment at Charlotte, she was clearly taken aback by the girl's words and for a brief moment Charlotte worried she had said too much and had overstepped her boundaries. Finally Isabel spoke and she simply gave a shrug, "Well if you really feel that way, then of course I will forget the matter."
Charlotte gave Isabel a smile, "Thank you Izzie."
Isabel beamed, "I think I am going to lie down for a bit, I have not been feeling well since lunch. When it is nearly time for supper, will you wake me up so I do not miss it?"
"Of course Izzie," Charlotte said.
She helped the girl change out of her dress and Isabel climbed under the blankets, comfortable and happy to be out of her corset for a few hours. Charlotte placed a glass of water near the bed in case Isabel woke up and wanted some and then she quietly closed the door behind her.
Supper came and passed, with Charlotte making Isabel up to display her true beauty. Charlotte again dined with her fellow maids and made friends with the young French girl who worked for the Thayer family. The evening of the eleventh passed in a quiet and peaceful daze and Charlotte had remarked that if the rest of the journey had remained this calm, she would be content. Later she would remark she wished she had kept her mouth shut.
Xx
A/N I'm sorry this took so long...I've been UN-inspired and then just plain busy...I am running on fumes right now as I type this...I can barely spell things right...
so yeah.
Enjoy and review, love you.
