Author's Note

Hello darlings. I'm so sorry about not updating yesterday. I got home around 11 from work and was exhausted. I'm trying to update daily, because I've read fan fiction before and WAITING is the worst part of it all. So I'm trying to update as much as possible.

On another note, I am open to any ideas for the story. I want you guys to decide what happens to Eleanor and James, I don't just want it to be all on me and then write something you guys hate. So, please, let me know what you're all thinking. I'm open to suggestions.

Chapter 3 is kinda lengthy so bear with me. And also remember its only April 10! We have a long way to go until the sinking.

With that being said, please enjoy the chapter!

Lots of Love,

HannahBanana44

Chapter 3

I'm Ready

Eleanor's Point of View

I open the door to my stateroom and was greeted by the empty sitting area.

'Daddy can't still be in his room, can he?' I thought to myself. I was gone for a good hour and a half. He can't still be in there. When we are at the house in New York, Daddy is always doing something. Whether its tending to his garden or outside enjoying a cup of tea. Daddy is always busyinghimself with some sort of task.

That was the first thing that indicated he needed some help. Daddy raised me well, don't get me wrong, but when I was 10, he just shut me out. He locked himself in his room and would come out only to eat and bathe. Our maid at the time, Charlotte, raised me during my teen years. Daddy was always in his room or in his study. He put on a great facade to society though.

I went to finishing school at age 15 and finished when I was about 17. When I arrived home from Philadelphia, Daddy wasn't the one that came and picked me up from the train station. It was Charlotte.

But even Charlotte is gone too, succumbing to a rare heart disease that was left untreated. I miss her dearly to this day, and wish she was still around. She always knew how to handle Daddy, and now that she's gone to, I guess I'm still learning how to control his fits of rage and how he slams a door in my face every time I try to talk about mom with him.

"Daddy? It's Eleanor, are you still in there?" I questioned through the door. I heard no shuffling of feet or no movement in the room at all.

"Daddy?" I questioned again, palms starting to sweat from anticipation.

Daddy has scared me since day one that we visited Doctor Albert. When he diagnosed Daddy, I became scared he would take his own life when I wasn't around. It scared me to death, and that's another reason I never left.

He needed me, and I couldn't just leave him like he left me.

I reached for the door handle, and swiftly turned it with one flick of the wrist. I looked around Daddy's bedroom, but it was like no one had even been in it. Daddy was no where to be found. A table sat in the corner of the room, with a bouquet of tulips on it. A card with my name sqrawled across it in sloppy handwriting.

Eleanor,

I went up to the deck to do some reading. I will be back within the hour, don't worry about me sweetheart, I'm fine.

Father

Relief over took my body upon reading his note. I reread it, once, twice, even three times more. Just to make sure I read it right.

I know I shouldn't be so worried, but he's all the family I have left. Don't get me wrong, I would love to get married and start a family, but Daddy kinda stops it all. I think about him being sick and I think about him, just dying because he thought no one cared for him. I care for him a lot, even though he wasn't present in half my life, I still love him, and he is still my father.

Sometimes, I sit down and wonder what it would be like if I had said yes to one of those suitors that asked for my hand.

I walked out into the sitting room and plunked myself down on the soft, cushioned couch. I sometimes wonder if I'm the only first class girl to think that this is a little to much.

People work there asses off to put food on the table for their families, and here I sit, on a feathered sofa wondering what dress I will wear to dinner tonight.

It never seems fair how the world works.

'Dinner tonight, with that officer. What's his name? James? Daddy will certainly be surprised when I tell him why he is dinning with us' I thought to myself, staring into the warm glow of the fireplace. I averted my head slightly and looked up at the clock that sat on the mantle of the fireplace.

'It's almost 4 o' clock' I thought absentmindedly. I should really find Ellen so she can help me dress.

Ellen is our maid that we hired when Charlotte died. She's about 18, and quite sweet actually. I consider her one of my closer friends. She is always there for me when I need to talk to her about something, and always seems to listen to what I have to say.

I got off the couch and walked over to our private deck that was adjacent to the sitting room. I seen her sitting in there with a book in her hand, and biting her nails with the other.

'Must be an exciting chapter.' I thought to myself. I waked in silently and slipped into the wicker chair sitting next to her.

"Ellen?" I question silently, looking over her shoulder to see what she was reading. I got no reply.

I laughed, "Ellen! Hurry! The boat is sinking!" Ellen's head shot up.

"What miss?" I laughed again. "I'm just pulling your leg El. Come, help me get dressed for dinner." She scowled at me.

"That wasn't a very nice thing to do miss." She said, a smirk pulling at the cornors of her mouth. I rolled my eyes.

"Ellen, don't be such a downer. I didn't know how else to get your attention." Ellen's smirk turned into a smile.

"You're such a dunce miss." Ellen said to me.

"Ellen, if you call me miss one more time, I will scream." I said laughing "You know I hate that. I've known you to long to have you call me miss anymore. Eleanor is just fine." I said getting up and following Ellen into my room.

"Fine Eleanor. What dress would you like to wear for the evening?" I smiled.

"Well, Ellen, I'm meeting someone for dinner tonight..." I trailed off, knowing she was going to pounce on the opportunity to pick on me.

"Is it a man?" Ellen questioned, raising an eyebrow. I blushed slightly.

"Yes..."

"Oh Eleanor! A suitor! Oh how wonderful!" She gushed.

"Ellen! I just met him today! I don't even know his middle name yet!" I laughed.

"What's his name? Oh please tell me!" She was jumping up and down like a little child in a candy store.

"James. He's an officer of the ship. He saved me earlier from falling overboard today." I said, remembering the encounter.

"Oh Eleanor, that must have been terrifying." She said as she slipped me out of my day dress. She opened the wardrobe and motioned for me to pick.

"Hmmm, Ellen, I think I will go with the blue one today." I said as she pulled it down from the hanger. Ellen tightened my corset, and slipped me into the sky blue dress.

It was rather beautiful on my figure, and matched my eyes well. Ellen pulled my hair back into a bun, with some of my curls hanging down, framing my face. She wrapped a beautiful gold choker, that was my mothers, around my neck to accent the gold trim of my dress. Gold earrings were clipped onto my ears as well, and Ellen spun around a full length mirror in order for me to see my appearance.

"Wonderful Ellen, I like it."

"Mister James won't know what hit him!" Ellen said smiling. "Are you ready for dinner now Eleanor?"

"I'm ready."

Author's Note

Hmmm? Whatcha guys think? I kinda liked this chapter because you learn a little more about Eleanor and her past life. The next one will be a little more exciting though. Just wait and see.

Lots of Love,

HannahBanana44