"Oh my God, is that the boy we sang 'Come Josephine' with earlier, Melly? I hardly recognized him."

Jack stood up when the girls approached the table with Constanza and Richard. "Ladies," he said, giving a bow.

Violet grinned. "Look at you," she breathed as they headed for their seats. Rose was there also, sitting next to Cal Hockley. He stood as the girls reached him.

Rose smiled. "Violet, Melody, this is my fiancé, Caledon Hockley. You already met Jack Dawson."

Cal kissed Violet's hand. "Charmed, Violet," he said. He took Melody's hand and did the same, giving her the once over with his eyes. "Melody," he said. He looked down at the neckline of Melody's dress, which was just low enough to reveal the cleft between the white mounds of her breasts. Melody blushed and held up her handbag in front of it before moving toward her seat.

Rose frowned, but sat down and turned just slightly in her seat so she could speak to Jack.

Richard pulled out Constanza's chair before assisting Melody and Violet. As they settled in a woman in a black dress with feathers in her hair turned to them. "Well," she said. "Stanzie, look at these girls of yours. You have not one, but two pretty daughters in your family."

Constanza beamed proudly. "Molly Brown, you know Violet already. This is my youngest, Melody."

"Nice to meet you Melody," said Molly.

Melody smiled. "It's nice to meet you too, Mrs. Brown."

"You call me Molly." She took her napkin and spread it on her lap. "So, your Momma tells me you'll both be going to school."

Melody smiled. "I'll be going back to Texas to go to university. Vi's going to stay in New York to take voice lessons."

"Well, isn't that exciting?" said Molly. "You sing, do you Vi?"

"That's right ma'am," Violet said. "Maybe I could sing for you sometime."

"That would be really nice, sweetie."

A waiter came by and carefully dished caviar onto Melody's plate. "Thank you," she said. She turned to Violet and Molly. "I love this stuff," she said, beginning to spread it on a water cracker.

Violet made a face. "Nasty," she said. "I'd rather drink out of the slop bucket at a saloon."

Constanza, Molly, Richard, and Jack laughed. Melody saw Mrs. Bukater frown at them. Violet lit a cigarette and blew the smoke in Mrs. Bukater's direction with a bright, syrupy smile. Mrs. Bukater looked away.

Melody couldn't help but feel bad for Jack. All during supper, Mrs. Bukater and others made jibes at him because he was poor. Melody saw Richard frown. Richard had grown up poor, she knew, and she could tell he didn't like hearing them pick on the young man for being less fortunate. Still, Jack held his own, and others, like Constanza, Molly and Colonel Gracie, obviously liked Jack and listened while he spoke about how he felt everyone should appreciate what they have and make each day count. At last, Rose raised her glass.

"To making it count," she said.

Everyone else raised their glasses as well. "To making it count."

Melody saw Violet shoot Rose a knowing look. Rose bit her lip and looked away.

Melody was getting anxious. Soon it would be time to meet Harold outside the dining room door. She ate a bit of her food, but mostly pushed it around on her plate. Just when she thought she'd explode, the men began to get up and leave. She saw Jack pass something to Rose. A few minutes later, Rose got up and left. Melody saw Violet watching Rose with her sharp eyes.

"Vi, don't you be gettin' any ideas," she hissed.

"Oh, calm yourself, baby sister," said Violet, wiggling her eyebrows. "I'm just gonna go see what trouble we can get into tonight." Before Melody could protest, Violet excused herself and was gone.

Constanza leaned over the table toward Melody. "Shouldn't you be meetin' a certain young officer by now? It's not polite to keep the young man waiting."

Molly Brown grinned. "Who's she meeting up with, Stanzie?"

Constanza grinned. "Fifth Officer Harold Lowe. Seems he's sweet on my little Melly."

"Well," Molly said, "don't keep sittin' here with a bunch of old ladies, go on girl."

Melody got up and excused herself. "It's been nice talking with you, Mrs. . . er, Molly."

Molly smiled. "Same here, sweetie."

"Good night Momma."

Constanza reached out and squeezed Melody's hand. "You have fun, darlin'. We won't be waitin' up." She winked at Melody.

Melody left, trying hard not to run for the door. The doormen opened the doors for her, and as she passed through, she saw Harold standing there, his hat in his hand. He was dressed in street clothes, a dark grey suit that looked a bit threadbare compared to the suits of the first class men, but Harold looked so handsome to her then, Melody thought she might faint.

Harold looked up, seeing her. His eyes grew wide and his jaw dropped when he saw Melody, resplendent in Constanza's red satin gown, the train looped over her wrist. He walked toward her, his mouth still open, looking as if he could not believe his eyes.

"Melody . . ." he breathed. "You look . . . just amazing."

Melody felt herself blush. "Thank you." She longed to leave the crowded hallways and find a quiet place to be alone with Harold. She hoped that before too long she would be in his arms again, reveling in his gentle kiss.

Violet suddenly ran up and grabbed Melody about the waist. "Hey, Harold," she said with a merry smile. "Melly! Rose said she was going to some party in steerage. Weird, huh? James is waiting down there for me." Violet grinned. "You comin' along?"

Harold looked at Melody. "Would you like to go?"

Melody smiled dreamily at him. "Why not?"

He offered his arm. "Then let us go."

After navigating the labyrinth of stairways and passages that led them down through several decks, they came down the stairs into the third class general room. They could hear the music coming up the hall as they approached. Melody laughed when she saw the room full of people from all over the world dancing and drinking together. The music was wild and lively, and sounded not terribly unlike some music she'd heard played by fiddlers at Constanza's. She smiled up at Harold, who took her hand and smiled back.

Violet let out a hoot. "Now this is what I'm talkin' about! Melly, this is just like back in Texas!" She grabbed Melody's hands and dragged her to the center of the dance floor, leading her in the dance. Melody laughed as they whirled around. Violet suddenly stopped, biting her lip and smiling. "Oh, there's James," she said. She winked at Melody. "Excuse me, Melly, I think I've got a date." She went to James and threw her arms around him, covering his mouth with hers.

Melody shook her head, chuckling at Violet. She turned her head to see Harold coming toward her, a pint of dark beer in each hand. He gave one of the pints to her. "Oh, thank you," she said, before tipping the pint to her mouth, gulping. She was suddenly so thirsty she couldn't control herself.

Harold looked at her with wide eyes. She stopped drinking and laughed. "Don't look so surprised, darlin'. I've been drinkin' since I was ten years old."

Harold laughed, sipping his pint. "Nothing about you surprises me anymore, Melody."

Melody laughed and continued drinking her pint. She looked up to see Jack and Rose dancing wildly, hopping up onto a platform in the center of the room and showing off for each other. She finished her pint and placed it on a nearby table. She held out her hand. "Will you dance with me, Harold?"

He shot her a sheepish look. "I don't really know how."

She smiled. "It's really not that hard. Just do what the others are doing, listen to the music, and hold me close." She took Harold's right hand and placed it on her corseted waist, taking his left hand in her right. She stepped close to Harold, even closer than she ever stood to the men in Constanza's dance hall when she danced with them. Her satin-encased breasts bumped against Harold's chest and his gaze dropped to the white flesh pushed up above her beaded bodice. She saw his mouth drop open slightly, his cheeks becoming rosy.

"I'm sorry," he said, looking away. "I'm a man and you look so . . . sultry. I can't help but react."

Melody felt herself blush, pleased he found her so desirable. "It's all right. Let's just dance."

Harold followed Melody's lead, taking his cues from what he saw the other couples doing, and soon he was leading himself. Melody laughed as they whirled around the room among the other couples to the wild sounds of the uilleann pipes and bodhran. She was having the time of her life.

They danced until they were both out of breath, and they collapsed into two chairs a few feet from the dancers, next to the stairs. "Oh my," Melody gasped. "I'll be damned if you aren't a good dancer. You've done worn me out."

Harold smiled proudly, gasping and wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Thank you." He leaned forward in his chair, laying a hand on Melody's face. He gently brought her mouth to his and Melody lost herself in him, running her fingers into his sweaty hair.

They both jumped when a very drunk Violet plopped down on the stairs next to them. "Damn!" she proclaimed loudly. "It's hot as hell in here." She fanned herself and looked over at Harold. "I saw you two dancin'. I'll be damned if you aren't the cutest couple in this room, next to them, of course." She gestured at Jack and Rose, who had just come off the dance floor, gasping for air themselves.

James was coming over to Violet, smiling. She held up an empty pint glass. "James, honey, would you get me another beer please?"

James smiled impishly down at her. "If we can go back to my room soon."

"Well, ain't you a little scamp?" she drawled. "Whew! Damn, these Irishmen know good beer when they see it."

"Your Texas is showing love," he said with a wink, referring to how pronounced her accent had become.

"It's always showin'." She held up the glass again. "Get me another beer darlin.' Once I cool down we'll go back to your room and you can bounce me off that mattress as many times as you want."

Melody jumped. "Vi!"

"What?" said Violet with a sneer. "You know I always say what I'm thinkin', baby sister. Especially when I've had a few." She hefted the glass at James again. He winked again and took it, heading off to find more beer.

Harold leaned over to Melody to whisper in her ear. "Should we take her home?"

Melody shook her head. "Oh, don't mind her. She knows when she's had too much." She leaned closer to Harold, feeling bold. "Where were we?" she asked, kissing him again.

"Get a room, will ya, you two!" said Violet, as James handed her a refilled pint glass. "This ain't no . . . WHOA! What in the Sam Hill is that girl doin'?" She pointed across the room at Rose.

Jack was holding up Rose's train while she lifted herself on her toes, a cigarette in one hand. She rose higher until she was standing on the very tips of her big toes, a pained expression on her face. "OWW," she finally cried, tipping over and into Jack's arms. He caught her, holding her while they laughed together.

Violet laughed, slapping her thigh with one hand. "Maybe that girl's finally having some fun!"

Melody felt a shadow pass over her. She looked up to see Cal's valet standing right over Violet on the stairs. He'd seen Jack and Rose together.

Violet turned and looked at him. "Hey!" she snarled. She stood up to her full height, looking the man in the eye. "What the hell do you think you're lookin' at?"

Melody looked at Harold, a look of horror on her face. "Oh God, I should have known Vi would be lookin' for a fight."

"What?" asked Harold.

"She always gets like this when she's drunk. She picks fights with anyone who looks at her cross-eyed."

The man was obviously startled. Violet was a small woman, but when she was angry and full of alcohol, she was intimidating. "Madam," was all he could say.

"What the hell are you doin' following people around like that? They's just havin' some fun. Mind your own goddamn business," Violet spat.

The man furrowed his eyebrows. "You impudent little slut," he snarled. "I'm merely following the orders of my employer. If it wasn't for the influences of the likes of your kind, Miss Rose would be with her fiance, where she belongs."

Violet's eyes grew fierce. "What the hell did you just call me? Nobody talks to me like that, you gump-faced little sonofabitch." Violet's body twisted as she simultaneously threw the contents of her glass into Lovejoy's face and brought the heel of her shoe down against his shin, dragging it downward. The glass hit the staircase and broke.

Melody looked at Harold, pleading in her eyes. "Harold, please stop her."

Harold was on his feet in a flash. He and James each grabbed one of Violet's arms, pulling her up the staircase. She bucked like a wild horse, reaching for Lovejoy as if she wanted to rip his throat out. "I ain't finished with the little bastard yet," she snarled. "Leggo!"

"Violet Anne, for godsakes! End it!" cried Melody as she shoved Violet up the stairs.

They dashed back through the maze of passages until they reached a crew passage. They soon ducked out of this, up another level or so until they burst through a door and out onto the deck just below the gymnasium. They all panted and gasped. Violet sat down on a deck chair, holding her side.

"Damn it," she said. " I coulda taken him."

Melody gasped. "No you couldn't have, Vi. That bastard could make real trouble for us. I don't think he realized who James and Harold were, but if he had he could get them fired."

"Oh, bullshit," said Violet, standing up. "James! Come here. I need you to take me back to my room. I believe you need to get better acquainted with a first class stateroom. Well, mostly the bed."

"Gawd," drawled Melody, rolling her eyes at Harold.

James looked at Harold and Melody helplessly, but a smile was turning up the corners of his mouth. "I think I'd better get her home before she gets in any more trouble."

"Probably wise," said Harold.

James turned and walked Violet to the nearest first class entrance, with Violet hanging on him and singing all the while: Up, up, a little bit higher. Oh, my! The moon is on fire.
Come, Josephine in my flying machine. Going up, all on, "Goodbye"!

Harold and Melody looked at each other and burst out laughing. "Well," said Melody. "I don't think I'll be going back to my room tonight. Maybe you could walk me to Richard and Momma's room? They have one bed free. I'll sleep there tonight."

Harold smiled warmly. "Why don't you come to my room?"

Melody bit her lip. "Won't you get in trouble?"

"Not if we don't get caught." He held out his hand. "Let's not wake your parents. Come with me, please?"

Melody could not resist the look he was giving her. "All right." She took his hand.