Chapter 9
Jack sat fidgeting through breakfast and Grace had noticed. She kept staring at him out the corner of her eye trying to read his face and work out what was wrong with him. Although she kept denying it to herself, she was sure it had something to do with that girl she found him with. She tried to think of her name...Anna? who was she? There was something familiar about her but Grace couldn't put her finger on it. She certainly wasn't a lady like she was and Jack had no business being seen out with her. Did he not realise what this would do to his reputation, being seen out with a commoner? Grace shook her head and ate another piece of her breakfast.
"So, what are your plans for today then?" John's voice broke into her thoughts. She looked at Jack, waiting on him to answer but he seemed completely preoccupied. "Jack?" his father asked again.
Jack suddenly looked up at his father. "I'm sorry?"
"I asked what your plans were for today Jack? What is the matter with you? You've been acting strangely ever since we got on this boat." John stared at him.
"Indeed." Grace mumbled. John shot her a look which instantly warned her to keep quiet. Grace's eyes fell to the table, breaking eye contact with them both.
"Actually Father, I would like to speak to you after breakfast if you don't mind?" Jack pleaded.
His father nodded. He had a feeling what Jack wanted to speak with him about but didn't care to discuss it over breakfast. "We'll go out on the boat deck for a walk when we finish."
Jack shook his head. "I'd prefer to discuss this in private if it's all the same."
Grace's eyes lifted from the table. Curiousness got the better of her and she wanted to know what they were going to be discussing. John looked his son over before returning back to his breakfast.
...
After they finished, Jack left Grace with a few of the ladies that had been dining with them over the last few nights before making his way back to his stateroom to speak to his father. His heart was pounding but he knew he had to tell his father the truth. Perhaps if he knew who she really was he would give him his blessing. His father had always been fairly reasonable, not like some of Jack's friend's parents. He was grateful for that much and hoped that his father would be reasonable now. He finally reached his stateroom door, took a deep breath and went inside. His father was sitting out on their private promenade, smoking a cigarette. Jack made his way through and sat down in the chair beside him, taking the cigarette his father offered him and lighting it.
"So what is this all about Jack?" he asked, turning in his seat.
Jack tapped his foot on the floor. "I need to ask you for something. You're blessing if you like." Jack whispered.
"My blessing for what?" John was intrigued now.
"I've met someone. I told you that before, and that I can't marry Grace." Jack started. His father nodded, understanding. "it's just that, right now, she isn't exactly what you would call, one of us." Jack was ashamed even speaking about his beautiful Rose like this.
"What do you mean Jack?" John narrowed his eyes.
"She's currently sailing on the ship. But she's not up here, with us." Jack looked down.
"You mean, she isn't first class?" there was a tenseness in John's voice.
Jack nodded. "She's in third."
John stood up as soon as he said this. Jack put his head in his hands. He was worried that his father would react this way but part of him had hoped that he would understand.
"She hasn't always been that way though." Jack stood up and walked behind him.
John turned to look at him. "I don't understand."
Jack sighed. He knew he was going to need to tell his father everything if he was to realise his son's feelings for Rose. "She used to be one of us. She used to belong to a very rich family."
John sat back down on the chair and motioned for Jack to do the same. Jack followed and lit another cigarette as he began telling his father the whole story.
...
"That poor girl." John said as Jack finished telling him everything. "I remember hearing about all that. Hell, we even met them a few times. I don't think you were there though Jack. Caledon used to drag that poor girl to every business event known to man and every time we saw them, she looked more and more miserable. I'm not surprised the poor girl ran out on her family."
Jack looked up at him. He hoped now that this would mean that he would get his father's blessing given that he now knew her background.
"Unfortunately though Jack, she has made her decision and she's now no longer part of your world. It wouldn't do you, me or the family any good if you were seen with her. In fact, you probably shouldn't spend any more time with her on this boat. Then when we dock, you don't need to see her again." John sighed, regretting every word that came out his mouth. He wasn't keen on how high society worked either but unfortunately, it came with the territory of being wealthy. John knew that he came across as harsh and cruel but he had to be, if he was to gain respect from his peers.
Jack couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had hoped his father was going to understand. He stood up and began to walk towards the door.
"Jack." He said before he walked out the door. "please understand why I'm telling you this. I'm only trying to protect you."
"I love her." Jack looked down. He didn't need to look at his father to know what his facial reactions would be.
"You what?" he was completely taken aback. He had expected that his son was infatuated with this girl, as had many a man been, but love? He hadn't counted on that.
"I love her. I can't help it. I have to be with her and if it means leaving you and all of this behind, then I'll do it." Jack turned to face him.
John couldn't believe what he was hearing. He couldn't lose his son. He had already lost his wife and now he was going to lose his only son? All for the sake of a girl? John thought back to how he felt when he was Jack's age. He was madly in love with his wife. He had married her in the spring of 1891 and she fell pregnant with Jack only a month later. They welcomed their son into the world on January 2nd 1892, the perfect new year's present. When he lost her in 1909, his world fell apart but he tried to keep going for Jack's sake. Although he would never admit it, many nights since, he had cried himself to sleep, wishing that she could be there with him but John knew that no amount of crying would bring her back.
"I know exactly how you feel." John admitted, pressing his hand up against the wall.
Jack stared at him. "What do you mean?"
"Your mother wasn't from a wealthy family." John admitted, closing his eyes.
Jack sat back down. He lit another cigarette, trying to take in what his father was telling him.
John sat down beside him. "I loved her, so I made her my wife. I had to put up with years of dirty looks and complaints from my family but I didn't care. She was the best thing that ever happened to me and I felt as though she was worth the stress that came along with it. She settled into our way of living very well but people always looked down their nose at her as if she was beneath them."
Jack sighed. He hadn't known about any of this and couldn't believe his father would have risked his reputation like that.
"I just don't want you to have to go through the same problems I had to deal with." John put his hand on his son's shoulder.
"She's worth it Father. Please, just at least meet her. If you spend ten minutes with her and you don't think she's perfect for me then I won't see her again, but I swear, you will see what I see." Jack willed him to agree.
John nodded. "Go get your girl then son."
