The captain of the Carpathia held a service for the dead. Survivors grouped together, crossed themselves, whispered quiet prayers. In the shadows under the bridge deck, Jack allowed himself to cry as he remembered Fabrizio's wish to see the Statue of Liberty. Next to him, Rose's heart broke for the children, for the unfairness of it all, and for her mother. Next to Rose, Brighid sobbed for the sister and nephew she would never see again yet hated to leave behind. And next to her stood Lovejoy, a silent stone staring at the horizon, his hand resting lightly in the middle of Brighid's back, hoping it would offer some small comfort.
The service was very dignified and people thanked the captain when he finished. He stayed with them awhile and then returned to the bridge, his gaze set firmly ahead, but a little weary.
With a blast of her whistle, the Carpathia set off for New York. Other ships would collect the dead. It would take days to recover the corpses that had drifted for miles, and many would have to be reburied at sea. But Carpathia's job was to ferry the living- she had already gone over and above the call of duty. Her passengers and crew had done everything humanly possible. Now it was time to set sail.
Earlier in the day, Lovejoy sensed the restlessness in Rose and went walkabout. Clutching his cane, he went to 'have a nose around' the First Class section, as he put it. He returned half an hour later with a stern expression. Approaching Rose, he cleared his throat and said, "Your mother survived."
He watched Rose quizzically to see her reaction. She'd held it in, not wanting to cry.
"Are you sure? You saw her?"
Lovejoy nodded. Jack had instinctively moved closer to Rose, and Brighid had studied all three of them without saying a word.
"She was with Mr. Hockley in the lounge. They were talking rather animatedly. She looked upset. I saw them through a window- I didn't dare go in."
Rose had looked at Jack, hoping for all the answers, but he had merely shrugged.
"I am sure Mr. Hockley has told Mrs. Bukater that you... perished," the former valet said tactfully.
"Rose," Jack had said, gently. "What do you want to do?"
"I want to stay with you," she whispered, her eyes wide and a little fearful.
"That's what I want, too."
Torn between running to her mother and staying with Jack, Rose chose Jack. She would always choose Jack. Biting back tears, she thanked Lovejoy in a soft voice and he promised her he wouldn't go near the First Class section again, not even for a smoke and a snifter of brandy. He did, however, manage to procure a small flask of the stuff, which he presented with a wink, allowing each of them to take a hefty slug. Rose had taken at least three huge swallows before Lovejoy wrestled the flask away from her and put it back in his pocket.
It soon became clear how enormous the ice field actually was. Jagged peaks pointed at the sky, huge gleaming slabs bumped together spawning ever more floating chunks. Passengers watched anxiously as Carpathia nosed her way around the perimeter and set a course that would add an extra day to the journey. Nobody cared how long it took. Better safe than sorry.
Rose and Brighid separated from the men and took a stroll around the lower deck. Rose kept a shawl over her head to hide her face so that Caledon Hockley wouldn't spot her. Brighid said, "to hell with him, who cares if he sees you? It's none of his business any more." But Rose couldn't tell her about the diamond. Instead, she changed the subject.
"What about you and The Undertaker, then?"
Brighid smacked Rose's arm. "Behave yourself. 'The Undertaker' indeed."
"That's what I used to call him. Always following me around, reporting back to Cal."
"Well, missy- he wouldn't have had to if you'd been behaving yourself."
Rose felt a hot flush creep up her neck. She pulled the shawl further across her face, the diamond burning a hole in her pocket. "I'm not the girl for Cal," she protested. "Our ... union... was arranged. Nothing but a move up the social ladder for my mother."
"And you'd rather be down here with the rest of us?"
"I'd rather have my freedom."
Brighid smiled. "Everything has its price."
"I know," said Rose. "I'm starting to realise that."
Brighid glanced over at Jack and Lovejoy who were deep in conversation at the railing. The younger man leaned forward, arms waving to make his point, while the older man shook his head, remonstrating with the boy and pointing at the ocean.
"Would you look at them, still talking about the ice. You'd think they were ice experts."
"You do like him though, don't you?"
Brighid nodded. "I do, yes. I liked him on that very night he came down to Third Class. Of course I had to be drunk and mouthy. Terrible things I said to him, I blush to think of it. But under that stuffy suit there's a real man with a beating heart. I just don't think he knows it yet."
"For as long as he was employed by the Hockleys, I never saw him with anyone," said Rose. "He was married to his job. I don't think he even slept. He had eyes like a hawk, and just as cold. How he's changed, in a mere matter of hours."
"I doubt he'll have changed that much. Except for his allegiances. Where once he'd have killed for his master, now he'd die for you."
Rose grimaced at the thought. "I'd rather he didn't. Besides, why would I need a bodyguard?"
"He needs some sort of position in life. I think he'd see it as an honour to serve you."
"I'm trying to get away from all that servitude nonsense. Nobody needs butlers. I can make my own damn tea." Rose imagined Lovejoy trailing after her with a tray of refreshments and a resigned look on his face.
"Well if you won't have him, I will."
"I think he's already yours," said Rose. "And I think you'll make him very happy."
"And yourself?" Brighid's eyes twinkled. "You have yourself a fine figure of a man right there, young Jack. Not quite reached his full potential yet, but when he does... phew! Look out, world!"
Now Rose blushed furiously, her face almost matching her hair. "We met in difficult circumstances... the worst possible. I don't mind admitting that the future frightens me a little, but I'm going to make a go of it with him, no matter what obstacles we face, nothing compares to what we just went though."
Brighid put her arm around Rose. "As long as you remember that, and don't argue over little things. There's going to be repercussions... we survivors will live with this for the rest of our days. But we owe it to those who didn't make it to live the best life we can."
"Adventure," said Rose, almost to herself. "That's what I want. Adventure."
"And love," said Brighid, gazing at Lovejoy. "Don't forget about love."
At the railing, the conversation had switched from the formation of icebergs to Carpathia's engine power to everything that had happened aboard Titanic before it hit the 'berg. Jack and Lovejoy were no longer enemies but neither had forgotten the handcuffs incident or Lovejoy's sadistic pleasure at tormenting the young lovers. Lovejoy's mumbled apology soothed Jack's ruffled ego, and Jack's mumbled apology for causing so much social upheaval was met with a satisfied grunt. After that, they moved on to the topic of women. It was obvious they wanted to talk about Rose and Brighid but in typical male fashion they covered several other 'conquests' first, in order for one to scope out the others' success in that department. After all, there was no point in discussing a particular topic, any topic, with a man who was less educated on the matter.
It soon became apparent that Lovejoy's past topped anything Jack could come up with, which was hardly surprising given the age difference and Lovejoy's dubious career path. But while Jack was happy to talk about cavorting with French girls, Lovejoy was cagey on the subject of past loves. He muttered something about 'what's done is done' before staring off into the waves.
"Did someone break your heart?" asked Jack.
"You can't break something that isn't there."
"Bullshit, Lovejoy. Only people with broken hearts talk like that."
"No one broke my heart," Lovejoy repeated stubbornly.
"'Course not. You're too tough for that, right? Okay, whose heart did you break?"
Lovejoy scowled at the passing ice flotilla. "I'm beginning to regret ever stepping on board the Titanic."
Jack snorted. "Do you realise how stupid that sounds?"
"I meant... " the former valet sighed heavily. "Never mind what I meant. It was quite the wrong thing to say."
Jack folded his arms on the rail and leaned his chin on his hands. "If you hadn't boarded the Titanic you'd never have met Brighid. She's nice, isn't she?"
"Hmm."
"Wow, don't sound so enthusiastic, you'll make everyone jealous."
"She is nice." Lovejoy fidgeted. "But I can't think what she sees in me. An old, unemployed cripple."
"Hey! Lovejoy. No complaining, remember?"
"I know. It's just... " Lovejoy's face tightened. "I'm starting to regret a lot of things. Life was perfectly ordered, and now it isn't. I haven't a clue what to do next. It's very unsettling."
Jack put his hand on the older man's shoulder. "That's easy. Stay with us! You, Brighid, Rose and me. We'll all live together in Chippewa Falls."
Lovejoy raised an eyebrow. "I'm sure that'll work."
"Of course it will. You'll fit right in. Just don't punch anyone and you'll be fine." Jack flashed a white toothed grin that only made Lovejoy scowl.
"A man my age should have his future mapped out. And now I have nothing. I'm not complaining, I'm telling the truth. If only... " the valet looked away, his sentence hanging unfinished in the air.
"If only the ship hadn't sunk?"
"If she... if Miss Rose had only accepted what was on offer for her. Wealth, status, a life of absolute luxury. Who in their right mind turns that down?"
Jack could see the growing frustration, plain as day, on Lovejoy's face. "But then she would have been miserable."
"Someone always loses," Lovejoy said quietly. "I'm afraid that's life."
Jack frowned. "Having second thoughts about helping us?"
"No, of course not. Don't put words in my mouth."
"So it's better for a seventeen year old girl to be miserable than a fifty-whatever year old man. That's very brave of you, Lovejoy. Not what I'd expect to hear from you."
"Stop twisting everything I say."
"I'm not. You said it yourself. Someone always loses. As long as it's not Spicer Lovejoy, hey?"
"Stop it. I never meant... " Lovejoy puffed air through his nose. "It's done. It's over. I can't change the past any more than you can."
"If I could, I'd make sure the damned boat didn't sink."
"So would I," said Lovejoy. "Then we wouldn't be having this discussion. We wouldn't have the fate of a thousand people pushing us on, never allowing us to complain lest we be labelled 'ungrateful'." He leaned on his cane as the deck rose and fell and the icefield fell further behind them.
"C'mon, Lovejoy. It may be delayed shock or something, but don't be bitter. I'm sure there'll be times when we don't want to hear how lucky we are to be alive. But right now, we have to be the luckiest people on earth."
Lovejoy nodded, smiling sheepishly. "You're right. We are. We're the ones who get to continue on this godawful journey. Our deaths have only been delayed." He shook his head to indicate he wasn't being serious.
Jack turned his back to the sea, leaning his elbows on the railings. The wind blew his bangs across his eyes as he squinted at Lovejoy. "You have a chance to start again, completely afresh, with a woman who likes you and wants to be with you. Miss Murphy just lost her family. I don't mean to pry but she's gonna need someone strong to be there for her."
"I quite understand. I'm just not sure I'm the right man for that."
Jack slapped him on the back. "Sure you are."
The wind grew ever chillier. Lovejoy wiped his unwrapped hand across his face, smearing salt spray on his cheeks. "She was planning to jump, wasn't she? Miss Rose, I mean."
"Yes," said Jack. "But you knew that."
"It's funny, isn't it? First she went to the stern to die, and then she went to the stern to live. And you were there, both times."
"I know," said Jack. "I'm responsible for her now."
They both paused for thought, letting the wind whip their hair, unconsciously counting the blocks of ice. Finally Jack spoke up.
"Rose isn't cut out for first class life. She's not a bird to be kept in a cage for the amusement of others. They were wrong for each other. No one should be forced into anything because of social status. Oh sure, it's all silver spoons and la-di-da but they don't know real love, only the love of money. Rose was a pawn in their game. She knew it, I knew it and you definitely knew it."
Lovejoy turned to Jack at last. "Look," he said vehemently. "I had a job to do. Don't you understand? We can't all gallivant around France painting naked prostitutes. My job was to protect Caledon Hockley under orders of Nathan Hockley, the steel magnate. And I did that job to the best of my ability. I don't need to be told anything by some wet behind the ears twenty year old."
"Jeez Lovejoy, 'wet behind the ears'?"
Lovejoy thumped the railing. "There's no point talking to you anymore."
Jack smiled. "I heard everything you said. You're still that guy. You saved Rose, you protected her, you found out her mother survived, you've kept our group together. You're still doing that job, Lovejoy. And I bet we appreciate it a darn sight more than the Hockleys, even if we can't pay you squillions of dollars."
Lovejoy harrumphed. "The money wasn't that great," he confessed.
"Now why doesn't that surprise me?" said Jack.
Lovejoy cast a sidelong glance at the younger man. "You do remind me of myself, just a little. I was never quite as cheerful as you, which won't surprise you either, but once I got the bit between my teeth, I didn't stop until I got what I wanted. You're the same. It's probably why I have the urge to smack some sense into you." He smiled again, the picture of benevolence.
"Gee, thanks. That's quite a compliment."
Lovejoy lapsed back into silence. "Do you think I might be in with a chance?" he asked, finally. "With Miss Murphy?"
"Do I think?" Jack tried hard not to laugh. "She's crazy about you, Lovejoy. She really is. I think you struck gold."
"She barely knows me!"
"Then work on it! Stop being so mysterious! I dunno... kiss her, or something!"
Lovejoy's expression turned grim. "Please tell me again why I should be taking relationship advice from a boy barely out of his teens."
"A. Because you asked, B. Because he knows better than you. He sees the way she looks at you. And the way you look at her, trying not to be obvious. If you let her slip through your fingers we'll never forgive you. Rose is already planning your wedding."
Lovejoy jumped back, startled. "Good Lord. I have no words."
Jack looked past his shoulder. "Then you'd better find some real quick because they're coming back. What were we talking about? Hydraulic pistons?"
"You're not helping," grumbled Lovejoy, plastering a quick smile on his face as the women rejoined them. "Did you enjoy your walk, ladies?"
"Yes," said Brighid, "it was lovely. Under different circumstances this would be quite a delightful vessel."
Jack laughed at her airs and graces. "You sound like you came straight from afternoon tea."
"We thought about trying to sneak up there but it was too risky for Rose. Besides, I don't think I cut the mustard in these old rags."
Lovejoy smiled at her. "You look beautiful, my dear," he declared, unexpectedly.
Jack's eyes widened and Rose's mouth fell open. Brighid turned scarlet, twirling around and batting her eyelashes. "Why, thank you, kind sir."
"Woo, Lovejoy!" said Jack. "That was very smooth!"
Rose nudged Jack in the ribs, shushing him.
Lovejoy pushed himself away from the railings and said to Brighid, "Perhaps I ought to take a turn around the deck. The doctor did advise me to stay active to improve the circulation to my feet." He smiled impishly, causing Brighid to laugh out loud. She slipped her hand through his arm and rested it lightly on his inner elbow.
"We must keep your circulation going at all costs, Mr. Lovejoy. I take it you still have that brandy on you?" She looked at him, hopefully.
Lovejoy patted his pocket, raised a sly eyebrow.
"Come on then my old man," Brighid said. "Let's find somewhere to have a dram and leave the young ones to it."
Jack took Rose into his arms as Lovejoy and Brighid departed. "He was getting depressed but I managed to drag him out of it," Jack said, kissing the top of Rose's head.
"Depressed about what?"
"He's worried about the future. But I told him everything will work out just fine."
Rose snuggled into Jack's embrace, closing her eyes as her cheek rested on his shoulder. "You really believe that, don't you?"
"Of course I do," said Jack. "Don't you?"
"Yes," she said, nodding. "As long as I'm with you, Mr. Dawson."
Jack tilted her face towards his. "Then kiss me, Mrs. Dawson, because I'm never going to let you go."
"Gladly," said Rose, and she did.
