Chapter 10 – Join Me For Breakfast

Chapter 10 is now here. Hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please R&R.

April 12 1912

Morning had arrived and Patricia slowly woke up. She had managed to get a good night sleep and was tempted to go back to bed but was stopped when thoughts of the night before had come to her. She had kissed Cal, right on deck and to make matters worse she actually enjoyed it.

'Shit, I think i'm falling for him. No, I refuse to believe it. If he's anything like Cal in the diary, no way..' She thought to herself. Before she knew it Amy had come into her room.

'Good morning Miss, I had just come to wake you, but I see you are awake already. Would you like some tea?'

'Good morning, Amy. No thank you. I just need you to get me ready.'

Patricia inwardly panicked, what was she to wear for a date. No this was not a date, she would not allow herself to call it that. The moment she thought of it she got it out of her mind. This was definitely not a date, it was merely breakfast. Getting out of bed and looking in the closet she picked out a red day dress.

'Miss, that will suit you well.'

As Amy was dressing Patricia she rambled on about something. Patricia wasn't listening and instead couldn't stop thinking about last night. The way he held her, the way he spoke to her, the way he kissed her. The way he would make love to her.

'Enough Patricia, quit it already.' She mentally told herself off. All she could think of next was the words he spoke to her last night.

'Come now Patricia you're a beautiful, intelligent woman. Me and you were meant to be.'

'Miss.' It was Amy taking her out of her thoughts.

'Sorry..What is it.' Patricia said not paying attention.

'Are you alright Miss?'

'Oh yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking.'

Amy had curled Patricia's hair and did her makeup. Still in a daze, she put in her earrings not noticing they were the ones from the night before. Getting up, she remembered she was joining Cal for breakfast in his suite. As Patricia left her suite, she sighed nervously. Walking down the corridor, she was dreading it. She wasn't scared of him, she was scared of what might happen in suite. That was the problem, his suite, his private suite where they wouldn't be interrupted. Thoughts came to her as she walked down the corridor.

'It will just be you and him, no interruptions.'

Pulling herself together she had arrived before she knew it. Cal was right, they were quite close. Only one suite separated them from each other. Taking a deep breath she knocked on the door. After a short wait a man she had not seen before answered. She wondered who it could be and guessed it was probably Cal's manservant. Thinking back to the diary, Lovejoy, Celine's father was meant to be here, not this new person.

'You must be Miss Manderley. Come through. Mr Hockley is expecting you.'

'Thankyou Mr..' She said trying to find out his name.

'Jones. I am Mr Hockley's valet.' He told her.

As she walked in she took note of her surroundings, the sitting room looked identical to hers.

'Please, take a seat. I shall let him know you are here.'

Patricia thanked the man and took a seat on the sofa, admiring the room.

'I wonder what he does here at night all alone, in that bed.' Patricia tried to stop herself, being here did not help.

'Patricia.' She almost jumped when she heard Cal.

She got up and spun around to meet him. He was just dressed in a shirt and trousers. Immediately she walked over to him.

'Good morning, Cal.' He took her hand in his bringing it to his lips. Patricia just stared into his eyes. Then the man who let her in reappeared. Cal dismissed him and sent him on his way.

'Jones. You may go now, leave us.' The man then left the suite.

'Come, you must be hungry.' He took her arm in his and led her out to the private promenade deck where a table for two was set up with every kind of breakfast food you could imagine. She noticed that a bucket of champagne along with two glasses was on the table too. Patricia was very hungry and felt like she could eat everything.

'Nice set up you have here.'

Cal pulled out a chair for her and sat her down. 'You are pleased.'

'I might be.'

Cal laughed and as she sat down she immediately grabbed a slice of toast.

'I take it you are hungry?' Cal said to her, keeping his gaze on her.

Patricia nodded and sipped on a cup of tea. Her pulse was racing. She only ate like this when she was nervous. She was also very hungry too. It quickly dawned on her that eating a lot would not be possible, thanks to the corset. Cal started off the conversation.

'So, Patricia, what are your plans for when we get to New York, it is a shame your parents are no longer with us.' Patricia remembered she was someone else and also that the ship would never make it to New York. She couldn't really say that so thought carefully.

'I haven't really thought about it.'

Cal grinned at her.

'You should be married by now Patricia. A beautiful young woman such as yourself.'

Patricia nearly choked on her tea.

'Look, I told you last night. I don't need anyone Cal. I'm doing fine just as I am.'

'My dear, everyone needs someone. Even someone as beautiful as you.'

Patricia sighed about to give up. 'No, my parents didn't manage to arrange a match for me.' She did her best to play along. She was avoiding eye contact, one glance would sure set her off again. She then began to eat some porridge.

'That is most unfortunate, you will find someone I know it. What gentleman wouldn't want to marry you Patricia.'

Patricia knew this was getting worse. It was the way he said her name, his accent. If she didn't act soon she wouldn't be able to control herself. She decided to get up and made an excuse.

'Cal, I need to use your bathroom.'

'Of course, take all the time you need. I will be waiting right here for you.' He winked at her.

Patricia quickly left the promenade, breathing a sigh of relief. Not looking back, she walked into the sitting room and it was then she remembered that she hadn't asked where the bathroom was. The layout looked the same as her suite, although she couldn't be sure. She decided to turn back and poked her head around the corner.

'Um, Cal. Which way was is it. Stupid me, not asking before.' She nervously laughed.

Avoiding his stare she could have sworn she saw him grin at her.

'Just through my bedroom on the right.'

Patricia quickly turned around and made a beeline for his bedroom. She felt on edge even more now as she walked through his room. It was only a matter of time before something happened. As she walked through her eyes turned to his bed and noticed how messed up the sheets were from him sleeping in them. Thoughts raced through her mind. She fantasized how good it would feel to have those silky sheets against her skin, to feel his body against hers. Although she didn't want to admit it, she longed to be in that bed right now. Finally she made it into the bathroom and immediately splashed cold water against her face and began one of her arguments she had with herself. Speaking quietly she began her rant.

'Snap out of it girl. Cal is not the man for you. Look what happened between him, Celine and Officer Moody.'

That was what scared her. Celine and Rose were not on board and now everything was messed up. The diary had blank pages. It was as if somehow her being here had changed everything, but how?

Glaring at herself in the mirror, her eyes switched to the expensive jewels that were dangling from her ears. She still didn't know why she had them or who they were from. Remembering back to dinner last night and what Ninette had told her. Could Cal have really bought them for her?

It was then that the familiar low voice of Cal was heard behind her. Turning around she saw him leaning casually against the bathroom door holding two glasses of champagne.

'Join me, won't you. This is expensive champagne, but it tastes much better when drank in the company of a beautiful woman.' He practically placed the glass in her hand.

Patricia put a hand to her chest. 'You made me jump.'

It was really early to start drinking, but Patricia welcomed the alcohol, for it might just calm her down at that exact moment.

'They look beautiful on you.' Cal said eyeing up her earrings.

'Excuse me.'

'Those earrings. They really do suit you, you know.'

'Thanks, Cal.'

'I knew they would.' He said with a smirk on his face.

The moment he said that, she gasped and started to piece everything together. Maybe Ninette was right. Maybe he really had bought them for her. Cal slowly backed into his bedroom causing Patricia to follow him out of the bathroom.

'I don't understand.'

'Consider them a hint of my feelings for you.' He then pulled her to him. She had no idea why he had bought them, he hardly knew her.

'But we've only just met, Cal.'

'I bought them in Venice for you. I saw your picture many times and knew right then how beautiful you were.'

'Oh my God.' Patricia said out loud. He must really like her if he was buying her expensive gifts, before even meeting her. He really had the hots for her and sounded quite serious. Looking into her glass once more she downed the lot, she also needed to sit down too so broke away from him and sat on his bed.

'You. Venice..' She couldn't find the words.

Not long after, he joined her and sat next to her. This was terrible, she was alone with the hottest guy she had ever met and was now sitting on his bed. Things were bound to happen. Looking right at him she could have melted right there and the champagne didn't help either. Cal took her hand in his and began to speak to her.

'Yes Patricia. I'll take you there and buy you the most fanciest jewels ever. Anything you want is yours.'

'Thankyou, you shouldn't have.'

He grinned at her and put his hand on her knee.

'It's alright. You know Patricia, there is nothing I couldn't give you. There's nothing I'd deny you. If you would not deny me.' He whispered in her ear. She could feel his hot breath on her skin. Right now they were extremely close. Staring into his eyes she went for it and kissed him passionately on the lips.

It was a long kiss and it felt so good. As he ran his fingers through her hair she felt on fire. As she leaned back on the bed she pulled him down with her. As he began to undo the laces on her dress she began to panic.

'Patricia, you have to stop this. You can't sleep with Cal.' She thought.

She wanted him so badly and it took all her willpower to pull away.

'I can't do this. I'm sorry.' Patricia jumped up.

'Patricia, wait.' He tried to stop her but she didn't look back and ran out of his suite to her suite, slamming the door behind her.