"You do have a point, Moody. Lying would get her nowhere." "Yes, sir. She is an honorable woman, and honorable women don't lie." " Indeed, I trust her, as she is my lead advisor, but I do believe something fishy is going on here." "And what is that sir?" James asked nervously, as the already large knot in his stomach tripled. "Of all women, Kristen? Why Kristen?" Mayda groaned. "She's a good lass." "Indeed she is, not all people think so. Her family is gone, she only has herself, and the hope for a better life in America." "Harold, I want to get off this ship with you." "Mayda, you can't, you have family to take care of." "Who says we couldn't bring them over?" she smiled. "That we could do." Harry laughed. Mayda laughed as well. Harry laid down, still holding Mayda up against him.
"Just let us watch," Fleet said while flashing Kristen a wicked grin and a wink. "If anyone asked we never talked and I never gave you that water bomb."
Captain Smith paused at James' question, "I do not know but something is happening."
James' stomach continued to tie itself into knots.
"Something is happening aboard my ship. Shifts have been changed around and I do believe my look outs have gone off the deep end."
"Sir, with all due respect they've been a pair of loons ever since they were hired," James said.
"I have to give you that. Mister Moody, I'm trusting you to report any suspicious activity to me at once. I can't have my crew gallivanting around like a bunch of love sick school children."
"No sir," James quietly said.
"It would require immediate dismissal."
"Yes sir. Will there be anything else, sir?"
"No, just keep your eyes open. I'm going to tell the rest of my crew the same."
"Of course sir."
"Dismissed, Mister Moody."
"Yes, sir." Spinning on his heel James walked out of the Officer's Mess with his head held high. Once he was out of the room he felt about ready to collapse. He came so close to being caught for being in love with another officer.
But what about Harold? What would happen to him? He had spent about half his life aboard ships, having run away from home when he was fourteen. Would he be able to get a job elsewhere?
Resting against Harold Mayda took the few moments of silence between them to enjoy his presence and the warmth from his body. Leaning her head against his chest she could hear his heart beat.
"Harry?"
"Hmm?"
Mayda looked up, "Do you think you'd be able to handle eight of my brothers and sisters?"
"Ooooh, I'll worry about that when it happens."
"You're wonderful." she whispered as she leaned up and kissed him. "My goodness! James! Are you alright?" Kristen asked, running over to him. "We were almost caught. Captain Smith knows something fishy is going on, and he says that he can't have his crew running around like a group of love sick school children!" "Oh no. What are we going to do?" "I don't know, darling, I don't know." he replied, hugging her. "James, I think we should talk, come." she dragged him into her cabin, and shut the door. "Yes, I do believe that would be me, Mr. Harry Lowe." Harold said regally. Mayda laughed at his silliness. "What about me? Miss Mayda O'Brian? Goddess?" "Oh yes, dear, oh yes." "Just so you know, my brothers are quite hard to handle. My sisters would fall in love with you though. You have to keep your eyes open, and not give into their charm, they'd think you were quite handsome." "I'm used to it. An English woman couldn't keep her hands off of me one voyage. She was repulsive!" "Honestly?! That's awful!" "Oh, ask Kristen. She's had plenty of, well, interesting men go after her. Not including James, he's good. I have a feeling they will go far." "I do as well, Harry." Mayda sighed, letting her mind shift to her friend.
Harold slid his arm around Mayda to rub her back, "If I know James he'll be willing to do almost anything to protect Kristen's honor."
Sighing low James looked to Kristen, "I won't let Boxhall destroy your reputation."
"What are you going to do James?" Kristen asked.
"If I must I'll resign from White Star Line. If it means being with you I'll do it," James said. "Kristen, you're the inspirational one. You're the inspiration telling women that if they work they can make it through the ranks. Maybe one day women will have the vote. My mother always wanted to vote."
"I don't want you to resign," Kristen said.
James shook his head, "I'm a man, by being so my reputation will always be with me. You know how society is, 'commit all the scandal you want, just don't get caught'. Even then they're still more or less accepted into the fold. But you, you can't. Once your reputation is damaged then that's it. It certainly isn't fair but it's the way society is."
He went to Kristen and placed his hands on her shoulders. Looking into her blue eyes he continued, "If I can at all help it I'm not going to let anyone or anything harm you. I'm not going to let you throw away your position for me. I can always get work elsewhere."
Mayda rested her head against Harold's chest as her eyelids began to droop. Before she knew it she had fallen asleep in his arms.
For once for the past few days she felt completely safe.
"No, James. I won't let you." she told him, shaking her head. "I want to, I want to be with you, and we'll grow old. If it means I must resign, I will resign. You can't make me change my mind." "Alright, just don't unless there is no other way. I don't want you to sacrifice you life because of me." "I would if I had to. I'd do it a million times over!" Kristen hugged him, and felt his chest heave as he sighed. "Now we just need to keep it secret." "That could be an issue. We have to keep romantic stuff to a private time." Kristen warned. "Like now?" She heard a hint of hopefulness in his voice. "Yes, it could classify." She gave him a teasing smile. Mayda dreamt when she was in Harry's arms that night. She dreamt of her life ahead of her, she dreamt of him. Meanwhile, Captain Smith was still trying to figure out what was going on between his crew. He knew that there was something, he just had no idea what, and he knew that it needed to be uncovered, and fast.
Laughing James scooped Kristen up into his arms, "I'm sorry that I don't have a white horse to carry you off on."
"Just being in your arms is a wonderful experience," Kristen said.
"Oh, I wish I could carry you around the ship. You're the most amazing woman I've ever had the fortune of meeting. I want to do all that I can to show you how much I love you and care for you."
Kristen smiled at James and leaned into him causing their foreheads to touch.
"I'm never going to let anyone or anything come between us. If you let me I'd like to hold onto you forever."
As Harold held onto Mayda he himself began to find himself falling asleep. His chest rose and fell as he snored quietly as he dreamed of what the future may hold aboard Titanic and for the rest of his life.
In his sleep he failed to notice the cabin door opening just enough for a head to peek in. It was mostly standard procedure by the stewards to make sure all the windows were closed and everything was set. They would usually end their rounds by saying "Good night" but no voice came.
The door shut again as quietly as it had opened.
Captain Smith tapped his desk lightly with his fingers as his mind thought. He couldn't ask his officers as they might point fingers at one another. He hoped that would not be the case though he could not deny the possibility.
Perhaps the look outs or Thomas Andrews or J. Bruce Ismay knew something. He would have to ask them first thing in the morning.
"Of course you can James." Kristen sighed. James smiled, and he leaned in and gently kissed her. It was short, yet had so much love in it. "I love you, Kristen." James said. "Do I have to say something back, or do you already know what my answer will be?" "I know what it is." he smiled back, kissing her again. By the time a half hour had passed, Captain Smith gave up. He knew he couldn't ask Kristen, because he had accidentally infuriated her. He couldn't ask Lights, as he was just as angry, and he already talked to James. He definitely couldn't ask Fleet and Lee, as they were loonies like James said. He felt as if he couldn't rely on anyone for anything anymore. Perhaps Pitman and Boxhall were his last hopes. He wandered out on to the bridge, and to his surprise, Pitman and Boxhall were on instead of Kristen and James. He didn't know if they had switched shifts, probably had, with what just happened.
Inside, Smith felt sorry for the woman. He knew she worked for what she wanted, and he knew she deserved what she got. James continued to kiss Kristen, not keeping an eye on the time, nor caring for that matter.
"Gentlemen, I'm surprised to see you both on this shift," Captain Smith said.
Being completely oblivious to the situation at hand Pitman simply shrugged.
"Someone was needed up on the bridge," Boxhall said.
"Did you switch shifts with them?"
Another shrug from Pitman.
"They haven't shown up," Boxhall answered honestly. "I don't know where they are but they're not here."
Resisting the urge to groan aloud Captain Smith looked the two men over, "Would you ask the stewards to find them? I'd like to know the reasoning behind them not being on their shifts on time."
"Yes, sir," Pitman answered. Once again he was completely oblivious to the situation at hand. He didn't get it, he didn't understand it, but he knew better than to go against it.
He rang up two stewards who promptly came looking a combination of tired and annoyed.
"Captain Smith asks that you find our Chief Officer as well as our Sixth Officer," Pitman explained.
"Yes, sir," both stewards answered.
Going back to Boxhall Pitman was shaking his head in confusion.
"What IS this all about?" Pitman asked.
"I don't know," Boxhall lied. "I suppose we'll find them eventually."
I need to talk to that stewardess O'Brian next, Boxhall told himself.
The two stewards walked first into the Mess Hall, to find neither Kristen, or James. "Maybe we should try the cabins." the one suggested. "Aye. Let's go." They proceeded into the dorm hall, and knocked first on James' door. No answer. Inside her cabin, Kristen heard the two men. "Hurry, James! In the closet!" she ordered. He obeyed, and struggled into the closet. Kristen tried to fix up her hair, and a knock sounded from the door. She tried to stay calm as she went to answer it. "Ah, Miss Petronsky. The Captain was inquiring why you weren't on your shift." the one asked with a but if a smart tone. "Well, after events earlier today, Mr. Lightoller told me to stay in and get some rest. I thought he told the Captain, but he ran off rather quickly, so maybe he forgot." "Very well. We shall relay that, and have you seen Mr. Moody lately?" Her stomach tied in a knot. "No, I haven't, I would check the boiler rooms if I were you, he patrols down there." she suggested, trying to get them as far away as possible. "We will! I suggest you make an appearance on the bridge, Miss. Good evening." "Good evening." Kristen said after them. Immediately when they turned the corner, she shut the door. "Okay, James." He came out, and sighed with relief. "I suppose I should go make myself look busy then?" "Yes. I'm going to the bridge. See you later." She waited until he was out before shutting the door. He darted in the opposite direction, hoping to beat the stewards, while Kristen went up to the bridge.
James raced past surprised passengers and crew alike as he found a short cut to the boiler rooms. Slamming a door behind him he was blasted with the loud noise the boiler rooms made.
He could already feel the heat coming from the rooms and did not know how the men there could survive like that.
He slid down the ladder as quickly as he could only to mentally curse himself when he hit the bottom. Pain shot up his ankles as he bit his lip to keep from cursing out loud.
Giving his uniform a quick tug he began to pace as if nothing were out of the ordinary.
Keeping his hands clasped behind his back James approached the two stewards who were looking for him.
"What brings you down here gentlemen?" James asked. "You'll get your uniforms terribly dirty down here."
Sweat was already beading on his brow though it was not nervousness that was making him perspire. If he had his way he would already have removed the outer layers of his uniform in a vain effort to cool off.
"We were looking for you," the taller of the two stewards said.
"You've found me."
"Yes…well, Captain Smith was wondering why you weren't on the bridge."
"Mister Lightoller told me to make my rounds down here first. You can ask him if you don't believe me. Though I'd be careful about waking him up, he's rather crabby if he doesn't get enough rest."
"Really?"
"I've known the man for years. Trust me!" James wiped at his face with his sleeve as he didn't have a handkerchief handy. "My goodness, it's hot down here. I'm going back up to the bridge."
Returning the long way round James gradually made his way up to the bridge. His eyes were red and his face slightly dirty from his ordeal through the boiler rooms.
"Evening Captain," James said good naturedly.
"Mister Moody?"
"Yes sir?"
"Clean yourself up! You're a member of White Star Line, you should look the part!"
James blushed though it was difficult to tell through the dirt on his face, "Yes, sir."
What an evening, what an evening, James thought to himself. I wonder where Boxhall and Pitman are?
