"You have to go?" Rose asked pleadingly
"Yes, we don't want Cal finding out." He moved nearer to her where she was in the bed. He was tying his neck ascot and he put his hands to her face. "I would stay," he said, nodding and looking deeply in her eyes.
She looked at the bed sheets then at him, a deep blush stained her already rosy cheeks. "I know, you go, and I'll see you tomorrow morning, yes?"
"Yes, I'll give you and your mother a tour of the ship. Morning is in a few hours so get some rest, dear."
"Thomas," he was getting up and at the door. She scrambled out of the bed and kissed his face on his cheeks until he lifted her off her feet. She squeaked and he set her in the bed. He kissed her on the forehead and laughed. "I'll see you in a few hours."
She watched him leave her room and he glanced back smiling. Rose could not sleep after that and she knew it was best to fix the bedroom and sitting room before her fiancé appeared. He would no doubt be looking for her. She was right minutes after she had finished she was at her dressing table admiring the necklace Thomas had given her.
There was a knock on the door and Rose quickly took off the necklace and hid it in a drawer. Cal entered the room and she pretended to have been brushing her hair. "I know you've been melancholy. I don't pretend to know why. I'm glad I found you here. Your mother said you left the table right after us men did and she didn't know where you went."
"I was tired and wanted to bathe."
Cal paused then moved towards the dressing table. "I was going to save this for the engagement gala next week. But I thought, tonight."
Cal presented an exquisite and extremely large diamond necklace from a black case. "Good gracious!" Rose exclaimed. The diamond was blue and the chain was made of smaller diamonds.
"Is that a-?" Rose started.
"Diamond? Yes." He put the necklace on her. It was heavy, cold and lifeless. It drained the happiness from her and it felt like it was choking her. How different it was in comparison to Thomas' gift.