Instead of remaining in the same house as the happy couple, Rose decided to call a car and go to the train station to meet Molly herself. She needed to take her mind off of the coming nuptials between her mother and her cousin in law. Just the thought of it made her sick. Elizabeth caught up with her just as she reached the end of the path to wait for the car to come pick her up.

"Hey, are you going to go meet Mrs. Brown?" Elizabeth asked, also not in the greatest of moods. The fact that her brother got to choose his bride while she was engaged to a man that she didn't even know much less love was grating and she needed to get away before she said something that her family would regret.

"Yes. She should be arriving soon and since I need to get out of here, I decided to go meet her. Do you want to come?" Rose offered, sensing Elizabeth's mood. They both needed to get away from the mansion it seemed.

"If you wouldn't mind…"

"Come on. Here comes the car now. Is Anne here…?"

"Coming Mrs," Anne rushed down the pathway. She had gotten distracted by the youngest Hockley brother who had stopped her to talk once again. He was handsome, but she couldn't help be suspicious. First class men only paid attention to third class girls when they wanted to sleep with them, and she wasn't that type of girl. She didn't care how rich a man was.

"Call me Rose, Anne. I do have a name," Rose smiled, already feeling more relaxed now that she was escaping the atmosphere of the mansion. Honestly, she didn't know how much longer she was going to be able to take it, with her mother marrying Bradley, Elizabeth marrying Cal, and Jack seemingly sinking into the family business, it just seemed too much right now. Hopefully her efforts with the children home could help her keep her stabilized some.

"Yes, Rose," Anne nodded. She wasn't used to using her employer's first name, but if that was what Rose wanted, she wasn't about to argue.

The ride to the train station was a silent one, with the girls being lost in their own little mini crisis. Rose and her mother's coming nuptials to Bradley, Elizabeth and her upcoming marriage to Cal when she loved Sam, and Anne's confusion over the flirtations of Cameron Hockley. Should she flirt back or just put an end to it before she got hurt? It was a car full of angst. Only the driver was worry free as he pulled up in front of the train station, whistling a happy tune.

The three women got out and found a bench to sit and wait for Molly's arrival.

It was Anne who spoke, in need of advice.

"What do first class men want when they speak to girls like me?" Anne questioned thinking that surely Elizabeth and Rose both knew. They were from the privileged classes and knew men like Cameron. They should be able to at least have some clue.

"It all depends. If they're anything like my brother, he'd only talk to the hired help if he wanted something or wanted a quick shag. He would never think about marrying one," Elizabeth shook her head. "Bradley hasn't been talking to you has he…because if he has…"

"Not to worry, Elizabeth. It's not Anne that your brother has been seducing," Rose flatly replied. She still looked a little green, not that anyone could blame her disgust. The pairing of Ruth and Bradley was highly unusual.

"It's the young Hockley. Cameron I think his name is…he keeps talking to me and…he flirts…at least I think it's flirting and I don't know what to make of it," Anne quickly explained, feeling young and foolish.

"Oh thank god," Rose sighed in relief. For a second there, she had been worried. What if it had been Bradley…or Cal for that matter! But Cameron was a good man. If he was showing interest in Anne, it was most likely sincere. "Cameron and I have been friends for ages and I assure you, if he is showing interest, it's sincere. Cameron is like me. Class simply does not matter with us."

"But you married Jack," Anne pointed out.

"He was a poor steerage passenger when we met and he was still poor when we married. I had no idea he had come from the Boston Dawsons. I still remember at the first class dinner, when JJ Astor asked if he was from the Boston Dawsons," Rose giggled at the memory, for a second, forgetting all about what had been troubling her. "He stood there with the straightest face and was 'The Chippewa Falls Dawsons actually' and JJ was all 'oh yes' like he had heard of the Chippewa Falls Dawsons, knowing good and well that he hadn't. Oh poor JJ. He was such a good man."

Everyone grew silent at the mention of the deceased millionaire. Only Anne hadn't known him, but she knew of Titanic and remained silent as well as a show of respect.

"I miss Jack," Rose suddenly sighed, looking at her hands.

Elizabeth sadly smiled. "At least you're married to him. I miss Sam, but I don't know when I'll be able to see him again. I'm afraid to do so with Cal here."

"I'm so sorry, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth smiled and wrapped an arm around Rose. "Stop apologizing. I won't have you being sorry for choosing Jack. If you hadn't chosen Jack, we wouldn't have met and became great friends and that would be a shame. Your friendship is something I wouldn't trade for anything."

"Same here," Anne smiled, enjoying the friendly atmosphere. Elizabeth and Rose didn't treat her like a servant at all, but like a younger sister. She knew how lucky she was. Other lady maids didn't have this type of relationship with their employers.

Rose wrapped an arm around Anne. "I love you both. I'm glad that my decision to marry Jack brought both of you in my life."

"Now this is what I like to see! Female bonding!" a familiar voice called out. The girls looked up to see Molly Brown heading in their direction, a bright smile on her face.

"Molly!" Rose squealed, the first one up and running towards the older woman, her arms out stretched. She flung her arms around Molly in a tight hug, never wanting to let go. "Oh Molly, I am so happy that you're here!"

Molly laughed and hugged Rose back. "I'm glad to see you too, Rose. Even though I wasn't really expecting anyone here to meet me, much less the three of you."

"Welcome to Boston, Mrs. Brown," Elizabeth happily smiled.

"Why thank you, Miss. Dawson. I cannot wait to see the rest of the city. Will Jack and that cutie pie Sam be joining us?"

"No. Sadly Jack had to report in today," Rose sighed, again feeling the ache of Jack's absence. Was it always going to be like this when he had to go to work? If so, how was she expected to deal with it?

"And where Jack goes, Sam follows," Elizabeth sighed, also missing her lover.

"So it's just us girls, all the better then. Men folk seem to have a way of dampening the fun for us girls," Molly winked.

"Oh I think Rose and Elizabeth think it's more fun with the men folk around," Anne giggled.

"Spoken like a girl that has yet to fall in love, huh?" Molly pinched Anne's cheek with a chuckle. "Wait until it's your turn young lady. Your young man will go off to work and you won't know what to do with yourself."

"It's so good to have you here, Molly. Finally, a lady with common sense," Elizabeth sighed.

Molly laughed. "Isn't Ruth here?"

"I don't want to talk about mother right now. Come, you have to meet Ms. Darcy and her home for teens. Give us some ideas, Molly," Rose knew that she was being pushy, wanting to start on her project as soon as Molly stepped foot in Boston, but she couldn't bear going back to that mansion at the moment. Her mother would be waiting, wanting to know why she wouldn't give her blessing for the coming marriage.

Molly laughed. "Calm down, darlin'. We have plenty of time. Right now, I'd like to get somewhere to rest my poor back. These train rides are a lot to be desired, even in first class."

"I guess that means back to the mansion after all," Elizabeth shrugged, disappointed that it hadn't been a longer escape.

"You say that like it's a bad thing, sugar. What's going on?" Molly asked, sensing the girl's reluctance to return home.

"Jack's at work, the Hockley's are staying with us for a few more days, and…mother is…engaged to Jack's cousin, a man half her senior!" Rose nearly cried. "I can't even look at her…"

"Oh," Molly bit her lip, repressing the urge to congratulate Ruth for doing something unorthadoxed like marrying a younger man, yet knowing how hard this must be for Rose. After all, Ruth remarrying meant that she was moving on from Rose's father. That must be bitter news for the girl.

"I just can't believe that she's doing this to daddy. Sure he left us broke, but he was still my father, her husband. He deserves better than to be replaced like this," Rose complained, crossing her arms over her chest, feeling like a petulant child, but she couldn't help it. She couldn't help but be angry over this.

"So you would be angry, even if it wasn't a younger man?" Molly arched a brow as Elizabeth led the way back to the waiting car that will take them back to the mansion.

"Of course. Sure, I don't like that it's a younger man, but the main reason I can't accept this is because of daddy."

"Rose, darlin', I am not trying to dismiss your feelings here, but your daddy is dead. He can't take care of her anymore. He couldn't even take care of you when he was alive and was the cause of the Hockley engagement. Your mama, she's still a young woman herself. Remember what we talked about in Denver? How Ruth is from a class of sheltered women that can't do much for themselves? It's best for them to have a husband to take care of them. Well, this way, Ruth will have that care and you and Jack won't have to worry about her. You two can go on with your lives while she lives her with her new hubby. That sounds like a nice deal to me," Molly handed the driver her bags so he could place them in the trunk.

"When you say it like that, it makes sense. But that doesn't change how I feel in my heart," Rose sighed.

"Give it time, sugar. That's all I can tell ya. Give it time. Sooner or later, you will come to accept it. Maybe not like it, but you will accept it," Molly hugged the younger woman, hoping that she had given her some comfort.

…..

Katie O'Donald stood at the edge of the Dawson property, waiting for her brother's return. She knew that he'd be at the factory today, but he would show back up here sooner or later. She had orders for him from their mother and he couldn't come home without fulfilling them.

Cal stepped out of the big house, needing some air and some time away from his father and future brother in law. All the talk about business and clients was giving him a headache. For the first time, he wished that he wasn't the heir. That he could just do whatever he wanted, whenever he liked and not have to worry about what his father had to say about the matter. He halfway wondered where his fiancée had gotten off to. He could have used her as a distraction from the tediousness of running Hockley Steel.

The sound of pretty singing caught his attention and he looked down the path to see the girl from the other night at the gala. The one who he had kissed and she had fled afterwards. Whatever was she doing here again? This time there was no gala to fantasize about. Surely she couldn't be here for him…could she?

He knew that he shouldn't approach her. In fact, he should fetch someone to remove her from the property this time, but he couldn't. This…woman fascinated him in a way that only Rose had. Except, this fascination was purer. It had nothing to do with his father's business dealings or high society expectations. This meeting wasn't something that was arranged. And the girl…she was lovelier than Rose in a way. More wild. The red of her hair was more fiery and her blue eyes were brighter and full of a joy that Rose simply did not possess.

No, he wasn't going to have her removed. That would go against what he really wanted, which was to get to know this wild creature better. At least get her name. He gathered all of his first class pride and strode up to her. He was not a schoolboy, so he wasn't going to act like one. He was going to be the first class gentleman that he was.

She was facing the street, swaying to the music of her own voice when Cal reached her. He cleared his throat and gave his most charming smile. "Pardon me, madam, back again are you?"

The girl turned around, clear shock in her eyes, but the shock gave way to pleasure when she saw who it was. "Oh hello. It's you again."

Cal laughed. "Yes, it's me again. May I ask what you are doing here this time?"

The girl, Katie, that was her name, smiled. "I'm waiting for my brother and this time he does not have the day off."

Cal smirked. "Must work for Dawson, he's the only one who had to go into the office today. Why are you waiting here at the end of the path? It must be terribly awkward."

"Well I would ask to wait at the big house, but Bradley Dawson doesn't like the lower classes much, even though I wouldn't mind asking that cousin of his. What a cutie."

Cal nearly choked in outrage at that. Must all women find that gutter rat attractive? It was ridiculous! "Oh please! Jack Dawson is rude, uncouth, and presumptuous and…"

"He made off with your fiancée. I think your opinion may be just a bit bias there, Mr. Hockley."

"Well, Ms. O'Donald, I have you know that losing one's fiancée is a very painful business."

"Painful indeed. Especially for someone like you. You can probably have any girl you want, but you couldn't have her, even when engaged to you. And it's just the same now. Do you really believe that Elizabeth Dawson is in love with you?" Katie knew that she was skating on thin ice, but she couldn't help herself. It drove her crazy that there were girls out here who would sell their soul to marry Caledon Hockley and be totally faithful to him, yet men like him always go for the girls who are forced to be with them. It was unfair to the women in all three classes, in her opinion.

"That doesn't matter. She's been betrothed to me…"

"You see, that's your problem. You are a very handsome man and I for one couldn't stop thinking about that kiss we shared at the gala. I'd love to be in Elizabeth's shoes and you found me all on your own. Instead, you're marrying a girl that's in love with my brother and is being forced to marry you. Not that it's any of my business what you rich folk do, but it doesn't really make for a lasting happy marriage, in my opinion. But I'm just a poor Irish lass. What do I know?"

Cal frowned. She had a point. He had found her on his own. She seemed to like him on some level and he found her utterly fascinating. Elizabeth was beautiful, but she didn't care for him. She didn't even talk to him, not like Katie was doing now. So why was he marrying her again? "It's tradition. It's the way things are done in high society. Prestigious families marry the women belonging to other prestigious families. It's always been like this."

"But do you like it?"

Cal opened his mouth to say something when the car pulled up carrying the girls from the train station. "Bloody hell…"

"I guess I better go," Katie seemed to back off, wanting to make a quick escape. Elizabeth had never been mean to her and Rose seemed nice as well, but she didn't want to try her luck. Sometimes women can be very territorial.

"No, don't leave. I mean, you don't have to worry about them. Rose is one to judge and I doubt Elizabeth will care," Cal dismissed the threat. He was finding himself really liking this girl, this Katie. Like Rose, she was intelligent, but she used that intelligence to make him think, to pull him over to her side. He liked that. He liked her. He wanted to see her again. Where can I see you again?

"Well, I'm always at the Boston library. You can find me there," Katie winked, feeling a thrill that this gentleman obviously wanted to spend more time with her. He hadn't been annoyed at what she was saying, in fact; he seemed to be giving it some thought. "I have to go anyway. I have to cook tonight. I will see you again, Mr. Hockley?"

"Miss, I can guarantee it," Cal took her hand and kissed it, causing a blush to heat her cheeks. She really was lovely.

"I will see you soon then," Katie smiled before walking away, forgetting about waiting for Sam, or any of her chores. She could only think of Cal.

Meanwhile, back up near the house where the women were getting out of the car, Elizabeth looked up towards the gate where Cal was heading back.

"Was that Sam's sister talking to Mr. Hockley?" Elizabeth didn't know what to think. A part of her was protective of Sam's sister, hoping that if Cal was talking to her, it wasn't some planned seduction, but another part of her was hoping that it did turn into something that would save her somehow.

"I believe so. Jack said he saw them together outside the gala dancing. He said that Cal seemed rather enthralled. I wouldn't look too much into it. Cal is too much like my mother and his father. He's very traditional. I doubt very much that he'd have any designs on a third class girl. No matter how pretty she was," Rose shrugged.

Elizabeth sighed. That was too bad. If Cal fell in love with Katie, maybe then he wouldn't want to marry her and she could be with Sam at last. But she had to agree with Rose. The likelihood of that happening was very rare.