It was the 10th of April 1912. Isabella Lena Lacourtier lay warm in her bed at the large Lacourtier family home. She opened her eyes, looked around her room, then pulled her bed sheets firmly around her. Then she remembered what day it was.
At once she leapt out of bed, and ran along the hall to her older sister Cassie's room. Isabella could hear the maids downstairs making breakfast as she noisily opened the door and pushed her way in. She did not hear her mother angrily stirring along the corridor in hers and Father's room.
"Cassie!" She ran over to her bed, jumped on it, and began prodding her sister. "Wake up! Guess what day it is!"
Cassandra Rose Lacourtier turned over, with a slight moan. Her black curls lay around her head like a halo, and her big green eyes flew open, glaring at Isabella.
"Isabella!" Cassie scolded. "It's so early-" She yawned widely.
Isabella giggled. "Don't let Mother see you do that, it's so 'unladylike.'"
"Well, you'd know all about unladylike, wouldn't you Isabella?" Cassie laughed, as Mother burst in, looking tired and irritable.
"Isabella Lena! Your father and I were still asleep! How dare you be so loud at this time in the morning!" Mother hissed.
"Mother, I apologise, it was both of us. Please don't be angry on such a wonderful day as this," Cassie said, sitting up in her bed and at once Mother seemed to soften as she stared at her favourite of her daughters.
"Well, I suppose we should all begin to get ready now. Cassie, get Sarah to check that she's packed all the hats and shoes." She did not apologise to Isabella, and Isabella did not expect her to. Mother glided out, leaving the two sisters alone.
"I cannot pretend that I'm not excited," Isabella stated, spinning around and around.
"I would be more excited was I not to be married off the second we step foot in America," Cassie said glumly. Mother was determined to marry both daughters into money, and she had found two potential suitors in America, both millionaires. The older of the two was going to meet Cassie once they arrived in America and Isabella was to meet the other man at a later date once she got older.
"I think I shall kick up the most horrendous fuss should Mother attempt to make me marry that Charles fellow," Isabella said, screwing up her face in disgust.
"Yes. Well at least you have a while. I am to meet Robert the second we arrive in America," Cassie said darkly. She got up. "Come on, let's go down for breakfast."
The two girls went downstairs together to their large luxurious dining room. Father was already downstairs reading a newspaper.
"Good morning my dears," Father said, looking up and smiling gently at the sisters. He was much calmer than Mother and less assertive too; usually he just went along with what she wanted.
"Morning, Pa," Isabella said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. Cassie did likewise, and they both sat down to his right, Isabella closer to him. Mother came in a few seconds later and sat opposite to Isabella.
Mrs Chapman, the family cook, and Esther, Isabella's maid, began serving the breakfast soon after. Isabella enthusiastically piled as much on her plate as possible and began bolting it down.
"Thanks, Mrs Chapman! Delicious!" Isabella said with a mouthful of toast.
"Isabella!" Mother hissed. It wasn't the done thing to thank the cook. Cassie sighed, picking up a china cup daintily as she'd been taught, sticking her little finger in the air and taking a small sip of tea.
After a leisurely breakfast, the maids helped the sisters get ready and packed the last few items. Cassie sat without fuss as Sarah applied powder to her face, but Isabella of course complained the entire time about what she had to wear.
Eventually the Lacourtier family were ready, along with Esther and Sarah. Mrs Chapman was moving on to a new position before retiring, but the girls were not even allowed to say goodbye, much to their sadness.
"Ernest, John is still down with a fever," Mother said, frowning as she went to join the family outside their house. They were waiting for several cabs to take them to the dock. "He shall have to remain behind, is that alright?"
"Yes, it will have to do," Father said, looking somewhat concerned for his butler. "I'd better see to him..."
Mother frowned disapprovingly again; she would never show any sympathy to a mere servant. The Taximeter Cars finally arrived, and there was a huge palaver getting everything in.
A short ride later, the cars arrived at the dock. Cassie and Isabella were sat in one car, giggling together and pointing out fine looking gentleman to one another. Father came over to Cassie out of the car and the driver helped Isabella out. They both glanced up at the same time at the magnificent ship in front of them.
"Oh my," Cassie and Isabella said together.
"It's grand, isn't it?" Mother said, smiling in a self-satisfied way as she handed her coat to one of the maids. "And to think that we're travelling First-Class on the finest ship in the world! Oh, what a shame it is that John couldn't attend. What a truly historical event this will be."
Fed up of Mother's bragging, Isabella slid over to Cassie.
"It's a thing of beauty," she stated.
"That it is, Isabella," Cassie replied, not taking her eyes off it. It was the biggest ship she'd ever seen in her life. "It's almost unreal."
Isabella sighed, though not unhappily. "I think we're in for a truly unforgettable voyage, Cassie. One that will change our lives forever."
Hey guys! Thanks for reading the first chapter, it's a kind of introductory one to set the scene. I tried to make it as historically accurate as possible without it being dull or tedious to read. There will be much more Titanic in the next few chapters, so never fear! Thanks for reading and please review/follow/favourite!