**To my readers, I sincerely apologize for the huge delay in uploading chapters. Between COVID, finishing my Bachelor's Degree, work, buying and moving into a new house, it has been a struggle to find the time and energy to write. Please note that my goal is to be finished before the summer.**

I do not own any characters but my own

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

ANGELA'S POV

I had waken on the hour every hour it had felt like; my clock read ten minutes past seven. I knew Fran would be coming in to help me dress soon. I struggled to rise up as I still had my corset on; I rubbed my eyes and pushed back the covers as I walked over to my mirror. My eyes were pink from crying throughout the night and early morning. My heart was broken; for Will. I wanted to take him into my arms after what Ada did to him. The sheer embarrassment of it all combined with my ruined reputation was almost too much for me to take. I wanted nothing more than to go back into the bed and stay there until we got back home. I almost took solace of my being confined to my room.

Like clockwork, I heard Fran's light rapping on my door as she opened it. Her auburn hair was down and she was in her night robe. She had hot water for me as well as a fresh towel.

"Good morning love." She kissed my cheek and went over to change the wash basin out with the steaming water. "I suppose you had a –" She ceased talking as she looked up at my face. I tried my hardest to fight back more tears, but her concerned eyes made it not possible. I covered my face and she quickly took me into her arms.

"Whatever is the matter child?" Her hand rubbed my back. She led us over to my bed. I sat up to wipe my eyes. "I messed up Fran." I hiccupped. "Mother and Father know about my fancying Will."

Fran took a corner of the fresh towel and wiped my eye. "How do they know?" She asked softly.

"At dinner last night, I drank too much and I condemned the engagement out in the open. Then I went to a party down in steerage."

Fran listened on.

"Will was at the same party, and we went up to the promenade, just he and I. Somehow his fiancée found out about us and she confronted him about it." I looked up at Fran. "You should have seen it, she was screaming at him, people came out to see what was going on and watched her smack him!"

"Oh boy." Fran got up and paced back and forth in front of me. "Did word about it get back to your parents?"

"Not that part, but I know it will," I sniffed. "The entire First Class will probably find out about it, especially during breakfast. But somehow a hint of my feelings for Will got back to my parents because I was told last night by Mother that I was to be sequestered in my room until we dock."

Fran sat back down beside me. "It is going to get worse honey." She went back to rubbing my back. "Knowing the reaction his fiancée had, I take that you and he weren't exactly playing kick the can on the promenade."

I shook my head. "We were kissing. My first kiss Fran and it had to be with another woman's betrothed."

Fran sucked her teeth. "Yeah child, I can definitely tell that it is going to get worse." I hung my head down in defeat once again. "I suppose so."

After a brief silence, I got up from the bed and walked back over to the vanity. "There is a glimmer of hope though."

"Hope?" Fran asked.

"Yes," I turned around to look at her. "I overhead Mother and Father talking last night and I can tell in Mother's voice that the idea of my getting married to Mr. Dalton doesn't sit all that well with her. Father sees things differently. Maybe, just maybe, I can get out of this arrangement." I felt that it was a false hope. Fran's face said the same-

"Angela, don't be chasing false hopes." Her face was apologetic.

I stood, rooted to the floor. I knew that Fran was right, but I didn't want to admit it.

At that moment, Mother walked in, dressed for the day. "Good morning Angie," I nodded in response.

"Fran, please wake up Eve and get her ready for the day." Fran excused herself, closing the door behind her. I stood there and watched Mother walk over to the wardrobe, picking out a day dress of lavender and pink.

"Angela, you and I need to talk and I really do not know where to begin." She laid the dress over a chair and took a seat on the side of the bed. I licked my lips in my frustration, mentally readying myself for what was to come.

She then got back up and grabbed my hairbrush from the small table and had me sit. I had loved it when she would brush my hair as a young girl. "I want you to know the truth about something; I do not agree with the arrangement between you and Mr. Dalton."

Stunned, I turned around mid-stroke. "What?"

Mother swallowed hard and looked down at me, her eyes were unreadable. "Yes child. I don't."

"I don't understand; last night and even before boarding, you sounded very adamant." She turned my head back forward as she continued to brush my hair.

"What I am about to say stays in here, do I make myself clear?" Her voice was terse, unwavering.

I looked at her through the mirror. "Your father and I had some debts that were paid for by Mr. Dalton several months ago." I pursed my lips, knowing what this was leading to.

"We were very close to losing our home and all of our assets. Mr. Dalton had mentioned to your father that he was interested in you since meeting you and your sister at last year's summer party, but your father made it clear that you would not reciprocate such feelings.

She continued on, "Well a couple of months after the party, Mr. Dalton became aware of the predicament your father and I were in and offered a pretty hefty sum to pay the debts, and in turn, leave us in a comfortable position financially. But, the condition was that he was to marry you."

I closed my eyes and felt hot, bubbling anger rise inside of me. Mother was still talking, but I could not hear what she was saying. I felt sick to my stomach at the revelation; I was angry about how my father sold me out to get out of debts that they foolishly incurred. It was then that I realized that my fate was sealed. I was to become married to a man I hardly knew, but hated, and now I hated my father even more.

Without second thought, I got up, punching the mirror in front of me. I watched the pieces scatter all over the table and on to the carpeted floor of my cabin. Mother backed away in fright.

"Angela, do not-"

"So you sat there and let him sell me off?!" I turned to face her, her eyes as large as saucers. My fists were tightly balled, at my sides. "I am the one who has to suffer and be with someone old enough to be my father while you, Father, and Eve get to rake in the benefits?!" I was practically screaming, I didn't care.

Mother reached out to comfort me, I backed away. "Don't you dare!" Once again, hot tears made their appearance.

"Angela, we had to."

I didn't want to hear another word of it. Knowing that Fran was helping Eve with getting dressed, I walked over to the chair to grab my dress and head off to Eve's room.

"We are not finished." Mother was firm.

I dropped the dress back onto the chair. "What else is there to say?" I folded my arms. "My fate is sealed, I cannot choose my life, because you and Father chose it for me."

I walked closer to her; wanting to hurt her in the worst way I could. "I will have you know that I went behind Mr. Dalton's back last night." I grinned. Mother's face contorted into one of confusion.

"Yes, I did. I overheard you saying that I fancied a sailor? Well, I do."

Mother rolled her eyes. "Fancying another isn't exactly going behind one's back."

"I kissed that man." I proclaimed through my tears. "He kissed me back, we were on the ship's promenade, near his cabin."

An awkward silence followed; Mother looked like she didn't know how to react. I could tell she was trying her hardest not to. I softened my tone, "And I loved every moment of it."

It was then I felt my head go to the side. Mother had never laid a hand on me until that moment.

"You ungrateful brat!" She spat. The left side of my face stung. "I did not raise you to be an indecent trollop!"

It took a moment for me to get my bearings; as I did, I stared back at her with daggers. "I'd rather be a trollop then to marry out of convenience." I sneered.

Mother made her way past me. "I will send Fran in here to help you get ready. You WILL be at breakfast and at church, but you will not be seen anywhere else." Her hands shook as she made her way to my door. "I will also see to that you will be watched. If not by Fran, then by me."

I walked back over to my vanity. "No need. Everyone will know of what happened anyway." I said under my breath. Mother grabbed my wrist as I was about to do my own hair. "What did you say?" She asked sharply.

I managed to wiggle my wrist out from her grip. "I said that everyone will know what happened." I then went back to trying to arrange my hair. I didn't want to mention his fiancée knowing; it would mean Mother having to verbally assault me even further.

"Just be ready." Mother managed to say before yelling for Fran.

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I had managed to get through breakfast unscathed; Mother of course in her mood had to find something to chastise me with. I decided against the dress she had picked out for me and went with a light green one with a matching scarf. She was not happy with it saying it was not right for me and instead for Eve since she had lighter hair than I did. I also wore my hair down, even though I had two matching combs pulling it back.

We sat as a family for once, not with other guests or dignitaries; father had not said a word to me, instead talking with Eve about her plans for when we got back home. I practically played with my food with my fork, managing only to eat a few pieces of fruit and drink tea. Mother noticed this and once again voiced her disapproval saying how expensive everything was that we were fortunate to enjoy. I wanted so badly to retort with Mr. Dalton paying for everything but I knew I would pay for it later. Thus, I held my tongue.

Finishing, we went out to the room where church services were; as I walked in, I saw that Rose and her mother, along with her artificial looking fiancé were there. Mother smiled to Rose's mother, but she didn't receive one back. It was then that I knew that Ruth knew and most likely had passed it on to Rose. Rose on the other hand looked up at me and simply winked. Rose had already known about Will and me. It made me feel a tad bit better. We took our places across from them, all four of us; me, Eve, then Mother and Father. More and more people started to congregate inside the room. I wanted to keep my head down, but I didn't want to give everyone the satisfaction of knowing that people knew. I could see it in their faces: some of the older women would talk amongst themselves and at certain times point in my direction. I thought I would be prepared for it, but I had felt a churn in my stomach.

After another moment, I watched as the Captain, along with a couple of other officers entered. Will was the last of them. I swallowed hard; him entering the room was the nail on the coffin for me. At one point I thought I heard a low, collective gasp amongst some of the congregation. It was then he took his place beside another officer, grabbing a book of hymns. His position was in my direct line of sight. I struggled to keep a straight face as he looked up at me. His face looked neutral, but I could tell that like me, he was trying to keep his composure as well. The officer beside him whispered something into his ear; I gathered it was something humorous because Will had cracked a smile and laughed lightly. I licked my lips as I opened my book of hymns, to give me something to look at instead of staring at Will the entire time. It was then the Captain spoke and directed us to turn to a page to start singing.

As we continued to sing, I was mentally calculating a plan to go off and speak with Will. I wanted to somehow try and atone for what had happened. If only mother could be occupied for the rest of the day….