A purple sky, shot with orange, in the west at dusk on the boat deck. There was drifting stains of classical music. Kevin walked along the deck and by Edwardian standards he looked badass. Dashing in his borrowed white-tie outfit, right down to his pearl studs.
A steward bowed and smartly opened the door to the First Class entrance. "Good evening, sir."
Kevin played the role smoothly. He nodded with just the right degree of disdain.
He stepped in and his breath was taken away by the splendor spread out before him. Overhead was the enormous glass dome, with a crystal chandelier at its center. Sweeping down six stories is the First Class Grand Staircase, the epitome of the opulent naval architecture of the time.
And the people: the women in their floor length dresses, elaborate hairstyles and abundant jewelry...the gentlemen in evening dress, standing with one hand at the small of the back, talking quietly.
Kevin descended to the A deck. Several men nodded a perfunctory greeting. He nodded back, keeping it simple. He felt like a spy.
Jayden came down the stairs, with Isabella on his arm, covered in jewelry. They both walked right past Kevin, neither one recognizing him. Isabella nodded at him, one gent to another. But Kevin barely had time to be amused. Because just behind Jayden and Isabella on the stairs was Mia, a vision in black, her low-cut dress showing off her neck and shoulders, her arms sheathed in black gloves that come well above the elbow. Kevin was hypnotized by her beauty.
Mia approached Kevin. To her, he really looked like a first-class gentleman. He imitated the gentlemen's stance, hand behind his shell. She extended her gloved hand and he took it, kissing the back of her fingers. Mia flushed, beaming noticeably. She couldn't take her eyes off him.
"I saw that in a nickelodeon once, and I always wanted to do it," he admitted and she turned to Jayden.
"Jayden, surely you remember Mr. Douglas," Mia called out.
He was caught off guard by Kevin's attire. "Douglas! I didn't recognize you." He studied him. "Amazing! You could almost pass for a gentlemen."
"Almost," Kevin repeated.
The party descended to dinner. They encountered Irma, looking good in a beaded dress, in her own busty broad-shouldered way. Irma grinned when she saw Kevin. "Care to escort a lady?"
"Of course," he smiled kindaly, offering his free arm to her.
"Ain't nothing to it, is there, Kevin?"
"Yeah, you just dress like a pallbearer and keep your nose up," he answered.
"Remember, the only thing they respect is money, so just act like you've got a lot of it and you're in the club," she reminded him.
As they entered the swirling throng, Mia leaned close to him, pointing out several notables. "There's the Countess of Rothes. And that's Andros...the richest man on the ship. His little wifey there, Ashley, is my age and in a delicate condition. See how's she trying to hide it. What a scandal." She nodded towards a couple. "And over there, that's Sir Anubis Crueger and Isinia Cruger, Kat Manx. She designs naughty lingerie, among her many talents. Very popular with the royals."
Jayden became engrossed in a conversation with Kat Manx and Andrew Hartford , while Isabella, the Countess, and Isinia discussed fashion. Mia picoted Kevin smoothly, to show him another couple, dressed impeccably.
"And that's Nick Russell and his mistress, Madison Rocca. Mrs. Winslow is at home with the children, of course."
Jayden, however, was accepting the praise of his male counterparts, who were looking at Mia like a prize show horse.
"Shiba, she is splendid," Sir Leanbow commented.
"Thank you."
"Jayden's a lucky man. I know him well, and it can only be luck," Max said.
Isabella stepped over, hearing the last. She took Jayden's arm, somewhat coquettishly. "How can you say that, Andrew? Jayden Shiba is a great catch."
The entourage strolled toward the dining saloon, where they ran into the Myers's going through the ornate double doors.
"Dillon, Summer, I'd like you to meet Kevin Douglas," Mia said.
Astor shook his hand. "Good to meet you, Kevin. Are you from Africa?"
"No, Los Angeles, actually," Kevin answered.
Dillon nodded as if he'd heard of them, then looked puzzled. Summer appraised Kevin and whispered girlishly to Mia. "It's a pity we're both spoken for, isn't it?"
The dining saloon was like a ballroom at the palace, alive and lit by a constellation of chandeliers, full of elegantly dressed people and beautiful music from Bandleader Wallace Hartley's small orchestra. Mia and Kevin entered and moved across the room to their table, Jayden and Isabella beside them.
"He must have been nervous, but he never faltered. They assumed he was one of them...a young captain of industry perhaps...new money, obviously, but still a member of the club. Mother of course, could always be counted upon..."
"Tell us of the accommodations in steerage, Mr. Douglas. I hear they're quite good on this ship," Nadia suggested. Mia was secretly a little miffed that she asked him that. Her and Jayden were almost absolutely alike.
Kevin was seated opposite Mia, who was flanked by Jayden and Cameron Watanabe. Also at the table were Dana Mitchell, Angela Fairweather, Andrew Hartford, the Countess, Udonna, Madison Rocca, and the Astors.
"The best I've seen, ma'am. Hardly any rats."
The people at the table laughed. Mia motioned surreptitiously for Kevin to take his napkin off his plate.
"Mr. Douglas is joining us from third class. He was of some assistance to my fiancee last night." He turned to Kevin, as if he were a child. "This is foie gras. It's goose liver."
Whispers were exchanged at this. Kevin became the subject of furtive glances. Now they were all feeling terribly liberal and dangerous.
Udonna spoke low to Madame Aubert. "What is Shiba hoping to prove, bringing this...Bohemian...up here?"
The waiter turned to Kevin. "How do you like your caviar, sir?"
Jayden answered for him, "Just a soupcon of lemon..." He turned to Kevin, smiling, "It improves the flavor with champagne."
Kevin turned to the waiter. "No caviar for me, thanks. Never did like it much." He looked at Mia, pokerfaced, and she smiled.
"And where exactly do you live, Mr. Douglas?" Isabella asked.
"Well, right now my address is the RMS Titanic. After that, I'm on God's good humor."
Salad was served. Kevin reached for the fish fork. Dana gave him a look and picked up the salad fork, prompting him with her eyes. He changed forks.
"You find that rootless existence appealing, do you?" Isabella questioned coldly. Mia really wished she wouldn't make everyone see Kevin differently. They were all human beings, but Kevin was more human than her mother. Isabella was acting like a hungry electric eel, waiting for the moment to strike and win. She always wanted to win.
"Well...it's a big world, and I want to see it all before I go. My father was always talking about goin' to see the ocean. He died in the town I was born in, and never did see it. You can't wait around, because you never know what hand you're going to get dealt with next. See, my folks died in a fire when I was fifteen, and I've been on the road since. Somethin' like that teaches you to take life as it comes to you. To make each day count."
Dana Mitchell raised her glass in a salute.
"Well said, Kevin."
Biggles raised his glass, "Here, here."
Mia raised her glass, looking at Kevin. "To making it count." The rest of them toasted to that mantra as well.
Isabella, annoyed that Kevin had scored a point, pressed him further. "How is it you have the means to travel, Mr. Douglas?"
"I work my way from place to place. Tramp steamers and such. I won my ticket on Titanic here in a lucky hand at poker." He glanced at Mia. "A very lucky hand."
"All life is a game of luck," Biggles commented.
"A real man makes his own luck, Archie," Jayden replied.
Mia noticed that Cameron Watanabe, sitting next to her, was writing in his notebook, completely ignoring the conversation. "Mr. Watanabe, what are you doing? I see you everywhere writing in this little book." She grabbed the book, reading it. "Increase number of screws in hat hooks from 2 to 3. You build the biggest ship in the world and this preoccupies you?!"
Cam smiled sheepishly.
"He knows every rivet in her, don't ya Cam?" Dana asked.
"All three million of them," Cam answered.
"His blood and his soul are in the ship. She may be mine on paper, but in the eyes of God she belongs to Cameron Watanabe," Dana grinned.
"Your ship is a wonder, Mr. Watanabe. Truly," Mia said.
"Thank you, Mia." He had come under her spell.
Dessert had been served and a waiter arrived with cigars in a humidor on a wheeled cart. The men started clipping ends and lighting.
Mia spoke low to Kevin, "Next it'll be brandies in the Smoking Room."
Biggles rose to his feet, "Well, join me for a brandy, gentlemen?"
"Now they retreat into a cloud of smoke and congratulate each other on being masters of the universe," Mia said to Kevin in the same tone.
"Joining us, Douglas? You don't want to stay out here with the lassies, do you?" Max offered.
Actually, he did, but...
"No thanks. I'm heading back."
"Probably best. It'll be all business and politics, that sort of thing. Wouldn't interest you. Good of you to come." Jayden and the other gentlemen left.
"Kevin, must you go?" Mia asked a little sadly.
"Time for my coach to turn back into a pumpkin," he leaned over to take her hand, kissing it as he pushed a note into hers.
Isabella, scowling, watched him walk away across the enormous room. Mia surreptitiously opened the note below table level. It read, 'Make it count, meet me at the clock.'
She crumpled up the note, gave a dismissive wave to her mother, and left the room. She crossed the A deck foyer, sighting Kevin at the landing above. Overhead was the crystal dome. Kevin had his back to her, studying the ornate clock with its carved figures of Honor and Glory. It softly struck the hour.
Mia went up the sweeping staircase toward him. He turned, saw her, and smiled.
"Want to go to a real party?" He asked as the clock chimed its hourly song.