~*Two*~
Rose stood shaking from the cold, with an officer whom I didn't know. I walked up to her rubbing her arms with the palms of my hands.
"Are you alright?" I asked.
She nodded wearily.
The officer explained what had happened. Rose was screaming, and when the men arrived this third-class passenger was hovery over her. Her dress ripped.
Well they didn't need to tell me anymore. I stormed over to the man in handcuffs.
"What made you think you could lay your hands on my fiancé?" I demanded.
He looked past me to Rose. Who was saying my name. "Cal!"
"Look, at me you filth!" I said, angrily. "What did you think you were doing."
"Cal, stop!" Rose said from behind me. "It was an accident."
I turned to her. "Accident?" I laughed knowing that his intentions could not have been accidental.
I walked back to her. She looked at the man, then back to me.
"Stupid, really. I was leaning over and I slipped." She said.
I rolled my eyes, but continued to listen.
"I was leaning far over to see the uh- um- um- the uh…" She waved her hand in a circle, trying to find her words.
"Propellers?" I asked, not really looking at her.
"Yes! Propellers. And I slipped and Mr. Dawson here saved me." She said looking at the man again. Mr. Dawson, she had said his name.
"You wanted to see the-" I nodded my head towards Mr. Dawson. "She wanted to see the propellers." I said with a nervous laugh.
The master-at-arms turned Mr. Dawson to him. "Was that the way of it?"
He looked from me to Rose. "Yeah that was pretty much it."
"Well the boy's a hero then. Good for you son, well done!" The colonel laughed.
"Well it's alls well and back to our brandy, eh?" He said looking at me.
I nodded.
Mr. Dawson was released from his handcuff prison. I hugged Rose, trying to warm her up from the wintry cold. "Come on let's get you inside."
We started to walk away, leaving Mr. Dawson there at the stern.
"Perhaps a little something for the boy." The colonel motioned back to Mr. Dawson.
"Right, of course." I said with a smile. I turned to my man. "Mr. Lovejoy, I think a twenty should do it."
Mr. Lovejoy nodded. I turned to leave, my arm around Rose. She stopped in her tracks.
She scoffed. "Is that the going rate for saving the woman you love?"
I looked into her eyes. "Rose it displeased. Oh what to do?" I looked back to Mr. Dawson. "I know."
I walked over to him, standing right before him. Knowing I was better, trying to make him feel inadequate next to me.
"Perhaps you could join us for dinner tomorrow, to regale our group with your heroic tale?" I offered.
He looked past me, again, looking at Rose. Then he turned his attention back to me.
"Sure, count me in." He replied.
I almost laughed. But I remembered my manners. "Good, it's settled then."
I wrapped my arm around Rose again, and we walked towards the cabins.
"This should be interesting." I whispered to the colonel.
"Mm-hmm." He laughed in reply.
As we walked together, I noticed another member of steerage. A woman holding the hand of a child. She stared into my eyes. I felt a bit uncomfortable by her staring. But I only stared back. Not of anger really. I thought she was very beautiful.
Long flowing blond hair, though dim with dirt, still beautiful. Fair skin, and amazing blue eyes. I fell into those eyes. They captured me.
Her clothes were ragged and dirty. But in my mind I saw her wearing fine clothes, how beautiful she would be. Though being more beautiful then she was there on the deck, was most likely impossible.
"Mr. Hockley!" Lovejoy called from behind me, bringing me back to the real world. I turned my attention from the girl, and back to my valet.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Do you know what you're getting yourself into, by bringing that ruffian into our dinner gathering?" He asked.
I nodded. "Of course, it'll be amusing. Don't worry so much." I laughed.
Rose looked up at me. Disgust in her features. I only smiled back to her.
"He was a wonderful man, Cal. He saved me." She was saying.
"I know." I laughed.
I felt the third-class woman following me with her gaze, though I didn't once turn back to her.