STILL BREATHING-chapter two
Olivia gives up the ghost
It was really too cold for Olivia to be out and about on the boat deck at nine at night, but she barely even noticed the frosted chill in the air. She stood , with her hands draped across the railing, facing out to sea. Being a passenger on the Titanic held no great joy for her. True, she had never had passage on a ocean liner even half the size of the Titanic before, true as it may be that she had been given the chance to chat, eat, flirt, socialize, and mingle with passengers who undoubtedly held a higher social position than her rightful one, but it was also true that Olivia loathed the reason she was on the Titanic, the life she would lead when it docked, and even, at times, the ship itself.
Olivia suffered from an arranged marriage. Oliva had met her fiancée the summer previous, and had immediately taken a dislike to him. She was being forced into the marriage not by her family, indeed, the marriage had come about more for the lack of a family. Olivia had been orphaned soon after her birth, and with no suitable family member to see to her upbringing, she had been sent first to an orphanage, and later, to a convent, to act as a servant girl. It had been at one of the church picnics that her fiancé, Todd, had seen her for the first time. Todd acted, with as much grace as a man who had fallen in love with a young woman far below his class could muster, he had gone to one of the nuns, and asked for her hand in marriage. The sister had instantly agreed, for Olivia was not really one of their members, and provided, what she deemed to be a chance to rise up in the world.
Olivia had been stunned and shocked when Todd consequently proposed to her. She had made out, flatteringly, to refuse, for although Todd had a certain air of elegance about him, he was ten years her senior, and Olivia felt no deep attraction towards him. When the sisters insisted she marry him, she tried to flee, but to no avail. Olivia was to marry Todd.
Olivia jumped at a sound behind her. When she turned around, she saw Todd standing behind her, and steadied herself.
"Olivia, sweetheart, how many times must I tell you not to stay out here! Honestly, sometimes I wonder how you are so asinine and stubborn, and where you got it from!"
Olivia fumed as Todd insisted in dragging her back inside.
"Todd, I feel ill-"Olivia started
"There, I knew it! All this foolishness and standing out in the rain, Olivia. Do you want me to get the ship's surgeon to see you?"
"No.err, thankyou, Todd. If you don't mind, I'll just go back to the stateroom."
"Do you want me to escort you there?"
"No, no, its fine, I can make it there and lie down," She watched as Todd walked back down the hallway to the smoking room.Ha, sick indeed!Olivia beamed at her ingenuity of her plan. Now at least she was free of her overbearing finance, and could spend her time as she pleased. Immediately she headed back out to the deck, but paused, with her hand on the door, when she saw a man sobbing down the corridor.
Olivia looked again, the man was finely dressed and groomed, and obviously a first class gentleman. But what would a gentleman be doing sobbing at his time of night in the middle of a hall? Olivia debated walking up to him, but decided against it. She had her own problems to deal with, with no immediate solutions.
Thomas turned around and saw the beautiful woman looking at him. He bundled his coat up and hastened down the hall.
It was really too cold for Olivia to be out and about on the boat deck at nine at night, but she barely even noticed the frosted chill in the air. She stood , with her hands draped across the railing, facing out to sea. Being a passenger on the Titanic held no great joy for her. True, she had never had passage on a ocean liner even half the size of the Titanic before, true as it may be that she had been given the chance to chat, eat, flirt, socialize, and mingle with passengers who undoubtedly held a higher social position than her rightful one, but it was also true that Olivia loathed the reason she was on the Titanic, the life she would lead when it docked, and even, at times, the ship itself.
Olivia suffered from an arranged marriage. Oliva had met her fiancée the summer previous, and had immediately taken a dislike to him. She was being forced into the marriage not by her family, indeed, the marriage had come about more for the lack of a family. Olivia had been orphaned soon after her birth, and with no suitable family member to see to her upbringing, she had been sent first to an orphanage, and later, to a convent, to act as a servant girl. It had been at one of the church picnics that her fiancé, Todd, had seen her for the first time. Todd acted, with as much grace as a man who had fallen in love with a young woman far below his class could muster, he had gone to one of the nuns, and asked for her hand in marriage. The sister had instantly agreed, for Olivia was not really one of their members, and provided, what she deemed to be a chance to rise up in the world.
Olivia had been stunned and shocked when Todd consequently proposed to her. She had made out, flatteringly, to refuse, for although Todd had a certain air of elegance about him, he was ten years her senior, and Olivia felt no deep attraction towards him. When the sisters insisted she marry him, she tried to flee, but to no avail. Olivia was to marry Todd.
Olivia jumped at a sound behind her. When she turned around, she saw Todd standing behind her, and steadied herself.
"Olivia, sweetheart, how many times must I tell you not to stay out here! Honestly, sometimes I wonder how you are so asinine and stubborn, and where you got it from!"
Olivia fumed as Todd insisted in dragging her back inside.
"Todd, I feel ill-"Olivia started
"There, I knew it! All this foolishness and standing out in the rain, Olivia. Do you want me to get the ship's surgeon to see you?"
"No.err, thankyou, Todd. If you don't mind, I'll just go back to the stateroom."
"Do you want me to escort you there?"
"No, no, its fine, I can make it there and lie down," She watched as Todd walked back down the hallway to the smoking room.Ha, sick indeed!Olivia beamed at her ingenuity of her plan. Now at least she was free of her overbearing finance, and could spend her time as she pleased. Immediately she headed back out to the deck, but paused, with her hand on the door, when she saw a man sobbing down the corridor.
Olivia looked again, the man was finely dressed and groomed, and obviously a first class gentleman. But what would a gentleman be doing sobbing at his time of night in the middle of a hall? Olivia debated walking up to him, but decided against it. She had her own problems to deal with, with no immediate solutions.
Thomas turned around and saw the beautiful woman looking at him. He bundled his coat up and hastened down the hall.