Authors Note: This story takes up from the end of the last one, and will be
written from the point of view of the young girl whom Cal pretends is his
daughter in order to get onto the boat and off the sinking ship. You
remember the bit; "Please. I'm all she has in this world." Whilst I am
prepared to admit that it is not very likely that someone of Cal's
upbringing would bring up a third class child, you will see that there is a
reason for this, and I figured that as a story, well it doesn't have to be
one hundred percent accurate. That's the beauty of a story isn't it?
New York, April 16, 1912.
"Thank you for coming Mr. Hockley...as you are no doubt aware this could be a very serious matter.." The tall, distinguished looking man said, standing up and holding out his hand.
Cal didn't take it. "I don't know that I would agree with you on that." He said coldly. "In fact I think that this whole exercise is a waste of time. I was planning on getting back to Philadelphia as soon as possible. You'd be aware, no doubt, that my fiancée died on the Titanic."
"Yes, I read about it in the papers, and of course I am sorry for your loss. That is one of the reasons I wished to get this over and done with as soon as I could possibly arrange."
"Indeed." Cal said, sitting down and arranging himself, trying to seem like he was in control of the situation, when in reality he was actually a little concerned. What was his father going to say? For that matter what would society say?
The man also seated himself behind his desk. "Now, as you're aware this is about Eliza- is that a Swedish name?"
"I have no idea." Cal replied, his tone indicating he didn't actually care whether the child was from Mars or not.
"Right, well..the thing is Mr. Hockley, that Eliza is an orphan now, unfortunately one of many from this tragedy. The government has been considering the situation very carefully. Whilst we would like to take in these children it would be a large drain on the economy, and with the current climate....you see, it's simply not feasible."
"No." Cal said, wondering when the second shoe was going to drop?
"I don't know if you are aware of this or not- do you know of Senator William Alden Smith?" The man asked.
"I have heard of him.." Cal replied, a little cautiously. The rumors currently circulating in New York were that the senator was concerned about what had gone so wrong on a ship supposedly unsinkable, and that he was going to push for some kind of committee hearing to find out the facts. Whilst some people welcomed the idea, there were others who knew that things which might come out about them could make them look bad. Molly Brown, for one, was welcoming the inquiry, and Madeleine Astor who had lost her husband on the ill-fated voyage was in complete agreement.
"Well tomorrow, during the Senate hearing he is going to propose a special investigation under the auspices of the Senate Commerce Committee, basically to- and these are his words- "investigate the causes leading to the wreck of the White Star liner Titanic, with its attendant loss of life so shocking to the civilized world." The man explained.
"Indeed.." Cal said, his mouth suddenly a little dry. Surely this man, this public servant, was not indicating that his actions could come under scrutiny?
"The fact is, Mr. Hockley, that your actions aboard the ship, with little Eliza, will not be looked upon favorably by the committee."
"This is absurd. My actions saved the girl's life. If it weren't for me-"
"Be that as it may your actions were wrong. You lied, and do you think society will appreciate a man who lied to save his own skin? You know, as do I, that they can be sharks out there. And of course your own father- we went to Harvard together did you know?"
"I didn't." Cal replied.
"Well I can't imagine him being too impressed, can you?"
Cal shook his head. No, his father would not be too impressed, not because of what Cal had done, but more because of the reputation of the family. He was very into reputations!
"So, what we're suggesting is this. You take this Eliza into your home and raise her, and the senate committee looks the other way about your actions involving her, and indeed any other person aboard the ship that night.."
Cal stared at him. "Any other person aboard the ship?" Surely, surely he was not referring to the problems with that gutter-rat his Rose had been seduced by? How did he even know? Then it came to him, like a blow. Molly Brown. Molly knew everything.
"Well Mr. Hockley? Is it a deal? If you ask me society would think highly of you for not only rescuing a young girl, but then taking her in. They wouldn't know about the reasons behind it-charity acts are all the rage at the moment aren't they?"
Cal reflected that this was possible, but on the other hand, he wasn't sure he wanted the responsibility this would ensue. With the death of Rose he wanted to simply melt into society and forget the whole thing. The whole disaster. "If I agree, will we have an agreement that none of this, none of my.actions, will be aired in public?" Cal asked.
"You have my word as a gentleman."
Cal sighed. "There is really nothing for it is there?"
"You are doing the right thing, believe me.."
Cal wasn't too sure about that, but he did know he was doing the only thing he could do under the circumstances. Surely his father would rather an orphaned girl, and the idea that the Hockley's were charitable over the embarrassment of his actions being made known? However, his house was large enough so that he could hide the girl away with a nanny, forget that she even existed. A girl of her class couldn't possibly be expected to be part of society could she? Damn it all to hell, but there was really no choice. He was going to become the guardian of some Swedish girl, and he had no idea why! This was not like him, was it?
New York, April 16, 1912.
"Thank you for coming Mr. Hockley...as you are no doubt aware this could be a very serious matter.." The tall, distinguished looking man said, standing up and holding out his hand.
Cal didn't take it. "I don't know that I would agree with you on that." He said coldly. "In fact I think that this whole exercise is a waste of time. I was planning on getting back to Philadelphia as soon as possible. You'd be aware, no doubt, that my fiancée died on the Titanic."
"Yes, I read about it in the papers, and of course I am sorry for your loss. That is one of the reasons I wished to get this over and done with as soon as I could possibly arrange."
"Indeed." Cal said, sitting down and arranging himself, trying to seem like he was in control of the situation, when in reality he was actually a little concerned. What was his father going to say? For that matter what would society say?
The man also seated himself behind his desk. "Now, as you're aware this is about Eliza- is that a Swedish name?"
"I have no idea." Cal replied, his tone indicating he didn't actually care whether the child was from Mars or not.
"Right, well..the thing is Mr. Hockley, that Eliza is an orphan now, unfortunately one of many from this tragedy. The government has been considering the situation very carefully. Whilst we would like to take in these children it would be a large drain on the economy, and with the current climate....you see, it's simply not feasible."
"No." Cal said, wondering when the second shoe was going to drop?
"I don't know if you are aware of this or not- do you know of Senator William Alden Smith?" The man asked.
"I have heard of him.." Cal replied, a little cautiously. The rumors currently circulating in New York were that the senator was concerned about what had gone so wrong on a ship supposedly unsinkable, and that he was going to push for some kind of committee hearing to find out the facts. Whilst some people welcomed the idea, there were others who knew that things which might come out about them could make them look bad. Molly Brown, for one, was welcoming the inquiry, and Madeleine Astor who had lost her husband on the ill-fated voyage was in complete agreement.
"Well tomorrow, during the Senate hearing he is going to propose a special investigation under the auspices of the Senate Commerce Committee, basically to- and these are his words- "investigate the causes leading to the wreck of the White Star liner Titanic, with its attendant loss of life so shocking to the civilized world." The man explained.
"Indeed.." Cal said, his mouth suddenly a little dry. Surely this man, this public servant, was not indicating that his actions could come under scrutiny?
"The fact is, Mr. Hockley, that your actions aboard the ship, with little Eliza, will not be looked upon favorably by the committee."
"This is absurd. My actions saved the girl's life. If it weren't for me-"
"Be that as it may your actions were wrong. You lied, and do you think society will appreciate a man who lied to save his own skin? You know, as do I, that they can be sharks out there. And of course your own father- we went to Harvard together did you know?"
"I didn't." Cal replied.
"Well I can't imagine him being too impressed, can you?"
Cal shook his head. No, his father would not be too impressed, not because of what Cal had done, but more because of the reputation of the family. He was very into reputations!
"So, what we're suggesting is this. You take this Eliza into your home and raise her, and the senate committee looks the other way about your actions involving her, and indeed any other person aboard the ship that night.."
Cal stared at him. "Any other person aboard the ship?" Surely, surely he was not referring to the problems with that gutter-rat his Rose had been seduced by? How did he even know? Then it came to him, like a blow. Molly Brown. Molly knew everything.
"Well Mr. Hockley? Is it a deal? If you ask me society would think highly of you for not only rescuing a young girl, but then taking her in. They wouldn't know about the reasons behind it-charity acts are all the rage at the moment aren't they?"
Cal reflected that this was possible, but on the other hand, he wasn't sure he wanted the responsibility this would ensue. With the death of Rose he wanted to simply melt into society and forget the whole thing. The whole disaster. "If I agree, will we have an agreement that none of this, none of my.actions, will be aired in public?" Cal asked.
"You have my word as a gentleman."
Cal sighed. "There is really nothing for it is there?"
"You are doing the right thing, believe me.."
Cal wasn't too sure about that, but he did know he was doing the only thing he could do under the circumstances. Surely his father would rather an orphaned girl, and the idea that the Hockley's were charitable over the embarrassment of his actions being made known? However, his house was large enough so that he could hide the girl away with a nanny, forget that she even existed. A girl of her class couldn't possibly be expected to be part of society could she? Damn it all to hell, but there was really no choice. He was going to become the guardian of some Swedish girl, and he had no idea why! This was not like him, was it?