[A/N. I am sure most of you probably know this but I thought I would
mention that a lot of the people I mention in here in connection with the
Titanic, and the events surrounding them on that tragic night, are
historical facts. I have something of an obsession when it comes to writing
stories about making sure I get facts straight. Even that senate committee
at the beginning was true. I did an essay on the Titanic when I was in year
seven or eight I think, and from that time on I became obsessed with the
whole thing. So you can imagine how happy I was when the movie came out!
Anyway, enough of that: enjoy the story.]
Philadelphia, July 1933.
The house in Philadelphia was one of the largest, and elaborate Eliza had ever seen. Some would perhaps even class it as ostentatious. It was almost as if it's occupants wanted to make sure everyone knew they had money! To Eliza this seemed a little strange-after all Edward's father was a Colonel, and one of the most famous in the country. Surely he would have known his place in society? Edward led her up the few steps leading to the main entrance and they walked into the house. Eliza looked around at the foyer. Marble floors, and huge paintings were prominent. And then all of a sudden she noticed a woman standing near the doorway of another room studying them thoughtfully. The woman was dressed in a fine silk dress-the sort of clothing Eliza thought was suitable for an afternoon party rather than that time of morning. (One of the first lessons she had learnt from her governess was about when she should wear what!)
"Mother- allow me to introduce my fiancée, Eliza." Edward said proudly, and he gently propelled Eliza forward.
Mrs. Gracie raised a delicate eyebrow. "So this is the woman you think you're going to marry then?" She asked, coming forward slightly also.
"Mother!" Edward said, shooting Eliza an embarrassed look. "We've discussed this ad nauseum. Eliza and I are getting married next month."
"Right." Mrs. Gracie said, in the tone of someone who clearly didn't believe a word they were saying. "Well your father's been tied up in a meeting with Franklin, but he should be home in time for dinner. I'm sure he's..eager to meet your...fiancée."
Eliza had been standing silently during this exchange between her fiancée and his mother, and now she stepped forward and smiled at the woman. "Mrs. Gracie it is nice to meet you finally since Edward speaks of you all the time. And your house is lovely! It's even nicer than..well it's lovely." She had been about to say it was even nicer than Cal's, but she decided not to mention her association with the Hockleys, and hoped that Edward hadn't brought it up either.
"Well.." Mrs. Gracie said, and then she smiled tightly. "Thank you. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some things to see to." And with that she turned and walked away.
Eliza felt her face redden. The woman had all but snubbed her. "I guess your mother doesn't like me. You neglected to tell me that she wasn't happy about the marriage Edward!" She said.
Edward sighed. "Come into the living room Eliza. I need a drink."
The living room was just as elaborate as the foyer Eliza noted. Once Edward had poured himself a brandy and they were both seated on a comfortable leather couch he admitted to her that his mother wasn't entirely happy with the marriage. "But, "He hastened to add. "She's never thought anyone was good enough for me to marry."
"Perhaps," Eliza conceded. "But I am willing to bet that she was even more against this marriage than any other."
Edward sighed, and took her hand. "Eliza look around you. Who do you think decorated this house? My mother, that's who. Father was away with the army so much when they first married he didn't really care, and now he couldn't be bothered arguing. My mother is a snob. Her parents always expected her to marry someone like Ben Guggenheim, or JP Morgan. I think almost against her will she fell in love with Father. Then when she learnt he was richer than she was he had no chance of getting away from her. Not to say he wanted to mind you, but once my mother decides on something, well she gets that something! What I'm trying to say is that I could care less about what she thinks. I'm a grown man, and I make my own decisions. And Father will like you as much as I do."
Eliza sighed also. "I just hate the idea of her being opposed to this marriage."
"She'll come around eventually, I promise. And even if she doesn't it doesn't matter. When I told Father I intended to marry he began the job of purchasing me my own home. In his eyes every man should start his married life in a home of his own. My mother would disagree of course, but Father is a very strong man when he wants to be. And wait until you see the place Eliza. We're in the process of having it decorated and furnished, so as soon as the wedding has taken place, we can move in!" Edward said.
That made Eliza feel slightly better. The idea of being married and living in the same place as Mrs. Gracie wasn't entirely appealing.
"I hear the car. Father must be home!" Edward said. "I promise you Eliza, he is nothing like Mother."
A few minutes later a tall, distinguished looking man entered the room. "Edward!" He said, and Edward hurried to shake his father's hand.
"I had meant to be here to greet you. I wanted at least someone to make you feel welcome." Edward explained. "But the meeting dragged on and on and on..."
"How is business Father?" Edward enquired.
"It's better than I expected..but enough about business. This must be Eliza." And he turned to smile at her. "Welcome dear. Edward has done nothing but talk about you since he first met you at that orphanage. In fact I feel as if I already know you."
Eliza stood up. "And Edward speaks of you constantly. I'm glad to be meeting you at last." She said politely.
Colonel Gracie laughed. "Don't be so formal. After all we're almost family." He said jovially, and Eliza had to smile. As Edward had said his father was nothing like his mother. Maybe it was being in the army and working which made him more down to earth like his son?
"Isn't this touching?" Mrs. Gracie said from the doorway. "Archibald we need to discuss that groom again!"
"Again?" The colonel made a face. "I'm sure you won't bully Edward like I get bullied." He said to Eliza.
"Archibald!" Mrs. Gracie snapped. "Do you mind?"
"Right, well I'll see you at dinner." The colonel said, and he left with his wife.
"See?" Edward said to Eliza. "I told you he was different to mother."
"He's wonderful!" Eliza said. "He made me feel welcome. He didn't even seem to look down on me."
"Well he wouldn't!" Edward assured her. "Father's what society calls new money- at least compared to Mother. Plus I think surviving the Titanic disaster made-"
"-Your Father was on the Titanic?" Eliza interrupted shocked.
"Yes." Edward said looking puzzled. "He was lucky to survive too. He was travelling alone back home, and with the woman and children only rule he wasn't given a spot on the boat. When the ship was finally sinking he made a jump for it and landed on top of the collapsible lifeboat. He was actually one of the survivors to later write memoirs of the whole incident and-" suddenly he stopped in shock. "OH! Eliza I am so sorry sweetheart. I forgot about your parents."
Eliza smiled. "Oh that's alright. It was a long time ago-twenty one years! I barely even remember them. I was only six that night."
"Even so I shouldn't have brought it up." Edward said decidedly. "Now let me show you to your rooms. I hope you like them."
Eliza laughed. "Edward I've been living in a tiny room in an orphanage for the past few years. Anything here would be better than that." She told him.
"I know. I just want you to be happy here. I know you might feel uncomfortable with Mother until she warms up to you, but I want you to remember Father and I're here for you!" Edward explained as they climbed the stairs.
"I know sweetheart." Eliza replied.
When Edward opened the door to her rooms she was speechless. In the center of the room was a huge four poster bed, covered with a beautiful silk cover. Beside the bed sat an oak table, and to the right, by the window was an oak writing desk. The windows were large and looked down on the lovely gardens. Another doorway led to the bathroom, in which a huge sunken tub took precedence. Her clothes were already neatly put away in the huge cupboard, making it seem as though she had hardly any. At least when she got her yearly payment she'd be able to buy some more!
"Relax for a bit before dinner. I'm sure the trip has tired you-and meeting my mother was probably even more tiring." Edward said.
"Okay," Eliza agreed, and Edward kissed her quickly and turned to leave the room, but Eliza had a sudden thought and called him back. "Edward- does your mother know that I was Cal's ward?"
"She does. For some reason I wasn't planning on telling her, but she has ways of finding out things. But Eliza I don't want you stressing over my mother. She'll come around eventually I promise."
"I'm sure she will." Eliza lied. She honestly didn't think that Mrs. Gracie was going to accept her as her daughter in law any time in the near future! But with Edward as her loving husband she didn't care as much as she would have normally.
Philadelphia, July 1933.
The house in Philadelphia was one of the largest, and elaborate Eliza had ever seen. Some would perhaps even class it as ostentatious. It was almost as if it's occupants wanted to make sure everyone knew they had money! To Eliza this seemed a little strange-after all Edward's father was a Colonel, and one of the most famous in the country. Surely he would have known his place in society? Edward led her up the few steps leading to the main entrance and they walked into the house. Eliza looked around at the foyer. Marble floors, and huge paintings were prominent. And then all of a sudden she noticed a woman standing near the doorway of another room studying them thoughtfully. The woman was dressed in a fine silk dress-the sort of clothing Eliza thought was suitable for an afternoon party rather than that time of morning. (One of the first lessons she had learnt from her governess was about when she should wear what!)
"Mother- allow me to introduce my fiancée, Eliza." Edward said proudly, and he gently propelled Eliza forward.
Mrs. Gracie raised a delicate eyebrow. "So this is the woman you think you're going to marry then?" She asked, coming forward slightly also.
"Mother!" Edward said, shooting Eliza an embarrassed look. "We've discussed this ad nauseum. Eliza and I are getting married next month."
"Right." Mrs. Gracie said, in the tone of someone who clearly didn't believe a word they were saying. "Well your father's been tied up in a meeting with Franklin, but he should be home in time for dinner. I'm sure he's..eager to meet your...fiancée."
Eliza had been standing silently during this exchange between her fiancée and his mother, and now she stepped forward and smiled at the woman. "Mrs. Gracie it is nice to meet you finally since Edward speaks of you all the time. And your house is lovely! It's even nicer than..well it's lovely." She had been about to say it was even nicer than Cal's, but she decided not to mention her association with the Hockleys, and hoped that Edward hadn't brought it up either.
"Well.." Mrs. Gracie said, and then she smiled tightly. "Thank you. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some things to see to." And with that she turned and walked away.
Eliza felt her face redden. The woman had all but snubbed her. "I guess your mother doesn't like me. You neglected to tell me that she wasn't happy about the marriage Edward!" She said.
Edward sighed. "Come into the living room Eliza. I need a drink."
The living room was just as elaborate as the foyer Eliza noted. Once Edward had poured himself a brandy and they were both seated on a comfortable leather couch he admitted to her that his mother wasn't entirely happy with the marriage. "But, "He hastened to add. "She's never thought anyone was good enough for me to marry."
"Perhaps," Eliza conceded. "But I am willing to bet that she was even more against this marriage than any other."
Edward sighed, and took her hand. "Eliza look around you. Who do you think decorated this house? My mother, that's who. Father was away with the army so much when they first married he didn't really care, and now he couldn't be bothered arguing. My mother is a snob. Her parents always expected her to marry someone like Ben Guggenheim, or JP Morgan. I think almost against her will she fell in love with Father. Then when she learnt he was richer than she was he had no chance of getting away from her. Not to say he wanted to mind you, but once my mother decides on something, well she gets that something! What I'm trying to say is that I could care less about what she thinks. I'm a grown man, and I make my own decisions. And Father will like you as much as I do."
Eliza sighed also. "I just hate the idea of her being opposed to this marriage."
"She'll come around eventually, I promise. And even if she doesn't it doesn't matter. When I told Father I intended to marry he began the job of purchasing me my own home. In his eyes every man should start his married life in a home of his own. My mother would disagree of course, but Father is a very strong man when he wants to be. And wait until you see the place Eliza. We're in the process of having it decorated and furnished, so as soon as the wedding has taken place, we can move in!" Edward said.
That made Eliza feel slightly better. The idea of being married and living in the same place as Mrs. Gracie wasn't entirely appealing.
"I hear the car. Father must be home!" Edward said. "I promise you Eliza, he is nothing like Mother."
A few minutes later a tall, distinguished looking man entered the room. "Edward!" He said, and Edward hurried to shake his father's hand.
"I had meant to be here to greet you. I wanted at least someone to make you feel welcome." Edward explained. "But the meeting dragged on and on and on..."
"How is business Father?" Edward enquired.
"It's better than I expected..but enough about business. This must be Eliza." And he turned to smile at her. "Welcome dear. Edward has done nothing but talk about you since he first met you at that orphanage. In fact I feel as if I already know you."
Eliza stood up. "And Edward speaks of you constantly. I'm glad to be meeting you at last." She said politely.
Colonel Gracie laughed. "Don't be so formal. After all we're almost family." He said jovially, and Eliza had to smile. As Edward had said his father was nothing like his mother. Maybe it was being in the army and working which made him more down to earth like his son?
"Isn't this touching?" Mrs. Gracie said from the doorway. "Archibald we need to discuss that groom again!"
"Again?" The colonel made a face. "I'm sure you won't bully Edward like I get bullied." He said to Eliza.
"Archibald!" Mrs. Gracie snapped. "Do you mind?"
"Right, well I'll see you at dinner." The colonel said, and he left with his wife.
"See?" Edward said to Eliza. "I told you he was different to mother."
"He's wonderful!" Eliza said. "He made me feel welcome. He didn't even seem to look down on me."
"Well he wouldn't!" Edward assured her. "Father's what society calls new money- at least compared to Mother. Plus I think surviving the Titanic disaster made-"
"-Your Father was on the Titanic?" Eliza interrupted shocked.
"Yes." Edward said looking puzzled. "He was lucky to survive too. He was travelling alone back home, and with the woman and children only rule he wasn't given a spot on the boat. When the ship was finally sinking he made a jump for it and landed on top of the collapsible lifeboat. He was actually one of the survivors to later write memoirs of the whole incident and-" suddenly he stopped in shock. "OH! Eliza I am so sorry sweetheart. I forgot about your parents."
Eliza smiled. "Oh that's alright. It was a long time ago-twenty one years! I barely even remember them. I was only six that night."
"Even so I shouldn't have brought it up." Edward said decidedly. "Now let me show you to your rooms. I hope you like them."
Eliza laughed. "Edward I've been living in a tiny room in an orphanage for the past few years. Anything here would be better than that." She told him.
"I know. I just want you to be happy here. I know you might feel uncomfortable with Mother until she warms up to you, but I want you to remember Father and I're here for you!" Edward explained as they climbed the stairs.
"I know sweetheart." Eliza replied.
When Edward opened the door to her rooms she was speechless. In the center of the room was a huge four poster bed, covered with a beautiful silk cover. Beside the bed sat an oak table, and to the right, by the window was an oak writing desk. The windows were large and looked down on the lovely gardens. Another doorway led to the bathroom, in which a huge sunken tub took precedence. Her clothes were already neatly put away in the huge cupboard, making it seem as though she had hardly any. At least when she got her yearly payment she'd be able to buy some more!
"Relax for a bit before dinner. I'm sure the trip has tired you-and meeting my mother was probably even more tiring." Edward said.
"Okay," Eliza agreed, and Edward kissed her quickly and turned to leave the room, but Eliza had a sudden thought and called him back. "Edward- does your mother know that I was Cal's ward?"
"She does. For some reason I wasn't planning on telling her, but she has ways of finding out things. But Eliza I don't want you stressing over my mother. She'll come around eventually I promise."
"I'm sure she will." Eliza lied. She honestly didn't think that Mrs. Gracie was going to accept her as her daughter in law any time in the near future! But with Edward as her loving husband she didn't care as much as she would have normally.