[A/N. For the reviewer who asked where this was going and what it has to do
with Titanic, well it's basically just Eliza's life after Titanic, after
Cal saved her. Occasionally there will be mentions of people from Titanic,
however as she gets older this is going to be less likely since many of
them will be dead. In fact Eliza and Edward are getting on in years, but I
don't think they're likely to die for a few years yet. Cheers.]
Philadelphia, November 1957.
Eliza could hear the phone ringing as Edward pulled the car up in front of their home. It stopped ringing as they were entering the hall, and then a moment later the maid hurried over to them. "Mrs. Gracie- it's Margaret. She's been ringing all day. Says it's urgent." The maid explained.
Eliza pursed her lips. Urgent? When Edward's mother had died from a heart attack two weeks ago Eliza had rang Margaret, but her flatmate had answered and told her that Eliza was abroad, and she'd give her the message as soon as she could. When Eliza'd told Edward after the conversation he'd shook his head. "Well when you speak to her tell her I'm cutting off her allowance. She's almost twenty two, old enough to get a job to support herself or a husband." He'd snapped. The funeral for Mrs. Gracie hadn't been as hard as Eliza had expected. A lot of people turned up, but other than making comments on how rich and powerful she'd been they hadn't commented on her being nice and friendly. For the first time in ages Eliza saw Edward's cousin Jennifer, who was almost sixty now, and looked it. According to Edward they'd had a hard time of it in the depression and refused Edward's help.
"Mrs. Gracie?" The maid asked carefully, and Eliza was startled from her thoughts.
"Right, thank you." Eliza said and she hurried to the phone. "Margaret?"
"MAMA! Where have you been? I've been trying all today and most of yesterday to reach you." Margaret demanded.
Eliza, shocked, replied that they'd been up in New York visiting Ben.
"Well I've got some big news Mama!" Margaret exclaimed, her voice cheerful.
"Hold on a moment." Eliza instructed. "Firstly yes your brother is fine and loving his job. Secondly did you get my message a few weeks back?"
There was a pause. "What message Mama?" Margaret asked, but Eliza wasn't fooled. She knew her daughter too well, and knew that Margaret had received the message, but not called until now. Eliza fought the urge to hang up on her, and for the first time ever she saw Edward's point about their daughter being spoilt rotten.
"Your grandmother died." Eliza said, even though she knew Margaret had already gotten the news.
"She did?" Margaret repeated. "Oh that's terrible. I mean I know we didn't exactly get along, but still..how's Papa coping?"
"Very well. We've known it was coming for the last few years- the doctors are actually surprised she lived as long as she did." Eliza explained. She didn't mention the fact that Edward, despite taking it better than she'd expected, seemed to have aged a lot in the last few months. He was now sixty one- ten years older than her- and he was beginning to look it.
"Yes." Margaret said slowly. There was the sound of a voice in the background and Margaret giggled like a child. "Hold on a moment Mama." There was the sound of Margaret covering the phone with her hand, and then a few moments later she was back apologizing.
"Who was that?" Eliza asked curiously. "And are you back in London yet?"
"No, I'm in France." Margaret said.
Eliza decided this was as good a time as any to tell Margaret what Edward had decided, since she was now one hundred percent behind him. "Perhaps you should think about going back to London and getting a job Margaret?"
"MAMA!" Margaret said shocked. "Ladies don't work."
Eliza had to laugh. "Strange you should say that after you usually accuse me of being old fashioned. In New York I noticed that a lot of ladies were working now."
"But not well brought up ones." Margaret argued. "Ladies like myself don't need to work."
"Well you might have to now." Eliza said slowly, and then decided there was no other way to say it than to give it to her straight. "Edward and I have decided that at your age we should no longer have to support you. So you might need to get a job."
There was a silence on the other end of the phone and Eliza took a deep breath waiting for the tantrum to begin. But to her shock Margaret didn't yell or scream. Instead she said something which shocked Eliza more than anything did. "That doesn't matter now Mama. That's what I rang to tell you- I'm getting married Mama!"
Eliza felt faint, and hurriedly sat down. "What? Married?" She repeated.
Margaret laughed. "Don't sound so shocked Mama. Isn't that what you always wanted me to do? Get married and have children?"
"Who is it?" Eliza asked, rather than answering Margaret's question. Of course it's what she'd always wanted Margaret to do- just like any other young lady in society. Although lately she had wondered whether Margaret was better getting a job and working for a bit first, like many women did these days.
"His name's Richard. He's in his last year at Oxford, and his father is Lord Monksfield. That means when we marry I'm going to be a Lady!" Margaret explained laughing. "Lady Margaret Monksfield."
Eliza didn't know what to say.
"Mama?" Margaret asked, her voice not sounding quite as upbeat as before. "Aren't you happy for me Mama? Happy that I'm happy? And of course you, Papa and Ben will have to come over for the wedding. I need Papa to give me away. And Richard has said Ben can be one of his groomsmen." Her tone sounding more pleading now than anything.
Eliza took a deep breath. Why wasn't she happy? Margaret had found someone and was getting married? And even better she'd be very happy to be a Lady, and to move in the right circles in England like she'd done in America, like the Gracie's still did. Maybe it was just the fact that Margaret was her little baby, and she hadn't realised how grown up she was. "Of course I'm happy for you sweetie. I'm just in shock. I don't remember hearing his name mentioned before that's all."
"Well we only met a few weeks ago, but it was love at first sight Mama. Isn't it all so romantic?" Margaret sighed.
"Romantic, yes." Eliza said. Then another thought occurred to her. "Margaret, please tell me you're not getting married because you have to?"
"Have to?" Margaret repeated puzzled and then she laughed. "Oh Mama, no. I'm not pregnant."
Eliza sighed with relief- if Margaret had of been expecting she would have been horrified. Edward walked into the room then. "Did you tell her?" He asked Eliza softly.
Eliza nodded at him.
"Is that Papa?" Margaret asked. "What did he say?"
"Nothing sweetie.maybe you should tell your big news to your father?" Eliza suggested.
Edward looked concerned as Eliza handed him the phone. A moment later he looked shocked. "Married? Good Lord Margaret! You don't even know him well enough."
Eliza didn't hear what Margaret said, but whatever it was it took awhile, and when she was finished there was a slight smile on Edward's face. "Good point. Well, we'll be over there in time for the wedding. I'm sure your mother would be disappointed if she couldn't help plan it. And you know the timing really is quite good. I've been debating taking a few months off from work and taking a holiday. It will do both me and your mother good." He said.
Again Eliza didn't hear what Margaret said, but Edward laughed. "I don't think so- not for a few years yet anyway. I'm perfectly capable of looking after it all."
After Margaret got off the phone Edward looked at Eliza. "Well?"
"Well what?" Eliza asked. "She's nearly twenty two, she's old enough to get married. When I was younger most girls who weren't married at twenty two were thought to be old maids."
Edward nodded. "Sure, but this is 1957, not 1927. Girls don't have to get married if they don't want to. They can work, and then get married. I bet the idea of working wasn't exactly on Margaret's list of priorities." It was funny, Eliza thought when he said that, a few years back his views would have been completely different, but they'd both come to realise the times had changed, and things were not exactly the same anymore.
Eliza shrugged. "I guess not, but there's not much we can do about it is there? At least she sounds happy."
"She does, doesn't she? "Edward said with a smile.
"What was she asking you when you told her it wouldn't happen for a few years yet?" Eliza asked.
"She asked me when I was planning on retiring?" Edward replied indignantly.
"Well dear," She said diplomatically. "You are getting on."
"Nonsense!" Edward declared. "I'm perfectly fine. I'm only sixty one for heavens sake."
Eliza laughed. "Right. You're not old at all."
Edward shook his head at her. "On that note I better get back to work." He said, and he gave her a hug on his way out of the room. Eliza sighed and sat back on the chair again. Time seemed to fly, but now, instead of wishing it would stop, Eliza was used to it. All she wanted now was to see both her children happily married with children, living comfortably like she'd done for most of her life. She thought about the woman who Ben had introduced them to as his friend, and smiled. Maybe she wouldn't have to wait too long after all?
Philadelphia, November 1957.
Eliza could hear the phone ringing as Edward pulled the car up in front of their home. It stopped ringing as they were entering the hall, and then a moment later the maid hurried over to them. "Mrs. Gracie- it's Margaret. She's been ringing all day. Says it's urgent." The maid explained.
Eliza pursed her lips. Urgent? When Edward's mother had died from a heart attack two weeks ago Eliza had rang Margaret, but her flatmate had answered and told her that Eliza was abroad, and she'd give her the message as soon as she could. When Eliza'd told Edward after the conversation he'd shook his head. "Well when you speak to her tell her I'm cutting off her allowance. She's almost twenty two, old enough to get a job to support herself or a husband." He'd snapped. The funeral for Mrs. Gracie hadn't been as hard as Eliza had expected. A lot of people turned up, but other than making comments on how rich and powerful she'd been they hadn't commented on her being nice and friendly. For the first time in ages Eliza saw Edward's cousin Jennifer, who was almost sixty now, and looked it. According to Edward they'd had a hard time of it in the depression and refused Edward's help.
"Mrs. Gracie?" The maid asked carefully, and Eliza was startled from her thoughts.
"Right, thank you." Eliza said and she hurried to the phone. "Margaret?"
"MAMA! Where have you been? I've been trying all today and most of yesterday to reach you." Margaret demanded.
Eliza, shocked, replied that they'd been up in New York visiting Ben.
"Well I've got some big news Mama!" Margaret exclaimed, her voice cheerful.
"Hold on a moment." Eliza instructed. "Firstly yes your brother is fine and loving his job. Secondly did you get my message a few weeks back?"
There was a pause. "What message Mama?" Margaret asked, but Eliza wasn't fooled. She knew her daughter too well, and knew that Margaret had received the message, but not called until now. Eliza fought the urge to hang up on her, and for the first time ever she saw Edward's point about their daughter being spoilt rotten.
"Your grandmother died." Eliza said, even though she knew Margaret had already gotten the news.
"She did?" Margaret repeated. "Oh that's terrible. I mean I know we didn't exactly get along, but still..how's Papa coping?"
"Very well. We've known it was coming for the last few years- the doctors are actually surprised she lived as long as she did." Eliza explained. She didn't mention the fact that Edward, despite taking it better than she'd expected, seemed to have aged a lot in the last few months. He was now sixty one- ten years older than her- and he was beginning to look it.
"Yes." Margaret said slowly. There was the sound of a voice in the background and Margaret giggled like a child. "Hold on a moment Mama." There was the sound of Margaret covering the phone with her hand, and then a few moments later she was back apologizing.
"Who was that?" Eliza asked curiously. "And are you back in London yet?"
"No, I'm in France." Margaret said.
Eliza decided this was as good a time as any to tell Margaret what Edward had decided, since she was now one hundred percent behind him. "Perhaps you should think about going back to London and getting a job Margaret?"
"MAMA!" Margaret said shocked. "Ladies don't work."
Eliza had to laugh. "Strange you should say that after you usually accuse me of being old fashioned. In New York I noticed that a lot of ladies were working now."
"But not well brought up ones." Margaret argued. "Ladies like myself don't need to work."
"Well you might have to now." Eliza said slowly, and then decided there was no other way to say it than to give it to her straight. "Edward and I have decided that at your age we should no longer have to support you. So you might need to get a job."
There was a silence on the other end of the phone and Eliza took a deep breath waiting for the tantrum to begin. But to her shock Margaret didn't yell or scream. Instead she said something which shocked Eliza more than anything did. "That doesn't matter now Mama. That's what I rang to tell you- I'm getting married Mama!"
Eliza felt faint, and hurriedly sat down. "What? Married?" She repeated.
Margaret laughed. "Don't sound so shocked Mama. Isn't that what you always wanted me to do? Get married and have children?"
"Who is it?" Eliza asked, rather than answering Margaret's question. Of course it's what she'd always wanted Margaret to do- just like any other young lady in society. Although lately she had wondered whether Margaret was better getting a job and working for a bit first, like many women did these days.
"His name's Richard. He's in his last year at Oxford, and his father is Lord Monksfield. That means when we marry I'm going to be a Lady!" Margaret explained laughing. "Lady Margaret Monksfield."
Eliza didn't know what to say.
"Mama?" Margaret asked, her voice not sounding quite as upbeat as before. "Aren't you happy for me Mama? Happy that I'm happy? And of course you, Papa and Ben will have to come over for the wedding. I need Papa to give me away. And Richard has said Ben can be one of his groomsmen." Her tone sounding more pleading now than anything.
Eliza took a deep breath. Why wasn't she happy? Margaret had found someone and was getting married? And even better she'd be very happy to be a Lady, and to move in the right circles in England like she'd done in America, like the Gracie's still did. Maybe it was just the fact that Margaret was her little baby, and she hadn't realised how grown up she was. "Of course I'm happy for you sweetie. I'm just in shock. I don't remember hearing his name mentioned before that's all."
"Well we only met a few weeks ago, but it was love at first sight Mama. Isn't it all so romantic?" Margaret sighed.
"Romantic, yes." Eliza said. Then another thought occurred to her. "Margaret, please tell me you're not getting married because you have to?"
"Have to?" Margaret repeated puzzled and then she laughed. "Oh Mama, no. I'm not pregnant."
Eliza sighed with relief- if Margaret had of been expecting she would have been horrified. Edward walked into the room then. "Did you tell her?" He asked Eliza softly.
Eliza nodded at him.
"Is that Papa?" Margaret asked. "What did he say?"
"Nothing sweetie.maybe you should tell your big news to your father?" Eliza suggested.
Edward looked concerned as Eliza handed him the phone. A moment later he looked shocked. "Married? Good Lord Margaret! You don't even know him well enough."
Eliza didn't hear what Margaret said, but whatever it was it took awhile, and when she was finished there was a slight smile on Edward's face. "Good point. Well, we'll be over there in time for the wedding. I'm sure your mother would be disappointed if she couldn't help plan it. And you know the timing really is quite good. I've been debating taking a few months off from work and taking a holiday. It will do both me and your mother good." He said.
Again Eliza didn't hear what Margaret said, but Edward laughed. "I don't think so- not for a few years yet anyway. I'm perfectly capable of looking after it all."
After Margaret got off the phone Edward looked at Eliza. "Well?"
"Well what?" Eliza asked. "She's nearly twenty two, she's old enough to get married. When I was younger most girls who weren't married at twenty two were thought to be old maids."
Edward nodded. "Sure, but this is 1957, not 1927. Girls don't have to get married if they don't want to. They can work, and then get married. I bet the idea of working wasn't exactly on Margaret's list of priorities." It was funny, Eliza thought when he said that, a few years back his views would have been completely different, but they'd both come to realise the times had changed, and things were not exactly the same anymore.
Eliza shrugged. "I guess not, but there's not much we can do about it is there? At least she sounds happy."
"She does, doesn't she? "Edward said with a smile.
"What was she asking you when you told her it wouldn't happen for a few years yet?" Eliza asked.
"She asked me when I was planning on retiring?" Edward replied indignantly.
"Well dear," She said diplomatically. "You are getting on."
"Nonsense!" Edward declared. "I'm perfectly fine. I'm only sixty one for heavens sake."
Eliza laughed. "Right. You're not old at all."
Edward shook his head at her. "On that note I better get back to work." He said, and he gave her a hug on his way out of the room. Eliza sighed and sat back on the chair again. Time seemed to fly, but now, instead of wishing it would stop, Eliza was used to it. All she wanted now was to see both her children happily married with children, living comfortably like she'd done for most of her life. She thought about the woman who Ben had introduced them to as his friend, and smiled. Maybe she wouldn't have to wait too long after all?