*Chapter 7*

The next morning, Clara discovered that there was a gymnasium in the ship, which she thought was wonderful, as she had always wanted to test out gym equipment.

Upon arrival, she sat herself down on one of the stationary bicycles, and was about to start pedalling, when all of a sudden, she felt a hand on her shoulder.

Clara whipped her head around, and came face to face with the gym instructor.

"Hello, love. Firstly, I must tell you, it's a good idea to hitch up that lovely dress a bit, if you don't want to turn all that silk and chiffon into shreds," the instructor explained.

Clara chuckled. "Right."

She attempted to pull up her dress, but when it was up enough, to not get caught in the pedals, she realised that too much of her legs were exposed.

"Uh.I guess the gymnasium isn't the place for me, then," Clara laughed nervously as she slid off the bike seat.

"Well, you're welcome to come back, anytime," the instructor said absently.

"Goodbye, then." Clara hurried out of the gymnasium as fast as she could, to avoid embarrassment.

Back in her stateroom, Clara found a letter from - well; it didn't have a name on the envelope - on her dresser. She took it up, and examined it curiously, as though it were a bomb, waiting to go off.

"Oh, its from one of those officers," Clara and Claires personal maid, Alice said, as she saw Clara.

"Which one? What did he look like?" Clara asked.

"Well, he had a pleasantly handsome voice, and beautiful blue eyes," Alice said dreamily as she tilted her head and smiled to herself. "But I didn't see his hair. He was wearing an officer's cap. Oh, and he had a dimple in his chin. Handsome fella, really."

"Hmm, could've been Mr Lightoller," Clara thought.

Clara opened up the letter, and read in her mind:

'Dear Clara,

I hope you're feeling better than you were yesterday.

I saw you in the gymnasium this morning; it looked as if you were having a little trouble on the bicycle.

Anyhow, I was wondering if you would like to meet me on the bridge at 4:15 pm.

I would like to talk with you.

Thankyou, I understand if you choose otherwise.

Yours sincerely, Charles H. Lightoller.'

"Oh!" Clara gasped as she read the name at the foot of the letter. But then she smiled to herself.

"Of course I'll meet you, Mr Lightoller."

She was then snapped out of her daydream by none other than Claire.

Clara rolled her eyes.

"I never know what her problem is!" Clara mocked in Claires American accent.

"Hey, that sounds cool! Do it again!" Claire joked.

Clara just glared right at Claire, reminding her that the situation was serious.

"Okay, look, I'm really sorry. Again. This time, I mean it. I just - something just overcame me, and I wanted to joke around with the officers. But I honestly didn't mean to hurt you. Clara, please, look at me," Claire said sadly, as Clara slowly turned to face her.

"I swear to god, hope to die, stick a hairpin in my eye, that I'll never embarrass you like that again. I absolutely promise Clara."

Clara giggled a little, as the 'swear to god, hope to die' chant brought back memories of her childhood.

"So we're ok, now?" Claire asked hopefully.

Clara smiled and threw hers arms around Claire.

"Oh, Claire, we always are! Oh, I do love you so, Claire!" Noelle smiled as she peered through the doorway, but was quick to remind the girls that it was nearly time for the luncheon, and they needed to dress.

"Girls, lunch gowns, now!" Noelle informed.

After 10 minutes, coincidentally, Clara and Claire stepped out of their rooms, wearing the same dress, as they owned duplicates of this particular dress.

They burst out laughing, as they were twins, who were usually intuitive about one another.

Noelle laughed along with them.

"Come along girls, we are stalling the group."

The 'group' consisted of their table guests: J.J. Astor, the richest man on board, his wife, Madeline, The Countess of Rothes, Benjamin Guggenheim, Colonel Archie Gracie, Sir Cosmo and Lucille Duff-Gordon, Mr Andrews, Mr Ismay, and of course, Molly Brown.

Madeline Astor was interestingly enough, 19 years old, and pregnant to 40- year-old J.J. and it was, quite the scandal. But, Clara enjoyed talking with her, as there weren't many years age difference between them.

At lunch, in the dining room on C deck, Noelle sat talking to Molly, while Claire played with her 8-piece cutlery set, and Clara spoke the silly mindless chatter with the Countess.

"I asked the dressmaker to make my evening gown in forest green. Instead, he made it in sea green, and didn't even bother telling me! So I had to order the forest green taffeta all the way from Ireland. Those dressmakers are so careless, Clara. Don't you think?"

"Oh definitely," Clara replied, not having paid much attention to the Countess' chatter.

"Excuse me."

The mindless chatter was driving Clara absolutely insane, so she excused herself from lunch, and went out to the promenade deck at 3:30 pm, a little early for her appointment with Mr Lightoller, but nevertheless, exciting.