Chapter Six

"Mother."

Ruth looked up as Rose walked into her sitting room, still dressed in an evening gown. The Hockleys had had guests to dinner that night, and Rose, of course, had been required to dress the part and act like a lady, no matter how she felt.

"What is it, Rose?" Ruth's voice was decidedly cool.

"I want to tell you what really happened last night. Now, while Cal is downstairs entertaining the guests."

"So that you can speak badly of him without him here to defend himself? Rose, I will not allow that." Ruth got to her feet. "Now, go back downstairs and be polite to the guests. You are soon to become Mrs. Caledon Hockley, and it will enhance his reputation to have a charming, pleasant fiancée."

"Mother, listen to me!" Rose lowered her voice, not wanting anyone else to hear. "I did not seduce Cal last night. Perhaps it was bad judgment for me to go to his rooms with him, but I never intended for anything to happen. The scheme was entirely his. Do you have any idea what he did to me, Mother?"

"Only what you wanted him to do, Rose."

"No! I didn't want him to do anything. He forced himself upon me!"

Ruth slapped her, furious that Rose was still speaking badly of Cal. She had thought the issue was settled that morning, but apparently Rose needed more convincing.

"How dare you impugn such a gentleman, Rose? He is what you—what this family—needs. He has the wealth and status necessary for a lady of your class. You're just lucky that you've found a suitable husband."

Rose shook her head, her hand against her stinging cheek. Ruth's slap had hurt worse than Cal's, perhaps because she had expected sympathy from her mother and found only condemnation.

"Mother, please. I can't do this. I can't marry him. Please let me end the engagement. We'll think of some suitable excuse—we found ourselves incompatible, or some such. But I can't—won't—marry Cal."

Rose looked Ruth right in the eye, firm in her stance against the marriage. Ruth stared at her for a moment, then took her seat again, gesturing for Rose to sit across from her. Rose sank down onto the chair, hope momentarily in her heart.

Ruth's words, however, dashed that hope. "I can see that I haven't informed you well enough of our situation, Rose. We have no money left. That is why we are staying here with the Hockleys, rather than in our own home. I was forced to rent our house out in order to make ends meet."

"Mother...surely it can't be that bad. There must be some money left."

"No, Rose, there isn't, or I would never have rented our home to new money."

"Surely they pay enough for us to live comfortably."

"Comfortably? Perhaps, Rose, but we would lose our status, lose everything that makes us who we are. Debts are coming due, and in order to pay them, we would have to sell our fine things at auction. Everything that matters to us would be gone." When Rose opened her mouth to speak, Ruth interrupted her. "Your father left us nothing but a legacy of bad debts covered by a good name. That name is the only card we have to play. And you, Rose, are doing your best to destroy that good name. Do you really think that any other man will want you after this?"

"I wasn't to blame, and it doesn't show on the outside. He wouldn't have to know."

"He'd find out, Rose. Trust me on that."

"Surely there must be some way—"

"Rose, this discussion is at an end. You will marry Caledon. You have no choice, not only because of our financial situation, but because of your behavior last night."

"Mother, please..."

"We are not going to speak of this again. And you will not mention it to anyone, or I will make you sorry, Rose. Very sorry."

Rose stared at her mother, her eyes filling with tears. Ruth never made idle threats, and her punishments, as Rose knew from past experience, were something she wanted to avoid at all costs. She truly would be sorry if she defied Ruth's orders.

"Don't cry, Rose. You'll ruin your makeup and leave your eyes red. You have nothing to cry about, anyway. You got yourself into this. Now, the wedding will take place as planned, but we are first taking a tour of Europe."

"I thought we didn't have any money."

"Since it is your engagement trip, Cal will be paying for it. Of course, I will go along as your chaperone—which it is obvious you need."

Rose shook her head, trying one last time to dissuade Ruth. "Mother, no..."

"Rose, I said this discussion was at an end. Do not contradict me. We will be setting sail on the Mauretania one week from today. Cal was going to surprise you with the trip, but I explained to him that you really needed to know ahead of time so that you could purchase a suitable wardrobe before the trip. You will be buying your wedding gown and trousseau in Europe. Then, Mr. Hockley has something especially enjoyable in mind—we will sail home on the maiden voyage of the Titanic, the grandest ship in all history." Ruth smiled, pleased.

Rose felt a sick, sinking sensation inside. Ruth was using her to pay for all of these fine things, these luxuries. And Rose would continue to pay...and pay...and pay...for the rest of her life. Divorce simply wasn't done, and Rose was being given no say in the matter of the marriage. She was collateral, something to be sold in place of all the fine things her mother couldn't bear to part with. All of those luxury items, those things that Ruth had once discarded and replaced on a whim, were worth more to her than Rose.

And there was no way to escape, nothing that she could do. If she left Cal, her reputation would be ruined. She had nowhere to go, no idea what she might do without the marriage. There was nothing left.

Blinking back her tears, Rose raised her chin and stood. They could lock her away in a golden cage, but she wouldn't be broken. She would try to find the good in her situation, and live for that. She would be strong, pushing away the hurt, until it no longer mattered. She wasn't Ruth's daughter for nothing; with time, she could become as icy and unfeeling as her mother. It was the only way to live the life that had been chosen for her. Without strength, it would destroy her.

"I will be rejoining the guests now, Mother," Rose told Ruth, walking toward the door, her back as stiff and as straight as it could be. No one would be able to guess what had happened. She would put on a cheerful face, be the ideal hostess. It was only an act, after all—and Rose had often wished that she could be an actress. This might be the only way she would ever fulfill that dream.

"Behave yourself, Rose. Don't cross me on this. You know why."

"Yes, Mother, I know." Rose left the room, her jaw set, and slowly made her way back down the stairs.