April 14th , 1912
"Lily, wake up! Arise! Open your eyes! LILY!" Lily yawned and turned over in her bed.
"What is it, Joan?"
"Church, come on," Joan exclaimed. Lily laughed.
"OK, I knew Titanic was luxurious, but a church on board? That's pushing it a little."
"No, you silly girl. In the dining saloon, at half past ten. You'll need time to get ready, look smart." Lily rolled back over and groaned.
"I'm not religious," she croaked.
"I don't care whether you're religious or not, you are getting out of bed, getting ready, and coming with me. Gracious what will everyone THINK?" Miss Federick tugged hard at Lily's covers. The girl rolled with a thud out of her bed.
"Alright!" she laughed. "You win, I surrender. How long will it last?"
"Shouldn't be more than an hour or so. Now do come along…"
"For those in pe-ril on the sea." Lily enjoyed singing. When she did so alone, her voice was tuneful and beautiful, but singing in a congregation, she knew that she was singing the odd flat as she simply could not hear herself. She could hear Cal Hockley's self-conscious boom from 2 rows away. It infuriated her. She had hoped he might have the musical talent of a dying rhinoceros, but unfortunately for her, he was rather good. The hymn was the final part of the service. After this, Lily hoped to go and play games or something, she had found some 2nd class children her own age and was currently bored stiff with her present company.
Not a lot had happened in the past few days. There was definitely something wrong in Rose's world, she had heard shouting between her, Cal, and Mr Dawson. She had strong suspicions that Rose and Jack were having a love affair. But she didn't feel comfortable prying, and so kept her distance. Joan was a kind, sensible companion, and looked after Lily well, but Lily felt she simply could not cope with a middle-aged lady for company for another week-and-a-half. This was why Lily decided to socialise with people her own age. There were so few people her age in 1st class, it was almost ridiculous. Lily had spoken to one girl, Margaret, who was 13. She was a very nice girl indeed, but Lily had not seen her a lot, as her guardian did not seem the sort of person to let Margaret have a nice time, so again, Lily had decided not to get too close.
However, after the service, Lily and Margaret crossed paths again. Most of the first class adults of their acquaintance were playing bridge and suchlike and so Margaret and Lily found themselves alone on the deck.
"The air's nippy," Margaret voiced shyly. Lily shivered as a sharp breeze tickled her being.
"I know, it's not as pleasant as yesterday. Have you had a nice time so far, Margaret?"
"It's been lovely, thank you. I heard you're here with a guardian, too, is that right?"
"Yes, that's right. And you're here with Evelyn Carmicheal. A steward told me."
Margaret laughed.
"They say you get on well with the crew," she said. Lily looked at her indignantly.
"Who's they? What do they know?"
"Oh I'm sorry, Lily, I didn't mean to be rude. Just the people Mrs Carmicheal knows. They gossip an awful lot I'm afraid, it quite does my head in. Your Miss Federick said she couldn't keep you away from the officers, though she did say you were just making pleasant conversation, then Lady Astor said that Miss Federick ought to be careful, and then a few others said they'd seen you talking a lot." Lily sighed at this.
"Ah well, I suppose you can't stop people talking. But I do like the people there, yes. It's not my fault folk round these areas are so stuck up. No offense meant to you, of course. But do you not ever feel restricted?" Margaret looked skyward thoughtfully.
"Hmmm. Well yes. I suppose I do. I come from an orphanage, you know. From Whitechapel. We had mass every day there. It's going to be different in America."
"You're going to live in America?"
"I am. A new life, that's what I've been promised," Margaret finished.
Miss Federick's familiar voice shrilled from the other side of the deck. Lily giggled.
"I'd better go."
Margaret smiled.
"I'll see you soon, then," she grinned, waving.
"I should like to try out the gymnasium, Joan. Is that alright?" Joan looked down at Lily.
"Yes, you may. I trust you know where it is?"
"Of course. Well I heard a steward telling Molly Brown."
Joan sneered.
"The unsinkable, of course. I tell you child, if that Molly Brown had spent a little more time in the gymnasium, she - never mind. You run along, dear."
Lily made her way across the deck. Half running, half skipping, she darted past the DeWitt Bukaters, Officer Moody and Officer Lowe, Mr Andrews and dozens of other people. She smiled brightly at everyone, gleaming youth wherever she layed her eyes. She slowed her pace a little, and looked at her wristwatch. It was a little past midday. Just as she was about to venture unside towards her destination, she heard a quiet, urgent, Scottish voice just around the corner.
"Another one, sir." It was Murdoch.
"Another?" She recognised Captain Smith's as the other voice.
"RMS Noordam sent it us, not half an hour ago."
Lily leaned a little to her right, so she could catch a glimpse of their faces.
"This is the second, isn't it?" Murdoch nodded anxiously. For that moment, Lily saw not the expression of a responsible, calm officer, but thatof a scared little boy.
"Yes sir," he replied. Yes, there was a definite waver to his voice. A pause followed Murdoch's reply. Then:
"No cause for concern, Mr Murdoch. Ice is extremely common in these parts and t' sea's as calm as can be. Keep her going, nothing to be worried about."
Murdoch turned hesitantly.
'Yes sir," he said again.
Lily felt it hard to suppress the sharp little streak of anger rising up inside her. Ice? And two warnings of it in a short space of time? How could Captain Smith just brush that aside? Surely, surely it at least warranted an investigation? But frustrated as she was, Lily knew, deep down, that there was nothing she could do.She walked slowly inside, turned left and then left again into the gymnasium.
"I…… don't think…… that……(gasp)……. I'm…… very……… fit at…… th' moment."
Joan was having considerable difficulty speaking. Her round face was as red as a ruby and sweat ran like rain from her forehead. Lily laughed.
"Exactly how long has it been since you did some proper exercise? You've only been on that stationary bicycle, what, five minutes?"
'Well……… it has…… been quite…… a……… while," came the responding series of gasps.This further amused Lily.
"You know Joan, I shall never let you forget this. It'll make a marvellous story to tell Mrs Walthamstow! Wait, of course!" Lily's face lit up in remembrance.
"What…… what about her?" Joan asked, having regained a little of her breath. Lily was already making for the door.
"We must tidy ourselves up, then go and write her a letter." With that, Lily dashed out of the door.
"But, but Lily, it won't ever get del-" But it was too late, Lily was already half way to the reading and writing room.
Sitting in her characteristically perched manner on what she had decided to be one of the most comfortable chairs she had ever sat upon, Lily immediately whipped out a piece of paper and pen. She did not pause for thought once, the words simply flooded out of the nib.
Dearest Mrs Walthamstow,
I expect it would have been more sensible to wait until the end of my voyage to write to you, but I simply couldn't wait. I am indeed having a lovely time, just as you wanted me to. There is just so much to tell you!
We boarded the ship at around half past eleven, considerably after the 2nd and 3rd class folk did, and set sail at noon. But really, the ship is so huge, I did not even notice we were moving! The ship is really quite incredible. I am sure you have seen pictures and heard figures, but actually standing next to it is truly incedible.
Anyway, Miss Federick was interested in making friends on the ship, and the first people we met where the DeWitt Bukaters. Ruth, a pale, skinny, red-haired most formidable lady, the mother of Rose, 17 years old, beautiful, firey, trapped in her stiff, wealthy world, hopelessly in love with 3rd class passenger Mr Jack Dawson, but, sadly, engaged to Caledon Hockley, rich as is possible, horribly arrogant and rather frightening, though handsome. He was really quite rude to me, and Miss Federick said he was very unpleasant. But anyway, Rose has been good to me. Ruth was summoned to wrestle me into a corset which I refused to wear. It is not a pleasurable experience, to say the least. I walked across the deck like a cripple! Even the officers noticed, though they were very light-hearted about it. They are such nice people, ma'am, I'm sure you would like them. Folk in 1st class accused me of flirting with 5th Officer Lowe and 1st Officer Murdoch, but really, I was just being friendly, and my friend Margaret, 13, says she has discovered that they like me! There is a swimming pool, a gymnasium, dozens of dining areas, games rooms, beautiful arcades, but best of all, The Grand Staircase. It is simply marvellous. I enclose a picture taken by Colonel Astor which he was kind enough to give me.
As I write this, I am a little concerned as I have just overheard Murdoch and the captain talking about several ice warnings coming through. Captain Smith says it is nothing to be afraid of, so I am not unduly worried, but I thought I might mention it anyway.
I am sure I will feel the need to write to you again, but for now, I shall say goodbye, and that I do wish you were here to share this with me.
All my love,
Lily (Rosie Maria Shaw)
It was now almost 2 o' clock. Lily scanned her letter quickly, then dug an envelope out of her pocket, slipped it in and scribbled down the address. She had been about to write to their London address, but then remembered how Mrs Walthamstow had said she would go up to Scotland for a few days, and so Lily scribed the appropriate address as neatly as she could and handed it to a passing steward, who told her he would see to it tha it would get to the right place.
A huge weight lifted off her mind, Lily sighed contentedly and decided to seek out her guardian, it being almost lunchtime, and to be honest, Lily was very hungry indeed...