Chapter 1

April 15, 1912 - 1:30 A.M. - On the Deck of the R.M.S. Titanic

Elizabeth had finished loading some young children into a boat, and she could see that Henry was busy trying to off load one of the boats from atop the Officer's Deck. So she moved quickly over to where he was and shouted up to him, " Henry, what can I do to help?"

Henry looked down at the voice and when he saw Elizabeth's face staring up at his, he stared at her for a moment in stupid surprise, and then when he found his voice, he yelled, " Elizabeth, what in the hell are you still doing on board? You should be on a boat love."

She shook her head, and lifting her skirts, she climbed up on top of the roof and stared at Henry, her eyes filling with tears. Henry stopped for a brief moment, reached over and touched her face and said gently, " Ah love you need to go and get yourself on a boat. Don't worry about me love." Then she grabbed his hand and clutched on tightly and said, " Oh but I do, Henry and I can't let go. Now, what can I do to help?"

Seeing that she was intent on helping, he handed her a knife and said gruffly, " Cut this rope, Elizabeth. We've got to get this boat down to the deck below and get it loaded. We're running out of time."

Just then a wave of water gushed up on deck, and from up above, Elizabeth could see her dear friend, Will Murdoch get knocked over. She cried out and jumped down to where he lay unconscious and pulled him up some, using up just about all of her strength to move the man. Then she cried out for a seaman standing nearby, to help her.

The man came over and seeing it was his First Officer, Will Murdoch, a friend as well, he gave Elizabeth a hand and pulled him over to a nearby boat that was about to be launched and hauled Will into the boat. Then said, " He's commanding this boat as soon as he comes round about. You people understand that?" The women, eyes wide with fear and shaking uncontrollably, nodded and one woman moved to cover the unconscious Will with her coat.

The boat was lowered away and at last, Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief for that was one more of her friends that she felt sure would survive. At that moment, however, she did catch a glimpse, and what would be her final glimpse, of Captain Edward J. Smith. She saw the kind and generous captain, standing in the wheelhouse, fear etched across his face but ready to accept his fate.

Then she hurried back to the top of the roof, to where Henry was and now Charles Lightoller was at as well. And helped them both to get the last of the boats to the deck below.

Henry turned to Elizabeth as they both jumped down to the deck below, and said, " Elizabeth, love, you must get to a boat. I don't think there's many more." And he turned and glanced down the deck, and said, " No love there's only one more boat. You must go now." She stared at him, tears filling her eyes once more and said, " But I can't... can't go on without you Henry." He smiled tenderly and caught her face between his hands and said, " Yes... you can Elizabeth. You're a very strong, brave woman and you can. Whether I make it out of this or not, I don't know. But if I don't, I want you to know Elizabeth Rose Barton, that I love you. Now go, get on that boat."

Sensing that he wouldn't take no for an answer, Elizabeth turned dejectedly and walked away, slowly, as if time didn't matter. Henry watched, willing her to get to the boat.

Another wave crashed into the deck and the bow sunk a bit further into the ocean. Elizabeth took off at a pitch and ran furiously towards the last boat. She cried out, and the officer standing there, saw her and stopped the boat from being lowered. She saw young James Moody, and he held her hand for a moment and said in a quiet voice, " It's been nice knowing you Miss Elizabeth. Think of me often." Then he handed her into the boat and yelled, " Lower Away!"

Elizabeth stared up at the fading view of James Moody, as he stood there by the side, arms raised high in the air and yelling
" Lower Away!". Tears were filling her eyes, and they were beginning to burn, the need to sit down and bawl her eyes out were intense. Instead, she wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her dress and let out a shaky sigh.

The boat splashed down into the cold, North Atlantic waters and the seaman that was in charge, began to row away from the Titanic, fearful of any suction that the sinking might bring about.

When they had cleared some distance away, Elizabeth turned to view the Titanic from her seat, and was aghast at the ugliness of the nightmarish scene playing out in front of her. The bow of the Titanic was already head down, and the stern, well.. it wasn't pretty. It was sticking straight up in the air, and from where she was, she could see hundreds of people swelling to the back, clinging to anything they could find available. Then she would see someone let go, and fall to their deaths, even one that hit the massive propellers on their way down to the water.

She closed her eyes and said a silent pray to God, that this would be all over with soon and that she would be reunited with Henry. Then her thoughts turned to Henry Wilde. The man that she was madly, quietly and passionately in love with.

2:00 A.M.

Another shriek rent the air, and Elizabeth glanced up and at that particular moment, to her horror, she watched the Titanic began to break apart from the third funnel, right down to the keel plates. Then the bow broke apart, and sunk forever out of view, leaving the stern hanging there precipitously.

Her heart was breaking, as she could hear the cries and pleas of anguish from the stern, as people clung to each other and what was left of the ship. Elizabeth was being traumatized, and she knew that she couldn't do a damn thing about it.

2:20 A.M.

Finally, after only twenty minutes, and what had seemed a lifetime since Elizabeth's prayer that this would end soon, the stern rose higher in the air, and then suddenly took its plunge straight to the bottom, hundreds more people being left to flounder in the cold, icy waters of the North Atlantic or to die on the ship itself, if they were still on the ship.

As she sat there, horror-stricken and watched the bubbles of water close up over the Titanic, her heart lurched in fear for Henry and wondered what had become of him. She turned to the seaman that was in command and said, " Please, sir, we've got to go and try to rescue people from this water."

He looked at her for a moment, as if she were totally insane, and said, " Are you crazy lady? We're in the middle of the North Atlantic." She started to say something, when she heard Henry's voice, strong and clear, across the water, " Return the Boats!". Her heart lurched once more, only this time with sheer happiness. Henry had survived.

She then said, " Sir, please, we've got to try. You hear that officer? He's calling for the boats to return." He looked at her warily, and then he heard Henry's voice once more and said, " Oh very well." And he began to row as fast as he could.

Elizabeth thought silently to herself, " Hold on, Henry. We're coming for you love."

2:35 A.M.

The water was damned cold, Henry thought, shaking all over from head to toe. He was clutching onto a deck chair, to keep himself upright. He knew all about hypothermia, as he had known, since he was a child and had first determined to go to sea. He stared up ahead, at the myriad of stars in the dark velvety sky above. As he watched, a cluster of shooting stars went by. Oh well, he thought gloomily to himself, that's some souls going to heaven. And he would be one of them, and soon, if help didn't come.

Elizabeth sat in the boat, willing that seaman to row faster. Then willing Henry to call out again, so as to determine where he was. She saw the flashlight at the foot of the man, and so she reached over, picked it up and began to flash the light across the water, in search of Henry, or anyone else that could be saved.

Unfortunately, for most, the cold had been too severe and they had succumbed after only twenty minutes of being in the severely cold water. Elizabeth knew that Henry was a strong man, but even one as strong as he, couldn't last indefinitely in this water. She kept praying, that they would make it in time. He just had to live.

Oh, the sweetness of the last words he had said to her, ' .. if I don't, remember Elizabeth Rose Barton, I love you.' She just had to make sure that he survived and that they could then be together.

The silence grew thicker and she was frantic, wishing that the seaman would hurry and find her Henry. Suddenly, she shined her flashlight and saw Henry, with his officer's whistle still around his neck. Oh pray God, she thought, that he would still be alive. She motioned for the seaman to come around by Henry.

Henry was barely conscious, and breathing shallowly, when he suddenly felt hands pulling him up, and out of the water. Then with a thud, he collapsed into the bottom of the boat. Elizabeth leaned over him, crying and willing him to open his eyes and to speak.

He laid there for several moments, as he began to thaw out from the bone chilling cold of the water. Then his eyes opened slightly, and he could see his beautiful Elizabeth leaning over him, and she was saying something but he could barely hear her. He opened his mouth and one word came out, raspily, " Elizabeth!"

Elizabeth didn't know if she had any right to be so deliriously happy, when so many around her were in the deepest throes of depression and sadness, with death all around her. And yet, she was. Her dear, sweet Henry had been rescued. She knew that he would be all right, given time.

He reached for her hand and in a shaky voice said, " Well.. looks like I'm going to make it after all, Elizabeth. I guess the good Lord wasn't quite ready for Henry Wilde, yet." A shaky laugh came from Elizabeth and she leaned over and hugged him, not caring what anyone else thought.

She could tell that Henry was still dangerously cold, and she looked around for a blanket, and one lady took off an expensive fur coat and handed it to Elizabeth and said, " Here, Miss.. take my coat for your gentleman friend." Elizabeth thanked her profusely and then turned to Henry and placed the coat over him.

4:00 A.M.

The sun was just coming up over the horizon, and the people in the boats were in awe at the glistening icebergs, that were surrounding their little boats, as the waters were becoming increasingly choppy, which added to the nervousness of the survivors.

Henry had regained enough wits about him to sit up halfway, leaning against a seat. One lady had moved over slightly so that he could rest. Elizabeth had managed to squeeze herself into the small space between the boat and Henry, and looped her arm through his and then laid her head against his shoulder.

A small cry went up when someone spotted the rescue ship. Elizabeth looked up at the ship, which was becoming increasingly larger as it loomed nearer. And whispered to Henry, " We're going to be saved, Henry." And she said a silent prayer of thanks to the Lord for saving her Henry, and also a prayer of repose for those who had perished. She thought about Will Murdoch and wondered how he was faring. She would have to check on him, once they were on board the rescue ship.

The Carpathia stopped and then began the most strenuous and challenging ordeal: a mid-ocean transfer of passengers from life boats to the bigger ship. Elizabeth hoped that Henry would be strong enough to stand up and make his way up the rope, else he would have to lifted up on board with the nets, much as the smaller children were being carried up with.

4:45 A.M.

By 4:45, Elizabeth and Henry had both been brought aboard the Carpathia. Since Henry was the most senior officer to survive, he would have to deal with the Captain of the Carpathia, but as he wasn't in the best of shape at the moment, it would have to wait. And Elizabeth meant to see that Henry's physical health came first.

5:30 A.M.

Henry had been taken to the makeshift hospital and was being treated for hypothermia and Elizabeth was sitting there as well, when she heard a familiar voice from behind a nearby curtain. She rose to her feet, and then pulled the curtain back and was very surprised but happy to see her dear friend, Will Murdoch.

Elizabeth said, " Will!"

Will grinned at her and reached for her hands. She let him hold her hands as he said, " I am so grateful to see you Elizabeth. I don't remember much, except that there was a tremendous wave that broke over the deck and then I don't remember anything else. So how I came to be here, I'll never know. Unless you know, Elizabeth." And he smiled at her and held her hands tightly.

Elizabeth smiled back and said, " Oh you dear Will. I saw the wave come over you and you were knocked out. So I jumped down from off the officer's roof top and tried to move you over. I couldn't, so I got a seaman to help me. He bundled you into a lifeboat. And that's all I know, until now that is."

He became somber like and said, " Elizabeth, I have you to thank for saving my life. How can I ever begin to thank you? It would take a lifetime to." She was blushing at the compliment and then said, " When we get to New York, why don't you stay with me at my home for awhile? I have no one there now. As you know, my mother passed away and I received word of that while still on the Titanic. I have plenty of room, and sure could use the company." He smiled at her and said, " I'd surely appreciate that Elizabeth. I've no one to go home to anyway. I suppose you didn't know that Ada decided not to marry me. She couldn't stand the thought of being married to a sailor."

Elizabeth frowned when she heard that. Will Murdoch was one of the sweetest, most caring men that she had ever known. Oh well, it would be Ada Banks' loss, not hers. Then she said, " Well, guess who else survived Will?" He laughed softly and said, " I wouldn't know Elizabeth. Please do tell."

Henry stood up from the bed and came around the curtain and said, " Hello, Will, my old friend." Elizabeth moved over to Henry and stood by his side and said, " Will, Henry's here too." Will sat up and a serious look came over his face and he said, " Oh Henry. How on earth did you manage to survive? Did Elizabeth tell you how I came to survive? That gutsy girl saved my life."

Henry smiled softly at Elizabeth, then glanced back to Will and said, " I know, Will. I saw everything from where I was at." Then he told how Elizabeth had saved him, by plucking him from the coldest waters on the face of the earth. How she had defied the seaman, argued and fought for him every step of the way.

Will had a newfound respect and admiration for this beautiful and plucky young woman. What she wouldn't do to save her friends, and, from the looks of it, he could see, the man that she was so obviously in love with that it was plain as day to see - Henry Wilde.

Monday - April 15, 1912 8:00 A.M.

Henry had since been cleared by the doctor as being physically fit and having recovered from his brief stay in the cold water. And now, he was being led to the bridge, with Elizabeth by his side, for he wouldn't let her go for anything, where he could talk to the Captainabout what had happened to Titanic.

He wasn't looking forward to going over the details again. And in his mind, something stood out clearly. Captain Smith had not gone over the boat drill that Sunday morning, yesterday, he remembered. Although it seemed now, as if it had been a lifetime ago. What would the press, the world indeed, think when they found out that the man who was the chief most person responsible for the safety of all on board, had failed to order the company mandated lifeboat drill just hours before the disaster?

And indeed, what would the press have to say about the lack of lifeboats, he wondered?

8:15 A.M.

On the bridge of Carpathia, Henry stood with Captain Arthur Rostron. He told the Captain what had happened, from Sunday's lack of lifeboat drill, he wasn't going to cover up any details; to the final events of the sinking, early this morning. It was so incredibly hard to believe, that it had only been a mere six hours, since the Titanic had gone under the waves.

He wondered, if he would ever truly be able to recover from this. And even worse, he now felt an uncertainty about whether he wanted to sail again. And that, he thought, was probably the worst thing to happen in this entire disaster, other than the loss of all those innocent people.

Elizabeth stood there silently, holding Henry's hand. Just being able to hold him so, made her feel a sense of joy and happiness that she knew, she really had no right to be feeling right now, in light of the enormity of the disaster and the sheer number of lives lost.

8:45 A.M.

Henry had been given a cabin, in the officer's quarters and Elizabeth, although she didn't like it much, had been given a cabin with a first class female passenger. Of course, she knew that she wouldn't be able to be with Henry as much as she had hoped, but when they arrived in New York in just a few days, she would have him to herself, as she would bring him home with her and he would stay with her as long as he needed.

And as she sat in the cabin, the other female passenger sitting there quietly, Elizabeth thought about what she would do. She was thinking seriously about selling all but one of her homes, then moving to Ireland. She did so want to return there, with all of her heart and soul. America was no longer her home. And since Henry was British, he would want to return to England. And perhaps, he might even come to Ireland with her. After all, it wouldn't be far from Ireland to England. At least not as far as say, America was.

Elizabeth looked up at the young girl, whose room she was now sharing and said quietly, " I want to thank you for being so kind as to share your room with me, Miss..." The young woman said, " Miss Julia Rose Graham. And it's my pleasure. I'm so sorry for what you have been through, Miss.." Elizabeth smiled and extended her hand and said, " Elizabeth Rose Barton. But please, just call me Elizabeth." The other woman shook her hand and said, " Then call me Julia."

10:45 A.M.

Elizabeth decided that she was feeling rather tired and so she stretched out upon the bed for Julia had left the room, half an hour earlier and was planning on being gone for a while. As she had other passengers to visit and the ship to explore.

1:30 P.M.

A knock at the door, awakened Elizabeth. She glanced over at the clock, which was sitting silently upon the night stand. 1:30? She couldn't believe that she had slept that long. And now, someone was knocking at her door, and quite loudly too.

She stood up, straightened out her skirts, which were crumpled, and moved quickly to the door. As she opened the door, she found her dear Henry standing there, and her heart was overjoyed. A blush came up to her cheeks and she said quietly,

" Henry?"

He looked around the room and then said, " I was wondering, Elizabeth, if you would mind walking about the decks with me? I don't want to come inside here, as it is another's cabin and I would really like to speak with you."

Elizabeth wondered what he possibly could want to speak about, but she nodded and picked up her shawl and threw it about her shoulders, and then quickly closed the door behind her.

2:00 P.M.

Henry and Elizabeth walked slowly around the deck, towards the stern, and down the stairs into the passage area for the 3rd class passengers. At first, there was a warm, but comfortable silence between the two. Then Henry stopped, turned to Elizabeth and said, " You know, Elizabeth, I was so worried about you last night. Why ever didn't you get on that boat? You risked your own life for mine?"

Elizabeth glanced out at the open sea, the sun shining brilliantly now over the vast, blue waters. Then she said in a quiet voice, " I couldn't do nothing, Henry. I would never have been able to forgive myself if I hadn't of tried. Oh, I did so try to save as many as I possibly could." And her voice began to choke up, and tears came to her eyes. Would she ever stop this infernal crying?

Henry smiled warmly at her, then placing his hands on her arms, he pulled her to him slightly and said, " Elizabeth Rose Barton, I love you. You're some kind of woman! I couldn't believe that you came back for me."

Elizabeth let out a ragged sigh and said tearfully, " How could I not, Henry Wilde, when I love you so?"

Henry gazed at her thoughtfully, his heart filled with an overwhelming happiness at what she had just said. Then he touched her face with his hand and said, " Do you mean that, Elizabeth?"

She wondered why he had resorted to calling her Elizabeth, instead of Liz or Lizzie? But somehow, that pleased her to no end. It sounded beautiful, coming from Henry.

Then she gave him a trembling smile and said quietly, " Yes, Henry, I do mean that. I have, almost from the moment we first met."

He laughed softly and pulled her to him and said, " Oh dear girl, I think I have with you as well." Then he let her go for a moment and said, " Well whatever shall we do about this, Elizabeth?"

She wondered what he possibly could mean by that. What was there to do, about what?

He led her over to a bench and had her sit, then took a seat next to her.

They sat there for several moments, in silence, each one going over their own thoughts and feelings about each other, the previous night's events.

Then Henry turned to Elizabeth, took her by the arms and pulled her up close to him and said, " I love you, Elizabeth Rose Barton and I can't let you go. I almost lost you last night! Will you marry me, Elizabeth?"

The last thing in the world Elizabeth had expected was a marriage proposal, but my Lord she was ecstatically happy and she looked at Henry, tears filling her eyes again and said, " Yes, oh yes, Henry. I will marry you, Henry Wilde."

Henry pulled her to him, and closed his arms about her and held her to him, and how he wanted to kiss her madly and passionately, but not out in the open where there were still people milling around. Most of them, looking sad and despondent and here he sat, feeling a happiness and joy that he too, felt as if he had no right to.

He ran his hand through her hair, and said quietly, " Well then Liz, we'll get married when we get to New York. But I need to talk to you about something else as well." He then let her go and she sat there, next to Henry with her arm looped through his and waited.

After a moment of silence, he finally took a deep breath and then said, " Liz, my dearest, I don't know if I want to return to the sea..." there was a pause, and Elizabeth felt her heart pounding in her chest, as she tried to decipher what he was trying to say.. 'I don't know if I want to be a sailor anymore. Last night.. well... I just don't want to go through anything like that ever again. And furthermore, Elizabeth, I probably will not get the command that I had hoped for. I don't know if you knew this or not, but when I returned to Southampton, after the Titanic's maiden voyage, I was to be promoted to Captain."

Elizabeth gasped softly and said, " Oh dear, I didn't know that Henry. And now, you won't be able to captain a ship? Isn't that something you've always wanted though?"

He sighed and said, " Yes, of course it has been. Since the time I was a young boy, and first went to sea, I had dreamt of becoming a captain of a fine ship."

She then said, " Well, you should still be able to be captain. It wasn't your fault that the Titanic disaster happened! And you shouldn't be punished for it."

Henry stood to his feet, and Elizabeth stood as well and he put his arm around her shoulders and said, " But I will, though, don't you see, Elizabeth? I was the Chief Officer, second in command, only to the Captain. So, yes, it was partly my responsibility and I failed them all. In a way, I should have died, just as Captain Smith did."

Elizabeth moved away from him and cried, " No! No you shouldn't have died, Henry and I'm glad that you didn't and I'm glad that I was the one that was able to help keep you alive and that now you're here with me."

He smiled tenderly at her and reached over to touch her face gently and said, " Oh I am most heartily glad, too, Elizabeth. And I was thinking, that perhaps we could settle in Ireland somewhere, since I know how much you want to return there. And you shouldn't worry love. I'll find something else to do, although I don't know what, as I've never been anything but a sailor."

Elizabeth felt as if her heart was breaking. For she knew that Henry had loved being a sailor, and she didn't know what else she could do to help convince him that he needed to be at sea, for a part of her didn't want him to go either, after nearly losing him last night, to the sea.

A voice called out to her and Henry and they both turned around to find William Murdoch, coming up on them fast. Obviously, he had recovered and was able to get up and around, too.

Elizabeth gave him a brilliant smile and said cheerfully, " Will!"

He smiled, and as he watched the two of them together, he didn't think he'd ever seen two people who were so obviously in love with each other, and silently he wished them both well.

He joined them and as the three of them walked along, they reminisced about the friends they had, that were still with them, as well as those, that they had lost last night.

Then Will said, " Henry, I'm going to be staying with Elizabeth in New York for awhile. Are you going to be staying, too?"

Henry nodded and then said, " Will, Elizabeth and I are getting married when we get to New York!"

Will knew that he had seen something there and he said heartily, " Congratulations, to the both of you! Elizabeth, Henry!"

Then Will said, " What will you do, Henry, I mean after this disaster? Will you return to the sea?"

Henry sighed and held Elizabeth's hand in his and said, " I don't know Will. I don't know what will happen afterwards! I know that you knew, Will, that I was to gain command of the Oceanic, upon return to Southampton. You're also aware, Will, that in all probability, that will not happen now."

Will sighed and ran a hand through his hair and said, " I know that, Henry. What do you think will happen to me, as well? We were both senior officers on board, and we somehow managed to survive, no thanks to a certain, plucky young woman." And he turned and smiled at Elizabeth. He would never get tired of looking at that pretty young woman, but now she was going to marry Henry, so that was that.

Both men knew that in all probability, their seafaring careers were probably over with now, at least as far as hoping to achieve a command of their own.

Now, Will wondered, about Ada. He wouldn't marry her now, though. She had turned him down, while he was still a sailor, doing what he loved best. Now, that that career was probably over with, he thought bitterly, she would come back now, but he wouldn't have anything to do with her. He thought to himself, that he would stay with Elizabeth for awhile in New York, hopefully meet some pretty young American lass.

What to do career wise? Hmmm.. he wondered what his father would have to say. His father, Captain Samuel Murdoch, master mariner. Hmmm.. Will didn't want to think about that for the moment.

5:00 P.M.

Dinner was being announced, and the Titanic survivors were being treated hospitably in the dining room. Henry and Will took
Elizabeth in for a bite to eat, as none of them were really all that hungry, then left quickly.

A voice called out to the three and each one of them turned and Elizabeth saw Molly Brown.

Molly came towards Elizabeth and said, " Ah darlin', I'm so glad to see that you managed to get through that fiasco." Then she turned towards the gentleman and said, " And to both of you, Mr. Wilde and Mr. Murdoch. Congratulations on having survived that, although I hear tell, there's going to be hearings in the United States Senate on the Titanic disaster. I'm sure that you two will both be called, as you're the two most senior surviving officers."

Henry and Will glanced at each other and Elizabeth caught the look of despair and heartache on each of their faces and felt her heart thump heavily with her own despair.

Molly sighed and said, " Now boys, don't look so down in the mouth about it. I'm sure that things will be just fine. Anyway, it's a good thing you boys were able to save Elizabeth here."

Both men laughed and Molly looked at them, as if they were temporarily insane. But in light of what had just happened, she could perfectly well understand that.

Then Elizabeth laughed and said, " Molly, I saved both of these men. Will here, got knocked down by a wave, was unconscious and I and a seaman helped get him into a boat. Then I argued, and fought with a seaman who was rowing our boat, to go back and help find any survivors, including dear Henry here."

Molly caught the tone of her voice, the way she used the endearment, the way she looked at Henry, then said, " Well.. you're a brave young woman Elizabeth."

Then Elizabeth spoke up and said, " By the way Molly, Henry and I are getting married in New York and we would love to have you be there for us when we do."

Molly smiled warmly and said, " Well then darlin', I'll just have to do that now won't I? Well I'd best be going on. I've got to check on that darling Madeline Astor. She's just heartbroken. You know she lost John?"

Elizabeth sighed and shook her head and said, " I'll be glad to check in with her later, and visit for a bit."

Molly smiled and shook her hand and said, " That would be lovely and I know that Madeline would appreciate that as well. I'll tell her to expect you later then."

After a few more words were exchanged, Molly turned and left.

7:00 P.M.

Elizabeth was tiring, and Henry could see the tiredness in her face and said, " Here, I'll walk you back to your cabin. Will and I will probably bunk together in the cabin. We'll come for you in the morning, for breakfast. I think that the Captain is planning on having some kind of memorial early in the morning, and a thanksgiving service for those that survived."

Will said that he would just have a seat here on the bench and wait for Henry. He wanted to let those two be alone, even if for just a few minutes.

7:15 P.M.

At the cabin door, Henry said to Elizabeth, " I know that you're tired love and I'm going to say goodnight now. I would like to kiss you Elizabeth, but I can't, not here and not now. But I want you to know that I love you very much Elizabeth." And with that, he turned and left.

Elizabeth stood there for a few minutes, feeling an ache in her heart. How she wished that he would have taken her into his arms and kissed her there, consequences be damned. But he was a man that lived up to protocol and he wouldn't do anything that would hurt, or even embarrass her.

Finally she turned and went inside, closing the door behind her and finding that Miss Graham was already inside, sitting and reading quietly.