Chapter 2
7:00 A.M.
Elizabeth had gotten up already and was dressed. Miss Graham had been generous enough to loan her a clean dress to wear, as the other one was in disrepair from the events of the day before. Still, Elizabeth couldn't wait to return home to New York.
There was a soft knock at the door and Elizabeth moved quickly but quietly so as to not disturb Miss Graham, who was still sleeping.
She opened the door and stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind her.
Henry gazed at her and said, " Come along Elizabeth, let's go and have some breakfast. They are serving in the dining room again."
Elizabeth asked, as they walked on, how he was feeling now.
He replied, " Well, I'm feeling better and a bit stronger now than I did yesterday. You know, I've known all about the dangers of hypothermia, since I was a child. But until you actually experience it, it's hard to imagine the effects it can leave on one's body and soul."
He then went on to explain, " I stayed afloat, hanging on to a deck chair, and thinking about how much I loved you Elizabeth, and then watching all the stars shooting across the sky, and thinking to myself, that I was soon to be one of them, if help didn't come and soon."
Elizabeth was sobered by this candid and honest admission of how one felt, who was about to die, and then suddenly clutched out of the hands of death.
She was surprised to see a tear slipping from his eyes and she reached over and brushed it away and said gently, " It's all right, Henry. I prayed for you Henry and did all that I humanly could to help. Do you know that I would have given my life to save yours?"
He stopped and gazed at her in silent wonder and then said, " I know that Elizabeth. I know that you damn well nearly did. I don't know what to think about that, except that I love you all the more for it. Now let's go and have some breakfast and thank the good Lord that we're still around."
9:00 A.M.
After breakfast, Henry and Elizabeth wandered around the deck, just holding each other's hands and being grateful to still be here, with one another.
Will Murdoch joined them shortly afterwards, and they each took a seat on a bench, with Will and Henry on each side of Elizabeth.
Elizabeth sat staring out at the endless sea, while Henry and Will discussed the possibilities of what this disaster would mean to their careers. And Will, wondering what his father would have to say about all of this.
Will Murdoch knew that his father would have plenty to say, and how he would react to Will's very survival? Even though it had been this courageous and beautiful young woman sitting here next to him that had saved his life? And that his seafaring career was over?
He wasn't ready to even think about that. Which is why, Will had decided, that he might consider settling down in America for awhile. He would stay with Elizabeth and Henry for a time, then he'd strike out on his own somehow. Of course, it would be a radical change in lifestyle, as he only knew how to be a sailor. And of course, he thought wryly, he might even find some pretty, young American lass to fall in love with.
Henry, was lost in his own thoughts as well. About his future, about changing careers in mid-life, about the fact that he was going to marry this beautiful young woman sitting next to him, and whether they would have any children or not, and how he would manage to provide for them.
So lost in each of their own thoughts, they didn't hear the footsteps approaching, until they heard the voices of people, of whom Henry and Will hadn't thought to hear from and hadpresumed that they had perished in the sinking.
Charles Lightoller, standing there looking rather awkward, that Henry Wilde, his nemesis, had survived. Well, he wasn't that hateful enough that he couldn't be thankful that Henry had made it through alive.
Herbert Pitman, Harold Lowe and Joseph Boxhall were all standing there, each one surprised to see that their Chief and 1st Officers, had each survived. Of course, they all knew, that their Captain, had gone down with his ship, like a true captain should, of course.
Henry and Will both stood and there were a round of handshakes and hugs, each one grateful that the others were alive, even Lightoller, who seemed to have put aside his animosity towards Wilde, in light of the disaster.
They were all saddened, however, to hear of young James Moody's death. He and Captain Smith were the only ones from the Deck Officers, who perished.
Elizabeth stood to her feet, and greeted each one in turn.
Pitman hugged her fiercely and said, " I knew that you would make it Elizabeth. If anyone could, it would be you. I'm surprised however, to see the Chief and Will Murdoch here."
He turned to those two and asked how they had managed to come out of this alive.
Henry and Will both told their tale of how the plucky, young Elizabeth had saved them both from the clutches of death.
Pitman, Lowe and Boxhall were all astounded and praised Elizabeth for her courageousness.
Then Elizabeth said to all, " Henry and I have an announcement to make. We're going to get married, once we return to New York. I'd like for you all to be there, and of course, if you need a place to stay, you can stay with us for awhile. Will, is going to be staying on, for a time."
They each accepted her offer graciously, then said that they were going on in for some breakfast and left.
After they had left, Henry turned to her and said, " Elizabeth, love, you're being so kind and generous, but how can you manage to put all of these gentlemen up, in your house? Surely you don't have that kind of room!"
Elizabeth laughed softly and said, " Oh yes, I do Henry. You don't know about my homes. I have more than one, and the one that I use to live in, is a three story house with five bedrooms,three baths and some land, with a fruit orchard. It's just right outside of the city."
He looked totally astonished and said quietly, " So you've money then, Elizabeth?"
She sighed and said, " Yes, my father made it in the oil fields of California. He struck it rich and well.. let's just say, I haven't had to want for anything. I hope that won't change how you feel about me, Henry."
He chuckled softly and said, " No, Elizabeth, it doesn't change the way I feel for you, not one damn bit!"
10:30 A.M.
Elizabeth and Henry were informed by Will, that there was to be a memorial/thanksgiving service on the Bridge in half an hour and that, although they didn't have to show up, it would probably be a good idea to.
They both agreed and said that they would be there, at 11:00.
11:00 A.M.
Captain Arthur Rostron, of the Carpathia, stood there in his full dress uniform and looked at the few people, including the surviving officers of the Titanic, and said in a quiet and solemn voice, " Thank you for gathering here today ladies and gentlemen. We are going to say a few words, in remembrance of those that were lost, and a thanksgiving prayer for those that were spared."
During the short service, Elizabeth clung to Henry's hand, her eyes watering up, and her head beginning to ache. Suddenly, everything went fuzzy for Elizabeth and she fell into a faint.
Henry was startled by the sudden movement, and when he saw that Elizabeth had fallen to the floor in a faint, he knelt down by her side, then looked up and Will, who was standing there as well. The captain came over and said, " Bring her inside my quarters, and place her on the bed. I'll fetch for the doctor."
Henry picked her up gently into his arms, and followed the Captain, bringing her inside and laying her down ever so gently on the bed.
Then he sat down beside her, and took her hand in his and said, " Oh Elizabeth, I love you. Please, don't leave me, love." Then he leaned over, and for the first time, kissed her softly, first on the cheeks, then he brushed his lips against hers and good heavens, she tasted so warm, so soft and wonderful.
Henry moved away, as the doctor came in and ordered him out as well as the Captain.
Elizabeth's eyes fluttered open and she saw that an elderly man was standing next to her, and she was... lying on a bed? Where was she? She was standing out on the bridge, during the service, then the next thing she knew... she was here? Where was here?
The man said, " I'm Dr. William McIntyre, the doctor on board the Carpathia. I understand, young lady, that you are one of the survivors of the Titanic. It's a terrible experience, that you've been through. It's a wonder that you've fainted, during the memorial service."
Elizabeth started to cry softly and the old doctor patted her shoulder and said, " There.. there. Everything's going to be all right, Miss. You've survived and that's a miracle. Are you in any kind of pain though?"
She nodded and said that her head just started aching and things went fuzzy and then she didn't remember anything else.
The doctor smiled warmly and said, " It's just stress, Miss Barton. That's all it is. Time will heal your wounds. I'll give you a couple of aspirin for the headache, and then you go and rest in your cabin. I understand you're staying with one of our passengers, a Miss Graham."
Elizabeth nodded and he said, " Very well then dearie. Is there someone, your gentleman friend out there, who will see you to your cabin? All you need is rest, and I'm going to ask if you've had anything to eat?"
Warning bells went off, and as she shook her head and said that she hadn't been that hungry since the disaster, he shook his head and said, " Then on second thought, you're to go to the dining room immediately, and have yourself a hearty meal. Doctor's orders, ok?"
She smiled gently and said, " Yes, sir!"
12:15 P.M.
Henry and Will both walked with Elizabeth, each one on the other side, and led her back to the dining room, and made sure that she ordered herself something substantial and that she ate it, following the doctor's orders.
The doctor had told Henry, that if she didn't keep up her strength and eat, she would fall ill. The stress, from the disaster, on top of not eating, and probably not sleeping well, would not do well for Miss Barton, he had said.
After she had eaten, and it appeared to Henry that she had eaten quite a bit, he said, " Now I'm going to see you to your cabin, Elizabeth. You're to lie down and take a rest. Not only did the doctor order it, but I'm asking that you please do as the doctor says. It's for your best interest and your health."
She nodded, feeling overwhelmingly tired and said that it sounded like a good idea.
Will stayed back, as Henry walked off, his arm around Elizabeth's waist, holding her against him, not wanting her to collapse again.
1:00 P.M.
At the cabin door, he glanced down the hallway, and seeing no one around, took Elizabeth into his arms, and leaned over and kissed her, as madly and passionately in love with her as he was, he kissed her that same way.
Elizabeth stared up at Henry, when he let her go, and said breathlessly, " Oh, Henry!"
Then he reached around her, opened the door and said, " Now, go on and lie down. I'll be back later."
7:00 P.M.
Henry and Will walked around the decks, both thinking of the disaster and how it had changed their lives overnight. And neither of them could stand this, walking around the decks, endlessly, no work to be done. And yet, it wasn't their ship. They were on a competitor's ship, headed for New York, where they had originally been headed for, but as survivors of a shipwreck.
8:00 P.M.
Henry went to the cabin, where Elizabeth was staying, and knocked on the door. There was no answer, so he knocked again. And as he knocked again, he saw a young woman coming down the hallway.
Julia Rose Graham noticed the officer, standing at her door and knocking. He must be the gentleman friend of Miss Barton, and she knew that he had survived the sinking as well.
She came to the door and said, " Excuse me, are you here for Miss Barton?"
He bowed politely and said that yes he was, and there was no answer.
She sighed, took her key and unlocked the door and opened it, then said, " Go on inside, sir. I'll come back in a few minutes. She was sleeping, when I left earlier."
Henry didn't feel right about it and didn't want to go inside, but Miss Graham noticed and said quietly, " It's quite all right, sir. It's not like you're intruding on anyone. Now go on inside. I'll come back shortly." Then she turned and left.
He moved inside the semi-darkened room, and could hear soft sounds of sobbing coming from the bedroom. Oh Elizabeth, he thought.
Henry moved his way around the room, found a light, turned it on and then made his way into the bedroom.
Elizabeth was lying on the bed, and was tossing and turning, troubled by her sleep, he could see.
Elizabeth was having a terrific nightmare. She was going down in the boat again, the boat had splashed down in the water, and then... she was thrown overboard and into the freezing, cold waters. She was splashing hard, trying to reach the surface, and she could hear Henry's voice, and he was dying. And as she reached for him, he said, " Good bye my sweet Elizabeth. I hope to see you again someday, in heaven." And with that, he died. And with him gone, she let herself sink under the waves.
She jerked upright, screaming Henry's name, terrified, and in a cold, sweat.
Henry moved quickly to her side, sat down on the bed and pulled her into his arms. He held her close to him, ran his hands through her hair and whispered, " Shhh.. Elizabeth, love. It's all right. I'm right here now love. And nothing's going to happen to you, I promise."
She was still sobbing, clutching onto Henry, as if she were drowning for real.
Henry's heart ached for the pain that she was going through now. How much he wanted to help her heal from that.
Soon the sobbing began to subside, and Elizabeth shuddered quietly and held on to Henry, afraid to let him go. Afraid that he would die on her.
He continued to hold her, whispering in her ear, until she stopped her crying. Then she sat up, moved slightly away from Henry and said in a tearful voice, " Oh, Henry. It was just perfectly awful. I was back on board the Titanic. I was being loaded into one of the lifeboats and then it hit the waters with a splash. Then I was thrown overboard, and I felt myself going under the waves. I was struggling to reach the surface, and I heard your voice, but you were dying on me. Then you said that you would miss me, that you would see me again someday, in heaven and then you died. And with that, I just let myself go back under the waves. Oh, oh... it was just perfectly awful." And she started to cry softly again.
Henry pulled her up to him and said, " It's going to be all right now, Elizabeth love. I'm here and I didn't die, and all because of you love. And you know that if I had been there beside you, when you went into that water, I would never have let anything happen to you."
A lopsided smile crossed her face, she hiccuped and then said, " Yes.. yes I know that."
Then she said, " How did you get in here, Henry?"
He smiled tenderly at her and said, " Your roommate, Miss Graham, I believe, came by as I was knocking on your door. She opened it and told me to come on in and check on you. I hesitated, of course, but she informed me that it was quite all right and that she would be back shortly. So I suppose I should go now, for shortly it is and she should be back soon."
Elizabeth moved away from Henry and stood, as he rose to his feet as well and she said, " Well Henry, please let's take a walk out on the deck. I can't stand this sleeping anymore. When I do go to sleep, all I see are boats, water, people splashing around and dying. I just cannot take any more of this, and besides, I'm famished!"
A smile crossed Henry's face and he said, " Well, then Elizabeth love, let's go have some dinner and then we'll walk the decks for a bit."
11:00 P.M.
Elizabeth and Henry had long since had dinner, and now they were seated, on a bench, down in the third class area. Most of the regular passengers, had retired already. Although Henry wondered, if the Cunard Line was as insistent upon 3rd class hours, as the White Star Line has been.
But no one, even if they had been out, would have bothered the two survivors, sitting there holding on to each other.
It was another beautifully clear night, with stars dotting the heavens like diamonds above.
A few shooting stars shot by, and Elizabeth felt a lump form in her throat and she brushed a few, unshed tears away, not willing for them to fall. She had cried enough in the past day and a half.
She thought about the good and kind people that she had met, who had perished. Jack Phillips, the Marconi operator, was gone. Along with Captain Smith, of course and now, she heard from Molly Brown, Madeline Astor's husband, John Jacob Astor, Jr. He had been such a kind and gentle man, and she was impressed with how he cared for his young wife, and with her being in the family way, no less. So many others died, that she didn't care to think about it anymore. And on top of that, her mother had just died, just days ago.
Henry sat there, his arm around Elizabeth and they sat there in comfortable silence, watching the dark ocean go by. He too, would be glad when this journey was over and they were in America. He thought, that after he married Elizabeth, they would stay there for awhile, before returning to Ireland.
Tuesday - April 16, 1912 1:00 A.M.
Elizabeth finally stood up, stretched and said, " Henry, would you please see me to my cabin? I think that I would like to retire now."
He stood as well and said, " Of course, Elizabeth. I hope that you sleep well this time and try not to let these events intrude into your slumber."
Then before he left, to take her back to her cabin, he pulled her to him and kissed her, in a slow, sweet kiss. Oh he did like this, so much.
Elizabeth could feel her senses reeling, and her head was spinning again, only she knew that she wasn't going to faint this time. She put her arms around Henry and said softly, " Oh, Henry! That was so wonderful." And then even quieter, " I love you Henry!"
He smiled and as he leaned over to kiss her again, he said, " I love you too, Elizabeth."
Tuesday - April 16, 1912 9:30 A.M.
Elizabeth was awakened from a deep, and this time peaceful sleep, when Miss Graham came in and said, " Elizabeth, you're gentleman friend is here at the door. Wake up and get dressed. He said that it is important."
Elizabeth's eyes flew open and she jumped out of the bed, aware that she was still in the same dress. This was hard, she thought to herself, not having any clothing with her, and having to rely on the goodness of strangers. But Miss Graham, who was about the same size, had not a problem in the world with sharing and said, " I'll be glad to give you a dress or two, since we'll be in New York by tomorrow. And I know that you'd probably appreciate a bath. So I'll leave you some privacy to finish up and I'll tell your gentleman friend that you'll be out shortly." Elizabeth had already told Miss Graham, that she and Henry were going to be married, once they arrived in New York.
Elizabeth thanked her profusely, then went to take her bath and get dressed.
10:15 A.M.
Elizabeth, finally bathed and dressed in a clean, comfortable dress, and her hair brushed up, threw her shawl about her shoulders, then left.
Henry was waiting outside in the hallway, leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. Waiting quite patiently, she thought too.
When he saw her, his eyes lit up and he said, straightening up, " Good morning, Elizabeth, my love."
Oh she liked the way he said that. It gave her quite a thrill to hear him say that.
She smiled becomingly and said, " Good morning to you too, dearest Henry."
And he liked hearing her say that as well and to know that he had become that important to her, and in such a short time.
Then he took her by the arm and as they walked outside onto the decks, he said quietly, " I have something important to say, Elizabeth. I hope that it will please you, as much as it has pleased me."
She breathed a sigh of relief. At least it was good news. For she had been afraid, at the sound in Julia's voice, it had sounded urgent, to say the least, if not bad news.
He had her sit down on a bench, then sat next to her. Then he turned her towards him and said, " I was speaking to Will, and the other officers and we were asked to come back up to the bridge and speak to the Captain again, over some other details of the sinking..."
..." Anyhow, it came out that you and I were going to be married in New York, and Captain Rostron asked if we would like to get married, here and now. On board this ship!"
Elizabeth stared up at Henry, her eyes growing wide in surprise and he smiled at her and said, " We could get married now, if you would like, Elizabeth, love. We wouldn't have to wait to get to New York and all the legalities that it would bring. I know that Captain Smith once married a couple on board, I believe it was, the Majestic, if I remember correctly."
Elizabeth sat there, stunned, and then said, " Are you sure, Henry? Would it be legal?"
He laughed at her naivete' and said, " Of course love, it's perfectly legal. I don't think that any captain would willingly perform a marriage ceremony, if it weren't. They could be liable for more trouble than it would be worth, for performing an invalid marriage ceremony."
She sighed and said, " We have no rings, no nothing."
He laughed softly and hugged her to him and said, " That's not a problem, dear. We'll get the rings in New York. That won't make us any less married, however!"
She could see that Henry wanted to do this, but she wasn't sure about it and said, " Well, I would love to Henry, but... well.. what about where we're to stay? We'd still have to be separated for the time being, right?"
He nodded but said, " We'll be in New York tomorrow night, however."
Elizabeth nodded, but then thought glumly, that she had invited Will, and the other officers to stay at their house. But then, she remembered the other houses that she owned and a smile came across her face and she said, " Yes, let's do it, Henry."
He let her go, and took her hand in his and said, " Very well, then Elizabeth, love. All we have to do is to go speak with Captain Rostron, and he said that he would be glad to. We need some witnesses, but I daresay that we have enough of those. What with Will and the other fellows being willing to be there."
Then Elizabeth added, " Yes, and Molly Brown and Julia Graham, my roommate."
He laughed again once more and took her hand as they both stood up and said, " Well, then Elizabeth love, let's go get ourselves married."
And off they went, to find Captain Rostron.
Tuesday - April 16, 1912 11:00 A.M.
Henry and Elizabeth made their way to the bridge, holding on to each other and lost in their own thoughts.
11:15 A.M.
Henry hesitated for a moment, to just walk on to someone else's bridge? But then the captain saw the pair standing there, and motioned for them to come inside.
Captain Rostron was quite relieved to see that the young woman had recovered from her fainting spell, yesterday morning, at this same time. Then he smiled at the two and said, " Please, come inside. You mustn't be afraid to come inside, Mr. Wilde. I'm sure that you're accustomed to being on the bridge." Although he knew well, that Mr. Wilde, was an employee of his chief rival, and probably didn't feel comfortable at all about just walking on to the bridge of someone else's ship.
Still, he beckoned the two, to follow him.
Inside the captain's quarters, he asked them both to have a seat. Then he took a seat behind his desk and said, " Well.. I know that you two planned to marry once you arrived in New York, but I would like to do this for the both of you. I also am aware, that the both of you have survived this terrible ordeal. What a tragic shame, that you both should have to endure so much. But as you both know, the Lord has a divine plan for all of us."
The captain was a devout Christian and believed firmly that everything and everyone had their place, in the Almighty's divine plans. And even as tragic as the loss of the Titanic had been, he believed that somehow that, too, had been a plan of God's and who were they, to question the Almighty?
Captain Rostron started by asking a little about the disaster and how had Henry managed to survive. He knew that of the Titanic's deck officers, only two, Captain Smith, and the 6th Officer, James Moody, had perished.
Henry replied that he surely had thought that his time was up, as he clung to a deck chair, in the middle of the freezing, North Atlantic. Then, how his lovely Elizabeth had taken charge of the boat she was in, refusing to take no from the seaman that was in charge, and forced him to return the boats, as Henry had ordered.
And he was near death, as he felt himself being plucked from the waters, and the icy jaws of death. Then, of his lovely Elizabeth, leaning over him, crying and he could feel the warmth of her breath, her tears on his face.
The captain was sitting there, spellbound and then said, " Well, Miss Barton, obviously you love Mr. Wilde, very much, to put your own life in such grave danger. And we can thank the good Lord, that you and he both were able to come out of this, very much alive. Mr. Wilde, I can imagine that you're grateful, and that's putting it mildly, I'm sure."
Henry chuckled softly and reached for Elizabeth's hand and said, " Yes, sir, I surely am."
Then Henry added, " I might add, Captain, sir, that Elizabeth and I are both very thankful to God, for our survival. It could have so easily gone the other way. I was very worried about Elizabeth here, the other night, when she was still on deck, as the Titanic was going down very rapidly."
The captain surmised that the young woman would rather have died, than to have lived without Henry Wilde, to whom she was very much and undoubtedly in love with.
So he sat up straight and said, " Well then, let's get you two married. It shouldn't take but a few moments and then we can have you two married. Just wait right here, and I'll be back." Then he paused and said, " I don't supposed that you two have any rings?"
Henry shook his head and said, " No, sir. I only asked her to marry me, yesterday. I guess, after we both realized how much we loved each other, and how close we came to losing each other, that I knew that I couldn't live without my Elizabeth, here."
Elizabeth's face warmed with a blush as he called her his Elizabeth.
The captain smiled warmly and said, " I suppose that you two have some witnesses, to this marriage? If so, please go and fetch them and come back. And Mr. Wilde, you don't have to ask, just please come back here, to my quarters. I'll let the officers on deck, know this."
He then stood and left the room.
Henry stood to his feet and took Elizabeth's hand, pulled her up to her feet and said, " Well, Elizabeth, let's go fetch Will and Mrs. Brown, and you said that you wanted that Miss Graham, to be here as well?"
Elizabeth nodded and he said, " Well then, let's go and get them. The sooner this is over with, the sooner we can be married, Liz love."
11:45 A.M.
Elizabeth and Henry sat quietly in the captain's quarters, with Will Murdoch, Mrs. Brown, Miss Graham, Pitman, Boxhall, Lowe and LIghtoller were there as well.
Henry wondered to himself, what Lightoller could possibly want, by attending. Despite the fact, that the two of them had served together on Titanic, and survived, Henry still found himself, resenting the man.
He thought to himself, that Charles Lightoller, had gone out of his way to be as openly hostile to Henry as he possibly could. And without good reason, either, Henry thought rather sourly.
So what was he doing here, Henry wondered?
Tuesday - April 16, 1912 12:00 P.M.
The captain came back into the room, pleased to find that Mr. Wilde and Miss Barton were seated there, and they had their witnesses, more than their share, he thought, glad to see that so many of their friends, who had survived, were there with them.
And for a moment, Captain Rostron thought about the late Captain Smith. He hadn't known Captain Smith, personally, but had certainly heard of the flamboyant, and gregarious captain.
Then he turned his attention back to the couple sitting in front of him and said, " Well, then, Mr. Wilde, and Miss Barton, shall we begin? Would you rather stand or remain seated?"
Elizabeth felt as if she might faint again and asked, if she could just remain where she was.
Henry looked over at her and asked if she were all right.
She nodded and so they remained seated, holding hands together.
The captain began by murmuring a quiet prayer over the two and then said, " Well, we'll just do this plain and straight forward." He turned to Henry and said, " Do you Henry, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, in sickness and in health? To love and to cherish and forsaking all others, cling only to her?"
Henry held Elizabeth's hand tightly in his and said quietly, " Yes, I will."
Then the captain turned to the pretty young woman and said, " Do you Elizabeth, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, in sickness and in health? To love and to cherish and forsaking all others, cling only to him?"
Elizabeth gazed at Henry with love in her eyes and said quietly, " Yes, sir. I will, too."
Then the captain smiled tenderly at the two and said, " Well, as we all know there are no rings as of yet, I now pronounce you two, to be husband and wife. Now when you get to New York, and get your rings, if you'd like, I'd be glad to do this again, only add in the blessing of the rings, as well."
Henry and Elizabeth looked at each other, their faces lit up with sheer happiness and Henry said that yes, they would both like that very much.
Then the captain said, " Very well, then. I'll only be in port for about half the day, and then returning with my passengers, to resume our voyage."
Henry assured him that they could be back, well before then.
Then the captain said, " Very well, let's sign the marriage certificate and have your witnesses attend as well, and that should be that. Oh, and Mr. Wilde, you may kiss your lovely bride now."
Henry stood up and Elizabeth stood as well, and he took her into his arms and kissed her, ever so gently, then let her go.
Will Murdoch clapped Henry on the back and said, " Congratulations, Henry, Elizabeth! I hope that you two will have a long and happy life together."
The sentiments were echoed by all there, even Lightoller, who had come to realize, in light of the disaster, that life was too precious to spend resenting anyone and he intended to start by apologizing to Henry, as soon as he could.
Henry and Elizabeth thanked them all, and then turned and left, to go out on deck.
The both of them took a seat on the bench, holding hands tightly and just sat there quietly, absorbing all that had happened in their lives over the past 48 hours.
3:00 P.M.
Will Murdoch and friends had been quietly arranging some kind of special dinner that evening, for Elizabeth and Henry. And Will volunteered to have them come down to the dining room, at 3:30 P.M., at least an hour or so before the dinner hour began.
In the meantime, Henry and Elizabeth had been sitting inside, where it was considerably warmer, than it was outside. As there was a cool breeze, blowing in off the ocean, Elizabeth had asked Henry to take her inside.
As they sat there together, holding on to each other, Henry said, " Well, Mrs. Wilde, how do you feel, now that you're married? Any different?"
She looked to Henry and said quietly, " Outwardly, I feel the same, but inside, I do feel very different, better though, she hastily added. And I would like to know how you are feeling now, as well, Henry?"
He laughed softly and hugged her and said, " Relieved! and grateful, too."
He was going to lean over and kiss her, when he heard Will's voice.
3:30 P.M.
Will finally found the two, sitting together, in the reading room and strode across the room towards them both.
Henry sighed and let his arm go from around Elizabeth's shoulders and took her hand in his instead and said, " Will! What is it?"
Will stopped in front of them both and said, " Henry, Elizabeth, the guys and I, along with Mrs. Brown and Miss Graham, have put together a special dinner for the two of you. Sort of like a wedding reception, so to speak. I know it's not much, and certainly more than you deserve, Elizabeth, but it's the best we could do under the circumstances. We'd like for you two to come on down to the dining room, now, please."
Henry stood up and said to Will, " That was most kind of you Will, but it really wasn't necessary, but thank you anyway. Elizabeth and I will be happy to attend. However, we don't want it to last too long. We're both sort of running on empty, after the trauma of these past two days, and I want Elizabeth to go back to her cabin and rest."
Will looked at them both and said, " You two aren't going to be together? You're going to be separated on your wedding day? Well now.. this can't be! Come along you two."
And as they walked along with Will, Murdoch had thoughts running through his head on how to get these two together, so they would not have to be apart on their wedding day. That was nonsense, he thought to himself. They had already been through so much, as it was.
3:45 P.M.
Inside the dining room, Lightoller had been talking with Pitman, and Boxhall. He had tried to explain to Pitman, who knew that he was resentful of Wilde, that he was truly sorry for the way he had behaved earlier, during the Titanic's voyage, towards Henry. And furthermore, he wanted to make amends.
Pitman said, " Well, I think it would be a grand idea, if you told him today, Charles. It sure would make his day brighten up, considerably, and after what we've all been through, we could all use a bit more cheering up, but especially Henry, who has taken your hostility very hard.
Lightoller agreed and said that as soon as Henry and Elizabeth showed up, he was going to ask to speak to Henry, alone, outside on the deck.
4:00 P.M.
The guys, and both ladies were beginning to wonder where Henry and Elizabeth were, and Will, too. Had he gotten lost, trying to find those two? And it was only a few minutes later, that the three showed up.
A general chorus of good cheers, and well wishes went up to Henry and Elizabeth, then they were seated at one of the dining room tables. The others seated themselves, around them.
Lightoller, found himself once more, having to wait, but this time he accepted it rather graciously. In fact, he was the one that picked up the flute of champagne and raised it in the air and said, " A toast to Henry and Elizabeth Wilde. May they have a long and happy future together."
Henry glanced over at Elizabeth, his eyebrows going up a notch. What was this, he wondered?
He knew that Charles Lightoller had an ongoing hostility for him, and he wasn't sure what it was about, although he suspected that Mr. Lightoller was jealous of him. Jealous of his position as Chief Officer? Or that he knocked down Will Murdoch and himself a notch, while he came on board as Chief Officer. Never mind that it was only supposed to be for the one voyage, and well.. actually it was.
But
being good natured as he was, he accepted Charles' toast and thanked
him for his kind words. Then he said, " I want to thank every
one of you for being here today, with Elizabeth and myself. We've all
been through something, that no one should ever have to go through,
and yet we've managed to survive." Then he turned to smile at his
new wife and said once more,
" And certainly not the least, to
my lovely wife, who saved me with sheer guts and determination, and
most importantly, her love."
Another cheer went up, and the waiters brought in the food and everyone ate.
5:30 P.M.
After dinner, Lightoller stood and when he saw Henry and Elizabeth finally leaving, he called out, " Henry!"
Both Henry and Elizabeth stopped, and Henry turned to see Charles Lightoller approaching. And he couldn't help but wonder, once more, what this was supposed to be about. But if anything, Henry Wilde had been brought up with manners and he would be civil.
He kept his hand on Elizabeth's arm and said, " Yes, Mr. Lightoller?"
Charles then said, " Mr. Wilde, I have something that needs to be said. And I would appreciate it if you would hear me out."
Henry sighed and said, " Very well then, Mr. Lightoller."
Charles looked down at his feet, and then back up and said, " Mr. Wilde, I want to offer my most sincere apologies for the way I've behaved towards you earlier, on the Titanic. It was downright rude and disrespectful, and I was disobedient to you, when you ordered me on to that lifeboat, during the evacuation."
Henry nodded and said, " Yes, you were, Mr. Lightoller, but that's in the past now. There is no point in dredging up past mistakes. We've been through too much, life, near death, and back to life again, to warrant bringing up petty mistakes."
Charles Lightoller knew that what he had done was no petty mistakes. He had very seriously wronged Mr. Wilde, both in attitude and in professional courtesies. Henry Wilde had been his superior officer, the Chief Officer, second in command to the Captain, and Charles Lightoller, only the Second Officer.
Elizabeth stood there listening, and she admired Charles Lightoller, for his stand and how he had the guts to be man enough to face Henry Wilde and admit his mistakes, both personally and professionally.
Henry started to say something, but Charles held his hand up and said, " No, wait, please, Mr. Wilde. Let me finish what I have to say."
.." I have realized, coming so close to death, as you yourself have, that life is too important to waste it away on petty jealousies. And yes, I have to admit, that I was very jealous of you coming on board the way that you did, and bumping down both Will Murdoch and myself. I didn't think that you had any place being on the Titanic, and I see now that I was wrong. It wasn't my place to make that decision. That was up to the Captain, and Captain Smith made his decision. I would hope Mr. Wilde, that you would find it in your heart, to forgive me. And yes, this is very hard to have to say, but it needed to be said. I don't ask that you like me, after the way I treated you, I don't even much like myself either."
Henry stood there, awestruck by what Charles Lightoller had just said and it took him a moment to digest the words. Elizabeth squeezed his arm and then he said, " Mr. Lightoller, there's nothing to forgive. It's over with, please, I'm glad that you made it out alive. Now, if you'll please excuse me, my wife and I are going to walk around the deck before we retire."
As they walked away, Charles Lightoller felt a sudden relief and felt free of the guilt that had been plaguing him, ever since he was pulled under by the Titanic, then with a burst of steam, shot past the Titanic, and up to the surface. He had been given a second chance, and he had to make his amends. And now, he felt much better and he was relieved that Mr. Wilde was holding no grudges against him. He seemed to be a genuinely nice man, one whom Charles should have been friendlier with.
Henry and Elizabeth walked on, in silence for some time, before Elizabeth finally said, " I admire Charles Lightoller for what he said to you Henry. It took some guts to admit what he did. I knew that he didn't like you but I couldn't figure out why. And it broke my heart that he treated you the way that he did. But I didn't know that he had defied your orders during the evacuation. Why do you think that was, Henry?"
He sighed and said, " I don't know, Elizabeth and I don't really want to talk about it anymore. Please, let's think about you and I, Elizabeth. It is our wedding day, after all."
She nodded, let out a quiet sigh, then looped her arm through his and walked by his side.
7:00 P.M.
Will Murdoch, Miss Graham, and Mrs. Brown had gotten together and had come up with a solution for Henry and Elizabeth. Miss Graham was going to stay with Mrs. Brown, for the rest of this night and for part of tomorrow. After they arrived in New York however, Miss Graham would return to her cabin, as she would be starting over on her voyage, that was interrupted by the untimely demise of the Titanic.
Julia picked some of her belongings together, just enough for the night, and then went with Mrs. Brown.
As she walked away, Will Murdoch called out to her, " Miss Graham..."
She turned to face the handsome officer and said, " Yes?"
He moved closer to her and then said, " I want to thank you for what you have done for both Elizabeth and Henry. They are both very dear friends of mine."
Julia smiled and Will thought that she was very beautiful, and said, " Thank you Mr. Murdoch. I didn't mind at all. After what you people have been through, it's the least that I can do and I really didn't mind one bit. Elizabeth's so friendly and nice, and although I don't know Mr. Wilde very well, he seems to be as nice and certainly very attentive and loving to Elizabeth. Well if that's all then, I'll be saying goodnight."
He replied, " Good night then, Miss Graham."
Will Murdoch then turned and went to find Henry and Elizabeth, whom he knew would be most surprised about this.
