9:05 P.M.

Edward had taken a table and was waiting for Violet to come downstairs into the restaurant. When he spotted her, he stood up and Violet saw him, and moved over to where he was, eager to be with him again. And he was just as pleased, to see her, and she did look so lovely.

After they were both seated, and a waiter had come over, bringing a bottle of champagne which Edward had ordered, and two glasses, he then said, " Well, Violet, how is your mother, love?"

Violet took a sip of the bubbly champagne, swallowed it and then said quietly, " As good as can be expected, right now. She's resting, comfortably but she looks terribly weak. Oh, dear Lord, Edward, how can I get through this week, knowing that she's going to die, soon?"

He sensed that she was about to cry and he leaned over the table, took her hands in his and said, " Shhh. Violet, love. After dinner, we'll go upstairs, and sit with her. Please, don't cry, here love."

She knew that he didn't want her to make a scene, so she brushed the tears away, sniffled some, then said, " I'm not going to cry, Edward. Well, I feel as if I am anyway, but I won't make a scene."

He shook his head and said, " I'm not worried about that. Do you think I give a damn about that? Because I don't, Violet."

She looked up into his eyes, noticing for the first time, what a beautiful shade of blue they were, and they were so intense, and the way he was looking at her.. she lowered her head back down to the table, while they waited on their orders.

Throughout the dinner, the conversation came back around to Edward and what he was going to do now. His career was over, and now he had no wife, and a child that he didn't know when he would be able to see again.

Edward wondered how long it would be, before the divorce papers would be finalized. Good Lord, he had never thought that his life would come down to this. If it weren't for Violet here, he would have surely gone mad. She had been an anchor to him, a source of strength, and he had to return it to her, for God's sake, for her mother was dying now.

Violet said, " Oh, Edward, whatever are you going to do, now? What about that house of yours?"

He chuckled softly and said, " I don't plan to keep it, if that's what you're asking. I'll have to sell it, and then buy myself a little cottage somewhere. I'll probably move as far away from the sea, as possible. Why remind myself every day of what used to be?"

She shuddered, because he did sound so bitter, at that moment, and she sighed quietly.

He noticed and said, " Oh, don't worry about me, Violet. I'll be all right." Then an absurd idea, came to Edward's mind and he thought about it, and decided to sleep on it.

10:15 P.M.

After dinner, Violet and Edward both went back upstairs, and at the door to Violet's hotel room, he said, " Could I come in, and sit with you and your mother, as I don't fancy to sit alone, in my room?"

Violet felt a surge of sympathy and sorrow both, and she said, " Of course, Edward. Mother wouldn't mind at all. she's probably sleeping, anyhow."

So she unlocked the door, and together they went inside, closing the door behind them.

10:45 P.M.

There was a small balcony, on the outside of their window, and Violet had opened the door prior to leaving for dinner, so her mother could catch some cool spring evening breeze.

The lace curtains were fluttering gently in the wind, as she and Edward moved outside, to sit together on the balcony.

Violet stood by the railing, gazing out at London's night life, and thinking about all of the past month's events. She felt as if she had lived a lifetime in just a short month.

She felt Edward's presence, as he moved over to stand behind her, and she felt him put his hands on her shoulders, and she was being turned around, towards him. Good heavens, what was happening here? She was falling more and more madly in love with him.

He gazed at her face, how beautiful she was, and then brushed his hand against her face and said quietly, " My, but you're such a sight to look at, Violet, love. So pretty, love!"

A smile crossed his face, as he let his hand linger against her face, letting his fingers brush across her lips and he said, " My pretty, sweet Violet, I would like to kiss you, love, if you'd let me."

If he only knew, how much, she thought, how long she had wanted for him to, but she couldn't say so, so she said quietly, " Yes, I'd like that Edward, very much."

And so he leaned over her and pressed his lips against hers, feeling the sweet, softness, and her soft fragrance over him. And when he felt her arms go around him and cling to him, he moved his arms around her and pressed her closer to him, and then kissed her, deeply and passionately.

Good heavens, but she was warm and sweet. He hadn't been with another woman, in all the years of his marriage to Eleanor. And it was quite pleasing, to be here with her, and he knew that she liked what he was doing, if her response was anything to go by.

He did not want to let her go, but reluctantly, he did so, when he and Violet could hear her mother's weak coughing.

Violet looked over to Edward, her eyes wide with fright and said tearfully, " I'm so afraid, Edward. I don't know what I'm going to do."

He led her back inside and said, " Shhh.. don't worry about it now, Violet, love. Let's check on your mother."

Violet moved over to her mother's bedside, and sat down on the edge, and took her mother's delicate hands in hers and with tears in her eyes, whispered, " Mama, I'm here now. We're both here now, for Edward wanted to be here as well. We are both very concerned for you. Oh, mama!" And she let her hands go, and put her arms around her mother's neck, and laid her head down on her mother, and could hear the faintness of her heart, just barely beating.

Tears spilled down her eyes, and onto her mother, and her mother put a hand on top of her daughter's flaming red curls and said weakly, " My sweet Violet.. how much I love you dear child." Then Marie looked over to Edward, who was standing there, very obviously worried about her fading condition, and said, " Captain, I know that you care very much for my dear, sweet Violet. She's the only child, my husband and I had together, the only one that God blessed us with. Please.. take care of her, won't you? She's been all I've had, since my husband died, ten years ago. I'll go to my rest easier, if I know that you'll see to her well being."

Edward took a chair and moved over next to the bed and sat there, gazing up at Violet, then to her mother and said, " Don't you worry about that, Mrs. Duncan. Your daughter has come to mean the world to me, and, well.. I haven't even asked Violet yet, but I would like to marry her, as soon as I can."

Violet's head came up suddenly, and she gazed at Edward, for a moment, unsure of whether she had heard him correctly.

Marie smiled and reaching out for his hand, which he took, and held gently, said, " I would be so happy. I wish that you two could marry, before I pass on, but I doubt it."

Edward didn't think so either, for he didn't know long a divorce was supposed to take, for he had never thought to go through one. He still couldn't get over the fact that Eleanor had left him, and why? Because he had survived? That was a lame excuse, he thought, suddenly angry at her again. Oh well, he would get over it, and marry sweet Violet here, and take care of her, and love her.

Then he said, " Mrs. Duncan, I love your daughter very much, and I will take care of her. I'll see to it that she never wants for anything, especially my love for her."

Marie felt tears welling up in her eyes, and she said, " Oh, I think I know that, Captain. You're a good man, and I'm sorry for what you've had to go through, too. It couldn't have been easy, either. And so sorry, that your wife left you like that. I know that my Violet wouldn't do anything like that, for I've taught her better than that."

A smile crossed Edward's face as he gazed at Violet, for he knew that she wouldn't either, especially after the great pains she had gone to, to save him from the inky, dark, and icy, cold waters of the North Atlantic. Perhaps, he thought, if Eleanor had gone through that, she wouldn't have been so hasty to make a judgement against him.

He let go of Marie's hands and stood up and said, " Violet, let your mother rest, love. Let us go back out on the balcony, for a while, before I retire for the evening." To a lonely room, he thought, and an even lonelier bed. Now, if he had Violet in there with him, it wouldn't be so lonely, he thought. Oh well, he had best wait on that, until he had her properly married to him. Then, he wondered, if he might be able to get that divorce put through in a hurry, so that he could marry Violet, before her mother passed away.

Violet stood up slowly, and sighed as she moved away from her mother, who was already drifting in and out of sleep, and towards Edward, who was standing by the balcony doorway.

Edward took her back outside, and had her sit on the bench. It was very pretty here, he thought, and vowed to bring her back here, perhaps after they were married, maybe even for a honeymoon, if she wanted. Then he sat down next to her, and moved his arm around her and brought her up close to his side, and said, " I'm sorry, Violet, if I surprised you back there, with my marriage proposal."

Then he turned her towards him, and gazing for the longest time, into her lovely violet colored eyes, said tenderly, " Would you marry me, Violet? When I am free from this marriage to Eleanor?"

Violet found herself equally spellbound, by his beautiful blue eyes. She reached up and touched his face gently, then said, in a quiet and tender voice, " Yes, I would like that, Edward. I will marry you, Edward, as soon as I can."

And for the first time in weeks, Edward began to feel as if there may be some hope left, somewhere in the world. And a warm smile lit up his face, as he took the sweet girl into his arms, and kissed her, softly and tenderly. Soon, he thought.. soon, she would be his wife. And perhaps, he might like to have children with her. He thought of that, as he held her in his arms, and felt her arms go round about him and hold him as well. He had always wanted to have more children with Eleanor, but after Helen, it hadn't looked as though they were going to have any more.

Well, now, it looked as if he might be able to have the children that he had dreamt of and hoped for, and, he thought, if they were half as pretty as his sweet Violet, they would then be indeed, most beautiful children. Especially, he thought, a daughter, with beautiful red curls, and gorgeous violet eyes, like her mother.

11:30 P.M.

Edward finally said, " Love, it's been a long day, and I'd best go to my room and retire. You need to rest, as well. For tomorrow, we'll take your mother, and return back to Southampton."

She sighed, and let her arms slip from around him and she gazed at him once more, still in awe, that he had asked her to marry him. He reached over and took her hands in his and said, " I love you, Violet. You're the best thing to happen to me, and I'm glad that you saved my life. I'm sorry, that things had to end the way they did between Eleanor and myself. For if they hadn't of, then I would still be with her now. But, that's in the past now, and I don't want you to think another thing about it. We'll get married as soon as we can, and take care of your mother."

Tears stung her eyes, once more and she wondered if she were ever going to be able to stop this infernal crying. She stood to her feet, and walked with him to the door, and said, " Good night, then, Edward. I love you, too." He sighed, as he leaned over and kissed her once more, then turned and left, closing the door behind him, and going to his room next door.

She listened as the door to his room closed, and she wished, that she could go into that room with him, and the thought of being his wife, made her blush with happiness. She had never dreamt that that would have been possible. And she wondered, how long it would take for a divorce to go through.

8:30 A.M. Tuesday, May 7, 1912 - Waterloo Train Station

Violet stood nervously, holding on to her mother's arm, helping her to remain steady, while Edward went to fetch their tickets, back to Southampton.

Her mother had been coughing most of the night, weakly, and therefore, Violet had spent a restless night, up and down caring for her mother. And she knew, without a doubt in her heart, that her mother probably only had days, if not hours, left to live. It hurt her, to think of that.

Then Edward returned with the tickets, and noticed Mrs. Duncan was looking very fatigued, and so he led her and Violet over to a nearby bench and had them both sit. Then he stood back, and watched the two women, and he was very worried about Violet's mother. She was going downhill, and quite rapidly too, he thought, worriedly.

9:15 A.M.

Once they had boarded the train, Edward sat across from Violet, who was seated next to her mother.

Marie felt so weak, and drained, and she laid her head down over against her daughter's shoulder and closed her eyes. She felt Violet's soft, delicate hand, reach over for hers, and she took her daughter's hand and squeezed it to hers. This hurt her so, knowing that she was leaving her daughter, and so soon. Although, she was fortunate that she had been here for 25 years of Violet's life, and for ten years, following the death of her husband William.

Violet gazed over at Edward, and he wished that there were an extra seat, so that he could sit next to his pretty Violet, and hold her, the way that she was holding her dear, frail mother.

Violet's eyes grew heavy with sleep, as the train lulled her into a relaxed state, and she was tired, after the restless night that she had had last night.

10:30 A.M.

The train pulled into the station at Southampton, and Edward leaned over and touched Violet gently on the shoulder and said, " We're back home now, love. We're back in Southampton."

Violet slowly opened her eyes, stretched and yawned slightly, and Edward was mesmerized with watching her wake up, and thought, that he would soon be privileged enough to be with her each and every morning, and to wake up with her, as well. Then she turned to Edward and said tiredly, " Thank you, Edward."

He then said, " Here, love, let me help you with your mother." And he moved Violet aside, ever so gently and leaned over to Mrs. Duncan and said tenderly, " Come along, Mrs. Duncan, we're here at Southampton, now." She smiled weakly and said in a tired voice, " Please, call me, Marie won't you? After all, you're to be my son-in-law." He smiled and lifted her up from her seat, then let Violet take her gently by the arm and he led both women from the train, then took their luggage and went to hail a taxi for them.

He was going to take them to his home, for it was more spacious and comfortable, and he wanted to make sure that Mrs. Duncan was as comfortable as she could be, in her last days of life. It saddened him, as well, to think that Violet would soon lose the one person, who had meant the most in her life, up until now, he thought. For he knew how she was going to react, for he had been the same way, when first his father, then his mother, had passed away. And it had been many years now, since they both had been gone.

When the taxi pulled up in front of his home, Violet looked to Edward, in surprise and said, " Edward, why are we here, and not at my mother's home?"

Edward looked back at Mrs. Duncan and said, " Mrs. Duncan.. Marie, I've brought you to my home. I hope that you do not mind, but I'm only thinking about your comfort and well being, for whatever time you have left." Then he said to Violet.. " I'm sorry Violet that I didn't say anything, but I thought about it as we were leaving the train station, and getting into the taxi."

Violet could feel tears welling up in her eyes, and even with her mother watching, she reached up and touched his face gently and said softly, " Thank you, Edward. Once again, you've been too kind, to both myself and my mother. We both appreciate it."

Marie coughed weakly, then said, " Thank you, Captain, for your kindness. I do appreciate it."

Edward got out, and made sure that he had the front door unlocked, then helped Mrs. Duncan out of the car, and then Violet, and after Violet had her hand on her mother's arm, leading her into the house, then he took their baggage from the taxi, then paid the cabbie and went inside the house, closing the door behind him.

12:00 P.M.

After Violet and Edward had made Marie comfortable in the upstairs bedroom, Edward took Violet back downstairs and into the parlor, where Violet went to stand in front of French doors, which obviously led out into the yard. It was a beautiful home, she thought, and one that was obviously suited to one, who had attained the height of his profession, such as Edward had obviously done. And it broke her heart, to think that now, because of some misguided action on her part, his career was now over, and he would have to sell this beautiful home.

Edward moved over to Violet's side, when he could hear that she was sniffling, obviously about to cry. And gently, he turned her around and lifted her face up to his, and smiling down at her, said, " Why are you crying, my sweet Violet? Why the tears in those pretty purple eyes?"

Violet sniffled, and brushed her eyes, then lowered her head, and stared intently at the gold braids on the cuffs of his uniform coat, then said in a very quiet voice, " I feel guilty, Edward."

Her head came up quickly, when she heard him laughing, ever so softly and she said, in a bewildered tone of voice,
" Whatever are you laughing about, Edward? What is so funny?"

He pulled the girl closer to him and held her, and said quietly, " I don't understand what you feel so guilty for, love." Then in a more serious tone, he said, " That should be for me, don't you think?"

Violet kept her eyes down, afraid to look up, but he lifted her face up to his, smiled warmly and said, " Ah, love you mustn't feel like that. Is it because of the fact that you saved me?"

She nodded, then in a timid voice said, " And because now, your career is over, and you'll have to sell this beautiful home, that you shared with your wife. And I guess, partly because, she left you."

He said, " Come with me, Violet." And he led her outside, through the French doors, and into the yard. Then through a neatly tended garden, and through a pretty, wrought iron gate, and to a pretty bench, surrounded by a miniature fountain, with roses surrounding it.

Violet stared around her at the beauty that surrounded her and said, " Oh, Edward, this is so beautiful. Oh, I just know that mother would just love it here. We must bring her out here, at least once."

Edward smiled tenderly and said, " I'll see to it that she gets out here, then. Anything, at all for you, Violet." Then he led her over to the park sized bench and sat down with her. Then as he leaned back against the bench, he crossed his arms over his chest, and gazed over at Violet and then said, " Now, I want you to listen to me, Violet, love. It is not your fault, you did what came natural to you, and to most people. Most people, would have done exactly the same thing that you did."

He paused for a moment, reached over and caressed her face softly, then said, " And as far as my wife leaving me, well, Violet, love, that certainly is not your fault. My career was nearly over with anyway, as I was planning to retire after Titanic. So it's nothing really, you see, for you to feel guilty about. And I shall not hear another word of it from your pretty lips. Don't worry your pretty head about it."

She moved over closer to Edward, and he noticed, and moved his arm around her shoulders, and held her close to him as they sat there in the garden, in the early afternoon sunlight.

Edward leaned over and brushed his lips against her cheek, then whispered in her ear, and said, " I love you, Violet Duncan." She turned towards him, and when she did, he pulled her into his arms, and leaned over and kissed her, on the soft, sweet lips, in his garden, under a pale noon sunshine. By jove, she tasted sweet, he thought, as he kissed her even more.

It did feel strange however, he thought, to be sitting here in his garden, in the home that he had shared, for the past twenty five years, with his wife Eleanor, and now, she had left him, taken his beautiful daughter, Helen. And well, now he was here, with this beautiful young woman, kissing her like there was no tomorrow. Feeling her softness against him, as he crushed her to him, and then running his hands through the flaming red curls, which had tantalized him, from the moment he had first set eyes on her. He had never seen such a beautiful shade of red, and then.. her eyes.. oh the beautiful violet eyes. He had never seen eyes of that color, either.

Violet sighed as she moved her arms around him, and he continued to kiss her more. Good heavens, but he couldn't wait to make her his wife, and to make love to her. He wondered, as he held her against him, what it would be like, to share his bed and his life, with another woman. After all, he had been with Eleanor, the only one, for a quarter of a century. But Violet deserved to be loved, and to have his entire love and devotion. At one time, Eleanor had warranted that, but she had walked out upon him, betrayed him, upon one of the greatest crises, in his life.

After he had kissed her thoroughly, for some time, he let her go, and she sat there, feeling quite dazed, even perhaps feeling drugged, the way he had kissed her. Well.. well, she could see that after twenty-five years of marriage, he was very good at it, more than good, she thought. She gazed at him, and watched as a smile crossed his face.

He reached over and touched her face, then smiled and said, " Would you like for me to do that again, Violet? For I'd be more than happy, too."

Good heavens, he wanted to again? Well, of course, she wouldn't say no, as she was more than happy to be here, she loved him so much. How could one love another so much as this? She murmured quietly that she would love for him to. And so he held her against him, and covered her lips with his, once more, and set her heart and soul on fire.

As he kissed her, and she clung to him, dazed, a fleeting thought crossed her mind, and she wondered if Eleanor had loved this wonderful, sweet man. And what had it been like, to be loved by him, the intimate side of marriage, she wondered? Well, soon enough, she thought, in a sweet, haze, she would find out, for herself.

They both came out of their haze, when a shattering noise came from the house.

Violet turned to Edward, and he could see fear in her pretty eyes, where only a moment before, there had been love and desire. He stood to his feet, and taking her by the hand, said, " Let's go check on your mother, Violet."

Inside the house, Marie felt like a dunce, for she had made her way downstairs to the kitchen, to pour herself something to drink, and then she had been clumsy enough to drop and break the glass.

Violet and Edward came into the house, hurriedly, and he said, " It sounds like your mother is in the kitchen." And he led Violet back into the house, towards the kitchen.

When he opened the door, he was relieved to find that Mrs. Duncan was apparently fine, other than the fact that she had dropped a drinking glass, and it had shattered upon the floor.

Marie looked up, and when she saw those two dear people standing there, in the doorway, and her own precious daughter, looking so frightened, even as she clung tightly to the man that she loved, it made her own heart ache. She hadn't meant to frighten either of them.

She started to sob, and the heart wrenching sounds that she made, made Violet's own heart ache, and Edward, too, felt pretty sickened at hearing the heart rending sounds she made, and how very ill she was.

Edward quickly moved to the woman's side and said, " Please, Mrs. Duncan.. you really should be resting in bed, now."

Marie noticed that he still called her Mrs. Duncan, instead of Marie, as she had asked. So she said once more, " Please, son, call me Marie. I'm to be your mother-in-law, soon."

He smiled and said, " Very well, then Marie."

So he then said, " Okay, Marie, let's get you back upstairs and into bed. Violet will make you something to eat, if you're hungry, and something to drink. Never mind about the glass, don't you fret about it. It's not important, at all."

Marie was so weak, that she could hardly stand, but she held on to Edward's arm, as he guided her through the house, and into the hallway, and then up the stairs. She stumbled slightly, however, at the top of the stairs, but she felt his steady arm around her waist,as he held her upright. Oh my goodness, she thought, a warm blush coming to her cheeks, but her daughter was going to have one fine husband.

After he had gotten her settled into the bed, and made sure that she was covered up and comfortable, he said, " Well, I shall go see about Violet, love. Don't worry about a thing. And I think that I shall have our local doctor come out, this evening, perhaps, and take a look at you."

Marie shook her head, and at that moment was overtaken by a violent coughing spasm, and she looked up at Edward, fear written all over her face, as she leaned forward on to the bed, and holding her chest.

Good Lord, he thought, as he ran out of the room, he had to go fetch that doctor now. And before he left, he called out to Violet, that her mother was near to passing out, and she had better get upstairs, now. He was going to fetch for the doctor.

After Edward had hastily left, Violet dropped what she was doing and ran upstairs, where she found her mother, sitting upright, and feeling a little better.

Violet sat down next to her mother, tears welling up in her eyes, and her mother brushed them away so tenderly, and said,
" My dear sweet child, don't cry for me. I'm going to be relieved that this is over with, and I'll be at rest. I want you to promise me that you won't spend all your time grieving over me. You're going to get married soon, and you then have to care for your husband, see to his needs, and love him, sweet Violet. He obviously needs your love, dear heart. I want to tell you something now, while I still can."

Violet sat there waiting, while her mother caught her breath and said in a near whisper, " I have my will made up and it is in town at the local solicitor's office. His name is James Cooper. I just had it made up not too long ago, and I'm leaving my house and the little bit of land with it, to you, sweet child. It's up to you to do with it, as you please. You can let Edward know, for he will be your husband soon, and he will take care of it for you."

Violet started to cry, and leaned over against her mother, and felt her mother's bony arms go round her and hold her against her, as she had when Violet had been but a little girl.