Chapter Two

November, 1912

The soft music drifted through the large ballroom as the dancers swirled in a sea of colorful array. These were the elite, the cream of Philadelphia Society and they were there to celebrate the engagement of Olivia Barlow to Caledon Hockley.

If Olivia were any happier she would literally float away. Her eyes glowed from the happiness and love she felt for Cal. He was the perfect man for her. At that moment she saw him walking across the edge of the dance floor as he made his way to her. He wore his black tuxedo and looked so handsome she couldn't believe that he was actually going to be her husband.

"There you are, sweetling. I wondered where you had gotten off to," he said as he bent and kissed her cheek.

"Mother has me practically talking to everyone here. She's over there discussing with Madeline Carter our trip to Paris for our honeymoon."

"Perhaps she'll be occupied for a bit. Why don't we go outside for a breath of fresh air?"

"I'd like that. It is getting rather stuffy in here."

Together they made their way to the large portico doors and exited onto the expansive brick lined patio.

"What a lovely night," Olivia said pulling her ivory shawl over her shoulders. Her dress was ivory, too and was trimmed in royal blue satin over the bodice and sleeves. However, it was short sleeves which was fine for indoors but not for outdoors.

"Yes, I agree. These warmer nights won't last much longer."

"By the time the real cold sets in we'll be on our way to Paris on the most luxurious ship in the Atlantic waters." Realizing what she said she turned to him and placed a comforting hand on his chest. "Cal, are you sure you want to travel on a ship again? I mean, considering what happened…"

"I can't go through life being afraid to sail again, Olivia. I told you I was fine with it and I am."

"I know, but still…"

"I said I was fine," his answered tightly. "You don't have to keep going on about it. That's one thing you'll have to learn when you become my wife. I can't have you questioning everything I say and do."

"Of course, but I was only thinking of you." She lowered her hand feeling a little hurt at his reproach of her.

"I expect certain things from you as my wife and that means you will honor any decisions I make and never question me about them."

He spoke so firmly that Olivia stepped back to place some distance between them. She had never seen this side of him before. She knew what her place would be as his wife and she fully intended to do all that she could to make him happy and she didn't want to upset him.

"I'm sorry, I won't question you again."

He smiled then. "That's better. You may make a fine wife after all, Olivia."

"I want to be a good wife to you, Cal. I want to make you happy." She stepped back up to him wanting to assure herself that he wasn't angry with her. He lifted her hand and kissed it softly.

"You just do as I wish and you will. You will do that won't you, Olivia?"

For a moment she didn't answer. Maybe she was just exaggerating the feeling his words had stirred in her but it seemed as if he were saying that she would have no existence outside of him. That he wanted to own her completely. No, she told herself, he couldn't have meant that. Casting the feeling aside, she smiled up at him. "I will do anything to make you happy, Cal. I love you."

He smiled and pulled her to him. "That's what I want to hear. I knew I was right about you." Before she could respond, he lifted her face and kissed her.

Olivia's heart was pounding in her chest. She was experiencing her first real kiss and it was nothing like she thought it would be. His mouth was hot and hard against hers and then she felt his arm tighten around her waist. He continued to press his mouth against hers, prying her lips open enough to snake his tongue against hers. She jumped at the feel of it and felt her legs begin to shake. She had imagined what it would be like and it wasn't anything like this. Overwhelmed with it all, she finally pulled back enough to get a breath. "Cal, I don't think we should be doing this."

He drew back to look at her with a dark expression on his face. "I'll decide when it's enough. I thought you understood, Olivia. You are going to be my wife and that makes you mine in every way."

"Yes, but this is still new to me. Please…" She pleaded with him but he didn't seem to hear.

"I won't allow you to refuse me. I've already been down that road and I forbid it, do you understand? Rose thought she could keep me on a string like a marionette but I won't be treated that way again. She could have had everything and instead she chose-" He stopped then as if he suddenly realized he said too much.

Olivia stared at him, scared at the intensity of the way he spoke. She didn't understand any of it. She only knew that he was holding her tightly, so tightly her arms were tingling and speaking to her of things she of which she had no knowledge. She was frightened of him but she didn't want to be. He must have seen the fear in his eyes because he released her and stepped back from her.

"I'm sorry, Olivia. I apologize for my amorous attention toward you. I shouldn't have taken it so far."

Rubbing her arms as she glanced toward at him, she licked her lips before speaking. "I don't understand what just happened. Why did you say those things and why are you comparing me to Rose? I don't think that's fair, Cal. I am not Rose and whatever she may or may not have done should have no bearing on our relationship."

Nodding slowly, he answered her, "Yes, you are right. Forgive me, Olivia. I shouldn't have said anything and I'm sorry if I frightened you. That was not my intent. Let's just forget this and go back in to our party. Shall we?"

Finally agreeing, they returned to the party, but Olivia couldn't erase the scene from her mind. What had really happened between he and Rose on the Titanic? Why was she suddenly worried? And more importantly - why didn't Cal tell her he loved her in return when she told him? Too afraid of the answer to the question, Olivia pushed it out of her mind choosing not to think of it for the remainder of the evening.

As the party came to an end, Cal escorted Olivia home while her parents and sister followed behind them in their own automobile. She snuggled close to him in the back seat of the Daimler wrapping her arm around his. In spite of the unpleasantness earlier, she and Cal ended up having a wonderful time. He was attentive and charming and her fears were slowly replaced by the happiness she felt before their time on the patio. She realized that the subject of Rose was a touchy one and that it brought a side to him that she didn't understand.

"Did you enjoy your night?" he asked quietly against her temple.

"Our night," she corrected him smiling. "And, yes I did. It was perfect."

"I have something for you, something I wanted to give you when we were alone." He sat back and pulled a long black box from the inside of his coat pocket. He held it out to her and smiled as she took it.

"What is it?" she asked breathlessly.

"Open it and see," he instructed.

Olivia sat up straighter and grasped the box, slowly lifting the top to expose its contents. What she saw made her gasp. "Oh, my goodness! It's… it's beautiful."

A string of exquisitely cut emeralds surrounded by smaller diamonds twinkled against the inky blackness of the velvet lining. Hanging from the center of the necklace was a larger emerald cut in a teardrop shape. It was the most beautiful thing Olivia had ever seen.

"Do you like it?"

"Do I?" she turned to him and smiled widely. "Oh, Cal. It's… it's lovely and so elegant. I do love it, I really do."

"I knew you would. I want you to wear it on our wedding night."

Olivia slightly blushed, remembering how hotly he had kissed her on the patio. She lowered her eyes for a moment but he hooked his finger under her chin and lifted her face to his.

"Don't be embarrassed. When you're my wife I'll teach everything you need to know about what happens in the marriage bed. I won't allow you to become one these society wives who keep their doors locked against their husbands. You will be my wife in every way and that includes in my bed."

She shuddered at his intensity. Her mother hadn't told her much about this subject, but what little she did know about it was that it sounded worse for the woman than for the man. Her mother simply said it was something wives had to 'endure'. And yet, hearing Cal talk about it and the way he had kissed her made her think that maybe there was more to it than just enduring.

"This is my gift to you, Olivia, to show you that I do care for you. This union of ours will be most productive… in many, many ways."

She smiled again as he reached over and softly kissed her. When they reached her home, he helped her out and walked her to the door. He kissed her cheek, bid her parents goodnight and went on his way.

That night as she went to sleep, her thoughts drifted to Cal and the happy life she knew they were going to have. She wouldn't have any more doubts because Cal did care for her and she did love him and as time passed, that love would grow until it surrounded them like a warm light. She wanted that to happen more than anything in the whole world.