OMG I am so sorry I haven't posted in so long! I've hadfamily visiting and it's been very hard to find the time to sit down and write, they leave tomorrow though so things should go back to normal : )

I'm headed off for school right now so I don't have very long and will address everyone's reviews in the next chapter : )

Chapter 32

Everything about the moment was perfect; the bed, soft and inviting, holding us together under layers of soft sheets and warm blankets. The way he held me in his arms, delicately making a path of small kisses down my neck, to my shoulder and following the trail all the way down my arm and to the very tips of my fingers.

"You're so beautiful," he said in a soft whisper that made the goose bumps rise up on my arms. "I never want to let you go."

I smiled at his kind, yet somewhat sensual words and brought my hand up and ran it through his soft hair, "And I never want you to."

I was rewarded with a handsome smile and a purely exquisite kiss. I sighed with pleasure as he did this; his lips and mine moving perfectly together in the kind of motion that only the two of us knew and when we parted he wrapped his arms around me snugly, holding me so close to him that I couldn't help but breathe in the scent of his aftershave and find myself on cloud nine.

It was still hard for me to understand that I had only known him for a little over a week. So much had happened it made it seems as if there were years in between our first meeting in Southampton and where we were at this moment.

"You look deep in thought."

"I do?"

He nodded, "I don't blame you…I've been doing a lot of thinking myself."

We parted a few inches allowing ourselves to sit up in the bed, but I still found myself resting my head on his shoulder, not that I think he minded any. He simply stroked my hair as he spoke. "I could have lost you. I've said that to you so many times, but all last night, it was all I could think about. If I had gotten to the Carpathia and you weren't there…" he sighed heavily, the thoughts stabbing at his emotions like daggers. "…I wouldn't have been able to go on."

"I know what you mean. I can't even imagine how Polly is handling this. She and Charles really loved one another…he was always so kind to her…That's a rare find in my world." I moved so that I was facing him, "Do you realize those babies aren't even going to remember him?"

He shook his head, "No one should have to go through that. I don't think I told you, she was on my lifeboat…"

"She was?"

"Yes, I didn't recognize her at first, but she immediately asked about you."

I smiled after I heard that. Polly was such a wonderful person. "I feel like I haven't seen her in days. I hope she's alright."

"I'm sure she is." He cleared his throat and then went quiet for a bit before speaking again. "How is your family?"

He didn't want to mention Rose's name, and for that I was grateful, after discussing plans for her funeral at lunch, I already felt as if I was holding a dam of tears back knowing one more ounce of sadness could make it burst at any moment. "Aunt Ruth still isn't speaking; she must be in some sort of shock. Nan…"

"Who's Nan?" he asked.

I was slightly taken aback before I realized he had no idea who I was talking about, I nearly laughed. "My Grandmother, I call her Nan."

"Nan, that's interesting I called mine Nain."

I smiled. "Really?"

He returned a sweet smile, "Yes, well back to your Nan, what is she saying about all of this."

I sighed. "She's being practical. Planning the services and all that, it's hard to watch her do all of that…"my face fell as I tried to hide the pain that I knew was coming into my eyes. I took a deep breath, gathered my bearings and looked back up into Harry's sympathetic face. "…she's always been that way though. Since George and I were children…George is my brother…"

He nodded. "Oh I know."

I was confused; I didn't recall ever telling him much about George, let alone his name.

He smiled. "I met him downstairs, right before I saw you, actually."

"Well that explains that, but how did you know it was him?" I persisted.

"We were introduced."

"By who?"

"Mr. Hockley." he replied with an odd smirk on his face.

I nearly groaned with aggravation.

"I didn't know he…survived." he spoke up.

I turned from him, hiding my anger as best as I could. "Yes, well unfortunately cockroaches are resilient creatures."

"Cockroaches eh? I don't like him much either…he made a remark that got me a bit…perturbed."

Oh God Cal, what did you say?

I turned back to Harry. "What did he say?"

"Told your brother I had the 'pleasure' of meeting on you the Titanic. Something about the way he said that made me want to punch him clear between the eyes."

"He would have deserved it." I mumbled.

His eyes rose in question, "That's the first time I've heard you actually condone violence on another person."

I shrugged. "I guess it all depends on the person." It was horrible effort to hide my anger for Cal. The last thing I wanted to do was explain any of that to Harry, unfortunately for me, he didn't seem to swallow it.

"Is there more to this than what you're telling me…does he know about us?"

I had dreaded this moment. Harry had every right to know what Cal had been doing and what he knew about us, but I had no doubt that telling him would be like adding kerosene to an already blazing fire.

"Sarah?"

I told myself to be brave, that Harry loved me and that above all he deserved to hear the truth from my mouth, "You have every right to be suspicious of him, he does know."

His face froze and he asked him a low voice, "How?"

I didn't quite know that answer to that myself. I had asked myself of course, but I hadn't a lot of time to think about it the way I should have. All I could do was shake my head, which pried the frozen look of shock of Harry's face and replaced it with one full of irritation. He removed his arm from around my shoulders and leaned forward, resting both of his arms on his knees.

He was far away, lost in his anger I imagined. I felt horrible, and leaned forward holding the blanket close to me and moved towards him. I gently put my arm around his bare shoulders. "I'm sorry." I said in a quiet voice.

"Why are you saying that, you haven't done anything wrong?" he replied in a sharp tone, not bothering to move his eyes from their gaze on the bare wall in front of us.

"I'm sorry you have to deal with this. Lord knows there are plenty of other girls out there you could be with that have normal lives. Ones that aren't orphans, have schedules and rules to live by, and don't have their deceased cousin's vindictive fiancé after them."

He turned to me; acting as if he hadn't heard a word I said and asked, "Has he told anyone else?"

"Besides Aunt Ruth no, no one. At least I don't think he has. I told Nan and George before he even saw them, but he knows so much that…"

"WHAT? What else does he know?" he roared.

I gave him a look that plainly said everything and watched as his eyes went wide and his anger boiled over its brim. He was so angry he struggled with his words, something he had never had a problem with before, at least that I knew of.

I knew he wasn't mad at me, but all the same I felt like I should have done more to stop Cal, to try and preserve what little secrecy Harry and I had. But even in my clouded mind I knew that there was really nothing I could have done, Cal was slyer than anyone gave him credit for.

Harry became too frustrated to even sit anymore and sprang up from the bed and in a fury began to dress. I sat on the bed, frozen in my spot, just watching him, waiting for the moment when I knew he was in rational thought once again, unfortunately that was exactly the opposite of what happened.

With his shirt half way buttoned up and he whirled towards me and it all came flooding out.

"That bastard has no idea what he's gotten himself into! Money doesn't make a bloody bit of difference to me and it sure as hell doesn't make him invisible. I don't give a damn who he thinks he is I will lay into anyone who crosses me! Now…" he moved closer to me, "You tell me everything that happened, and I mean EVERYTHING!"

"Harry…"

"Sarah, I love you, but I'm not above getting angry with you. I have very little patience…ever and I'm the first one to admit it, now tell me!"

"Everything?"

"EVERYTHING!"