It was a rather usual morning at the Badour's manner. Servants were flying everywhere, only this time, they were flying about carrying out packed stuff to the car. It was not so early in the morning anymore, compared to when they all woke up.

"Careful with it, those are fragile!"

Mrs. Elizabeth Badour was a 45-year-old stern woman. She liked order and discipline, but most of all, she loved control. On her good days, she was friendly and bright. She enjoyed charity work and badminton. Physically, Elizabeth was in pretty good shape. She was average height with light skin and green eyes. Her blonde hair was usually pulled back in a bun. She grew up in an upper-class neighborhood and was coming from a stable background. She was third of her four siblings. Her mother died when she was still very young and was raised by her father from then on.

The servant she's been talking to just nodded her head and picked up the box. Mrs. Badour was standing in the doorway, watching her servants in the front yard pack things up, when suddenly someone collided into her.

"What on earth—Estella?! What are you doing? Why are you carrying your suitcases?!"

They both walked out in to the yard, Estella putting down the bags she was carrying.

"Sorry, mother. Uh, I thought I could help. It's quite a busy morning, they could use a hand, it won't hurt." she shrugged.

"Oh, please," Elizabeth almost rolled her eyes. "We are paying them for their job, they might as well do it. I expected it more from your sister," she looked at Estella from head to toe to check if she was ready. "Speaking of which, have you seen her this morning?"

"No." Estella simply replied.

"Amelia!" Elizabeth started shouting, going back in the house. "Amelia! Amel—Ah, there you are." she spotted her going down the stairs. "Have you been to Elaine's room yet?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"And? Is she awake?"

"She was still asleep when I was in her room."

"Then why didn't you wake her up?! Go, wake her up!" Elizabeth waved her off with her hand.

"She won't need to." a voice came down from the top of the stairs.

"Elaine!" Elizabeth was rather surprised and frustrated. "Why are you still in your night gown with your hair down?!"

"Oh, mother, please…" Elaine rolled her eyes. "I'm sure we still have plenty of time."

"Plenty?! It's ten in the morning!" her mother shouted. "We should be leaving in the half an hour. You had better get ready. I hope you're already packed." she gave her a stern look.

"Charlie already picked up my stuff." Elaine responded as she was bored.

"Good." Elizabeth pressed her lips into a thin line. "Well, Amelia, go help her get dressed." she ordered, not letting Elaine out of her sight until her daughter turned to go back in her room.


"This is so boring." Elaine said after Amelia closed the door behind her.

"Aren't you exited, miss? You're going on voyage!" Amelia tried to entertain her.

"Would you be excited if you were going just to find you a suitable husband?" Elaine was not even a slightly amused. "Besides, don't sound so enthusiastic for me. You're going with us. Or with me, at least."

"Yes, ma'am, I'm sorry. I just wanted to make you feel better." she blushed out of shame.

"I know, Amelia, but let's know our places. Shall we?" Elaine raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," the young servant opened the closet full of fancy dresses. "What would you like to wear today, ma'am?"

Elaine scanned every toilette with her eyes until she stopped at the blue and white dress with a matching blue hat.

"This one would be fine." she said, as if she wasn't really trying too hard.

Amelia took it out and placed it on the bed which she previously had made while Elaine was still choosing. She was helping Elaine with her corset when Estella walked in.

"Oh, you're not ready yet." Estella breathed and let her shoulders fall knowing she didn't have to keep her posture now.

Elaine eyed her over her shoulder. "Care to give us a hand?"

"Oh, of course." she stepped in.

"Can I do your hair now, miss?" Amelia asked.

"Oh, please do." Elaine responded, just wanting to get it over with. "How much do we have, Stel?"

"Around fifteen minutes." she tightened the last knot on Elaine's corset. "What are you going to wear?"

Elaine nodded in the direction of her bed.

"You're going to wear that?!" Estella raised both of her eyebrows.

"I never wore it before." Elaine took offense. "You are wearing that old yellow dress. Again. Everyone has already seen you in it."

"I love this dress!" Estella stared at her sister for quite a moment before she made uncertain face. "Should I go change?"

Before Elaine could answer, there was a knock on the door. Elaine took a quick glance at her sister before she focused on the door. "Yes, come in."

The door opened and in the doorway was their brother Philip. "Uh, we would like to go, if you're ready?"

"Yes! Let me just grab my hat." she smiled at him.

"Elaine!" Estella was desperate. "Answer me."

"It's too late now, but you can never go wrong with the good ol' yellow." Elaine fixed her hat and winked at her sister.


"Edward! You've made it!" Elizabeth hugged and kissed her soon to be son-in-law.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world." Edward smiled wide. "Hello, darling." he gave Estella a little peck on the lips. "I wanted to surprise you, but most of all her." he looked over at his fiancée and pulled her into his side, her cheeks turning red.

"Oh, good, this voyage won't be so disastrous after all." Elaine got in the picture and hugged him.

"Elaine!" he was rather pleased to see her again. "Always good to see you. And hear you." they all laughed except her mother. She was slightly uncomfortable because of the comment Elaine has made.

"We're all set," standing tall, Kenneth, the man of the family, announced. "And five minutes behind, so I suggest we go now." he was a wealthy businessman, owning two car companies in Europe and on his was to open one in America.

They all nodded in agreement and headed toward the cars, but Elizabeth called for her daughter, causing her to stop climbing into the car where Edward, Philip and Estella were.

"Elaine, won't you sit with your father and I? I'd like to have a word with you." she kept staring at her with her almond-shaped eyes, her lips pressed thin.

Elaine wanted to protest, but decided against it. She almost showed her agreement when her father spoke.

"Beth, please, let kids catch up."

"They can catch up on the boat." she protested.

"It's a ship." Kenneth corrected. "You can talk later. Let's start this voyage right." He looked expectantly at her.

Elizabeth breathed out heavily. "Fine." she said shortly, evidently displeased, before seating herself.

"Thank you, dad." Elaine smiled.

"You're welcome, dear. Go on now, I don't want to waste another second!" she nodded and climbed in with the rest of the youth.

Kenneth had a sweet spot for all of his children. While Elizabeth was always scolding and trying to keep them in order, he liked to spoil them. He was also coming from a stable background as his wife, but he was an only child, raised by both of his parents. He was very much liked by the society, being very friendly, content and kind.

"What do you think that was about?" Estella asked once they were on the road.

"I don't know, probably about something I said." Elaine rolled her eyes.

"Well, maybe you don't always have to say what you think."

"Yeah, well, maybe." Elaine whispered. "But we all know that's not going to happen."

Edward laughed. "At least she'll keep us entertained."

"Please, don't encourage her." Philip said and they all laughed. "Changing the subject, what are you the most excited about this voyage?"

"Ooh, definitely spending time with Ed, walking down the deck hand in hand… It is so romantic travelling on a ship as a couple." Estella was daydreaming.

"I'm sure you'll enjoy that with mom and dad." Elaine said.

"They're an old couple!" Estella argued.

"Is there really a code?" her sister laughed.

"And what are you excited about?" the older one challenged.

"Nothing."

"Oh, c'mon, El, there's got to be something. It's the biggest ship in the world!" Philip said.

"Okay, well then I would say arriving. Getting this over with." Elaine was serious, she hated this subject.

She knew what awaited her once they arrived, and she just wanted to be done with it. Getting married to the man she doesn't love, and barely even knows, just to keep the family name, was too much for her.

"You could be at least happy for me. For us." Estella looked at Edward and took his hand.

"You know what that wedding means for me, Estella. I'd be lucky if they find me someone like Edward. Easy to fall in love and want to marry him, like they did with you." Elaine blinked the hidden tears away.

"Yes, I'm sorry." Estella apologized and looked over through the window, while Philip pulled Elaine into his side.

The rest of the ride went more in silence than the small talk Philip was trying to make. Once they arrived at the dock, Philip opened the door, and the two gentlemen stepped out first, to help out the two ladies to do so too.

"Well, what do you think?" Philip asked standing beside his sister. "Now that you've seen her…"

Elaine raised her head to take another look.

"It's a ship. Like any other." she shrugged, not being overly interested.

"Oh, my God, Elaine, you can be unimpressed by any other thing, but not the Titanic!" Philip argued.

Elaine kept staring at the distance. With that serious look on her face and lips pressed in a thin line she was the spitting image of her mother. Actually, she was a complete younger version of her. With only few exceptions, like her dark brown hair and eyes. They were both aware of that and it wasn't known which one hated it more.

"Hello? Elaine? Did you hear me?" her brother was shouting and waving his hands.

"Oh, stop it, I heard you." she scolded him and looked at the ship again.

"So, you are impressed?" he smirked.

Oh, she was impressed. She was so impressed that she needed another moment to recollect herself. But she wasn't impressed by the ship itself. Just as she was about to tell him what so impressed her, their father interrupted them.

"It's time to get on board. C'mon, kids, you'll have five long days just for talking." Kenneth patted them both on their shoulders. Elaine smiled at him and stepped forward.

Maybe it won't be as quite disastrous as she thought, after all.


AUTHOR'SNOTE: Hi, guys! Thank you for reading this. I just want to say that English is not my first language and I am well aware there are some mistakes in writing which I hope doesn't make it hard for you to read and that you can easily understand what I wanted to say. Please, leave me your thoughts whether you like it or not and are you interested in more. Much love, M xoxo