"What was that?" Estella asked, walking behind her sister.

"What was what?" Elaine responded, playing dumb.

"Don't play dumb with me. You were flirting with the officer!" the older one hissed, quickly checking if someone heard them right after.

"He saved my hat. I was just thanking him."

"He saved your—You basically threw it off your head!" Estella shouted raising her arms in frustration.

"Shall we go get ready for lunch, eh, sister?" Elaine stopped and turned to face her sister, smiling only with her lips.

"Don't change the topic!"

"I'll see you at the table," the young one said before shutting the door in her sister's face.

Estella wanted to yell and bang against the door, but decided against it and just sighed before leaving. In Elaine's room was Amelia who was furling clothes in the closet.

"Leave that, help me change into something more comfortable for lunch," Elaine said, taking off her gloves.

"Of course, miss. Do you have something in particular on mind?" Amelia asked as she quickly stood up.

"Yes, give me that white and purple afternoon dress," she hummed, letting her hair down. Amelia nodded and pulled it out of the closet and they quickly put it on.

"What about your hair, miss?" the young servant asked once they were finished.

"I'll just pull it back. Thanks, Amelia. You can do…whatever you've been doing," Elaine answered, waving her off.

Amelia did a little curtsy and turned away, finding her spot before she was told to help. Elaine was in front of the desk mirror, fixing her dark brown hair to her liking when someone knocked on the door.

"Would you get that, Amelia?" she looked at her in the mirror. The servant quickly stood up and went to the door and Elaine's attention was back on herself. "Who is it, Amelia?"

"It is your brother, miss."

"Let him in," Elaine sighed, looking up in the direction of the door and smiled when her brother walked in. "What's up?"

"Eh, nothing much. Are you ready? I came to escort you to lunch," Philip said, standing in the middle of the room.

He was tall, like their father, muscular with tanned skin. His face was long with a rounded jaw, a flat nose and puffy lips. When his dirty blonde hair wasn't slicked back, it was always in his hazel narrow eyes, like now. Since he was the heir of the family name, he was always dressed in the finest pieces of fashion.

Him, Estella and Elaine were very close. Maybe it wasn't so obvious, but emotionally their bond was strong. Being the oldest sibling, he was very protective over his sisters, but also very supportive. He was also highly observant and diplomatic and considered rebellious in his childhood. They often joked that he led Elaine of to the wrong path, but it wasn't far from the truth that the two of them were often mischievous when they were younger, while their other sister stood off.

"Did Estella send you?" came the reply.

Her brother blinked once, before Elaine mentally rolled her eyes, taking one last glance in the mirror.

"Estella? No," he frowned. "I haven't seen her since we boarded."

"Good!" Elaine said smiling and standing up. "We shall go."

She extended her arm to link it with Philip's.


When they arrived in the dining room, Elaine saw a few unfamiliar faces seated at the table along-side with her family. She straightened her posture and put-on serious face. Estella and Edward had already been there.

"Ah, here they are!" Kenneth said once he saw them and Elizabeth smiled with her lips. "Allow me to introduce Bruce Ismay and Thomas Andrews who will be joining us for lunch today."

"Pleasure to meet you," Andrews extended his arm to Philip.

"Likewise," Philip shook his hand and Andrews politely smiled at Elaine, to which she had soon returned.

It was Ismay's turn to introduce himself, addressing them with gentleman before shaking hands with Philip and lady before kissing Elaine's hand. She wanted to roll her eyes, thinking how hypocritical he could be, but she couldn't so she forced a smile instead. Ismay offered to help Elaine take her seat, but Philip politely waved him off seeing how uncomfortable Elaine was by his imposed presence and helped her instead. She was seated between her mother and sister, both glancing at her once she sat down, each for their own reasons. Before anyone could say anything more, the waiters brought the food out.

Elaine was silent most of the time, letting her mother and father do the talking with Philip, Estella and Edward adding something now and then. Elizabeth was bragging about the wedding and how big and glamorous it is going to be while Kenneth was talking about extending his car company.

"We hope to find a suitable husband for Elaine after the wedding. Maybe even someone from the guest list. Got any cousins to recommend, Edward?" Elizabeth suddenly said and Elaine almost chocked on her meat.

"Uh…" Edward was astonished.

Estella gave him a don't answer that look and patted Elaine on her back.

"It's okay, here, drink some water." she ordered, handing her a glass.

Elaine took a sip, stood up and muttered an "Excuse me," under her breath before walking out. She walked out on the boat deck towards the head of the ship and leaned over the railway. She closed her eyes and breathed heavily. She was furious. Being handed off to another man like a piece of meat was just so frustrating. And not that her mother really had to say it in front of all the important people they met only an hour ago.

"Miss? Miss? Are you alright?" someone patted her on the arm.

She was twisting her arm, gripping onto the railing so hard that she didn't realized her knuckles turning white. She stopped, once there was a hand on top of her upper arms. Touching her head, she turned to face whoever was speaking to her.

"Yes, yes, I'm—Oh, it's you again," she said, pleasantly surprised.

He laughed. "What a coincidence, we meet again. Though, I wouldn't expect it since were on the ship,"

Elaine stared at him for a while before bursting out laughing. "Oh, you're joking!"

"'Course, ma'am." Harold said, smiling.

They just stared at each other until Elaine's laughter died down. Just when she wanted to say something Philip came rushing in since he saw her speaking with an unfamiliar man.

"Elaine, we have to go. Are you alright?" he eyed her.

"Yes! Mr. Lowe here took care of me!" she flirtatiously looked at Harold.

Harold fixed his posture and put on a serious face feeling slightly uncomfortable and also threatened by another man not knowing who he was to Elaine.

"I didn't do much, sir. Just checked if the miss was alright." he said in a serious tone which intrigued Elaine even more.

"I see," Philip said, eyeing Harold up and down suspiciously and putting protectively an arm around his sister. "Come on, let's go,"

Elaine was looking at Harold who seemed to not pay attention to her anymore until she lost the sight of him.

"Looks like you could have got yourself in trouble." sing-sang a voice behind Harold.

"Are you following me?" Harold turned, annoyed, to face Lightoller.

Lightoller stopped as if to give it a thought. "I wasn't intending to, but now it seems like I should. Besides, you weren't on your rounds and now I see why you were distracted,"

"It was a lady in trouble—"

"It's always her, isn't it?"

Harold stayed quiet. "Well, seems like she won't need my assistance anymore since her man is here."

"Her man?" Lightoller narrowed his eyebrows.

"Yes, don't act dumb, I know you saw him," Harold rolled his eyes.

Charles, in fact, did saw Philip. And he knew he was her brother. He wanted to joke about it with Harold but decided against it. On second thought, it's better the way Harold think it is.

"Anyway, I should get back. My rounds are almost finished. Better use them wisely, eh?" he patted Charles on the back of his shoulder before passing him.

Charles Lightoller was left looking astonishingly in the distance.


"Ugh, you were such a dick." Elaine was annoyed.

"Language, lady!" Philip warned.

She rolled her eyes. "I don't know what is wrong with you. I was simply chatting with an officer," she protested.

"A male officer." her brother corrected.

"So what?" she raised her arms in frustration.

"A young lady like you should not wander around and flirt with officers."

"I was not—" Elaine wanted to snap, but Philip cut her off.

"Shh, here we are," he said stopping in front of her room. "I wish you a good day and to take some rest and I'll see you at dinner time when I'll also come to pick you up."

Elaine crossed her arms on her chest and pursed her lips, refusing to meet his gaze. Philip sighed and put each of his hands on her upper arms pulling her in and kissing her forehead.

"You know I love you and only wish what's best for you," he murmured against her skin.

"I know," Elaine breathed and leaned against his chin. "I love you, too."

What Elaine didn't say because she didn't want to start a fight with her brother in the middle of the hallway was that what if he didn't know what was the best for her? What if any of them didn't know what was the best for her? Hell, she didn't even know what that was, but talking to Harold felt right.

It felt freeing.