Elaine got back to her room furious. She slammed the door shut and leaned against them, trying to catch her breath.
"Miss, are you alright?" coming out from another room, Amelia welcomed her.
"My mother…" she put a hand on her chest, breathing heavily. "She's playing games."
"Miss, please sit down. I'll help you." Amelia led her to the bed and sat her down. "Please, drink some water." she poured her a glass.
"Thank you." Elaine greedily drank it. "We'll just have to beat her to it." she was staring blank ahead.
"We?" the young servant furrowed her eyebrows.
"Yes, Amelia, we. Didn't you listen to anything I was just saying?!" she suddenly rose up into Amelia's face and the poor girl winced back.
"I'm sorry, miss, I don't under—"
"My mother invited Harold to dinner," she began explaining while pacing around the room.
"And that's a bad thing?" the servant asked, uncertain.
"It's a terrible thing!" Elaine turned to face her. "You know, he was all sweet when I first met him, but oh my, are looks deceiving! He's rude and arrogant and…" she couldn't think of any more words to describe him.
"And you like him." Amelia said proudly and fixed her posture.
"I beg your pardon?" Elaine looked at her in shock. "Amelia, we are not friends for you to make such assumption." she warned. "You are my servant. You better obey like it. Now give me my best night gown. Don't just stand there like a statue, quickly!"
Amelia just nodded and rushed to the closet.
Elaine was standing near the dining area where people were dancing. She watched them trying not to lean on the wooden pillar beside her (because that's not lady like!). When she and Amelia finished putting her in the silk gown with golden details and doing her hair up, she left as quickly as possible not to meet her brother or, God forbid, William, who would've tried to escort her to dinner. She felt tired and bored, waiting for a familiar face to show up, that she touched the pillar with her shoulder when someone tapped her on the other. She winced and quickly turned around.
"Edward?!" she breathed. "You scared me."
"Oh, sorry about that." he apologized. "Have you seen your sister?"
"No, shouldn't she be with you?" she frowned in wonder.
"Yeah, well, she isn't. Never mind, we probably missed each other. I'll go look for her." he faked a smile as to reassure her that everything was alright.
Elaine looked after him now completely leaning on the pillar, but didn't care. It wasn't like Estella to wander off like that. At least, not without saying anything to anyone.
"James, open up, please!" Harold was banging on the officer Moody's door.
"What is it now, Harold?" James opened the door, standing there annoyed.
"I've got a favor to ask." he made a pleading face.
"I see. You're already in your formal uniform." James leaned on the door frame and crossed his arms, looking at him up and down. "No. Absolutely not." he said once he looked him in the eyes again.
"Oh, c'mon, you don't even know what it is!" Harold pressed.
"It can only be one thing with you." the other boy shrugged.
"James, Badour's invited me to dinner tonight. I cannot miss it." Harold hissed, trying to make situation even more serious than it actually was.
"I already worked half of your rounds, Harold!" James protested.
"Bollocks! I came back just in time."
"I'm not doing it!"
"Listen, if I go to the Captain, we won't be able to have this little arrangement between you and me." he tried to threaten him.
"You do that. I think Captain is also going to that dinner, you can be his date!" James was fooling around.
"James! I'll owe you one. Please." the other one begged.
"You should stay away from her." James said at last.
Harold rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, I ruined it."
"And that's why you want to go so badly, isn't it?" James said, emphasizing the last part.
"Well, her mother invited me…" Harold made a face like he was calculating.
"Yes, to mock you." James joked.
"Screw you, James." Harold kicked his hat. "Will you do it, now, please?"
"No."
Harold made a long face. "Alright, cool." he turned to leave, but James stopped him.
"Wait, alright, I'll do it." the young boy cursed himself. "But only because I don't want to look at your sorry face for the rest of the journey."
"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Harold jumped on him to hug him.
"Alright, that's enough." he tried to push the other one off. "Don't thank me just yet."
"Watch for Lightoller, he's always hot on my tail." Harold rolled his eyes.
"I've noticed. Good thing she doesn't have a valet to follow her around, eh?" James looked at him in the mirror while buttoning his uniform.
"Oh, I think she's already got two."
"Oh, yes, I see her with her brother often. He doesn't let her out of his sight." James talked while fixing his uniform.
"Brother?" Harold furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
"Yeah, the tall one, dirty blonde hair. You've probably seen him a lot."
"Yeah, I saw him." Harold's lips twitched in a smile once he came to the realization.
"And that curly blondie she's been walking around with I don't know." they left James's quarters and were headed for the bridge.
"That's William Caison." Harold said, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. "Spoiled little rich brat."
"Oh, you two know each other?" James wondered, raising his eyebrows.
"We've got some history together; you can say that." Harold answered.
They reached the bridge just when the Captain stepped in.
"Good evening, gentlemen. Mr. Lowe, ready for that dinner?"
"Ready as I'll ever be, Captain." Harold smiled.
Elaine didn't notice when Harold walked in, but he immediately recognized her even though he was facing her back. He walked from behind her and spun her around.
"Shall we dance?" he smirked.
"Oh, so he speaks." Elaine was startled, but didn't let it show so she returned the smirk.
Harold didn't say anything just kept moving them around while staring into her eyes, small smile dancing on his lips.
"You know, it's pretty obvious that you've got a crush." she said.
"Maybe I'm not trying to hide it." he replied.
She looked away just in time to see her whole family coming down the stairs. First one in line were her parents. While Kenneth was distracted by conversing with John Jacob Astor, Elizabeth took the opportunity to scan the room. Her gaze finally landed on her daughter. Her brother soon followed by looking at her judgingly.
"We should go." she motioned with her head and stepped away.
Harold looked at the direction she was pointing at and realized.
"I see." he nodded. "Please, allow me." he offered her his arm.
Elaine hesitated for a moment but linked her arm with his.
"I guess there's no harm in that." she held her head up high like nothing was happening.
As on cue, her family started moving as well. Elaine suggested that they slow down, allowing the rest of them to get seated first. When they arrived, everyone acted surprised when they saw the two of them approaching. Elaine scanned the area and saw that the chair beside Edward was empty. She pressed her lips and met Edward's gaze, learning that he hadn't found her yet. Everyone was just staring expectantly at them, waiting for her next move. She cleared her throat when she became aware of her surroundings again.
"Allow me to introduce you to Mr. Harold Lowe." she finally said, breaking the silence.
Harold, not used to being in the spotlight, felt slightly uncomfortable. He didn't know what or should he say something so he remained silent, but nodded his head at them.
"Mr. Lowe!" Kenneth was first to speak "Pleasure to meet you. Please, take a seat." he extended his arm, pointing at one of the empty chairs.
"Pleasure's all mine." he said once he was seated. "Thanks to Mrs. Badour for the invite." he smiled at her.
"Oh, don't mention it!" she waved it off and laughed. "It's the least I could do after all you've done for us today."
"Mr. Lowe was of a great help today. He gave us a tour of the ship." Elaine wanted to represent Harold in the best light possible.
"Oh, please, I think Mr. Andrews should take all the credit. I also learned some new things." they all laughed.
There was a commotion down the dining room and everyone turned their heads to follow it up.
"Excuse me! Coming through! Sorry!"
It was Estella, running down the aisle. Her mother watched in disbelief and Elaine sipped on her champagne beside her. She thought that everyone probably thought how it wasn't her instead. Not that she would actually run.
"I am so sorry! I hope it hadn't been too long!" Estella said once he got to her chair. "I am so sorry, baby." she whispered to Edward and kissed his cheek.
"Well, I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation for this." Elizabeth grinned at her.
Elaine nearly choked. She never saw Elizabeth strict with Estella. And especially not with kill them with kindness game.
Estella, being put in the spotlight, stood there frozen. "I, uhm… Oh, they're bringing out meals! Just in time!" she was quick to avoid the explaining and sat down.
Elizabeth was burning holes through her first daughter with her eyes. Estella never disobeyed before. She gave her a this isn't over look and the other one knew that very well. As on cue, Estella looked at her sister who was sipping on the champagne again to sustain a laugh. Elaine raised her eyebrows as if she wanted to say let's see how'd you get out of this. An uncomfortable silence fell among them.
"I'm sorry to ask," Brandon was the first one to break it looking at Harold "but are you of the Barmouth Lowes?"
Harold shot his head up as if he was not sure he was talking to him. "Yes, actually." he swallowed.
Brandon smirked. It was an evil smirk, Elaine noticed.
"Really? Then what are you doing here, being an officer on the ship when your father owns the largest business in Liverpool?" Brandon openly asked.
Elaine narrowed her eyes at him. He didn't change one bit. She remembers him as being arrogant and indiscreet. He wasn't a loving father and he probably had William just so he would have someone to leave his business to. He raised him to be just like him, Elaine could see that now. Thank God he had Charlotte to balance it out even a bit.
"I wanted nothing to do with it." he shrugged. "I always wanted to be at sea, so here I am."
"Didn't your father want you to inherit his business?" Kenneth jumped in, innocently wondering.
"He certainly did." Harold confessed. "But I always wondered, why me? I surely wasn't his only son."
"Maybe he trusted you the most." Elizabeth offered reasonable explanation, smiling.
"I don't know, he knew that I didn't want to do anything with it."
"We've crossed paths before. How is he now? He may have changed his mind, eh?" Brandon asked.
"I wouldn't know. My father and I are no longer speaking." he declared.
"Oh, poor dear." Charlotte whispered.
"How come?" asked Philip.
"After I rejected him again, he decided he doesn't want to do anything with me anymore. Practically, I'm no longer his son."
"Oh, my God, that's terrible!" Elaine shouted. "I couldn't believe your dad would disown you over something so stupid!"
"It's not stupid." William interjected.
"Excuse me?!" she spat.
"Well, he practically dishonored his father. Which is a shame, I'm sure we would be partners now."
"You know we wouldn't, William." Harold coldly replied.
"What was dishonoring there?" Elaine went on as if she didn't hear anything else. "That he chose his dream job over his father's company? As he said, he wasn't the only son and it certainly wasn't his duty to do so. Not that it was any of your brothers also." she looked at Harold as to not get her wrong. "What would you do, father? Would you disown Philip if he decided not to take over the company?" she challenged.
"Elaine!" her mother hissed, hitting her slightly under the table.
"What would you do, father?" she was persistent.
"I, uh… Well, luckily, that isn't the case here, but I, uh…" he was sweating cold.
"You're taking too long to answer. I can't believe you." she made a disgusted face. "And you Mr. Caison," she turned her head at him. "would you disown William? Him being the only child it's a lot to lose on both parts." she lifted an eyebrow.
"I would be too ashamed to do that." William said before his father could give an answer.
"No." Elaine frowned in disgust. "That is weakness. You would be too weak to do that because you are a weak man, William Caison!" everyone was staring at her as she shouted. "And what Mr. Lowe here did was bravery. Bravo, Mr. Lowe, I congratulate you! And in the name of that I raise a toast in your name. For following your dreams!" she raised a glass and dared all of them to join her.
First one to raise her glass was Estella. Then Philip, Edward, Elizabeth and so on. The last one to join was William. Harold and Elaine smiled at each other and drank.
"I kept in touch with my mom and siblings, though." Harold added at last.
"Oh, that is lovely." Estella sympathetically said and Harold lightly shrugged as it is what it is, but gave her a smile as to let her know he appreciated it.
"Well, would you look at the time!" Mr. Ismay exclaimed looking at his watch. "Gentlemen, if you all agree we shall move to the smoking room and leave ladies to chit chat." he grinned at them with, what Elaine thought was the creepiest smile she ever saw.
They slowly started leaving one by one and in that crowd, Harold approached Elaine.
"Are you going to join them?" she joked.
"Well, I would if I didn't have an actual job to do." he returned the smile.
"Like them, you can say it." she added, feeling his sentence was kind of unfinished.
"I didn't want to be rude. It's your father and brother among those people, I don't want to offend you after what you did."
"No worries." she sympathetically brushed it off. "And if it wasn't you, it would be someone else. They always find someone to pick on. Not that I could say I would do the same." they laughed.
"Mr. Lowe! The rounds won't do themselves!" Captain shouted before heading off.
"Duty calls. Thank you for tonight. I hope to see you again soon." he kissed her hand and followed the Captain.
She turned to the table again, being left with her mother, sister, brother-in-law, Charlotte and some other ladies.
"Well, we shall leave you, we have something to discuss." Edward said, standing up. "C'mon, dear." Elaine saw on her sister's face that she wasn't happy about it and felt sorry for her. "Well, goodnight, ladies!" he said before they headed off as well.
Elaine was thinking about calling it a night too, not being able to be in the presence of Mrs. Caison after calling her son a weak man. Thinking of that she realized that she was crumpling something in her palm. It was a piece of paper. She looked at her mother and Charlotte to see if any of them noticed and when they didn't, turned to read it.
I had a really great time tonight and I would like to see you later tonight if at all possible. Meet me at the bow. -H
