She was frantically running down the deck, colliding with some people, looking for that one person. She slowed down to catch her breath when she spotted the one she was looking for ahead. She approached him carefully.
"It was you, wasn't it?" she said, facing his back.
He turned his head to the side before turning around fully.
"Ah, miss Badour, how can I help you this evening?" Charles Lightoller ignored her previous question.
"You reported Harold to the Captain," she wasn't really sure was she stating it or asking.
He smirked, looking down at her.
"Now, why would I do that? What could I possibly gain from it?"
"I don't know!" she raised her arms up in the air in frustration. "You had it for us since day one!"
"So, you admit you've been sneaking around with him?" he raised his eyebrows.
Elaine stood there distraught. "I, no—I… Well, you've been also sneaky with my sister." She declared all proud. "I could gladly return the favor."
Even if that took Charles by surprise, he didn't let it show. "And do what? Report me? Do you have evidence that could back that up?"
"I have evidence of my own eyes! I saw her leaving your room this very afternoon!"
Lightoller looked at her significantly. "Which would mean you also visited Mr. Lowe this very afternoon. Miss Badour, you're only getting yourself in more and more trouble. Well, maybe not really yourself, but your boy certainly."
"He's not my boy." She gritted.
"He isn't? Good for you then! You see, miss Badour, he's a player. He plays with women's hearts on every ship we've been. Somebody had to put an end to it. I'm sorry this happened to you."
"And what are you doing with your wife's heart?" Elaine asked cold heartedly, on which he put his hands behind his back to hide his wedding ring. "You're a pig. Stay away from my sister." She didn't wait for him to reply, just turned around to walk away.
"Maybe you should tell that to your sister!" he shot back, but Elaine didn't have time for him anymore. She'll have to deal with Estella first thing tomorrow.
It was the morning of Sunday service and everyone was gathered in the main hall. The tension was thick in the air. No one was particularly talking with anyone. Elaine was eyeing Estella from corner of her eye while they stood in line, singing the hymn. She thought about catching her after the service to have a talk with her. Unfortunately for her, unpleasant surprise awaited her outside the hall.
"Elaine, we have to talk."
"What do you want?"
"Elaine, please—" he reached for her arm
"No!" she squirmed away "I don't want to talk to you! I don't even want to see you! Stay away from me, Harold, or by God, I shall tell the captain you're disturbing me!" she shouted with fire in her eyes.
He just stared at her. He gulped, at last, and nodded his head in understatement, not wanting to draw any further unnecessary attention. She turned around and walked away to look for Estella, but she was long gone.
"Dammit!" she swore under her breath.
"I still think you have something to tell me." Somebody linked arms with Elaine and pulled her forward. Of course, that somebody was her mother.
Dammit again, thought Elaine.
"And what could that be, sweet mother?" she grinned at her.
"Please, don't humor me. You know what it is. And you are not getting away with it this time." Elizabeth half threatened.
Elaine shivered. She couldn't really tell their mother that Estella was having an affair. With an officer aboard this ship, alas. But she still needed to give her something.
"Estella, uh, she's just having the wedding jitters. She's deranged." God, this was awful. Certainly not what Elizabeth was hoping for.
"That's what she said?" Elaine nodded. "And you believed her?"
Well, now I'm certain I don't believe a word she said, Elaine wanted to say, but she really couldn't.
"Maybe you're looking too much into it when there's nothing." Elaine tried to shoot her an encouraging smile.
Elizabeth stopped dead in their track and squeezed Elaine's arm hard, looking into her eyes. "God help us you're right."
There was something frightening in that moment and Elaine understood perfectly. If Estella strayed away everything would go falling down from that moment. Still, she kept her mouth sealed in hope she could help her sister out of this.
That afternoon after lunch, Estella took a stroll on deck by herself. Although it was rather chilly, she enjoyed the sun on her face. Her pleasure was cut short when someone grabbed her by the arms and dragged to the more secluded area. She tried to scream and squirm away, but was quickly shushed by her attacker.
"Charles?" she widened her eyes. "Wh-What are you doing?"
"You need to take care of your sister." He pressed her by the shoulders, looking in her eyes persistent.
"Wh-What? But I thought that's already taken care of."
"Apparently not good enough." He shook his head, backing off. "She knows."
Estella looked at him. "What?" she questioned.
"Oh, don't look at me like that. She doesn't know that." She let out a sigh of relief. "However, she does know about us."
"How could she possibly—"
"She saw you, Estella!" he hissed almost in her face. "She saw you leaving my quarters yesterday!" he said in much lower tone, careful not to draw any attention.
"But there was no one! I made sure of it!"
"Did you really?!" he was in her face now and she winced back.
He backed off a little, realizing they had company now and greeted the passers-by, trying not to act suspicious. Estella detached herself from the wall hoping she didn't look too much distressed. When they were alone once again, he turned back to face her.
"You should've been more careful." He said.
"So, this is all my fault now?!" she frowned.
"I didn't say that—"
"But you meant it!" she shouted. "Well, I'm sorry I'm not as smart as her! Even you are amazed by her!"
"I'm not—"
"Shut up! I'm not blind! I see the way you talk about her. You are amazed that she managed to outsmart us, that she is in step with us if not even one step ahead! Why can't anyone just focus on me for once?!" she was shouting, desperate for any kind of attention she could get. Charles tried to shush her.
"That's not entirely true what you just said, my darling." He wanted to calm her down by sweettalking to her. "I have to admit, she confronted me last night. She threatened me with all her knowledge and told me to stay away from you."
"But what is she going to do?"
"Nothing." He declared. "I took care of that part. She can deny her feelings for Harold all she wants, but she won't do anything to endanger him even more." she absorbed his every word. He then turned towards her and cupped her cheeks. "Now I need you to take care of this other part."
Elaine spent that afternoon not doing pretty much anything. She had a lot on her mind, thinking about her encounter with Harold, her mother, and most importantly, Estella and how she could approach her. Knock on the door filled the silence in the room. Amelia rose her head up and looked at Elaine who was now sitting up-right on her bed. Elaine looked at her maid significantly as if to say well go open it with her eyes. On the other side of the door was Betty, Estella's servant.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, miss, I have a message to deliver from your sister. She invites you to have a tea with her in her room." she curtsied.
"Very well, I'll be there presently." Elaine replied.
Betty curtsied again and left. Well, one part of the solution came to her alone.
Once she got changed, she was standing outside Estella's room, waiting to be let in. Soon after, Betty opened the door and welcomed her in. Estella was already waiting for her, sitting by the table. It was just two of them.
"Hello, sister." Estella greeted her. Elaine stared at her. "Well, don't just stand there like a lamb, sit." Estella said and motioned towards the chair opposite of her.
"I thought there would be more of us." Elaine sat in the plush luxurious chair. "Not just two of us." She looked at her sister straight in the eyes.
Estella was taking a sip of her tea before and now was eyeing Elaine over the rim of her cup. She put the cup down before saying.
"Well, I thought we could spend some quality sister time. We're only one day apart from arriving and we didn't get to do pretty much anything."
"I thought we were spending time yesterday," Elaine commented, raising her eyebrows and taking a sip from her cup.
Estella narrowed her face and pressed her lips. "Yesterday our mother sent you to interrogate me."
"Well you certainly gave her a reason to." Elaine declared.
The other sister was growing more impatient. "And what did you tell her?"
"There wasn't anything to tell." the younger one was fumbling with her cup. "Same thing you told me." She lifted her head and looked at the older one.
Estella leaned forward, resting her forearms on the table. "And what do you think, Elaine?" she challenged her. "You certainly do have an opinion, don't you?"
"Should I have a reason not to believe you, Estella?" she replied with a question.
This might've taken her off guard.
"Of course not." her posture fell and she let out a heavy breath, she took a sip.
"Anyway, where is Edward?" Elaine asked holding her cup, switching the topic and trying to lighten the mood.
"Out with father and Philip." Estella answered not particularly interested.
Elaine frowned, but didn't say anything, just sipped. The rest of their time went in talking nonsense.
Sometime before dinner Elaine was outside on deck, reading a book when someone approached her. She lifted her head to face a familiar young man.
"Good evening, miss Badour." he tipped his head down at her. "My name is James Moody."
She closed the book, now remembering she saw him with Harold couple of times.
"How can I help you, Mr. Moody?"
"I have a message to deliver from Mr. Lowe—" Elaine had to stop herself from rolling her eyes.
"Whatever it is, I'm sure I don't want to hear it. Besides, he already said his thing." She smiled at him. "And you shouldn't let him boss you around."
"If you just let him speak this morning I wouldn't be here." He let out and she stared at him in disbelief. "I'm sorry, miss." he put his head down. "I just wanted to tell you how sorry he is."
"James—Mr. Moody," she corrected "You can tell him that I won't stand between him and his promotions and his true love," she talked in a calm tone. "And I won't do anything more to endanger his current position."
Their conversation was interrupted by the dinner announcement. Elaine turned her attention back to Moody and continued on.
"But this, whatever that was, is over now." she looked at him sympathetically. "If you'll excuse me now," she prepared herself to get up and leave.
"Of course," he stepped aside to give her space. "I'll deliver what you said to Harold."
Elaine gave him half a smile. "It was nice meeting you, Mr. Moody."
"Likewise, miss Elaine." he tipped his hat again.
The dinner was boring as ever. Listening to the same old conversations, seeing same old faces… Well, that was at least until the gentlemen got up and left. Elaine spent some time conversing with the remaining ladies, not having anything better to do.
"If you'll excuse me," suddenly Estella rose up, grabbing everyone attention. "I need to use the rest room." she did a little curtsy.
Elaine brushed that off, not wanting to doubt her sister, while Elizabeth and everyone else looked at her sympathetically. Quite some time has passed and Estella hadn't returned yet, but no one seemed to notice until they all rose up to leave. Then Elizabeth's eyes fell on an empty chair.
"Where is Estella?" she questioned. "Elaine, where is your sister?"
As if I know, but I have my guesses.
"Apparently she hadn't returned yet." Elaine answered, sounding exhausted. "Maybe she went back to her room."
"Well, don't just stand there, see to it." her mother hurried her.
Elaine stood distraught at first before turning on her heals and heading for the restrooms. Of course, she found it empty so she headed for the Estella's room. She knocked on the door and was surprised to see Edward answer them. He seemed a bit off.
"Edward," she breathed. "Is Estella here?"
"No." he simply replied, not even seeming worried. "She was here, though."
"Well, do you know where she is now?" Elaine was confused.
Edward stood in the doorway holding a drink in his hand pretending to think for a moment. "Yeah, I've got a couple ideas."
Elaine couldn't believe this was happening again. Not before she could intervene. It actually took some time for her to find her sister, but once she did, oh did she had a lot to hear.
"Did you do it?" said the male voice.
"I tried to. She's tough to crack." Answered female voice in frustration.
Of course, those were voices of Charles Lightoller and Estella.
"Did she tell you something?" Charles was cupping her red face, worried.
Elaine frowned, was Estella crying?
Estella's face changed her when she remembered. "I-I got scared, Charles. She's just… I didn't want to push her buttons."
"You're cracking under the pressure again." He scolded her. "We've talked about this; you can't let that happen."
"I know, I know." She squealed "But I don't know what she knows, maybe she knows more than she told—" she started talking really fast, increasing in volume.
"Enough of that!" he cut her off. "We had a plan!" he hissed.
"I told Edward." She whispered.
"You what?!"
"I don't want to be with him anymore. I don't love him. I… I love you, Charles."
Charles Lightoller was for the first time left speechless.
"I… This wasn't part of the plan."
"That's all you can say?!" Estella cried. "I risked my whole life and future for you and you—" she gasped.
"There, there," Charles couldn't take any more of that so he comforted her.
Once he made sure she was settled down, he went the other way leaving her to sit alone. Elaine didn't want to approach her right away. Her sister was still upset and wiping off her tears. So instead, she was processing the information she gathered so far.
They had a plan, alright. Actually, Charles had. Obviously, he wanted Harold out of his way. But why? He was already the first officer, what more could he want? Unless… Unless… he felt threatened by the junior officer. That was it, no doubt. But then again, why? Oh, of course!
Harold is a player.
He would play his way into the higher ranks just because he's bold and daring while Charles was hard working and honest. But what did he need Estella for? That thought was interrupted when Estella showed herself around the corner and took them both by surprise. She jumped in fear, but Elaine stood still glued to the wall. Looking into Estella's teary eyes, she now knew everything to confront her sister.
"Hello, sister." it was her turn to smirk now.
