Hello lovely readers. welcome to my titanic pnp ffn mash.
if anyone has a title suggestion please pm/comment. i cannot come up withh a decent one!
i have done a lot of research about titanic. theres a fair amount of conflicting info about the ship but it is all fascinating, and really heartbreaking. If you want any info about something mentioned please feel free to ask and i will answer as best i can.
So here it is...
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Elizabeth Bennet and her family set sail for america on the new ship, Titanic. Their dreams of a new life and new opportunities filling them with hope and happiness.
Darcy, trying to move forward after a troubling winter, is taking his sister to America.
A brief encounter on the dock, an insult, and Elizabeth thinks she has Darcy pegged. Darcy meanwhile, finds himself drawn to the unusual woman who radiates intelligence and good humour.
Meanwhile, an iceberg approaches.
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Prologue
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WHITE STAR LINE ANNOUNCES
First sailing of the latest addition to the white star fleet.
The Queen of the Ocean
TITANIC
LENGTH 882 FT, over 45000 Tons, Triple-screws, Beam 92 ft.
This, the latest, largest and finest Steamer afloat, will sail from
WHITE STAR LINE, PIER 10, SOUTHAMPTON.
Wednesday April 10th at 12 Noon.
Do not delay: secure your tickets through the local agents or direct from White Star line.
...
"My dear Mr Bennet, have you heard the news! The titanic is to make its maiden voyage. I have just heard it from Mrs Long. Apparently many wealthy bachelors will be aboard. Oh! What a fine thing for our girls!"
"How so, how can it affect them?"
"Oh! You enjoy vexing me. We had been planning on making a trip to America and the titanic would be the best way to travel. Only think how new everything will be. She is sure to be more spoken of than her sister ship and it would be a fine thing to have been her first passengers. Nothing but first class would do. Jane is sure to find herself a wealthy husband and you know Lydia and Kitty love to travel."
"I do not see why we could not travel aboard the titanic, but I see no need for first class. I hear that second is quite as good as first on other ships and so we could content ourselves with that!"
"Content ourselves, what are you talking about. It is not the quality of the cabins but the quality of the guests."
"Ah, well your brother Mr Gardiner means to travel second on the titanic and he assures me there are quite as many unmarried men in second as there are in first."
"You know very well that they would not be as rich!"
"You are likely correct, but seeing as we are heading to America for my investments and for Jane and Lizzie to fill their minds, I cannot see the advantage of rich travelling companions at all."
Mr Bennet was such a mix of sarcastic humour and quick wit that his wife of twenty five years still did not know how to keep up with him. They had lived quite happily in this manner, blessed with four daughters and lived quite comfortable in Hertfordshire.
The Bennet land was a modest estate and Mr Bennet owned a few, smaller, businesses in the area which earned him a tidy profit. He had decided to go to America to improve his business investments, for there were reportedly many opportunities that way. He was hoping to improve his income, and by extension provide better for his daughters. He had a business partner in his brother in Law, Mr Gardiner and they were going to investigate many potential investments.
That decision made, the only further plans were to decide how and when to travel, and which of his family to bring. He was not someone to force his daughters to accompany him, the complaining would completely ruin the experience for him. So he had decided to ask. He was surprised at the enthusiastic response.
The elder two Bennet girls, Jane and Lizzie, were both at the limit of the academic attainment in England and wished to study at a university in America that allowed women to graduate. University's in England seemed to be more about finding a husband than learning. Kitty and Lydia, the younger two, were still of an age where travel was an adventure and so were happy to come along and Mrs Bennet, finding herself very outnumbered, had agreed. When she had discovered how many single men might sail she became decidedly more enthusiastic.
Mr Bennet maintained that he had purchased second class tickets until the night before they sailed. They had travelled down to Southampton on April the 9th in order to ensure they were able to arrive at the docks promptly.
"Oh, I do admit I will miss England, if we were to travel first class I should not have anything to complain about, but your father will be stubborn."
"Are you certain you would have nothing to complain about my dear? I am sorry to hear that. Maybe I should return the first class tickets I have bought, for I know how much you like to complain!"
"Oh! You have bought first class tickets! How wonderful your father is girls. And now we shall sail with all the eligible bachelors on board the greatest ship to cross the ocean. How grand it shall be!"
...
That evening, as Jane and Elizabeth Bennet huddled together in their bed. They whispered excitedly about the journey ahead. What fun the crossing would be, what they hoped to find in America, what dreams might come true.
The ship of dreams, or so it was said, and these girls had plenty.