Hello hello guys.
lots of interest in the story. thanks you guys are the best.
lots of worry about what is to come. i have been fascinated with the story of the titanic for a while. I love some of the real life stories of survivors and people that went down with the ship. Such a tragedy.
I dont want to spoiler on here. I can let you know, if you wish, who I intend to survive, but I havent written that bit yet, so it is STC. you'll have to pm me for any spoilers. :)
A review with a non spoiler question, like a fact check, i can answer to all. Mostly events are as true as I can get them with fictional characters. There are a sprinkling of RL people in there too. interactions are all my own ideas.
oh, and this story is mine' please don't steal it. ;)
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April 10th, 1912. 10:40 am. 4 days and 13 hours until iceberg.
Elizabeth stepped down from their horse-drawn carriage and craned her neck to look up at the seemingly endless hull of the Titanic. It was, truly, quite the sight to be seen. She looked around at the first class boarding stage, noting a few very impressive motor cars with impressive looking passengers. More impressed with themselves than the people they were with, or even the place they were, but who was she to judge?
Her mother had been studying the guest list for weeks, noting who was single and who would be worth knowing in New York. Her mother, of course, denied that she was looking for suitors, but Elizabeth knew better.
Further down Southampton's dock, the now famous berth 44, she could see a ramp of respectable looking passengers, second class, and further still a large collection of rather varied people. She watched for a while, noting children looking on in awe. Men and women clutching canvas bags, likely with all their possessions, as they were checked by the health stop before being allowed to board. There were less attendants at that end of the dock and so the scene seemed more chaotic but Elizabeth had a sudden longing to join in the merriment. No one looked bored or disgusted, they all looked excited and happy.
She turned back to her fellow first class passengers, not naive enough to be ungrateful for her family and the opportunities it afforded her.
"Girls! Girls!" Her mother called her attention away from some very fine looking couples she did not recognise.
"Look over there." She pointed, not discreetly, at a group just stepping out of one of the expensive looking motor cars. "That gentlemen is a Mr Bingley, an American who has a claim to the railroad that is so famous in America. He is very rich and single."
Her younger sisters giggled and looked on, unabashedly.
Jane, her older sister and quite possibly the sweetest temperament of anyone she knew, asked "who are those with him?"
"His sister, Caroline Bingley and his friend Mr Darcy. Englishman, has some stake in steam engines and so is travelling to America to join with Mr Bingley in railroad, or so I hear! He is also very rich, but I have read he is very particular. Uncle is an Earl, or so the papers say!"
Elizabeth looked over at the motor car, wishing she could inspect it more closely. Their group was called forward and they walked toward the gangplank and Elizabeth winced as she heard her mother whisper, loudly, to her father. "What a fine thing for our girls, so many eligible gentlemen!"
She slowed her steps, watching as the car pulled away then turned as her mother called her again. "Keep up Miss Lizzie, have you no compassion for my poor nerves. What will we do if the boat leaves without you!"
"Coming mama." She sighed.
Her mother's shout had also caught the attention of the group her mother had pointed out and, as she hurried past, she heard Mr Bingley comment.
"I say Darcy, did you see that angel there? She is beautiful, is she not? I hope we shall be introduced on board."
"Really Bingley." The voice that replied was a rich baritone and would have been suave and pleasant to listen to, had it not been filled with disdain "how you can find a pretty face so soon is beyond me. They might hold first class tickets, but they are clearly not worth our time."
"Her sisters are very pretty too, there is one there, do you not agree?" Bingley defiantly spoke again.
Elizabeth chanced a glance as she hurried past, noting that Bingley was looking at her.
"Tolerable, maybe. But not handsome enough to turn my head. Really Charles you had best turn your attention to people of consequence and leave those social climbers to themselves."
Elizabeth was partly horrified and partly amused. Yes, they might not be of the same level of society as the likes of them, but they were still first class passengers and even if not, they did not deserved to be judged on first glance and found wanting on the basis of their appearance.
She raised her chin, made sure she caught the man's eye and walked past. The faint nasal sound of the woman chimed in.
"Yes Charles, their clothes are at least two years out of season, why they look positively ready for the rag pile. I would be ashamed of polluting first class in such attire."
Elizabeth looked down at her favourite travelling gown and snickered. What cared she for such peoples opinion?
She caught up with her family at the foot of the gang plank just as their tickets were being inspected and she climbed it, looking both up and down in wonder.
...
Darcy had seen the look in the young lady's eye and had felt a twinge of guilt. He had not meant to be overheard and felt that Caroline's remark was both harsh and rude.
Truthfully, he had to admit his remark was also harsh and rude. For now he really looked at the sister in question, he could appreciate she was quite pretty. The look of wonder and interest in her eye as she surveyed the ship, he noted she looked at the structure and not the finery or the people, was both assessing and intelligent. As if she was measuring the hull or assessing the joints. He could tell she was not merely looking but really seeing.
...
Just before entering Elizabeth turned around, surveying the dock one more time from her vantage point. The scene had not changed much but the ship was leaving in a little over an hour and the activity was increasing in pace.
She saw Darcy turn to the car that had drawn up and help a young lady down, he almost seemed to be shielding her from those around and she wondered if the lady in question was his wife and he did not wish her to be exposed to the likes of the rest of the people occupying the dock. She could make no further observation as she found herself entering the great ship. The gentleman in question fled from her mind as she looked around and took in the splendour.
...
Elizabeth stepped on to B deck of the Titanic and immediately perceived the grand lacquered staircase she had read so much about. The staircase went all the way down to F deck, where the first class swimming pool and Turkish baths were located.
The smart looking steward, his uniform clean and uncreased and obviously new, looked at their tickets and cast a glance over their group.
"D deck" he said. "Cabins 32 and 52. Down the stairs and turn towards the bow. Corridor on the right, at the end. Overlooks the third class outside space."
"Oh! Is that safe?" Asked Mrs Bennet.
"Of course." He looked confused "your luggage will be along shortly" he added and turned to the next group of passengers.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and linked arms with Jane as they made their way to their rooms.
Lydia and Kitty followed, giggling and pointing at any beaux, and Mrs Bennet generally admiring the breathtaking decor as she walked.
Their rooms were quaint, beautifully decorated. The linens crisp and clean. Everything had that fresh new look to it, no chips, no scratches. It was magnificent.
Each room had a main bed and a pull down bunk and each had a sofa bunk also. Fitting the six of them in to two rooms was quite tight but Mr Bennet could ill afford a third room. So, one of the girls was to sleep in with Mr and Mrs Bennet. This had, of course, resulted in many squabbles, which had almost ended their plans to travel. Mr Bennet was on the verge of cancelling or rebooking for second class when Mrs Bennet and Lydia relented.
Lydia and Kitty would spend the first four nights alternating in their parents room, then Lizzie would take her turn. Jane having the following two nights, if there were two. The expected crossing was seven days but could easily be eight if there were rough seas or problems with the engines.
The girls put all of their luggage in one room and had to share to dress. Four young ladies bustling around a small room was enough to make anyone feel a little oppressed and Elizabeth found herself rushing out before too long. She linked her arm with Jane and headed for the promenade hoping to see the ship leave England behind.
...