Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. Bank holiday (long weekend) here in the uk. and great weather. very unusual for us brits! :)

Anyway, ive managed to leave my notebook somewhere, which might slow me down as it had all my research. but lets see how we go till i find it! DOH!

Are you liking my engineer Elizabeth? i am not one, but i think its a very clever job, so seemed to suit ODG! And ODB is recognising his feelings quickly, but itll take E a while to catch up. in the meantime i suspect she will misunderstand him!... ;)

So day two, which I have already mentioned I had very little written. Nothing like a posting schedule to add some pressure. :) hope you enjoy.

...

Thursday 11th April. O9:15. 3 days, 14 hours and 25 minutes until iceberg

...

Elizabeth looked around at her family, who were all eating breakfast heartily.

"What does everyone think they will do today?" She commented. Interested to find out what her family, all so very different in character, would do to amuse themselves.

Mrs Bennet and Lydia immediately spoke, Lydia being the louder made her point first. "Kitty and I will go in search of the officers! There are several that are well worth batting our eyelashes at!"

Elizabeth watched Mr Bennet roll his eyes. She frowned slightly as he did nothing to correct their behaviour. He would likely spend his time in either the smoking or the reading room, pretending his daughters were behaving rather than ensuring they were.

Mrs Bennet was already speaking in to the silence after Lydia's declaration. "Well, Jane, you should at least try to find Mr Bingley. It cannot be so very difficult. This ship may be the grandest but it is still only a ship! He showed you such attention yesterday.." she trailed off looking over the shoulders of the girls sat opposite her.

Elizabeth turned with curiosity at whatever momentous event had stopped Mrs Bennet's tirade.

"Well, I'll be.." Mrs Bennet breathed as Mr Bingley made his way across the dining room towards them.

"Good morning ladies, he bowed, smiling in particular at Jane. "How are you enjoying your breakfast?"

"Oh, it is quite wonderful, we thank you Mr Bingley. Of course on a ship such as this one would expect the best! Did you sleep well?" Her mother asked.

"I did, I thank you. Very well. The ships motion did not trouble me one bit, although I cannot say the same for my sister, who is yet abed."

"Oh, and have you got any plans today?" She asked, with an air of affected innocence.

"I thank you for asking." Bingley may be answering Mrs Bennet but his eyes were firmly upon Jane at this point. "I was wondering if Miss Bennet would care to explore the deck with me, and perhaps try our hand at shuffle board. I hear the Titanic has provided a few deck games for our amusement. I have always wondered what shuffleboard entailed."

"Oh! She would be delighted." Mrs Bennet answered before Jane had the chance to do more than smile and blush. "Thank him, Jane."

"Mama." Elizabeth warned in a low voice.

Jane looked somewhat abashed "I would be delighted sir. I have just finished, if you are ready now?"

Bingley indicated his willingness and Jane rose to take his proffered arm.

Mr Darcy, whom nobody had notice with Mr Bingley, was looking at Elizabeth. Anyone willing to look might have noticed the look of indecision upon his face, for Mr Darcy was very much wishing to offer the same pastime to Miss Elizabeth, but did not quite poses the courage. Particularly in light of the mother's recent interference in his friend's discussion.

Elizabeth, looking in the direction Jane had walked, murmured "perhaps I should accompany them."

"Oh hush child." Her mother said, fluttering her handkerchief in Elizabeth's direction. "Leave Jane to her walk. You had much better stay here."

Mr Darcy's mind was set and he turned and walked away. Elizabeth's eye was drawn to the movement and she pursed her lips in disapproval. Why come to not even greet them?

Despite her mother's warning, Elizabeth rose. "I shall just take my own walk then, mama." She said and walked towards the exit of the dining saloon.

...

"Miss Elizabeth."

Elizabeth turned at the sound of her name, having only taken a few steps up the grand staircase.

"Are you also heading for a walk along the promenade?" He asked then swallowed. He was suddenly finding he had to concentrate very hard on not allowing his eyes to move away from her eyes. Her position, several steps above him, had put him on a level with her and he found his mouth far too close to hers. He had to blink rapidly as a tingle began upon his lips, he knew not what had caused such an occurrence. How very unsettling.

"Indeed I was, sir."

Unfortunately the movement of her mouth had drawn his eye, like a moth to the flame and he forcibly clamped his lips together to remind him he could not go about kissing unknown ladies in public. He then made himself speak after the silence stretched. "I thought I might take some air, perhaps I might accompany you?"

Elizabeth hid the sigh, what could she say that was not abominably rude? And yet he looked so like he wished for her to refuse. Indeed he looked almost like he was pained by her presence.

"If you wish." She turned to walk up the stairs, not wishing him to offer her an arm. She could not think why he was asking her to walk with him. He remained silent beside her and she could only assume he had been heading up this way and had not wanted it to appear that he was following her. He likely did not wish for her company, but had maybe felt it would be rude to not speak at all. Sometimes society's courtesy was most irritating.

...

April 11th 10:00. 3 days, 13 hours and forty minutes until iceberg.

...

Elizabeth had set a quick pace, almost hoping the man next to her would leave her be. Unfortunately Darcy's long legs could easily keep up and they caught up to Jane and Bingley as they promenaded. Elizabeth did not wish to disturb the couple, knowing her sister was hoping to get to know the charming young man. She paused, as if to look out over the sea, and peeked at her companion under her lashes. He did not seem to be put off, did not seem to be wishing to move anywhere else. If she did not stay with him, he would likely impose upon his friend.

She walked onward, stepping around her sister and Mr Bingley, who were admiring the very large funnels which towered over them.

She did not hear what they were saying but caught "Lizzie would know, LIZZIE!"

She turned, smiling, noting that Mr Darcy was keeping pace with her.

"Why is there smoke only coming from three of the funnels?"

She looked up at the funnels, her hand shading her eyes and keeping her wild curls from blinding her. She knew why and knew not why she looked.

"Only the forward three have boilers below them. The fourth provides ventilation only and was put in to balance the look of the ship."

Jane turned, beaming, to Mr Bingley "I said she would know." The rest of their discussion was lost to her as she turned and began walking again, her silent partner keeping pace once again.

"This deck is grand, but I believe I may prefer the covered promenade." She stated as they reached the engineers section of the open deck. "For a start I prefer to walk forwards." She said as she turned on her heel at the rail that stopped her crossing to the engineers deck. "Second, I fear my hair cannot cope with the breeze on the open deck."

Darcy was currently waging an internal battle. He found this woman more captivating than any he had previously met. Physically, despite his initial erroneous remarks, he found her almost breathtaking in her beauty. She was not beautiful in the conventional way. He had been taught that women should be tall and lean with thinner hips and sleek hair piled high round their faces, as was current fashion. Elizabeth, whilst not short, was only up to his shoulder and did not augment her height with high heels. Her body was curvaceous, although one would be inaccurate to call her fat. Her hair was more wild, curls escaping her coiffure regularly, especially under the current conditions.

Her whole image made him dry mouthed and light headed, starkly alerting him that the current fashions were thoroughly fallacious.

But it was not merely her image which had captivated him so. Her eyes, which he had fallen asleep thinking of, were expressive and begged for a man to fall in to them. Her voice was mellifluous and carried the same expressiveness as her eyes. He, absently, wondered how well she would sing. Her mind was obviously sharp, curious and active. That was why he had wished to walk with her today and yet he found himself tongue tied like a young lad with no experience of the world.

He realised, in his rumination, he had yet to answer her. She may not have asked a question but clearly she expected some response. Before he had a chance to speak she had begun walking back towards the front of the ship.

"It is your turn to speak, Mr Darcy! I have commented on my promenade deck preference, you should perhaps say you prefer to exercise indoors, like in the famed gymnasium" she gestured as they passed it.

He smiled, enjoying her light tone. "Whatever you wish for me to say shall be said. Although, I cannot pretend to think that the gymnasium is a substitute for outdoor activity!"

Elizabeth stopped and looked at him then looked away "very well. By the by; I might comment that the deck space aboard Titanic is most pleasant when one is confined to a single ship for such a long time." She looked over her shoulder and saw that Jane and Bingley had entered the aforementioned gymnasium to look around. "We may as well now be silent."

She moved forward and down the stairs below the navigation bridge and turned to walk along the full length of the covered promenade, astonished when Darcy kept pace with her.

"Do you talk by rule when walking?" He asked, to her surprise.

"Sometimes it is best if in someone's company," she exclaimed. "We might then have the benefit of saying as little as possible."

She walked on, turning her attention to the view to the side of the ship. Open water as far as the eye could see. She sighed, feeling a sudden wave of isolation.

"Are you cold?" He asked, noting her delicate shudder.

"I am perfectly comfortable, I thank you. No no.." she said, hurriedly, as he made to offer her his coat.

"How did you know the details of the funnels?" He asked.

Elizabeth walked a few paces, wondering if he frowned upon women obtaining as high an education as a man might. Did he feel education was only for the men of their society? She was not afraid of his dis-approbation, rather feeling that she had nothing to lose in that area. However she was in no mood to debate the merits of educating women.

"I read, Mr Darcy."

"About funnels on the ship?"

Elizabeth sighed and turned the corner "I read about many subjects."

Darcy was finding the conversation maddening. He had not an easy ability to making light conversation at the best of times. He knew had had started slowly but he was trying and Elizabeth seemed to be angry with him for some reason. Unfortunately this only seemed to be spurring his interest and excitement. He should be wanting to leave her, but he could not bring himself to even think it.

Elizabeth returned to the upper deck, finding Jane and Bingley enquiring about shuffleboard. She shook off the whole uncomfortable conversation with Darcy. His tone had been dismissive and condescending, as if a woman could not possibly read about engines.

...

The four of them set up a game of shuffleboard. They used their wooden cue-sticks to push their wooden disks in to the scoring area. Jane and Elizabeth paired up against Darcy and Bingley.

"We will take it easy on you ladies!" Bingley declared gallantly, pushing his first disk completely off the board area earning him no points.

"How kind." Elizabeth drawled, pushing her own disk perfectly in to the middle scoring section.

After half of the disks were played, the men were loosing spectacularly.

"The ladies have swindled us!" Bingley declared taking aim and managing to knock Jane's disk off the board. "Oh! Miss Jane, I am so sorry!"

Jane smiled sweetly and sent her own disk sailing down the deck, knocking Bingley's and Darcy's both clear off the board. "That is quite alright sir!"

Elizabeth enjoyed the game, joining in the playful banter between Bingley and Jane. Darcy said hardly a word and Elizabeth assumed the activity was beneath him. When they were close to finishing, Caroline joined them on deck. She immediately moved to stand near Darcy and stood watching them play with a sneering smile upon her face.

"Charming amusement this is, do you not agree Mr Darcy?" Caroline commented just as Elizabeth cheered after a well placed shot. "Goodness, Miss Eliza seems positively wild." She paused, but Darcy did not comment. "Bingley is fawning ridiculously over Miss Bennet."

"They are enjoying themselves." Darcy tried for succinct, hoping to dissuade her from commenting further.

"Clearly." Caroline sneered and, seeing Elizabeth nearby, commented again. "Do you plan to spend most of your trip playing childish games like this?"

"Certainly not." Darcy replied, not noticing. Elizabeth, of course, heard the last question and comment and rolled her eyes, moving to the other side of the board.

"I would imagine you would not allow your sister to display so." Caroline asked, delighted by Elizabeth's response. She had noticed that Darcy's eyes were on her too often and she did not like it. Anything to sew a little discord.

Darcy internally rolled his eyes "I would be glad to see her enjoy herself at anything. I may not wish to spend my whole voyage thus engaged, but I cannot deny the entertainment is diverting."

He moved forward and took his cue from Bingley to make his shot.

When the game was finished. Ladies 32 to the men's 9, Elizabeth checked her watch.

"Well, This has been great fun. Mr Bingley, thank you for going easy on us!" Bingley laughed good-naturedly.

"Where are you off to Eliza?" Caroline sneered.

"My Aunt and Uncle embarked last evening. I have yet to say hello."

"Oh, which room are they in?"

"Oh, I am not certain." She was being deliberately obtuse and she knew it.

Unfortunately Jane had not noticed. "They are in second class."

"Second class?" Caroline looked aghast "Is that allowed?"

Elizabeth suppressed the laugh at the expression on her face. "Of course."

"I suppose it is people coming the other way that would be a cause for concern."

Elizabeth's face hardened and she was about to make a cutting quip but Jane calmed her with a hand on her arm.

"We are excessively fond of our Aunt and Uncle." She had turned to smile at Bingley. "They are travelling with their children, who are dear to us."

Bingley smiled in his usual besotted way. "You are lucky. We have only one aunt in Scarborough and she has no children. I should like some cousins to spoil!"

Elizabeth sighed, Jane was so good at changing the subject. She decided this was her cue to leave and dropped a slight curtsy before turning away.

As she walked she looked behind, briefly. Jane and Bingley were clearing up the shuffleboard set. It sounded as if they were discussing sitting on their deck chairs and watching for Ireland. Darcy and Caroline had their heads bent together, likely abusing her and her relations.