Argh! i'm sorry. my wayward notebook turned up, 250 miles away at my in laws house! so its currently in the post. which is slow! it has my next scene written in there and i cant remember enough to write it from memory.

so this is a scene short, and i cant get the next chapter up till its back. but i will try to get the next one after that done too. :)

loving reviews. thanks for the interest. its still fun and lightness atm. i know the iceberg is coming, but i hope you are enjoying the trip. Let me know what you think of the new (favourite) characters! ;)

April 11th, 1105 am. 3 days, 12 hours and 45 minutes until iceberg.

...

Elizabeth had to descend to A-deck to pass along towards second class, at least she thought so. As she walked she encountered an officer walking in the opposite direction.

"Can I help you Miss?"

Elizabeth blushed a little as he must had taken note of her confusion.

"Indeed. I uh.." she suddenly felt nervous, was she even allowed to second? She raised her chin "I have family in second, I was hoping to visit them."

"Of course." He smiled and she was relieved. "Could you direct me to the best route?"

He pointed towards the stern. "If you pass by the palm court you will see an entrance to a set of stairs. The aft grand staircase. These will take you up to the second class promenade or down to the smoke room and library. The library serves as the saloon for second class also, it is where most congregate, I believe."

"I thank you..."

The man nodded smartly "Second Officer Lightoller."

Elizabeth smiled as she thought that her younger sisters would have likely swooned at his declaration.

"I assume it is acceptable for me to visit?"

"Of course." He assured her. "You could even invite them for tea or dinner, just make sure you let the head waiter know. Ummm." He paused, as if a little embarrassed and she smiled to put him at his ease. "You will find you can pass in to second easily enough, but it might be easier to accompany any visitors to first."

She understood, her relatives might be challenged if they passed from second to first.

"I thank you, I shall bear that in mind."

"Enjoy the rest of your voyage." He doffed his hat and turned smartly, heading to whatever duty awaited.

...

Elizabeth made her way up to the open deck of the second class promenade, at the rear of the ship. She was pondering over Officer Lightoller's words. She wanted to explore second class, as she had done first, but decided it might be rude for her to invite herself to look around. If second were not allowed in first, she should not take advantage of their space. She resolved to employ her young cousins as her guides.

A quick look around the second class promenade told her that her aunt and uncle were not there. She did not wish to tarry, her resolution about only exploring the areas with her family still fresh, so she turned and hurried back down the stairs.

On C Deck she found the entrance to the library. She was marginally disappointed to note this was a library in name only. There were not shelves of books lining the walls, although there were many people sat reading and she did notice a large bookcase at one end of the room. She noticed many fashionable people taking tea, writing letters and playing cards also. It seemed Officer Lightoller was correct, this was where most of second class congregated.

The room was tastefully decorated in contrasting dark and lighter wood, which Elizabeth would have to ask to identify. The white painted columns did not close the space at all and there were evenly spaced mahogany chairs and tables that looked comfortable. The darker wood on the wall matched the chairs and so she assumed they were also mahogany. The coffered plastered ceiling had many lights to give the room a general bright feeling.

The room was a bit noisier than the first class saloon. They were closer to the stern and so closer to the propellers and the gears that ran them. The noise, a low grade hum, was rather pleasant, although would take getting used to.

She smiled broadly as she noticed her Aunt and Uncle sat with an older Gentleman and a lady similar in age to herself.

"Lizzie, how lovely to see you!" Her Aunt was the first to notice her approach.

"Cousin Lizzie!" Alexa Gardiner jumped up and greeted her with a hug. Alexa was 11 and occasionally tried desperately to emulate her mother and the ladies of her society. Elizabeth would rather she stayed the young, enthusiastic, girl she was and so encouraged these displays of affection whenever possible.

"It is wonderful to see you, Lexi dearest."

"Elizabeth!" Andrew, 13, and quite the young gentleman greeted her with a formal bow.

"Oh, now none of that!" She cried and drew him in for a hug that quite made him stiffen with surprise before relaxing and hugging her also.

They spoke enthusiastically for a few moments, about their travels and their cabin, before Mrs Gardiner subtly indicated that they had monopolised their aunt long enough.

She asked Jenny to take them out for a walk and, with only a small amount of protest, they left.

"I am sorry aunt, I know I indulge them. But they are dear children and growing so fast! Why Edward is almost as tall as I am!"

Her Aunt and Uncle laughed with her.

"It is wonderful to see you, you have just missed the quartet who play here in the morning. But I think they must play on first too?" Elizabeth nodded and made a comment about their proficiency, which her Aunt agreed with. "Allow me to introduce our friends" her aunt said, not wanting to neglect their companions. "This is Dr William Lucas and his daughter Dr Charlotte Lucas."

The young woman laughed slightly abashed "oh! I am not a doctor, or at least do not have the title."

Lizzie smiled at the woman suspecting her aunt had been hinting she would like her. "Well, not a doctor, Charlotte Lucas. It is a pleasure to meet you. You too Dr Lucas." She turned and nodded to the older man who, in turn, smiled and bowed slightly. "Any friends of my Aunt and Uncle are well worth knowing."

They all sat down and Mrs Gardiner ordered tea. The conversation flowed easily, the ship, their travels and their travelling friends making for easy conversation. Conversation is rarely difficult when intelligent and friendly people sit together and the Titanic could keep even the most taciturn individual talking.

Elizabeth found Charlotte to be a charming, genteel and intelligent woman of 27. She had learnt medicine from her father, who had not hesitated to teach her once she showed interest and aptitude at age 15. They were travelling to America to formalise her training so that she might practice independently.

"Although" joked Dr Lucas unabashedly "I have very little to say these days. My Charlotte has surpassed me already. Always reading."

Everyone laughed whilst Charlotte blushed under the praise.

When Elizabeth heard the Bugle for lunch she realised she had passed over an hour and a half in the company of these good people. She noticed the absence of the low grade hum she had noted earlier. She looked around and discerned the engines had stopped and that she had missed their arrival in Queenstown.

"I must return for lunch. It has been wonderful to see you so well. And a pleasure to meet you also." She turned to Charlotte and clasped her hand then winked at her "Dr Lucas." Charlotte rolled her eyes and Elizabeth made a point of turning to William. "You too Dr Lucas!"

Charlotte squeezed her hand "please call me Charlotte." She sighed.

"Of course, Dr Charlotte." She teased "and you must call me Lizzie." She received another exaggerated eye roll.

"I would be keen to take a stroll with you sometime" Elizabeth ventured and they agreed to meet on the Saturday.

As Elizabeth headed back towards first class she suppressed a small sigh. Her mother and sisters may prefer first but the company in second had surpassed her time in first so far. Although she reflected, as she approached her family and noted Bingley taking leave of her sister by kissing her hand, at least Jane had benefitted from their cabins in first.