Big chapter, no time to chat! well d/e do! and a bit of w...
April 12th 1055. 2 days, 12 hours and 45 minutes until iceberg
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Elizabeth returned to the second class library with Alexa and Andrew in high spirits. Their time exploring had been amusing and informative and even her legs were feeling the effects of so many stairs.
"Here Aunt." She gestured at the children. "I have worn them out for you!"
Mrs Gardiner was sat playing whilst with her husband and the Lucases. She turned and looked at the two children, who were almost vibrating with excitement.
She raised an eyebrow at Lizzie "have you really? They just look energised to me!"
At that point the musicians outside, playing in the second class entrance, started a waltz and Andrew bowed formally to Alexa. "Shall we practice?" Alexa giggled and they began to waltz, their steps stumbling and awkward.
Mr Gardiner chuckled "excellent job Elizabeth." And Lizzie laughed too, before pulling up a chair and collapsing in to it in a very unladylike and overly dramatic manner.
"Well I am exhausted!" She declared.
Charlotte smiled "did you manage to see the whole ship?"
Elizabeth mock scowled "well, no! We were chased out of some of the staff areas."
Dr Lucas bellowed his laughter "I am sure you were!"
The rest of the table grinned as Elizabeth told of the parts they did see.
The band stopped playing soon after. "Oh!" She exclaimed "is that 11 o'clock?" She looked around and spotted a clock saying just that. "I must away, I was to meet Jane up on deck." She rose and smiled around, bidding the table goodbye. "Alexa, Andrew, Thank you for aiding my explorations! I have had such fun!" She gave them each a hug and turned away then quickly turned back "Oh, Charlotte, we are to walk tomorrow yes?"
Charlotte nodded her agreement and they parted.
Elizabeth picked up a book from her room and made her way to the deck. She found Bingley and Jane at the railings and Caroline sat on a deck chair next to Darcy.
"Jane, Mr Bingley. How has your morning been?"
"Lizzie!"
"Miss Elizabeth!" Mr Bingley bowed smartly. "We are very well. I have managed to attend some business matters and ran in to your lovely sister here about half an hour ago. Will you join us in admiring the sea view?"
"I would, but my aunt's children have quite worn me out. Would you mind terribly if I sat in your deck chair Jane?"
"Not at all." She gestured "you see Mr Darcy and Caroline are reading!"
She looked over. Mr Darcy was indeed reading, Caroline appeared to be trying to read over his shoulder from her own deck chair. Elizabeth wondered if she would fall right off hers in a moment.
Elizabeth sat down with a sigh of contentment and opened her book. She sat peacefully for a few minutes, occasionally glancing up to smile at Bingley and Jane, who were talking animatedly at the rail.
"Freud? What an interesting choice of reading material."
Elizabeth answered without taking her eyes off the page in front of her. "I believe I have already mentioned I read lots of subjects."
"Do you find his theory on men interesting for your own personal gain?"
"I find his theory on the male preoccupation with size particularly interesting Mr Darcy. How large did you say your house in Derbyshire was?" She raised an eyebrow at him before turning away to hide her smile.
"Ah! But I did not build my house, and therefore cannot be held accountable for it!"
"Oh but your house is glorious Mr Darcy. A true reflection of the prestige of your family name!" Caroline tried to interject.
Elizabeth sniggered softly to herself.
"Is there anything else about Freud that interests you?"
"Many things, but I believe I will reserve comment until I have finished these essays. One must know ones enemy in full before forming an opinion."
"We are the enemy are we?" Darcy asked, his whole body turned towards her.
Elizabeth, her eyes still on her book, answered "not personally, of course. But men could be considered the enemy of women in society, for example. Their opinions about education and women's rights are what hold us back. Freud offers some insights which I find interesting."
"Such as.." he prompted.
She shut her book with a thud "the male desire to feel superior, for one. An educated or liberal woman threatens that, and a man threatened acts much like a cornered animal. If I wish to fight for female education or the right to vote, then I must understand this."
Darcy nodded thoughtfully. Elizabeth turned back to her book, ignoring the penetrating stare. She nonchalantly turned a page, even though she had read nothing on the last one. Darcy looked as if he would speak again but was interrupted.
Caroline, who had been listening to Mr Darcy and Eliza for too long, had failed to garner his attention. Even standing and stretching, elegantly of course, had not even warranted a glance.
"Eliza Bennet!" she declared in to the latest silence. "Might I persuade you to follow my example and take a turn upon the deck? It is so refreshing after being seated for so long."
Elizabeth looked up at Caroline's outstretched hand. She had not been sitting very long, nor did she care for Caroline's company, however she did not wish to be the object of Darcy's scrutiny any longer, nor did she wish to antagonise Bingley's sister, and so rose.
Caroline directed them the short way towards the officers promenade space and then turned, pausing at the deck chairs again, where Mr Darcy had settled back in his seat but whose eyes were firmly on them.
"Can we persuade you to join us Mr Darcy?"
Elizabeth hid her eye roll.
"That would defeat the object I am sure."
Caroline took a few steps further down the deck then wheeled around. "What can he mean?" She directed her question at Elizabeth.
"We would do better not to enquire." She answered trying to keep the exasperation out of her voice, she should have stayed sat down.
"Nay!" Cried Caroline, stopping at the foot of his deck chair. "We insist on knowing your meaning sir!"
"I have no concerns about explaining. You can have but two reasons for walking. The first is that you are in each other's confidence and have secret affairs to discuss. In which case I would be in your way." He sat forward leaning his arms upon his knees and smiled, Elizabeth was once again struck by how his face softened and became more handsome with a smile upon it. "The second is that you are aware that your figures appear to the best advantage walking and I might best admire them from here!" His smile turned smug and he sat back hands now nonchalantly behind his head.
Elizabeth was a little surprised, his eyes had been on her after all, but she hid it well and managed to persuade Caroline to keep moving. Unfortunately Caroline seemed to be wanting to pace in front of Mr Darcy rather than walk the deck and so Elizabeth was stuck in this odd shuffle around a man she had no interest in.
"Shocking reply! We should punish him Eliza!" Caroline declared in a sultry voice, the pleased smile upon her face belying her offended words.
"That should be easy. We should tease him, laugh at him. You know him well enough to know some character trait which would do."
"Oh no! Mr Darcy has no laughable traits."
"Anyone might find someone the object of amusement if ones only goal is to laugh!" Darcy interjected.
"That is true," Elizabeth defended herself "but I am not someone like that, I hope. Whims, inconsistencies and follies do divert me. It is a shame to come across someone who has none of those!"
"Oh Mr Darcy is a man without fault!" Cried Caroline, fluttering her eyelashes at him.
"Indeed?" Elizabeth declared, amusement clearly written across her features.
"That is not possible." Mr Darcy's face was back to being its usual stern mask. "I do try to avoid those character traits which might expose someone to ridicule."
"Vanity or pride maybe?" Elizabeth raised her eyebrow. Caroline had stopped even the pretence of walking and they were just stood, looking down on Mr Darcy now.
"Yes, vanity is a failing. But pride will always be under good regulation! I have faults enough but they are not of understanding, I hope. My temper I cannot vouch for, my good opinion once lost is lost forever."
Elizabeth sighed "That is a failing indeed, but I cannot laugh at it. A shame, for I dearly love a laugh."
"A family trait I think." Caroline's voice was sneering and she sat herself back down, clearly cross with the way the conversation had gone.
"I believe." Darcy said, ignoring Caroline, "that everyone's character has a tendency to one particular evil."
"Yours is a propensity to hate everyone!"
"Whilst yours is to wilfully misunderstand them!" Darcy raised an eyebrow at Elizabeth and she pressed her lips together to prevent the rude retort.
At that moment the bugle sounded on the lower deck and Elizabeth sighed in relief. Saved by the call for lunch.
...
Friday April 12th, 1912. 1520. 2 days, 8 hours and 30 minutes until ice berg.
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"Come Lizzie" Lydia sang and skipped merrily down the staircase that would take them from the first class promenade to the steerage outdoor space.
Elizabeth followed her sister more warily. It wasn't as if she was opposed to exploring steerage, she would be hypocritical to say such having spent the morning exploring with her cousins. But she approached her explorations with caution. Lydia and Kitty seemed to run headlong wherever they chose, blithely ignoring any potential risks.
She supposed she had only herself to blame. She had insisted that Lydia and Kitty tell her parents about their sojourns in third and they had responded by insisting one of their sisters accompany them. Seeing as Jane was, more pleasantly, engaged it fell to Lizzie.
"Lizzie, this is Mr Denny, Mr Sanderson and Mr Wickham. They are our friends!"
There were three gentlemen like men stood casually grouped on the third class open space. Their clothing was well kept and clean and they had an air of confidence about them that seemed incongruous with their fellow passengers. The deck itself was no different, albeit a bit more cluttered, than the boat decks. But there was certainly more lively passengers. Some rather wild children and some harangued looking mothers as well as some less savoury looking men. But they seemed to keep their distance and the three in front of her seemed innocuous enough.
At the sound of Lydia's voice they turned and their faces broke out in to wide smiles. "Well. If it isn't our favourite hoity toity ladies!"
Lydia playfully smacked Mr Denny's arm "you know we are not like those tofs!"
"No, much more fun!" He gave Lydia a hug and she squealed and pulled away, laughing all the while.
Lizzie was less certain of their intentions after this display.
"Good afternoon Miss Bennet" she was addressed by Wickham "Wickham at your service."
He gave a very courtly bow and Elizabeth smiled giving him her hand to kiss. He held it for the proper amount of time and then let go. "Forgive the show, my friends and I find Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty's company to be rather a bright spot in our days. She is kind to spend time with us and we do our best to entertain her in return. She did not tell us she was bringing her beautiful sister to visit, I assume you must be Jane."
"Oh la! Wickham, you are such a charmer! This is Lizzie. Jane is more beautiful by far. Although mama says I am more lively and that makes me prettier, and I am taller!"
Wickham, and Lizzie, were spared a response as Lydia and Kitty were off across the deck to play a game of quoits. Soon the clunks of hoops hitting the deck and the giggles of her sister could be heard.
"I find it hard to believe you have a more beautiful older sister, but if Lydia is speaking truthfully, you must be Elizabeth."
"Indeed, I am. You must have a good memory Mr Wickham, for I cannot imagine Lydia spoke of us often."
"I was blessed with a good memory for names and faces. Would you care to take a walk? This is no boat deck promenade, but I can say the view is spectacular."
She accepted his arm and strolled with him, they walked forward and up the stair case to the bow. The area was large but far more cluttered than first class, the seats fixed and much less comfy looking, various bulkheads for storage and such taking up much of the space.
"How do you find the first class passengers?"
"We know a few, although I am more friendly with many in second class. Some are ... less welcoming."
"Really? I would have thought one would be accepted by virtue of your ticket? Is there a class within a class? How peculiar!"
"I see you find the class system as ungainly as I do." She twisted her lips.
"Lydia tells me you have made some new acquaintances. A gentleman interested in your sister?"
A fleeting thought that Lydia seemed to talk to much, went through Lizzie's mind. "Yes. Mr Bingley is a very gentlemanlike man."
"I do not have the pleasure of knowing him, but I do know his friend."
"Mr Darcy?"
"The very one."
"Oh, poor you. Of all the first class passengers to know."
Wickham laughed "Indeed, he is not so gentlemanly in his address."
"That's a very kind way of putting it. He is downright rude most of the time."
Wickham laughed again, although Elizabeth was not sure why.
"I can say he has been like that most of his life. Yes, I see your surprise. I grew up with him. His father and mine were close friends, practically business partners. When my father died, old Mr Darcy took me in, raised me. I was like a brother to young Darcy for a while. We attended school together. But he grew resentful."
"How could he be resentful? I would have thought it would be pleasant for him to have a brother."
"Well, the sad fact is that Old Mr Darcy favoured me and the younger Darcy became jealous. I tried to help him gain his father's approval but he was just as taciturn then as his is now." Wickham sighed. "Old Mr Darcy died as I was finishing Cambridge. Darcy withdrew my tuition and so I had to drop out, despite having nearly finished my course and I could not get my degree. Darcy then refused to give me the job I had been trained for, despite his father having intended a job for me. He would not provide any references and made me move out of the family home. In short I went from having a loving home, a degree and a career to having nothing but the clothes on my back. I tried to make it in England, but everyone knew Darcy and no one would hire me. So here I am, heading to America, and somewhat shocked to find Darcy doing the same!"
"I believe he is only going for a short stay. Business or some such. I hope his going does not affect your plans?"
"Oh, I doubt I will stay in New York. But the country should be big enough for the both of us do you not think?"
"I think you are far more sanguine about the matter than I would be."
"I am happy to accept your indignation on my behalf. But I am resigned to it I am afraid. I might not have stayed in England even had Darcy honoured his father's will. But I would be travelling in a class closer to yours, and I find myself angry once again!"
He smiled winningly at her and led her to the rail.
"Come, let me show you the bow."
He walked to her to the very front of the ship and she stood looking out across the sea. Her thoughts drifted from the arrogant man several stories above them to the charming one by her side. She could not help but wish their classes were reversed.
"Mr Wickham, I was wondering, does Mr Darcy have a wife?"
He looked oddly at her "why would you want to know that?"
"Oh!" she laughed "not for that reason, I assure you," she hesitated, uncertain why but she did not wish to tell him about the young woman with Darcy. "There was a young woman on the dock with him. I was curious is all."
His interest flared "has she boarded?"
Now she really did not wish to tell him "I did not see her board." She answered truthfully "I have met Mr Darcy several times and he has never had her with him." Also the truth.
Wickham looked put out.
"I have not heard of his marrying, although I suppose it is possible. I had always been told he would marry a cousin, de Bourgh." Lizzie laughed a little to herself, that small sickly woman she met the other day! strange world. Wickham was still talking. "Darcy would be unlikely to leave a wife at home though. The young woman you saw would likely be his sister. Blonde hair, tall, about sixteen?"
"Yes. That is the woman, although she looked seventeen or so."
"Miss Darcy does look mature."
"Do you know her?"
"Slightly. In younger years I was a great favourite of hers. Another point of jealousy I'll wager. I tried to reconnect recently but she is very proud now, like her brother. And she is very much in awe of him and bows to his every command. I feel a bit sorry for her. He is very controlling but she cannot see that and just lets him dictate her actions. She, undoubtedly, would love a trip to America, but he seems to have left her behind."
Elizabeth was sure his last words were wrong. She seemed to hate the boat and yet he seemed to have forced her to come. Poor girl. They talked on inconsequential matters for a time.
"I must say I am shocked by Mr Darcy, arrogant yes, but this?." She trailed off.
"He can Please where he wishes, amongst high society I dare say he is agreeable."
Elizabeth contained her scoff "perhaps if he knew you were aboard?" She ventured.
Wickham went white "no!" His tone was sharp and she looked at him askance. He moderated his tone "no, I thank you for the consideration, but it is best he not be made aware. I am well, I assure you."
She checked the time "I must away. I hope to see you again, sir." He offered his arm in a overtly gallant bow and she laughed.
Once they reached Lydia and Kitty she pulled her arm free and gently told her sisters it was time to leave. Their leave taking was noisy and involved many promises to return.
"I hope you will consider returning also. I have enjoyed our conversation" Wickham picked her hand up and squeezed it before bowing over it and kissing it again.
"I will try, sir. You are correct, this deck has wonderful views."
She gathered her sisters and they returned up to first. The officer nodded at them as he let them through the gate. Lydia turned and waved down at the gentlemen who blew kisses at her, which caused her to laugh merrily.
"Lydia." Lizzie sighed
"What! Tis only a bit of fun!" And she grabbed Kitty and flounced away.
Lizzie was not certain she liked Lydia going to third. Denny and Sanderson had acted very familiarly and she was unnerved. Wickham had been all that was gallant and charming. She thought over his story as she walked back towards the cabin. It all seemed to come back to Darcy. How annoying he seemed to be.
...
Up on the forward facing 1st class promenade, Darcy turned a corner. He was not looking for her, really he was not. She was probably in second, or with her shrieking mother, anyway. Why would he be looking for her? He stood leaning at the rail looking forward. He wanted to look forward. The wind whipped through his hair as breathed in the slightly salty breeze. Closing his eyes for a moment he considered his paths. They moved inexorably forward, as if rolling out in front of the ship. One direction or another? He sighed, knowing what he should do, but it being in opposition to what he wished.
He heard her laugh, light and happy, a sound that drew his attention. He looked along his deck and back again before turning his eyes downwards. There she was, on the lower deck, was that third? He frowned, the man she was with looked familiar, it couldn't be! He felt cold and walked quickly away, telling himself he had not seen the man clearly.
...