So, just as a point. we are 100 years after JA. so i have made everything a little less reserved, not modern communication, but a little more impertinent. A little more outspoken. i hope that is ok with everyone. so that is why the convo between L/w is a little more open. and why things can progress a little quicker. also the language is a little less formal. if anyone has any points about the language feel free to point it out. I am not so familiar with 1900 language so i am relying on pop culture. if i am not certain i tend to fall back to regency wording.
cant remember if ive made a note about this. dancing on titanic. i have seen a photo denoting dancing in second class (the band played 10-11 in the entrance near the library). most historians agree there was no dancing on titanic in 1st. although molly brown was quotes as being annoyed she didnt bring her dancing dresses. there was plenty of dancing on the sister ships. so im using artistic license!
how does everyone feel so far? loving the speculations thanks all.
ive pretty much written all up to the sinking, although the sinking needs a lot of work. so if you want more updates this weekend shout out and i'll see what I can do! :)
anyway, cringeworthy bennets... (i always wanna hide at this point)
Friday. April 12th. Two days until iceberg.
...
Elizabeth was getting worried. They had sat down to dinner and Mrs Bennet, Lydia and Kitty had began talking excitedly, and loudly, about the dancing that was to occur that evening. They were speculating on the types of dances that might be played. Elizabeth might not have minded had they not also been speculating on which men would be amenable to dancing and interspersing every sentence with large gulps of wine. At this rate they would be completely uninhibited by the time dinner was over.
She tried to curb their comments and their drinking but they seemed to be in their own bubble and completely ignored her. Clearly the excitement of the forthcoming dancing was getting to her very impetuous sisters.
Jane spent the meal sneaking glances at Bingley, who was sat with some business associates that evening.
She sighed again as Lydia laughed raucously at something across the room. She swept her eyes around the room and noticed Mr Darcy staring once again. She blushed and looked away, certain he could hear her sister's brash laughter.
...
Elizabeth made her way up to the first class saloon after dinner. Despite her family seemingly out to embarrass themselves, she was excited. She loved to dance and tonight she intended to enjoy herself.
"Oh my!" Elizabeth almost jumped as Mrs Brown came up beside her. "Young Miss Elizabeth, I see you have brought your dancing dresses."
Elizabeth smiled "yes indeed. I love a dance!"
"As do I!" Mrs Brown linked their arms together. "Unfortunately I did not pack my dancing dresses, mores the pity. I shall have to live vicariously through you!" Mrs Brown leaned in and lowered her voice "have you got your eye on any beaux?"
Elizabeth smiled at the woman. She was direct, but in an interested way rather than intrusive and Elizabeth found she liked the woman very much. "No-one has caught my eye, but I do not need a beaux to enjoy dancing!"
"Indeed you do not. Although I dare say your sister will enjoy it more!" She nodded to where Jane was blushing under the attention of Mr Bingley. As they watched another man approached and clearly asked Jane for a dance, Jane smiled and accepted but obviously indicated her first dance was promised to Mr Bingley.
"Now!" Mrs Brown declared suddenly. "Whom shall we find you for your first dance?"
"Oh! No, I assure you I am quite content to wait."
"Nonsense. Mr Andrews!" Elizabeth rolled her eyes as Mrs Brown hollered at the man nearby. "Mr Andrews, Miss Elizabeth here was wishing to dance. You will oblige, will you not?"
Elizabeth began to assure Mr Andrews that was not necessary when he spoke, in his pleasant Irish accent "To be sure I would be delighted to dance with you Miss Elizabeth."
She sighed and nodded, accepting his hand to take her to the floor. Mrs Brown's laughter following her steps.
...
Darcy had decided he would need to distance himself. And Charles. But he had to dance with her first, a kind of torture. But he had not the strength to resist. Darcy chose the waltz because it was the one he knew the best. He was not a great fan of dancing and the new dances all seemed rather odd to him. Luckily the band seemed to be keeping their music more traditional, the waltz and the two step, dances he knew and could enjoy with the right woman.
He glanced around and noticed the two youngest laughing raucously before one of them practically dragged an officer to the dance floor.
Mr Bennet was sat to the side, brandy in hand, a smile of amusement upon his face. Darcy scowled. Why not attempt to curtail them?
Mrs Bennet was loudly talking behind him to another matron. Extolling the benefits that Jane would receive from being married to such a rich man as Mr Bingley.
He looked again at the serene Jane Bennet. She smiled at Bingley, but she had smiled at the other gentlemen who had danced with her and had never declined or seemed unhappy to dance with others. She showed no particular attachment to his friend and he was certain her heart was not touched.
He sighed. Definitely distance was needed. There were maybe three days left of travel, He had been keeping track of the distance travelled each day, not for the entertainment value and bets that many passengers partook in, but for the knowledge.
It would be difficult, but possible, to keep away from the Bennets for three days.
But first, he thought as his eyes strayed again to Elizabeth, first he would indulge himself and dance with the woman who had captured his attention.
He noticed her reluctance and assumed that she felt like he did, that she was worried her preference would show. Or that she was aware of their disparity and did not wish to raise her own hopes.
He gathered her in to his arms and felt his body both tense up and relax. He looked down at her and was grateful that her eyes were on the other dancers. They began to move. She was graceful and elegant and followed his lead easily. His hand on her waist burned and where her body touched his, only slightly and was proper for a waltz, little sparks of pleasure originated.
After a moment she looked up.
"I am pleased the captain was so amenable to dancing, although I am glad that the band are keeping it to the more traditional dances."
He nodded and twirled her under his arm.
She came back in to his hold for a moment then sighed.
"It is your turn to speak, Mr Darcy. You ought to comment on the quality of the musicians or how easily dancing was achieved in this room."
Darcy heard her words and knew he should respond, but he was concentrating on not gathering her closer in his arms. Not lowering his mouth to kiss away her impertinent words. Not dropping all pretence of gentlemanly behaviour.
"I am perfectly happy to oblige. Which would you prefer to hear my opinion on?" His mouth lifted in a half smile and she pursed her lips in annoyance. They lapsed in to silence for a minute and he concentrated on the movements, allowing himself to enjoy the feel of her.
Her voice brought him from his reverie. "You once told me your good opinion, once lost, was lost forever." She paused as he turned her around and moved her backwards in the dance. Their steps continuing to match despite her words. "You are careful, I assume, in creating such resentment."
Darcy was not certain to what she was getting at. "I am." He said gravely, still somewhat distracted by her mere presence.
"And you do not allow yourself to be blinded by prejudice?"
"I hope not. To what do these questions pertain?"
Elizabeth covered her ire with a cheeky smile "I believe you are aware of my propensity to character study. Who should I study if not you?"
He made no reply and, after a minutes silence he ventured to speak.
"I assume you have met many new people on this trip. Apart from myself" he asked "have you enjoyed the variety of people here?" He kicked himself. He had not wanted to ask something so banal, but could not think of another question.
She looked at him suspiciously. "I always enjoy meeting new people, of course some are more pleasant that others." She raised her eyebrow in that impertinent way and he wondered who she meant.
"I recently met someone with whom you are acquainted."
He looked at her in confusion "I know many people aboard."
"I had the pleasure of meeting a third class gentleman of whom you know."
Darcy felt cold. He had hoped it was not Wickham whom he had seen. He had recognised Elizabeth quickly, a fact that had registered for all the importance it was, but he had hoped the man she was speaking to was some other man.
"Mr Wickham makes friends easily, he is not so capable of keeping them."
She covered her surprise at him knowing who she was speaking of. "It is unfortunate you seem to no longer count him as a friend."
"I do not. I would also suggest you do not spend so much time listening to passengers from third."
"Do you consider them beneath my notice?" She asked him, their dance steps slowing.
Darcy did not notice the steel in her voice, thinking only of Wickham "he is beneath your notice."
Elizabeth was aghast. She flinched at his last words but covered it by stepping back as the notes of the waltz faded away.
"I would ask, Miss Bennet." He said formally, knowing that his time with her was coming to an end "that you not sketch my character at the current time. The results are unlikely to reflect well on either of us."
He bowed formally then stood, staring intently at her, memorising her features as best he could before turning away and shutting her out of his mind.
...
Elizabeth felt uncomfortable. She could not say exactly why, but suspiciously felt it was not only due to her anger at Mr Darcy's dismissal of third class citizens.
She shrugged and turned away, what did she care for his good opinion? It was not like she ever held it in the first place, so how could she lose it!
Lydia had convinced the band to play a kangaroo hop and was jumping around in a ridiculous manner with Kitty and two younger gentlemen. They were laughing loudly. These were the only four still dancing and a quiet word from the captain meant this was the last dance.
Mrs Bennet, noticing that once the band finished Mr Bingley appeared to be ready to retire, complained loudly at the lack of time they played for.
Lydia and Kitty looked ready to burst in to tears. Jane stood talking quietly with Mr Bingley, Caroline and Darcy both frowning and looking unhappily at the Bennets.
Elizabeth found her cheeks red and approached her father, imploring him to help.
"Girls. That's enough of your wailing. Leave the good captain alone!"
His voice was not pitched low and Elizabeth blushed anew.
She could see Mr Darcy and Caroline with their heads bent together. A sneer on Caroline's face and a implacable stern expression on Mr Darcy's.
A sense of alarm overset her and she felt that things were about to take a bad turn.
She quickly employed her father to aid her in rounding up her family and ushering them out of the room and towards their cabins. Kitty and Lydia complaining the whole way.
She caught Mr Darcy's eye as she moved past him and saw something in his gaze which made her sense of alarm increase to one of impending doom.