Lol to the New York Times updates! (a review if you haven't seen them!)
one more for the weekend. might squeeze a 3rd chapter if people want it!...?
Saturday the 13th April, 0800; 1 day, 15 hours and 40 minutes until iceberg.
...
Jane and Elizabeth had dressed for breakfast with lightness, well at least Jane did, Elizabeth was still suffering from the mortification her family had caused her on the previous evening.
They knocked on their sister's door but received no reply, neither Kitty nor Lydia seemed inclined to start the day early. They stood a moment then shrugged and moved to their parent's door.
"Well Lizzie, how did you enjoy yesterday?" Her father spoke as he exited.
"Is mama not coming?" Jane enquired as he shut the door behind him.
"She is just finishing up, she will be along."
Lizzie sighed but moved in the direction of the dining room.
"Jane, you seemed to enjoy the attention of Mr Bingley yesterday."
Jane blushed "oh papa!"
"Are we expecting your Mr Bingley to be at breakfast this early?"
"He is usually an early riser, yes!" Jane was now scarlet and Elizabeth quickly changed the subject.
When they entered the dining room Jane looked around hopefully. There were not many people there and it did not take long to realise that Mr Bingley was not one of them. She frowned briefly but their trio made their way to a table, ensuring there was space for people to join them.
They ate breakfast, Jane looking up every time someone entered, but no Bingley. They could only delay over their meal for so long, Elizabeth had finished her plate and her tea but wanted to stay for Jane. Their father had long since left for the smoking room and their mother had yet to appear.
"Were you expecting to see him?" Elizabeth asked gently. Her sister seemed so downcast and yet it had barely been a few hours.
Jane bit her lip. "Umm.. well yes." She sighed "the last thing he said to me last night was that he would see me at breakfast." She shrugged "I had assumed that he would be here."
At that moment their two younger sisters came barrelling across the room.
"Oh! La! What an evening." Lydia flopped inelegantly into a chair.
"Did you hear?" Kitty cried, sitting down and accepting a drink from the ever attentive waiters. Kitty leaned forward and dropped her voice, for which Elizabeth was partially grateful. "I heard that one of the ladies from first almost went over the railing at the back of the ship last night! Saved by a third class man!"
"Really!" Lydia cried, rather too gleefully for Elizabeth's taste. "Who? Who was the man? Was it Wickham? That would be just like him!"
Elizabeth listened to the two of them chatter about this girl, Kate something, and how the third class passenger was invited to dinner as a reward. Jane was distracted for a time, but soon her eyes began to drift, once more, to the door.
"Jane, would you join me for a swim this morning?" Elizabeth eventually asked.
Jane looked up, "Oh! No, I thank you Lizzie." They rose together. "I think I will get my book."
Lizzie smiled and nudged her sister "maybe read it on your deck chair?"
Jane blushed again "maybe."
"Lydia, Kitty, Do you want to swim?"
"La! No! Kitty and I are going to find out what happened last night! Oh can you imagine falling overboard!" She shuddered dramatically.
Elizabeth and Jane left their giggling sisters but, as she walked, she found herself starting to worry. It may only be early, but Jane had expected Bingley at breakfast. Maybe he overslept, maybe he was feeling poorly. Maybe. She hoped.
"Have you any fixed plans?"
"Oh. Nothing fixed for this morning. Although we were to meet for lunch, we were to go to the Cafe Parisiene." She ducked her head "just the two of us."
"Well, I am certain you will see him soon." Elizabeth smiled, pushing aside her worries. "I shall meet you after my swim? If you are not otherwise engaged, that is!"
"Are you not seeing Charlotte today?"
"Oh yes! We are meeting this afternoon for a walk, plenty of time for you to tell me all about your lunch date!"
Elizabeth left her sister in slightly better spirits and headed towards the swimming pool, wondering about trying the Turkish baths also.
...
Saturday the 13th April, 1000, 1 day 13 hours and 40 minutes until iceberg.
...
Elizabeth, having purchased her ticket from the purser, entered the swimming pool. There were only one or two ladies swimming and she entered a changing cubicle to join them. She had not bought a bathing suit but the Titanic provided them with your entrance. They were brand new and of the latest fashion. The room was beautifully decorated and the water was pleasant.
She swam a few lengths then slowed down. Watching the other passengers swim. Some were quite adequate and some clearly had rarely swam before.
As she watched an old woman rose to get out of the pool and at the same moment a young girl entered.
The older woman stumbled and the girl moved to aid her, helping her reach a changing room before finding one for herself and then joining the swimmers.
She entered gracefully and swam a few lengths with ease, clearly not someone who had never swam before.
Elizabeth recognised her as the girl who had entered. She was also the woman with Darcy on the docks. She assumed she was his sister.
"That was kind of you." She spoke, when they were both side by side at one end of the pool "Helping that lady, do you know her?"
"No." Her voice was quiet. "But she needed help and I was the closest."
Elizabeth nodded, not everyone would offer help.
"My name is Elizabeth Bennet. I have not seen you around. How are you enjoying your trip?"
The girl startled slightly "Oh, yyyyes, I suppose."
Elizabeth just waited patiently for her to gather herself.
"I have heard of you, Miss Bennet."
Now it was Elizabeth's turn to startle "you have?"
"Yes, from my brother."
So she was Darcy's sister, well she had no desire to know what Darcy had said of her. It would not be good.
"Well, Miss Bingley speaks highly of you!" She deflected.
"Oh, I do not know her well."
Elizabeth changed the subject.
"This is my first swim, have you been before?"
"Yes. I enjoy it. It is quiet and I...uh... I like that..."
Elizabeth smiled at her, the question in her eyes. Miss Darcy dropped her own eyes "I like that it is women only."
Elizabeth thought for a moment, an odd statement "I would not feel comfortable swimming with gentlemen."
"No." Miss Darcy said "that is, I find gentlemen rather intimidating, swimming or not."
Elizabeth stayed silent.
"In truth I am scared of them." Miss Darcy blurted.
Her heart went out to the girl "Oh, I am sorry. Has something..." she trailed off realising she had no right to enquire in this way. "I am not wishing to pry. Of course, if you are concerned in the presence of gentlemen, then a ladies only swimming session would be most comforting."
They stayed like that for a few moments, the water moving slightly in the pool as the vibrations of the ship caused the water to swirl.
"There is a man, he has caused me great pain, distress. I find myself .. untrusting."
Elizabeth turned, her heart going out to the young girl in front of her, a bleak look in her eye. She laid a hand on her arm and smiled at her.
"You are safe here Miss Darcy."
Miss Darcy smiled "please, call me Georgiana."
"And I am Elizabeth, or Lizzie if you prefer."
They continued to swim together for another half an hour. Talking only on superficial subjects. Elizabeth left first, having swam for almost an hour, Georgiana declared she would stay a little longer.
"I thank you, Elizabeth. I have not had many people to speak to. It has been great to meet you."
Elizabeth smiled "I have enjoyed meeting you too. I hope you will find the time to walk a little about the deck. The ship is a marvel."
As Elizabeth dressed she thought on the girl, scared of men when the only man in her life seemed to be her brother. What must he be like as a brother? He did not seem to be cruel and yet she had heard her weeping on that first day, her brother was there, had he caused her to weep? Did he stop her from leaving the room much or was it through choice? He seemed to be rather officious and overbearing, she could not imagine being in his power. She shuddered as she got dressed, then made her way back to the cabin to re-do her hair.
...
Jane was not in their cabin and so, once tidied, she made her way to the boat deck where Jane's deckchair was. Jane was there, huddled under a blanket a book clutched in one hand and three empty cups of tea nearby.
"Oh Jane, how long have you sat here?"
Jane looked up and Elizabeth was alarmed by the colour in her cheeks. "It has not been so very long. I have been reading and drinking tea." She gestured at the evidence around her.
Elizabeth sat on Bingley's deck chair, ignoring Jane's pointed look.
"I take it the owner of this deck chair has not appeared?"
Jane shook her head, eyes firmly on her hands that were fiddling in her lap.
"You are cold dearest. Let us retire to the first class saloon to warm up. He is not here and so must be elsewhere."
"But what if he comes to look for me?"
Privately Elizabeth felt that it was unlikely that he would, given that he had not as of yet. Outwardly she said "he can find you just as easily in the lounge as here. It is very cold today, maybe he has thought it unlikely you would be here."
Jane nodded and relented. They rose together and made their way to the first class saloon. They dropped the book off in the reading room on their way, no sign of Mr Bingley, then settled in a comfy seat and ordered tea.
Elizabeth told Jane about the pool, encouraging her to try it sometime, and Jane mostly listened and nodded, eyes rarely leaving the doors.
"Are you not to dine with them?" Elizabeth asked, glancing at the clock. It was close to lunch.
At that moment a steward walked in, silver platter in hand. He looked around and spotted them, making his way to Jane.
"Miss Jane Bennet?" He confirmed, then offered her the note "a message ma'am."
Jane's face lit up "Oh! Thank you!" She took the note and read it quickly then her face fell.
"What is the matter?" Jane merely offered her the message.
...
Dear Jane.
I am afraid I have to cancel your lunch engagement today. My Brother and I were reminded of a prior commitment which had slipped our mind. I apologise for our forgetful nature. I hope you are having a wonderful day, there is so much of interest aboard this ship, I am certain you agree.
I have barely seen my brother as he has spent most of the day with Mr and Miss Darcy. I do not know if I have mentioned our family's hope in that quarter, but I shall say no more!
I am certain we shall see each other soon and you can tell me of all the many beaux you have been spending time with.
Yours
Caroline Bingley.
...
Elizabeth scowled at the note.
Jane rose and Elizabeth hurried after her as she almost ran towards their cabin. Once inside she firmly shut the door and sat with her distraught sister.
"Oh Lizzie. Is it not obvious? Miss Bingley sees my regard for Charles and means to warn me that his affections are engaged elsewhere!"
"It is not obvious" Elizabeth squeezed her sister in a tight embrace "I have a very different explanation, will you hear it?"
Jane nodded. "Miss Bingley sees her brother's attraction to you and wishes him to distance himself for our family are not rich or grand enough for them. She is trying to keep him away from you and trying to warn you off so that you do not spoil her plans."
"But if that were the case, why would he have avoided me all morning?"
"It has not been so very long, he may have had business to do, another acquaintance may have commandeered his time. It is not so large a ship that you will not see him again."
Jane dried her eyes and nodded, "You are right Lizzie. What should I do about lunch?"
"Well, if they are engaged elsewhere, it would be rude to turn up."
"You cannot think that Caroline has told an untruth?"
Elizabeth could think that, but she did not say it out loud. "What if I were to check the cafe Parisiene? If he is there waiting for you, I shall say you were detained and fetch you. If not or if he is dining with others then they shall not know you looked for them and we shall know Caroline was telling the truth!"
"Oh! Would you Lizzie?"
At that point they heard the faint sounds of the bugle call.
"Let me go there now. I shall meet you in the reception area in five minutes? Wash your face dearest, you do not wish mama to see you have been crying."
"You are right!" Jane said and made her way towards the little wash stand whilst Elizabeth hurried out.