Hmmmm. lol to the speculations on demise vs being saved. liked the guest thinking that caroline should poison the local shark life, i like to think of her inadvertently saving others by clearing the way!...
So. Jansfamily, Jolanda and RuthAnneS have started an idea!.. unfortunately I cant change history, ( well, it is my story. I suppose I could... maybe ill write a different ending after im done!) Anyway, iceberg is coming. But if you want to share your "who and how to save it"...
I'll start with... Lydia tries to flirt with the stokers and falls in to a boiler causing the titanic to slow down and so it misses the berg!... :) any other suggestions?... I am all good to read it!
To the reviewer that claims I don't know english. I take your point about that one error. but I think you worded it rather harshly. please keep your comments to being helpful rather than a sarcastic comment about my misuse of a pleural spelling. I am both writer and editor for my own work, I try to catch all the errors but I will always miss things.
...
Saturday 13th April 1820; 1 day 5 Hours and 20 minutes until iceberg.
Elizabeth reluctantly prepared for dinner. She was prepared to send her regrets to Lady Catherine, but Jane had insisted that she should go. Elizabeth had discussed Jane's choices with her, encouraging her to take an interest in where to dine. Elizabeth held out a little hope of seeing Mr Bingley after a whole day of him seeming to avoid her sister and having broken their lunch engagement.
Jane had a little more hope and so had agreed to dine with the Gardiners, in second, only if Mr Bingley was not to be found in the dining room.
Charlotte joined them for the final touches on their evening attire and she did look very well.
"Charlotte, what did you say to Lady Catherine for her to be so impressed?"
"Oh!" Charlotte blushed "Anne has been taking a medicine for her events which makes her sick. I suggested a new treatment that is just becoming known. Less side effects, better control. It's new but that doesn't make it bad."
"Of course not. Well, I am dutifully impressed also. I told you how she was, did I not Jane?"
"You did." Jane tried to muster a smile but it was lacklustre at best.
Elizabeth gave Charlotte a look and Charlotte smiled sadly at her.
They proceeded together to the dining salon. Jane took only a few minutes to see that neither Bingley nor Caroline were present and assumed they were eating elsewhere, again.
She gave Charlotte and Elizabeth a quick hug before turning to make her way to the second class dining room. Although it was on the same deck, there was no way through on this level. Her choices were down to E and along or up to C deck where you could get on to the second class promenade. This was the direction Jane headed with a wave towards Elizabeth.
Elizabeth and Charlotte approached Lady Catherine and after greeting their hostess for the evening they were introduced to a Mr Collins. Mr Collins, it turned out, was a sort of personal secretary to Lady Catherine. He handled most of her correspondence, both personal and business, and very much felt the importance of his role.
His ticket was second class but, evidently, Lady Catherine was in a magnanimous mood and had invited him to improve the ratio of gentlemen to Ladies. He was a rather short man with a combed over hairstyle, not managing to cover the bald top of his head. He was heavyset and wore a very dark ensemble making him look almost like a rather dark, short, shadow; as if the sun was high in the sky. Unfortunately he was not as silent as a shadow and Elizabeth and Charlotte found themselves subject to his conversation.
"My dear Miss Charlotte, my dear Miss Elizabeth, how well you ladies look this evening. Why, when Lady Catherine told me you had both been given the honour of dining at her table I could not contain my pleasure at the news. How wonderful. I cannot tell you how pleased I am to have been singled out at being good enough to dine with my employer! Why, you two must also feel the compliment of her benevolence!"
His monologue, which had the characteristics of a soliloquy, alternated between his pleasure at their company and his delight in being employed by Lady Catherine, and went on for some time. Elizabeth was torn between horror at having to spend the evening with such a man and amusement.
Charlotte opted for amusement and they exchanged a diverted look.
"I can see that the journey is agreeing with you. Why Anne is in glowing health this evening! How delightful it is to be surrounded by such beautiful..."
"Yes yes, you both look very well." Lady Catherine's irritated voice interrupted his words, stopping him mid sentence. "Come let us sit down."
She led the way grandly in to the dining room to her preferred table where she took her place at the head. Mr Collins was to her right, which clearly gave him immense pleasure, Anne to her left.
Elizabeth frowned at the number of seats and looked up towards Lady Catherine. Charlotte was bid to sit next to Mr Collins and to her shock Mr Darcy appeared to take the seat next to Anne. She moved to the opposite side of the table but was waylaid and directed to the seat next to Mr Darcy. She took it reluctantly and another couple, Mr and Mrs Wilson, took the remaining two seats. Mr Wilson at the end next to her and Mrs Wilson between her husband and Charlotte.
She sighed as she took her seat and perused the menu.
"Good evening, Miss Bennet."
She startled slightly, not really expecting anyone to address her.
"Oh, good evening Mr Darcy." She returned to her menu, but he was clearly not done.
"Have you had a pleasant day?"
Unfortunately this was not the best topic of conversation.
"Not especially. My sister and I had expected to see Mr Bingley. Do you know if he is well?"
He looked a little abashed "perfectly so. I spent the morning with him in the smoking room, we have many matters of business to attend to. I believe he is dining this evening in the a-la-carte restaurant with some friends."
"And lunch also. That is unusual, like he is trying to avoid someone."
"Uh, I did not have lunch with him and cannot say."
She just stared at him and his attention was called by Lady Catherine. "Cousin! Where is Georgiana?" Lady Catherine looked around the table as if Miss Darcy should suddenly appear.
Darcy pressed his lips together in annoyance "you know she has not been feeling well, she is not yet well enough for dinner amongst company. I thank you for your enquiry." His tone would suggest, to anyone paying attention, that the topic was closed.
"Nonsense. Illness is no excuse. You see Anne is in company." Lady Catherine smiled on her daughter, who did look better than she had earlier that day. "Do you not think Anne looks well Darcy? Dr Lucas here has a revolutionary medicine for her. Anne is ready to become a wife once she is settled in America!" Lady Catherine looked significantly at Darcy who merely turned to Anne.
"I am pleased to hear you are feeling better. I hope you will soon find felicity in marriage."
Lady Catherine narrowed her eyes and made to retort. Elizabeth, not wishing to be drawn in to whatever this was, turned her attention to Mr Wilson.
"What brings you to America sir, if you do not mind me asking?"
"Certainly not." His accent gave him away as an American. "My wife and I are returning home after a wonderful trip in England. We met Lady Catherine as we were associated with her late husband and persuaded her to bring Anne to the Americas to try and find someone to help with Miss Anne's health." He looked over where Charlotte was explaining something to do with Anne's diet. "I do not know about a lady doctor though, but I am open minded enough to give a woman a try eh?" He laughed and Elizabeth gave him a tight smile.
His wife, likely about forty, smiled slightly and asked Elizabeth the same question. She explained about her family and Mrs Wilson exclaimed.
"Goodness, all four daughters travelling. That is brave of your parents."
She seemed as if she would go on but Lady Catherine had heard and interjected. "All four daughters travelling to America? Are none of your sisters married?"
She took a sip of wine to slow the retort, opting for politeness. "No ma'am, none are married. And yes, we are all travelling."
"Why, exactly would your parents bring all of their daughters with them?"
"My father is hoping to invest in some of the enterprises that the Americas provide. My sister Jane and I are both interested in furthering our study and my younger sisters enjoy travelling and new places. My mother did not wish to leave any of us at home. It would seem harsh to leave my younger sisters behind just because they do not have a specific aim in mind. I do not think it would promote sisterly affection. Do you not agree Mr Wilson?"
"Oh yes, bring all the young ladies to America I say! My son is married, but I am certain America can find charming gentlemen for the lot of you, if they are all as lovely as you?"
"I am certain most would say they are much lovelier than I am." Elizabeth smiled at him, internally sighing as that had not been her meaning at all.
"I would have to disagree." Darcy's voice was so quiet she was not certain she had heard correctly.
"Well" Lady Catherine needed control of the situation again. "You give your opinion rather decidedly for someone so young. Study you say? What can a woman of your age have to study? Surely it would only delay your marital prospects. What is your age?"
Elizabeth smiled benignly "with two younger sisters grown up, your ladyship cannot expect me to own it."
"You can not be more than twenty, quite the youngest at this table, I do not see why you should not tell us."
"I am only just twenty, ma'am. Many gentlemen are still studying at my age, in America there are many women holding degrees for subjects considered solely the remit of men."
Lady Catherine narrowed her eyes and turned to Charlotte "you are clearly quite gifted, where do you intend to study?"
Elizabeth sighed in relief at being left out of Lady Catherine's incessant conversation.
"Have you thought which university you intend to apply to?"
She looked at Darcy, his gaze intent upon her. "No, we intend to get settled then see what my options are."
"The university of California has graduated women I believe."
Elizabeth stared in shock "how do you know that?"
He shrugged "I have interests in that area."
She could not think of anything to say and so said nothing.
"What are you speaking of Darcy?" Lady Catherine interjected.
"I was merely wondering where Miss Elizabeth wished to study." He took a sip of wine, looking completely at ease with his cousin's rudeness.
"I think we have established that university for women is usually only to increase their chance of a good match." Lady Catherine declared and Elizabeth was chagrined to see both Mr Collins and Mr Wilson nod in agreement, despite her ultimately disagreeing with her own statement not five minutes previous. "Anne has no need of such things!" She looked significantly between Anne and Darcy.
Elizabeth frowned but saw no indication from either Anne or Mr Darcy of a preference. Of course marriages between wealth was still common, even if Elizabeth felt the practice was archaic. She cared not. Lady Catherine, it seemed, was not done.
"Of course you, Miss Bennet, might benefit from further education for this reason! I applaud you for trying to improve your marital prospects."
Elizabeth gasped in indignation but was stayed from her angry retort by a significant look from Charlotte. She bit her tongue only for her new friend. If Charlotte could establish herself as a female physician with the approval of Lady Catherine, others would follow. Her practice would be set. Elizabeth had no intention of seeing Lady Catherine again, she could let the insult slide.
...
The meal passed rather slowly for Elizabeth, Darcy tried a few topics of conversation but she was out of humour with him. Mr and Mrs Wilson were occasionally interesting conversationalists, but Mr Wilson's rather chauvinistic attitude was a bit grating and Mrs Wilson seemed more intent on listening to Lady Catherine.
Mr Collins had nothing sensible to say. He spent his meal alternating between agreeing with everything Lady Catherine said, aiming poorly worded compliments at the females of the table, and grinning like a fool who had never imagined anything so fine as to be dining in first class.
When the meal finished Mr Collins leapt up, clearly hoping to be invited for cigars and brandy. Lady Catherine did not disappoint.
"Darcy, Mr Wilson, you will take Mr Collins for a brandy, will you not? Mr Collins, I expect you to return in half an hour to escort Miss Lucas back to second. Miss Lucas, Mrs Wilson and Miss Bennet, you will join me in the saloon for tea. Darcy, you may escort Anne for a stroll after brandy."
Elizabeth was torn between feeling offended and amused at the great Lady ordering everyone's evening. She opted for the latter but could not resist a last word.
"Actually Lady Catherine, one of my sisters was not feeling well. I thank you for a lovely dinner, it was gracious of you to invite me, but I must return to her." Jane would be heading back from second and Elizabeth wished to be there to greet her.
Lady Catherine sputtered her indignation and Elizabeth noted the astonishment of the retreating gentlemen, but ultimately she carried her point and managed to escape.
...
A quick look in their cabin told her Jane had not yet returned and so, not yet ready to retire, she made her way back to the main grand staircase. She was just deciding weather to risk slipping in to the reading and writing room, which was just next to the 1st class lounge where Lady Catherine would be holding court, or to head straight to second to find Jane.
She was waylaid by Mr Darcy, who was standing in the reception area of D Deck, as if waiting for someone.
"Miss Bennet. I trust your sister is well?"
"She has not returned from dinner. I was just going to find her."
"Might I persuade you to take a turn about the deck?"
That was the other option she had been considering, but she was certain she did not wish to walk with Mr Darcy.
"I was hoping to speak to you." He implored.
More than a little curious, for she could not fathom what he wished to speak to her about, she decided to take her opportunity to question him further about Mr Bingley. She quickly went back for her coat and then headed to the promenade deck with her stoic companion.
...
so... Hunsford next! argh!