Mid week people. (thats the good news) bad is I'm working a lot this weekend so I m not sure about how many posts i'll manage this weekend. but tell me how much you want updates and I'll try and accommodate! :)

also, ffn is annoying me and not showing me new reviews, but I am so happy people seem to be invested in this story! you guys are awesome.

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April 14th, 1140 am. 12 hours until iceberg.

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After Lizzie had dried and done her hair she went in search of her family. She found Lydia, Kitty and Mrs Bennet taking tea.

"Lizzie!" Lydia called excitedly.

"Hello Lydia, Kitty, Mama." She bent to kiss her mother's cheek. "Have you had a pleasant morning?"

"Lizzie! Where were you? Why did you not come to service?" Mrs Bennet shrieked.

"I told you I was going for a swim." She sighed, signalling a waiter for the tea to be refreshed.

"Oh Lizzie. We have such gossip!"

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, gossip? Really?

"Oh! Yes! Quite the to do!" Kitty added, then started coughing. Lydia gave her a smug look and took up the narrative.

"Well. You know we told you about Kate? Almost fell over the rail?" Lydia's voice was loud.

"I remember." Lizzie sighed "but please keep your voice lowered." She admonished before pouring everyone tea.

Mrs Bennet scolded Kitty. "For heavens sake Kitty! Must you cough so! I cannot hear Lydia." She then started sipping her tea, indulging her youngest daughter in her tale.

Lydia wrinkled her nose at Lizzie's scold but dutifully lowered her voice, opting for the dramatic undertone. "Well, they had the man to dinner, remember we said she would! Her mother is that stuffy woman Ruth Dewitt something or other. Looks down on pretty much everyone." Lydia turned to Kitty and they shared a giggle. "Well, it turns out that Leo from third is quite the charmer. Turned up in a great evening suit, looked very handsome."

"I knew he was not from first!" Mrs Bennet declared.

"Oh mother, no, you thought he was new money!" Lydia declared, Mrs Bennet sniffed and turned her head as if to look around the saloon, taking a sip of tea. Elizabeth smothered her smile.

"I am glad he had a good time!" Lizzie commented neutrally.

"So did we!" Lydia turned again to Kitty and they "hummmed" to each other before dissolving in to giggles.

"Where is Jane?" Elizabeth felt a change of subject was in order. Although her views about the class system were liberal, she did not wish her silly sisters to have any more inducement to spend time in third.

Mrs Bennet looked around, as if expecting to see her.

"I do not know. Mr Bingley was not at services. What is going on with that young man?" Mrs Bennet sighed "she might have lost her chance to secure him!"

"Mama." Lizzie sighed "Jane is hurting."

"Well, she should have secured him!"

"Mr Darcy was staring at her in services!" Kitty declared.

Elizabeth turned her head sharply, causing a sudden pain in her neck. She winced and tired to rub it surreptitiously.

Mrs Bennet narrowed her eyes "Do you think he is interested instead?" She looked suddenly hopeful.

"But where is she?" Elizabeth could not decide if she was more exasperated for her family's lack of care for her sister or concern for Jane's location. She, herself, was puzzling over Kitty's revelation.

"She was to meet us here, but sent a note saying she was detained, and not to worry." Lydia replied flippantly, before turning to Kitty and whispering furiously.

Elizabeth frowned. She wasn't in the saloon, obviously, she had just come from their empty room. Elizabeth thought she would check the deck chairs before heading to second for lunch, just in case Jane was moping again, not that she blamed her if Mr Bingley was still in-absentia.

She turned her attention back to her sisters, who were talking of the dancing again.

...

Lunch 1300 April 14th; ten hours and forty mins before iceberg.

...

Elizabeth made her way to the Second class dining area. She had briefly seen it before, but had not yet entered the room, having only managed a cursory glance on her previous travels. The landing area was much smaller in second class and most people had passed straight in to the dining room. She spotted her party immediately on her descent.

She stepped off the staircase and, as her foot hit the deck, the bugle sounded; it was one o'clock. She could not help the wince that followed. After four days aboard she had not got used to the loud heralding of the dining hour.

Just as the bugle call faded away, she caught the eye of Mr Darcy across the entry hall. She could tell he saw her wince and he grinned at her, his expression somewhere between sympathy and amusement. She contemplated him for a short period of time, surprised he had come. His letter had served to soften her own prejudice, his manner that morning and his sister's extensive praise had served to raise him in her estimation.

The short time between the swim and lunch had allowed her to reflect on their interactions so far. She had felt so ashamed at how she had misinterpreted his words and gestures, always assuming the worst. His accusations a few days before were pointedly accurate. Wilful misunderstanding indeed. How had she not seen it? Until that morning she had not known herself.

She now faced the stark reality that she was not so worthy as she had previously believed herself to be. This realisation came with an intense desire to improve herself and what better object than the person who had shone such a light upon her flaws. She did not wish him to think ill of her, or her relations, and so she made a resolution to enjoy his company, to show him she was someone who could change when needed. Did she hope for him to renew his attentions? No, she thought not. What person could withstand such an onslaught of hurtful words? What man would still look to that person with love or respect! She did not address the question of weather she wished for his affection, her feelings too new, too raw, to cope with such scrutiny.

No, she had no doubt she had lost his love, but maybe she could gain his respect once more.

With that determination, she moved towards him, her own smile spreading across her face.

"Good afternoon Miss Bennet" he said bowing over her hand very formally for a lunch. "I see you find the bugle call rather loud also. I confess I warned Georgiana, as the sound is rather diminished in our cabin."

Elizabeth laughed lightly. "You have caught me out I have always found it rather awful." She winked at Georgiana "I am glad I am not the only one!" The girl giggled softly behind her hand.

Mr and Mrs Gardiner were watching them with amusement.

"I see you have met my uncle." She smiled and kissed them both on the cheek.

"Yes! Mr Gardiner and I were just discussing the joys of fishing in Derbyshire!"

"Oh no, young man!" Her uncle declared jovially. "I believe you were trying to convince me of the superiority of riding over fishing for entertainment!" He shook his head with mock gravity. "A terrible sin to believe that to be so!"

"I continue to disagree, sir! Whilst fishing is certainly tranquil, nothing calms disturbed spirits and thoughts more than an invigorating ride about the wildness of the peaks!"

Mr Gardiner laughed "well, my niece would likely agree about the concept of a countryside being restorative to disturbed thoughts, although you would be unlikely to find her on a horse!" Her uncle nudged her "eh Lizzie!"

She rolled her eyes and mock shuddered.

"You do not like to ride?" Georgiana spoke the question but she could see Mr Darcy was interested in the answer.

"I never had much opportunity to, I am afraid. And I took a fall one of the few times I did. I prefer my own two feet."

"And perhaps a motor car if you should get the chance?" Darcy was looking at her with warm eyes and so she smiled and raised an eyebrow.

"Perhaps!"

"Well!" Said Mr Gardiner "you shall not convince me to forgo fishing in the future!"

"I suppose we might have to disagree for now." Mr Gardiner nodded his acceptance with chuckle.

Just then two children came running up to their small group. Alexa and Andrew were very excited to see their cousin again and chattered excitedly to her of all their explorations without her. They stopped when they saw the new people and became quite shy on introductions.

Andrew gave a very proper bow to Georgiana, who gave him her hand which he kissed with a smile and a blush. Alexa performed a trembling curtsey and Mr Darcy bowed over her hand also, causing her to giggle and blush as well. The tension was gone and after that they spoke with the new comers almost as much as they did Lizzie.

Georgiana seemed to be a particular object of interest to Alexa, who seemed very much in awe of her beautiful gown. Elizabeth suppressed a smile as she noted Andrew trying to copy Mr Darcy's posture.

"Well!" Her aunt declared, "now we are all present, shall we not find our seats?"

Elizabeth smiled as Mr Darcy offered his arm to Georgiana and Alexa and she graciously took Andrew's arm as he offered it to her. She was rather grateful that Alexa was between her and Mr Darcy and so she did not have to take his. Those feelings, the ones she did not want to examine, were starting to clamour for attention with each warm look and kind word he directed at one of her family. The care he was taking of Alexa near made her weak at the knees. No, she was glad she was holding Andrew's arm. She could not prevent the little sigh of contentment and earned herself a knowing look from her aunt.