These events are fictionalized. I have done a bit of research to try and keep things close to historically accurate, however I am taking some creative liberties for the sake of the narrative.

Chapter 01: Departures

08 April 1912

The young woman sat atop a trunk as a petit older woman packed a suitcase, she couldn't be any taller than 5 feet tall, with stark white hair. The younger woman was aloof to the packing and to the other woman who had entered the room. Her black curls neatly pinned back to look presentable. Her olive complexion and dark brown eyes caught the light shining through the window as she looked off into space, not thinking about anything. Her dress was covered in a fine Spanish lace, long fitted sleeves that went to her wrists, her hands daintily clutching her handbag, her ankles neatly tucked into one another.

"Isabel… are you listening to me?" She hadn't noticed that her mother had walked in. 'What could she possibly want?' Isabel thought to herself.

"Sorry dear mother, what did you say?" She replied with no emotion.

"I asked you if you were excited about your trip, you must be. I hear Alonso is very excited to meet you!"

She looked a lot like her mother, though her mother had fairer skin and her hair was far straighter and finer than her own. She knew in some ways she took more after her father than her mother. Whenever the family vacationed in Majorca her mother would get a terrible burn, even under her parasol and tent. She and her father would merely tan, something her mother would constantly remind her was very unbecoming of a Lady.

"Oh yes, Alonso, yes, quite excited indeed. I'm sure he will be splendid." Isabel didn't bother looking at her mother, she hadn't been unable to even feign joy these days, even for the sake of her own mother. "Carla is packing some last-minute things before we set off for the train station."

Her mother sat down next to her daughter and placed a hand on her knee. "Isabel, you know this is your duty and responsibility-" Isabel stood up and walked closer to the window, to get a better look at what was going on below.

"Isabel, we all have responsibilities that we must honor and as a Lady you have the great honor of carrying that burden."

Isabel didn't turn around to face her.

"Yes mother, I know, that has been made extensively clear to me. I will meet with Alonso and fulfill my obligations to the family." The family… She was Lady Isabel Antonia Josefa Marin de Galicia. She knew her place in life, whether she was content with it or not.

The clicking of the suitcase clasps closing made her bring her attention away from the window.

"Is that all Carla?" She asked her attendant, she had been with their family since before she was born. "Yes, Lady Isabel, all packed. I will call for the luggage to be brought down to the car. I expect we should be ready to depart in 5 minutes." Carla gave a slight curtsey and left the room to call for one of the footmen to come pick up the lady's luggage.

Isabel turned to speak to her mother, this time looking at her. "Dear mother, I will go and fulfill my obligation to you and to my dear father." She approached her mother who stood and gave her a firm hug, still devoid of emotion. While they held each other, her mother whispered in her ear, "I'm proud of you Isabel."

She knew what she was doing was difficult, but with time the choice would become easier, if she let it. Isabel picked up her coral hat that matched the coral color of her dress. Adorned with dried flowers and feathers, she affixed it to her head using her hat pin and left the room, never looking back.

Four footmen came, two carried the trunk that women had been sitting on, one grabbed two suitcases, and the fourth grabbed two suitcases and two hat boxes underneath his arms. Her mother walked out of the room and to the railing where she could see down into the foyer where her daughter was walking out the door to the car that was waiting for her and Carla. With a deep sigh she turned and went down the hall to her own quarters to rest.

Carla was waiting for Isabel at the car, once she emerged from the manor the footman opened the door and both Carla and Isabel boarded. Carla looked over at her charge, she had been quite somber for months now. She had been caring for Lady Isabel for almost 22 years and she cared for her deeply and seeing her in such a state pained her. She needed time; time heals all wounds they say.

The footmen finished loading the luggage and the chauffeur took off to the train station, they had a long journey ahead of them, and with Isabel in a melancholy state, it would likely feel even longer.

…

Later that evening

They had finished the first leg of their trip and Carla was helping Lady Isabel get ready for bed in their hotel room in Bordeaux. They had left Madrid about 8 hours ago and they had at least another 8 hours to go tomorrow morning if they were going to catch their ship to The United States. Carla was brushing Isabel's hair at the vanity in the hotel room. Isabel was staring blankly into her own reflection.

"Lady Isabel," Carla tried to get Isabel's attention, "would you like me to get you something to eat from the restaurant downstairs? You must be famished."

Isabel shook her head. "No that's alright Carla, I am feeling uneasy from the train ride. I think I want to go to bed now."

Carla nodded, Isabel was already in her sleeping gown, she just needed her beautiful curls to be tucked away properly so she can sleep without disturbing them. Hopefully tomorrow she would be in better states.

…

10 April 1912

They had arrived at Cherbourg last night and were staying at a hotel for the evening. Carla was exhausted, their train broke down yesterday adding an extra 4 hours to their travel. It had suffered some technical malfunctions and the ride ended up lasting 12 hours. Isabel was still sleeping, and Carla laid out for her a blue pinstriped dress with matching waist coat. She worried it might be too cold later near the water as they boarded their final passage vessel, the R.M.S. Titanic.

She quietly exited the room to find something to eat before her charge woke up, hopefully she could relax a little once they boarded the ship. Taking care of Isabel, keeping track of their luggage, their travel documents, and adhering to a tight schedule was beginning to fatigue her; not that she would show it, she was after all a professional.

…

It was now an hour past noon and Lady Isabel still hadn't woken. Carla understood that yesterday was a bit more grueling then expected but this is absurd. She entered Isabel's room and gently shook her awake.

"Lady Isabel, Lady Isabel it's time to wake up. You've slept enough my dear." Carla gently whispered as she tried to rouse the sleeping woman. Isabel groaned and turned over. "Lady Isabel, you must wake up, we need to make sure to give you time to get ready and arrive to check our luggage prior to boarding." With a final groan Isabel opened her eyes and looked at Carla.

"What time is it?" she asked through a fog of sleep.

"It is one o'clock Lady Isabel. You really need to get up and start getting ready. I've already drawn your bath and laid out your clothes. We really need to get under way." Carla said, as loving as ever.

Isabel smiled. "Thank you Carla, I don't know what I would do without you. I honestly cannot believe I slept this late." She pulled the comforter and sheets off her and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.

"Don't you worry yourself Lady Isabel, yesterday was a long and unexpected day. We move forward and on now, though right?" Carla said spiritedly with a big smile that made Isabel smile in return. "Yes, indeed," she replied.

'Forward and on, that's what father used to say to me…' She thought to herself. Her father had arranged this marriage with Alonso, another powerful family in Spain before he died in that auto accident.

'I miss you father, why did you did you do this?' Isabel had been very close with her father, and she still can't imagine that he would do this to her. 'I was his little Isa, until all of the sudden I was Isabel. I suppose fathers outgrow the love they have for their daughters once they are eligible for marriage.'

"What a long journey we're taking Carla. I do not know how you are holding up right now." Isabel spoked to Carla with a smile, the woman would always hold a special place in her heart. She probably spent more time with Carla over the course of her life than with her own mother.

"Yes, Lady Isabel, but what a wonder trains are. I would have never imagined making this trip in two days as a young girl!" Carla spoke with much excitement thinking about how much things had changed since her childhood.

Carla helped Isabel get into her bath. "I will come check on your ladyship in about a half an hour," she curtsied and left the bathroom.

Isabel had been distraught about this marriage for months now. It was all another move on the chessboard, it was about someone else benefiting from her actions, from her existence.

'Mother says it's in my interest since too, but I can hardly see that being the truth.'

Since her father died, she couldn't tolerate her mother anymore. She was so cold and calculating. She hadn't seen any of her friends, her mother had run them off saying Isabel was far too busy to worry about the childish things. Really, her mother wanted to keep her from getting distracted, from anything that might steer her away from Alonso. She didn't dare risk that Isabel meet someone or hear something that may cause her to do something to ruin this whole affair. Thus, Isabel had been essentially a prisoner in her own home for nearly a year. 'Eyes on the prize…' she thought to herself.

Isabel had fallen into severe anxiety and depression. Being alone with her thoughts in her room, looking out of the window had done nothing but harm her. She lost sense of time, who knew what day or time it was? A month or so ago, she began to hear a voice in her head telling her terrible things. It demanded that she be worthy of happiness, that the reason she was going through this whole affair was because she had done a great misdeed. Her unhappiness and this situation must be a product of something terrible she had done. It was the only explanation, she deserved it. 'This is what you get. If you were prettier, smarter, nicer this wouldn't have happened…'

She had been alone with her thoughts for long enough. She stood from the bath and began to dry off, careful not to slip on the marble floor of the bathroom. Entering her room, Carla was sitting reading a book. "Oh, Lady Isabel, let me help you! I didn't realize you were done" she said and began to fuss over her. "It's quite alright Carla. If you could help me dress, I would appreciate it."

Carla slipped her chemise over her head, then her corset and began to tie it up. After that she slipped on her under dress and her over dress and fastened on her waist coat.

"Lady Isabel, I haven't done up your stays too tightly have I? This dress seems to be a bit loose on you," she asked as she grabbed the extra fabric on the dress.

Isabel shook her head, "no Carla, everything is fitting me fine, thank you for your help." Isabel said dismissively, not truly listening.

Carla fixed her hair in the usual fashion with her curls delicately coming over her shoulder. Isabel donned her hat and gloves and Carla escorted her to the hotel restaurant to eat while Carla gathered their belongings and set for them to be delivered to the docks, it was now half past three in the afternoon.

Isabel sat down and ordered herself the usual pastry and pot of tea with lemon. She had a sweet tooth, particularly for French pastries. She ordered a fruit tarte and macarons with her tea. 'Lovely' she thought with a smile. She wafted all the delicious smells to her face. She would love to enjoy this. She poured herself her tea, added her lemon and cut her food into tiny bits. She took a bite of her tarte and could feel the pastry melting in her mouth. "Mmmm." An audible, 'how unladylike' she thought. More tea, more lemon, another bite.

"Delicious…" she said to herself, utterly satisfied. She stood up to leave and clutched her chair a little longer than usual. Taking a deep breath, she walked out of the restaurant and to the hotel entrance.

'Let us see if we can't have a little fun before leaving the continent,' she thought confidently as she walked out into the coastal city.

…

It was around 6 in the evening, a few hours later, that Isabel arrived at the dock where Carla was waiting for her. She arrived carrying two small boxes and one large round box, all wrapped with ribbons.

Carla signed. "Lady Isabel I really wish you would tell me when you are going to disappear like that. I was worried you would miss boarding." Isabel put a hand on her shoulder. "Do not worry Carla, I'm hear and on time." She smiled lovingly at her friend and attendant, always concerned with her wellbeing.

"After yesterday I really needed to get out and stretch my legs, get some air." Carla nodded, her outing also seemed to be helping her disposition, which brought Carla much joy. Perhaps she was coming around to her duty?

"Do you have our tickets then?" she asked Carla.

"Yes, right here," Carla pulled the tickets for their voyage out of her apron and gave them to Isabel.

"Good, we should get going then." Isabel handed the boxes to Carla. Carla gave them to a porter and quickly gave him instructions as to where to deliver them. Isabel started down the gangway towards their ferry, that would take them to Titanic.

"Look Carla, look at it. It's a massive." Isabel was in awe; she had never been on a vessel that large before. For it to look this large from this far away was astounding. They showed the attendant on the ferry their tickets and proceeded on board. Isabel felt reenergized, she had been feeling so full of life all afternoon and was feeling a sort of high from it. Having been out of her home, out and about the small-town shopping took her mind off her troubles. On the ferry Isabel looked out the window, taking in the view of the sunset. "Beautiful," she whispered to herself.

The ferry taxied them to the liner and came to a halt. The gangway doors were opened on the huge liner and the gangway between the ferry and ship deployed. The two women stood in line as passengers ahead of them began to walk across the ramp. A single file line of all very dignified persons with their attendants, their ladies and valets. All these persons were preparing to board the world's most luxurious vessel as they saw to be their God given right. The porter at the start of the ramp extended a hand to help her over the step to get onto the platform. Isabel started down followed by Carla, stopping briefly to look at the sunset, then turning back to look back towards the ferry.

"Is something wrong ma'am?" Carla asked.

Isabel shook her head. "No…"

Everything was not fine. As Isabel looked back and saw the ferry, she could feel her heart begin to race, her breathing got fast and shallow. She forced herself to turn back to the ship and continue her forward pace down the rest of the gangway. Reaching the end of the ramp where an officer stood collecting tickets.

"Tickets madame." She stared at him for a moment, gray began to creep around her vision, then darkness.

"Miss! Somebody get the doctor!" That was the last thing she heard before going completely unconscious.