Rose stood at the banquet table, looking at the spread, thinking about sampling some of the food laid out. Her mother always discouraged eating at these galas, telling Rose that it was inappropriate for a suitor to see a lady eat, but Rose disagreed. Women get hungry too, and why even offer food if no one was going to eat it?

"Everything looks pretty decent. Usually, the food at these things was rather...bland," Jack stood behind her, eyeing the appetizers. "What's your favorite food, Rose?"

"I don't think well-bred ladies are supposed to have a favorite, Mr. Dawson," Rose's smile was teasing as she turned to face him. She was again struck by how good looking he truly was. It didn't matter how he was dressed. He could be wearing the rags of a wandering artist, or a well-tailored suit of a first-class gentleman, Jack Dawson would always be the most handsome man on the earth to her with his pretty eyes, silky hair, and a smile that could light up a room for days.

"I suggest the pigs in a blanket. The closest thing the rich will ever come to when it comes to real hot dogs."

"Wait. I thought that they were real hot dogs."

"Nope. They're close, but they're not the ones you can buy at amusement parks. Big long ones that fit on a bun. They sell them at Coney Island. I'll buy you one!"

Rose laughed, drawn in by Jack's cheerful nature. She really had never met a first-class gentleman like him before. He was even more fascinating now than he had been when she thought him a poor artist. "You make it sound like we're going on some great adventure."

"It can be that. That is what's so great about Coney Island. You can make it anything you want it to be."

"Well, I'll be looking forward to that adventure, Mr. Dawson. I am especially looking forward to that hot dog."

"In the meantime, we can enjoy the smaller, somewhat fancier version," Jack picked up one of the appetizers and held it out to Rose.

Giggling, she took the treat and took a dainty bite out of it, causing Jack to roll his eyes.

"What?"

"You don't eat it like that. You pop it into your mouth. Like this," Jack stuffed a whole one into his mouth and tried not to laugh as she stared at him in disbelief. "What? A first-class guy can't eat?"

"You are insane," Rose laughed.

"That's what everyone says," Jack chuckled, just as Edward and Louise stepped into the center of the room and Edward tapped a fork against his champagne glass, signaling for everyone to pay attention.

Jack and Rose watched as Edward and Louise announced their engagement and Edward made it official by presenting Louise with a gorgeous diamond necklace that had to have cost him a small fortune. Rose thought it was the gaudiest piece of jewelry she had ever seen, but Louise was overjoyed and seemed to love the gift. She smiled and clapped along with the rest of the party-goers as the couple hugged and kissed.

"They look happy," Jack commented, watching Edward lead his fiancee onto the dance floor, wondering if he and Rose will be doing the same in the near future. He hoped so. The more time he spent with Rose, the deeper in love he fell.

"They should be. Louise has wanted this since we left finishing school. She always talked about how lucky I was to have found Cal and if Edward proposed in time, we could have a double wedding," Rose inwardly shuddered at the thought of marrying Cal instead of Jack. She dreaded even the idea of marrying Caledon Hockley, even if it was with another couple alongside them.

"Would she mind if it was me instead?"

"She'd be scandalized, as well as myself! The Dawson heir marrying Caledon Hockley! Why the society pages would have a field day!" Rose couldn't help herself. She felt so comfortable with Jack. It was like they had known each other forever and were free to tease and laugh with one another. There was a comradeship there that simply didn't exist with Cal.

"Haha. You know what I mean. Would she mind if I was your groom instead of Cal?"

"I don't know. She'd probably be even happier. After all, your family money is even older than the Hockley's."

Jack rolled his eyes and took a sip of the champagne that one of the waiters had offered him. "It's all rather droll, the idea of new and old money. I don't see the difference really."

"Neither do I. It's all rather absurd if you ask me."

Jack smiled and took her hand in his, again feeling like he was talking to another part of himself, they had so much in common. He lifted her hand to his lips for another kiss. "You're my kind of girl, Rose. We fit each other. I hope that your mother sees that."

Speaking of her mother, Rose glanced across the room, where Ruth was openly observing. She relaxed as her mother gave a nod, signaling that she was satisfied by her daughter's behavior so far. "I think she does..."

"Good. So would I be too forward to ask for a dance?"

"You wouldn't be forward at all, Mr. Dawson. I would love to dance with you," Rose accepted the offer, giggling as Jack lead her out onto the ballroom floor, where a waltz was just beginning to play.

….

As she and her mother returned home that evening, Rose felt giddy. It was a feeling that she wasn't used to when it came to these galas. Normally, she was tired and in a bad mood from the hours of boredom, but not this time. This time, she felt light on her feet and unbelievably happy! It was all thanks to Jack! He was everything she had ever wanted in a suitor. He was handsome, smart, funny, and down to earth. Most importantly, he understood her. He didn't look down at her or found her silly. He treated her like an actual person, not some decorative item that was to be seen and have his babies, but not heard. He was perfect. They had spent the entire time with each other and now, all she could think about was him and when she would see him again.

"I must say that I am pleased, Rose," Ruth took off her gloves as she walked through the door. "You seemed to have charmed the Dawsons, despite your...unconventional behavior. They seemed to be rather pleased with you, therefore I am pleased. I just wish that you would make an effort to be as pleasing for the Hockley's."

Rose wanted to groan. The Hockley's again? Why won't her mother give up on them? Especially since they were no longer such a sure thing, at least according to Nathan Hockley. Rose was pretty sure that if Nathan wanted Cal to marry someone else, his word was law.

"Mother, about Cal. Word is that he's exploring other options. Shouldn't we be doing the same? Jack Dawson and I get along so well and have a lot in common. At the end of the summer, there may be something there. He may be the sure thing. Why are you hanging on so hard to the Hockley's?"

"Rose, may I remind you of why Nathan was so upset? The sheer amount of debts that your father has left us...it's put us in a rather bad position. Really, your viability is waning fast. If we don't move fast, no one will want to marry you, much less the Hockley's. I doubt very much that a family of such high standing, such as the Dawsons, will want to take on those debts. No matter how fond their heir may be of you. Do not even get your hopes up."

"You just don't even want to consider the Dawsons, do you?" Rose sighed, her good mood quickly fading. She didn't know why she even thought that her mother would be for something that'd make her happy.

"I am just being practical Rose. I know how the world works and that is what I am working with."

"No, you just want me miserable. I am surprised you even allowed a visit from Emilie and Jack, knowing how much I prefer Jack over Cal. If it makes me miserable, you're all for it."

"Do not be ridiculous, Rose! I do want you to be happy, but it would be foolish to ignore the Hockley's for an offer that hasn't even been made yet, if at all!"

Rose guessed that she could understand her mother's reasoning, but she was too frustrated to care if it was reasonable or not! She was tired of feeling trapped, especially when she knew that her freedom was just at her fingertips. Jack may be right. If he couldn't save her from this cage her mother had her in, she may have to save herself.

"Mother...I want to make you happy, I do...but I can't do it at the expense of my own happiness. I need to live with this decision to marry. It is my life, not yours. I am trying to work with you, but you have to do the same."

Ruth frowned, not sure if she liked what she was hearing. "What are you saying, Rose?"

"I am saying, that either you start considering Jack a real option, just like you do Cal...or I will not be marrying a gentleman at all, especially not Cal! I still have a say! I can either say I do, or I don't. With Cal...it'll always be I don't."

"And have us lose everything? Doom us to a life of poverty?!"

"Only if I have to. I know that you're fond of Cal and think that he's a catch, but you won't be the one married to him and living with him day in and day out. I will and I rather vow my life to someone I like, not someone I hold great disdain for," Rose folded her arms across her chest, trying to sound firm in her decision. She didn't want to give her mother any wiggle room.

"You are being very selfish, Rose."

"No, mother. I'm really not. If I was being selfish, I would resist marrying anyone at all. I just want to like and respect my husband. I like and respect Jack. I like and respect many of the young men in our circle. I just can't stand Cal."

Ruth didn't say anything. What could she say? Rose seemed so firm in her decision. Sure, she could try to force Cal as the one and only choice, but with Nathan making it known that Cal was keeping his options open, fighting Rose on this just wasn't worth it.

"I suggest that you make sure that you keep Jack Dawson's attention, Rose. If your plan is to keep both of us happy, that is your only option. I just hope that the boy's family will be as generous as the Hockley's."

"Keeping Jack's attention will not be a problem mother, I am sure of it," Rose simply smiled, again feeling the sweet taste of victory. Who knew that standing up to her mother would be so easy?