AN: Read and review! Shocking twists ahead!
The sunlight streamed through the windows and hit Rose's face as her dream faded away. She could see the light despite her closed eyelids. Rose rolled over away from Cal and hid her face in her pillow. Memories of the night before flowed through her mind.
After leaving the infirmary, Jack had taken Rose down to the third class common room. It had transformed greatly since she had visited earlier that day. Loud laughter and conversation and had replaced the calm atmosphere and an Irish band played bagpipes, drums and the spoons while the piano stood untouched.
Rose had watched as Jack danced with Cora, a little girl of six or seven. Rose couldn't help notice how Cora's eyes lit up in admiration for her "Uncle Jack" and smiled to herself. In that moment, Rose knew he would make a wonderful father.
Jack had pulled her onto the dance floor despite her protests. She was afraid that all the fast and jerky movements would make her ill, but her worries dissolved into laughter as she danced in Jack's arms.
Rose felt Cal rise from the bed and held in a groan, irritated that he was awake and would soon be pulling her from her reverie. She remained, unmoving in bed with her eyes closed until Cal exited their bedroom. After the door clicked shut Rose rolled onto her back and stretched. Her muscles ached slightly from dancing, but to her it was a wonderful feeling. Rose laid her hand across her belly and smiled, recalling Jack doing the same last night before escorting her back to her cabin.
The clock on the mantle chimed the time, and Rose remembered that it was Sunday. In a few minutes, someone would come to rouse her so she would have plenty of time to eat breakfast and dress for mass. Deciding to beat them to it, Rose tossed the covers away with a quiet growl. She got up slowly so as not to make herself nauseous and stretched again when she finally stood.
Rose used the bathroom and grabbed her robe, tying it securely before stepping into her slippers. She could hear Cal from the bedroom, hollering to Trudy to awaken her to join him for breakfast. Rose opened the door as Trudy was about to knock, startling her.
"I'm sorry Trudy," Rose apologized.
"That's alright Miss. I didn't think you would be awake yet."
"I've been awake for a little while. Could you…never mind," Rose said. "I'll be out there in a few minutes dear," she hollered to Cal, knowing that it would irritate him. "Come in Trudy, please."
Rose closed and locked the door and turned to Trudy. "I wanted to tell you that I went to infirmary yesterday," she began in a hushed voice. Rose went out to tell her everything that had happened, including the fact that she was planning to leave with Jack when the ship docked.
"My goodness!" Trudy exclaimed. Rose put a finger to her lips to quiet her. "How do you plan to do that?"
Rose grabbed a brush from the vanity and began to unsnarl her curls. "I'm not sure yet, I have a couple of ideas. Either way, I am very sure that both Cal and my mother will question you. I realize that it's a lot to ask of you, but –"
"Not to worry. I won't say anything to them. You have my word." Rose smiled.
"Thank you Trudy." Rose grabbed a ribbon and tied her hair with it, allowing it to rest on one shoulder. "Could you go and tell Cal that I'll be right out?"
Trudy nodded and left. Rose took a look in the mirror and was satisfied with her appearance. Knowing that Cal would wait no longer, Rose headed to the promenade deck to join him. Cal sat there, staring at his coffee cup. Rose walked up behind him and kissed him on the cheek, immediately noticing that he was very tense.
"Good morning darling," she said sweetly. Oh how I can't wait to be done with this charade and being the perfect little wife! Rose sat as Trudy poured her coffee. She suddenly felt uncomfortable in Cal's presence. He looked tired and stressed. Rose began to wonder if he had discovered her affair with Jack.
"Is everything alright? You look concerned," Rose mixed a spoonful of sugar into her coffee and took a sip.
Cal took another drink of his own coffee. "I had hoped you would have been awake and waiting for me when I returned last night," he said. Rose stopped herself from rolling her eyes at his pouty behavior.
"I was tired," she told him.
Cal smirked. "Your exertions below deck were no doubt exhausting," he said sarcastically.
Irritated, Rose put her coffee cup on the table and sat back. "I see you had that undertaker of a manservant follow me. How typical," she snapped back.
"You will not behave like that again Rose. Do you understand?"
Rose began to get mad. How dare he! "I'm not a foreman in one of your mills that you can command. I am your wife!" she scolded sternly.
"My wife. My wife," Cal spat mockingly. "Yes you are!" Suddenly Cal was angrier than she had ever seen him. Without warning, Cal flipped the entire breakfast table over. Rose held in a scream as the food spilled and dishes broke. Never before had he scared her, but as he cornered her in her chair, Rose was horribly terrified. "You are my wife. It is inexcusable for you to just wonder off with another man. And you will honor me the way a wife is required to honor a husband. I will not be made a fool of Rose. Is this in anyway unclear?"
Still stunned by Cal's abrupt outburst, Rose shook her head in fear. "No," she whimpered.
"Good. Excuse me." Cal stood and Rose let out a breath. Cal walked to the door and turned to her. "It would be wise of you to remember this. You have no idea what is at stake for you and your mother should I decide to divorce you. Your name won't even save you then."
As soon as Cal left, Rose fell to her knees and began to pick up the broken dishes. Trudy rushed to her side. "I'm sorry Trudy," Rose said, choking back a sob. "We had a little misunderstanding."
Trudy touched her shoulder sympathetically. "It's alright Miss."
Rose felt frantic as she continued to choke back sobs. "Here, let me help you."
Trudy grabbed the flower that had flown from a vase from Rose's hand. "It's alright." Rose fell back against the chair. "Go wash up. I'll take care of this," Trudy assured her. Rose took a deep breath but didn't move. Trudy squeezed Rose's hand. "If you wish, we can discuss this later," she offered. Rose nodded, grateful for the offer. "It's alright Miss," she repeated. "Now please go. I'll be in soon."
Rose stood slowly, feeling a bit dizzy. She walked over to the window and slid it open. After a few deep breaths of the cool ocean air the feeling passed. "Do you want me to close this?" she asked Trudy.
"No. The fresh air feels good."
Rose nodded and walked to the door, pausing when she got there. "Thank you Trudy."
Trudy looked up at her. "You're welcome," she said with a small but genuine smile. Rose turned and left to go to her and Cal's bedroom, silently praying that Cal wasn't in there. Within seconds she knew her prayer was answered. Cal was in her mother's bedroom, which was across the sitting room. If Cal hadn't been raising his voice, she wouldn't have known otherwise. Curious, Rose stepped up to the door and listened.
"Caledon, please lower your voice!" Ruth said sternly.
"Do not make the same mistake that your daughter did. You do not speak to me like that woman," Cal ordered. "Lovejoy was searching for Rose for nearly three hours last night. When he found her, she was with him." Rose hated hearing Cal refer to Jack like he was a snake. "God only knows what they were doing in that time!"
Rose heard her mother sigh loudly. "You're right. You're absolutely right Caledon." Rose grimaced, knowing how much satisfaction Cal got out of being right. "I will speak with her before mass."
"See that you do Ruth. This little friendship has got to end today. I would hate for her to find out the truth about her father's death." Rose's heart began to race. What is he talking about? She held her breath and listened carefully.
"Caledon, please –" Ruth began.
"And I'm sure," Cal said cutting her off, "that you would hate for Rose to discover the truth about our marriage." It grew silent for a moment. "Do we understand each other?" Cal demanded.
Rose knew that was her cue to leave. She wanted to know more, but with Cal so enraged she didn't want to be caught eavesdropping. Quickly, she walked across the sitting room and into her bedroom. She went into the bathroom and closed and locked the door, leaning against it for a moment before going to the sink to splash cold water on her face. Before she could begin to wonder exactly what her mother and Cal had been talking about there was a knock at the door, causing her to jump.
"Miss Rose?" Trudy called. Rose let out a sigh of relief and opened the door. "Would you like to talk as I help you dress?" Rose wondered if Trudy knew anything about what they were speaking of. She wanted answers, but she was positive that she wouldn't get them from her mother or Cal.
Rose exited the bathroom and closed the door to the bedroom. She began to change her clothes as she tried to find her words. "I'm sorry about earlier Trudy."
"There's no need to explain. I confess that I was just as startled. I've never seen Mr. Hockley so angry."
Rose sighed sadly. "I'm apologize that I didn't realize what a difficult position I was putting you in by confiding in you and asking you to remain silent about everything."
Rose turned so Trudy could begin to lace up her corset. "Don't worry about me Miss. I gave you my word and I never give my word without intention of keeping it."
"Trudy, I was wondering if I could ask you about something. It doesn't concern Jack," she added quickly.
"Of course Miss," Trudy replied. Rose stood silent for a moment, working up the courage to ask if she knew anything of her father's death. She opened her mouth to speak when the door swung open.
"Tea Trudy," Ruth commanded, startling the two.
"Yes ma'am," Trudy replied obediently with a curtsy. Rose mentally cursed her mother's sudden appearance as Ruth signaled for her to turn around.
Ruth pulled at the corset strings harshly, taking Rose's breath away for a second. "You are not to see that boy again." Rose remained silent. "Rose, I forbid it!"
"Oh stop it mother. You'll give yourself a nosebleed," Rose snapped.
Ruth grabbed Rose by the shoulders and turned her harshly. "This is not a game. Caledon is very upset that you spent the evening with him last night. It would be an absolute nightmare should he decide to divorce you."
"For who mother? Who would it be a nightmare for?" Rose asked bitterly.
"Do not take that tone with me Rose. You may be married, but I am still your mother and I demand respect. I don't understand you. We would have been left with nothing if Caledon hadn't married you and we would be left with the same if he divorced you. We may not have money, but we still have our name. But if Cal were to divorce you, our good name would be ruined."
"All that matters to you is status," Rose said under her breath, but loud enough for Ruth to hear.
"Rose –"
"What is the truth about my father's death?" Ruth recoiled as if Rose had slapped her. "And what is the truth about my marriage to Cal?" Rose demanded further. She watched the color drain from her mother's face. Though she hadn't intended on confronting Ruth about the conversation she had heard, her mother's words of money and status lit an angry fire inside of her.
"I'm…I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about," Ruth said trying to regain her composure. "Now let me finish these laces," she said. Rose refused to turn around and instead crossed her arms over her breasts.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about mother." An idea came to Rose. "If you want me to stay away from Jack, you need to tell me what you and Cal were talking about."
Ruth let out a deep breath. She knew if she told Rose the truth, Caledon would be irate. She had to buy time to come up with a lie, perhaps consult with Caledon about the matter. "Alright, I can see you're not going to drop the subject." Though Ruth knew the time, she made a point of letting her eyes go to the clock. "It's a long story, for which we do not have time for right now. I will tell you everything this afternoon."