Titanic -The Heart Never Lies HL Griffiths
Trapped - Chapter Nine
Ruth
I sat down in a chair by Roses bedside and watched as she slept. It was six weeks since we had come here, to Nathan Hockley's house, father of Caledon. Mr Hockley Senior was travelling but gave full consent to us keeping Rose safe until the marriage, but did we have Rose's consent?
My late husband Daniel was so much like Rose, the same wilfulness and vitality, it was what had attracted me to him as a young bride and what I abhorred in him later and divided us in every way. He did not conform and followed his instincts and desires, oh so embarrassing, people talking about his shoddy affaires behind my back, laughing at me, meek little Ruth.
I was not brought up to lie and cheat, I was groomed from a young age to "belong", to be polite and courteous. He was a shock to my system. Imagine my dismay when my only daughter turned out to have the same spirit. They were so close and adored each other, me always on the outside, distant. She couldn't end up being like Daniel.
He had brought us to our knees, gambling away the Dewitt-Bukater fortune on Roses 16th Birthday, then dying of a heart attack a week later. The only thing left was our good name. And Rose carried it, she had to marry well and save our family.
I groaned outlook as I thought of her association with the guttersnipe on the Titanic, teaching her to spit, disrespect Cal, running wild. He was so low class and has nearly cost us our chance to be ingratiated with the Hockley's – where we belonged.
Wonderful Caledon finding me on the Carpathia in first class, promising to take care of me and bring back Rose.
Oh how grateful I was to dear Caledon, taking on Rose despite her faux pas with the Dawson boy. Sad that he died but what good news for us. Caledon still wanted to marry her, I knew how highly he thought of her.
I looked at her lying peacefully, she had not been out of this room save to go into the adjoining bath room. The rebelliousness she had brought with her off the Titanic was gone and now she was subservient and demure again. Speaking to Caledon respectfully and obeying him.
That awful Nurse had been paid off and had gone last week. I was a bit concerned with Roses weight loss and the dark circles under her eyes. She had nearly died so it was understandable.
She was so lucky , Caledon Had brought her a wonderful trousseau, and jewels and had replaced my losses from the ship. I was so reassured. We had a wonderful engagement party planned for the week after and Rose would be launched in to Philadelphian society as Caledon's fiancée. She had made a brilliant match I would have been ecstatic if Daniel had been as suitable as Caledon.
Rose
My mother brought my breakfast on a tray to me when I awoke from fitful sleep thinking of Jack and the sinking of the ship and me screaming for him.
My mother smiled from ear to ear, she was contented, me back in my gilded prison, my emotions did not matter as long as I conformed. I had the horrible Nurse breathing down my neck and I tried to escape by sleeping.
My mother, Cal had brought her off with replacing all her lovely clothes and mine too, but the rich beautiful new dresses and furs sickened me. Oh how much I had forced my will to be Cals puppet these long weeks, I did not speak to him unless it was to answer yes or no. He was pleased with my submissiveness.
I was so weary, losing Jack had stripped me down to my last defences and I couldn' t fight anymore.
But inside my mind was yelling, consistently planning ways out of this living nightmare. I could not marry Cal, if he touched me it would be like snakes slithering across my skin, it would be alien and I knew instinctively he would take what he wanted no matter what!
My frosty hearted mother would never understand.
"Rose sweetie, we must get up and get dressed after you have eaten, the dress maker needs to measure you up for your engagement gown" she cooed.
She set the tray down and gracefully exited smiling as she went.
I sighed and reached for a piece of toast but as I went to bite it the smell suddenly nauseated me, I ran to the adjoining bath room and vomited.
I lay on the hard cold floor feeling hot and cold, a fearful realisation washed over me.
"Oh my god" I hissed. This was the fourth time I had vomited in the last few weeks, I had been sleepy and my breasts were tender. I was pregnant and with Jacks child.!
He'd kissed me in the car, our love spilled over and we celebrated that love in thet car in the hold of Titanic, we had not been careful; caught up in the heat of our passion!!!
And it had resulted in Jacks child, a part of him always, Oh No my engagement to Cal, what would happen to me and the child now once he discovered its existence?