Titanic -The Heart Never Lies HL Griffiths

Opportunity- Chapter Twelve

Cal

After Roses dress fitting, Rose and her mother joined me for afternoon tea in the drawing room. Rose was not smiling and she was silent. She sat down precisely in her chair and held her tea cup like a lady. Oh what a transformation, she was everything I wanted. Now Finally. No wildness or carry ons.

"Rose looked very becoming do you not think Caledon, in her engagement gown" Ruth prattled.

"Indeed" I said "She will be the Belle of the Ball" I retorted.

Ruth gasped, suddenly"The millinery shop has forgotten to drop of the satin gloves, I must go in person" she stood up and made her leave. Rose never once looked at at just looked at her cup in her hands.

Once Ruth had departed it was time I laid down a few ground rules. I put my cup down on the table and leant down and placed my hands on the arms of her chair so our faces were inches. She blinked in surprise and her mouth narrowed.

"Now we are alone I have a few things that I expect of my "wife" I smiled as I took in her rosy red lips, her green catlike eyes and her alabaster skin. I lifted a hand and stroked her cheek

"Oh you are so beautiful, there is nothing that you will ever want for" I whispered transfixed by her radiance.

ROSE

He was practically on top of me, right up to my face, his hands on my cheeks, undressing me with his eyes. Lust flaring there.

The instinct to pull back my head and hock spit into his face was overwhelming like I had on Titanic. I said rooted to the chair. He mistook my reticence for decorum and innocence. I wanted to be violently sick.

Then he went for it and planed his lips on mine in a harsh kiss. I knew I had to feign acceptance so I sighed and pressed my lips mechanically against his

I felt nothing I pretended I was in a play, on stage. A stage kiss. He did not notice that I was acting, "Oh Rose" you are a good actress" I thought.

He pulled back satisfied, a smile playing on his lips

"Well he said" I expect more of this after the engagement party tomorrow. When the party finishes in the Evening we will depart on the early morning train to Philadelphia. You will be sharing my bed once we get to "Crosswinds" The Philly House. Married or not. I will be denied no longer!" He crossed his arms and yawned.

"Of course your mother will accompany us and we will find her suitable room at Cross winds. Two weeks later then will be the wedding. That's all, happy?" he continued.

His black eyes bored into mine. I cranked my mouth into a beaming smile and rose from my chair "Oh Yes Cal dearest, perfectly".

He returned my smile but said in dangerous low voice "No funny business, Bonner will keep an eye on you! You are mine now"

"Yes" I faltered "I understand" I held the arm of the chair my knuckles whitening

Tonight, Tonight, I had to get out, if he got me to Philadelphia it was a life sentence of marriage to him and a death sentence to Jacks child!

Abruptly he frowned, "Oh dash it, I have to meet Capt Caruthers at the club, he has some paperwork for me, Oh fiddlesticks, Bonner is running an errand too"

"Sweets" I whispered and came forward and caught his arm "I am feeling peaky, I am going to have a lie down before dinner, and mother will be back any moment"

He scrutinised me and hesitated. I bravely put a hand up to his cheek and kissed him softly on the lips

Yuk, like kissing the devil, I was playing my last card now, this was the moment I had been waiting for. I had to get him away just for five minutes, that was all I needed, desperation making me act wildly

I pulled him to me in a fierce embrace and kissed him hard and he responded. I was playing the part to perfection; the doting fiancée and he brought it

He pushed me back "I am so looking forward to the Party and our wedding" I said sweetly; one hand behind my back nails digging into my skin of my palms.

"I must go" he said "You go and lie down and I'll see you at dinner and we'll talk more then, I am so glad you are being a lady!"

Oh you won't see me at dinner Cal, you'll never see me again, Oh I am enjoying playing you for a change, my mind bubbled.

He left the room holding me possessively by the arm; I floated to the stairs and watch him take his coat. I slowly started walking up the stairs backward smiling at him.

"The door will be locked, but Ruth has a key, see you later sweet pea"

I waved at him coquettishly and turned to go to the top of the stairs, dutifully I went to the Nursery and lay down on the bed and put an arm across my head. I heard his footsteps come up the stairs and put his head round the door to look at me. "I wont be long, sleep well Rose" he said softly

Blurrrgh I thought trying not to laugh. I heard his footsteps recede down the hall and the bang of the door. I lay on the bed for as few minutes and then went to the window and could see his car drive off down the road.

This was it, now or never. And I had to be fast!

Jack

I would never be able to thank Molly, she insisted on giving me a great wad of cash.

We argued and she said she owed me and wanted to help. In the course of the argument I asked her why she liked me so much and she replied I was like her own son and softly she told me of the time on the boat she had lent me her son's tuxedo and told me about dining in first class with Rose and her family and why

Rose that name haunted me, in my dreams I saw her face from the smudged face, alive electric eyes, her lips parted softly saying "Jack I love you" was she a dream or a fantasy had she ever been real? I had rescued her from chucking herself off the back of Titanic Molly said. I wished I could remember the feelings but I couldn't.

"Molly" I am going to catch the train in the morning to wherever the fancy takes me, I want to get into art, I want a studio, maybe somewhere like California, where its warm and the lights good I hear" I said.

Molly laughed. "You'll be a fine good artist Jack, you'll make it big I say, those sketches you've done of the park and the staff are superb""

"I'll get Benson the footman to help you pack your stuff"

I hugged her "Your too good for me" I said. Happy now I had made some definite plans.

Rose

I slowly turned the dial of Cals safe. My heart thumping wildly. The jerk has my birthday numbers as a safe combination. I yanking it open and reached in and grabbed a huge wad of bound notes and then on the second look a heavy jewellery box. "That dammed necklace"

It was mine, all I had to remind me of my lost love!

I shoved it into the pillow case I had used as bag along with the cash. I had just grabbed some basic clothes and a small coat and some dresses the plainest I had

I looked around frantically and ran to the office window. Oh joy I was in luck. With brute force, feeling like a wild animal I pulled open the catches to the down stairs window and struggled to lift the sash. It opened slightly. Thank god I was still skinny I managed to slide out the window dragging the case.

Freedom, the wind rushed through my long hair, it was chilly but I didn't notice in my think red silk dress I hadn't been warm since being in the Ocean. I crept along the perimeter of the garden wall. And managed to reach the side gate. It was open

Oh god you are smiling on me I laughed, I snuck through the gate and dashed around the corner from the house.

Then I ran, Till my lungs burned, never stopping till I could reach the station.

I am free, WE are free me and the baby! .I thought. "Jack your baby" Can you hear me I have escaped Cal." Now to put distance between me and him. He was not going to be very happy, not at all. I laughed out loud at the prospect of his horror when he realised I and the necklace were long gone.