Thanks for the fantastic reviews! I am having so much fun with this so I hope you are having fun reading it. It's short, but with scenes as they are, it's hard to keep them even. Anyway, happy reading!

Chapter Twelve

Wife in Practice

Early the next morning I awoke. It was Sunday and they were having services in the main dining salon for those who wanted to attend. Of course we would attend. Mother and Cal had to keep up appearances. I, on the other hand, wanted to stay in bed and relive the night before in my mind.

Being with Jack and being down in Third Class had opened a door to me that had never been opened before. I saw the way real people lived, the way that they laughed and interacted with each other. They had nothing to prove, no one to impress and they were none the worse for it as I had been taught to believe.

Trudy tapped on the door and entered, her smiling face greeting me as she did. "Good morning, Miss Rose."

"Good morning, Trudy," I answered with a sigh.

"Mr. Hockley is waiting for you. He's had breakfast sent up this morning."

Wonderful, I thought and nearly cringed, still I didn't make a move to leave the bed. She busied herself with the necessary preparations for my day and once in a while glanced over at me.

"Miss Rose, Mr. Hockley…" she said as she watched the door. "Perhaps you should join him."

Sighing again, I threw back the covers and slid from the bed. "Very well, Trudy. Please get my dressing gown."

"Yes ma'am," she curtsied and lifted it for me. After putting it on, I made my way to the private promenade deck where a table had been set up for breakfast. Cal was already there as was a young steward who was serving him. He turned when he saw me enter.

"There you are," he drawled and stood from his seat, reaching out his hand for me. He kissed me on the cheek and then pulled back the opposite chair for me to sit.

The atmosphere was tense although I had no reason to believe Cal suspected what I had done the night before. Perhaps it was just me, I mused. Trudy filled my tea cup and sat it down in front of me. I lifted my spoon and absentmindedly stirred the sugar I had just put in.

"Coffee, sir," Trudy asked him, but he waved her off. Done with their duties, Trudy and the steward left us alone.

I knew I should have said something but I could not find the words. I lifted the cup to my lips to take a sip when he finally did.

"I had hoped you would come to me last night," he said looking at me.

I felt my heart skip a beat. I lowered the cup. "I was tired," I answered him.

"Hmm, you're exertions below decks were no doubt exhausting," he quipped and I knew then, that he knew and I knew why he knew. Lovejoy.

"I see you had that undertaker of a manservant follow me, how typical," I replied testily. But Cal was not finished.

"You will never behave like that again, Rose. Do you understand?"

I sat for a moment contemplating his words. Did I understand? Oh yes, I'm afraid I did, all too well. Cal wanted to control me, to hold me down until I had no free thought of my own. He wanted to own me.

"I'm not a foreman in one of your mills that you can command," I spouted. "I'm your fiancée."

Cal's face changed from that of control to anger in swift concession. "My fiancée, my fiancée!" he shouted and stood at the same time. "Yes, you are and my wife!" He suddenly grabbed the table and flung it to the side sending the contents of our breakfast flying across the deck floor. He lunged for me, gripping the handles of my chair, stopping mere inches from my face. My heart slammed into my throat at his outburst.

"My wife in practice if not yet by law and you will honor me," he nearly snarled. "You will honor me the way a wife is required to honor her husband because I will not be made out a fool, Rose. Is this in anyway unclear?"

I had never been afraid of Cal until that moment and I now I was terrified of him. His dark eyes bore into me like hot coals as he glared down at me. Finding my voice, I heard myself answer him, "No."

"Good," he nodded curtly and stood. "Excuse me." And then he turned and left without so much as a look back.

I sat in shock silence for a moment as he stalked across the deck and into the sitting room. Trudy, who had appeared at the commotion, came running toward me as Cal disappeared.

"Miss Rose," she called frantically.

I didn't know what to think or how to act. Cal's reaction had frightened me more than anything I had ever experienced before. I tried to hold myself together but the feelings of fear overwhelmed me and I began to break down. "We had a little accident," I managed to say between gasps of air.

"It's alright, Miss Rose, it's alright," Trudy immediately knelt on the floor and began gathering the shards of glass and scattered food.

"I'm sorry, Trudy," I cried hoarsely as I began to kneel down. "Let me help you."

"It's alright, Miss," she repeated firmly and took my hand. I looked over at her and what little composure I had managed to keep in tact, I lost. Tears of humiliation ran freely down my cheeks then and I slid further down on the ground, pushing against the nearby chair.

"It's alright, Miss," Trudy repeated again and squeezed my hand.

I covered my mouth with my other hand and tried to compose myself. What was happening to my life? Was this to be how it was going to be? Was I to live in constant fear?

Trudy smiled sympathetically at me. "Miss Rose, why don't you go to your room and I'll take care of this."

I wiped a tear from my cheek with a shaky hand. "I'm sorry, Trudy. I'm so very sorry you had to witness this," I whispered to her.

"Not to worry, Miss," Trudy shook her head. She stood and helped me to my feet. I staggered once and slightly fell against her. I was embarrassed to be seen this way. With gentle coaxing Trudy led me into my room and quietly shut the door behind us, so as not to alert my mother. I moved over to the bed and sat down, taking calming breaths as I did.

"I'll be back to help you dress for services, Miss. I shan't say anything to anyone about this. You can depend on my discretion."

"Thank you," I nodded and she turned and left me alone.

Sitting in the solitude of my room I was able to finally compose myself. I knew Cal's temper was erratic but I had never seen him manifest in such a way. Perhaps I had been too bold in my decision to go to the Third Class common room with Jack. Perhaps I had been too bold to go with Jack, period. I should have known Cal would find out, for Lovejoy had been my shadow since first leaving New York months ago. Everywhere I went, he was there watching me and reporting my actions back to Cal.

It was then that I realized the foolishness of my decision and I also realized that if I continued to flaunt my friendship with Jack in Cal's face, his reaction at breakfast would be mild in comparison, of that I had no doubt. I had no choice in the matter. I had to stay away from Jack Dawson regardless of how I felt when I was with him. For his protection as well as my own, we had to stay away from each other and that was the way it had to be.