"You ought to be more careful and don't get too familiar with the passengers," First Officer Murdoch warned. "Otherwise -"
"Otherwise what?" cut in Molly irritably. "I'm always a perfect lady and I have nothing to be ashamed of so leave me alone about it. I can't help if idiots try to get my attention."
She was on her way to sing for dinner and wanted nothing more than to get started. She knew Murdoch meant well, but that didn't stop her from being annoyed.
"Anyway," she continued, "I can take care of myself. I'm a big girl."
"Yes I know," muttered Murdoch. "I believe that's the problem."
"Oh no…"
"Now what?"
"It's that Frenchman," sighed Molly. She had just noticed him, sitting a few tables away drinking tea. He seemed to catch sight of her quickly though and was being so flamboyant that she doubted she could effectively ignore him.
"We just told him you were going to perform," said Murdoch. "What part of that doesn't he understand?"
"I can take care of him," she whispered as the Frenchman stood up and began to walk towards her. "You just leave the talking to me."
"Bonjour lovely Molly," the man purred as he came closer. "Ah would be most honored if you would join me for a cup of tea?"
"I'm sorry," said Molly with as much patience as she could muster. "I'm going to sing for the passengers now. I believe I told you that before."
"Oh yes of courze, how silly of me," he said quickly. "But before you begin, I have a prezent for you. It would look most stunning on you, no?"
Molly was about to protest - she really wasn't in the habit of taking presents from strange men trying to get her to notice them - but the words died in her mouth when she saw what it was.
It was a locket. Beautiful, sparkling with blue stones, and hung on a fine gold chain, she had never seen anything like it before.
"Oh thank you," she whispered. "It's lovely!"
"Would mademoiselle permit me to place it around her neck?"
"Oh…I suppose so,"
"Does our First Officer have a problem?" the Frenchman asked, apparently catching sight of Murdoch's glowering face.
"No, I sincerely hope not," said Molly, sitting so that he could reach around her neck easier. As he worked the clasp, she felt his breath on the back of her neck and felt disgusted. What was she thinking? "Are you done?" she asked. "I really must begin."
"Ah, of courze," he said, pulling back his hands with some regret.
She wanted to hit him. Not the time or place though. She felt the chill of the locket on her skin as she took her place at the front of the dining room, musicians behind her.
Instantly the music started. She closed her eyes, feeling the rhythm. "Ahhhhhhhhh," she sang, holding the note perfectly. "Ever hoping there would come a day/ When I'd hear my one and only say/ 'Hold me, never let me go, you're all I'll ever need!/ And I know I will love you so, for all eternity!/ My life has begun, because you're the one holding me!'"
As the music swelled, she felt herself smile. This was perfect. The audience was silent, but it was a silence she knew well. Not bored but entranced. And she was in rapture.
"Never knowing I could feel this way/ But when you're near me, I can't wait to say/ 'Hold me, never let me go/ You're all I'll ever need!/ I know I will love you so, for all eternity!/ My life has begun, because you're the one holding me!'/ It's like a dream come true/ For I'm in love with you!/ Hold me, never let me go/ You're all I'll ever need!/ I know I will love you so, for all eternity!/ My life has begun, because you're the one holding me!"
She held the note for as long as she could, anticipating the applause that would come. She was at peace here and never wanted to leave.
"Alright now," said Fritz. "The Dalmatians and the Spaniel have access to the first-class dining room, so they'll take care of providing the first and second courses."
As the humans were in the dining rooms eating their dinner, the animals were in the cargo room of the ship planning their own reception. In the corner, the Mexican mice were practicing a lively party tune. They had agreed to be the entertainment.
"Fair enough," said Flopsy.
"I can do that," said Pongo. "I'm afraid Perdita's out of the picture though." He nuzzled his wife lovingly. "She's going to be presenting me with some heirs.
There was some murmuring of surprise and cries of "Congratulations" at this.
"Fair enough," said Fritz. "The mice know their way around the storerooms, they'll take care of everything else. As for the rest of you," he added, looking at Hector and the Parisian sewer rat, "use your skills to help others for a change and get us some decorations."
Fivel cleared his throat as loud as he could.
"Oh yes," continued Fritz, "Apparently there is a very sweet girl on the boat who is kind to animals and who has lost a very valuable locket. It's got a picture of her missing mother in it and she misses it very much. Please keep your eyes open and tell us if you see something like that. Now let's get to work!"
William spent most of the evening and the next morning thinking about that redhead girl. He then spent until an hour before lunch was to be served plucking up the courage to go to her room to see her again. It wasn't that he didn't want to. But what would he say? That he was the idiot that knocked her over before, would she care to take a walk on the deck with him? His desire overcame his insecurities however and he finally got himself out of his room and back to the door he saw her enter. It was then another ten minutes before he could bring himself to knock. When he did, the door was answered by a severe-looking woman in a fancy dress.
"May I help you?" she asked sweetly, something she seemed out of practice with.
"Yes hello," said William. "I'm here to see your…daughter?"
"Which one?" the woman asked. "Hortense or Bernice?"
Hortense? Bernice? Neither sounded like names he'd put with the redheaded girl. "Erm, I'm not sure," he said.
"Girls, come here," the woman called.
Her daughters came forward and Will nearly blanched. One was bony as a horse with black curly hair. The other was redheaded, but she was also incredibly fat with an odiously simpering expression on her face. All three - the girls and their mother - were looking at Will like dogs who found a juicy steak.
"Now then, which one was it?" asked the woman.
"You don't happen to have another daughter, do you?" asked Will.
"Not to the extent of my knowledge, no."
"Any other young lady traveling with you?"
"Oh no." For a moment, the woman's face darkened, but it passed so quickly that he wasn't sure what it meant. "Just myself and my two gorgeous daughters."
"I see," said William, edging away from the door. "I seem to have the wrong room then. I'll just be off…"
"Oh please stay a little longer!" said the woman, catching his arm in a surprisingly strong grip. "Have tea! It isn't very often that we get such a handsome young man as a visitor."
"It isn't very often!" cackled the two sisters in unison.
I'm sure it isn't thought Will. Aloud, he said "No I'm terribly sorry, I must go. Good day!"
And with that, he managed to pull his arm free and leave as quickly as he could.
"Why whatever happened to you?" asked Nanny ask Will entered the room, panting and looking as if he'd just had a shock.
"Oh, nothing much," he said.
"Young man, I think I know you well enough to know if something is 'nothing much' or not. Now what happened?"
"I saw this girl last night," he began.
"Ah," said Nanny knowingly.
"I…just wanted to see her again today," he continued, flustered. "I went to the room I saw her enter last night, but she wasn't there. There was a woman who had two daughters who were…well never mind that. But now I have no idea where this girl is."
"Don't worry about that Master William," said Nanny soothingly. "We're on a ship in the middle of the ocean. She can hardly go anywhere. You'll surely meet her again somewhere."
"I hope so," said William. "I think I'll take a stroll on the deck to clear my head."
He paused with his hand on the door. "Nanny, do you think I'm going soft in the head?"
"Oh no my dear," she said with a smile. "I know exactly what's going on," she added as he shut the door behind him.
In the dining hall, Cruella seethed over her breakfast and glanced hawk like at the other passengers. "Keep your eyes open boys," she hissed to her henchmen. "I think we've got competition on board this boat!"
"Why do you say that?" asked Horace thickly through a mouthful of bacon and eggs.
"I snuck into a room in the first-class corridor, a very wealthy woman lived there I heard. As I was looking through her things, some blundering idiots came in and tried to jump me."
"I see…" said Jasper nervously as Horace chocked.
"I got the better of him though," said Cruella. "I bit one of them and they ran out. Keep your eyes peeled next run we have, will you?"
"I say sir, please take your seat!" called a waiter.
"Leave me alone," growled the strange-looking man.
The waiter looked over the man curiously. His hair was a brilliant blonde, almost orange, but he sported a coal-black beard. A gold earring hung from his left ear and thick smoke poured from a pipe hanging from his lips. "No sir, I cannot," the waiter insisted. "Please sit down or I will be forced to remove you from the dining hall."
The man's eyes flashed dangerously. "Do you know who I am?" he asked.
"No sir, and I don't really care," said the waiter patiently. "You're bothering the diners, now please cease and desist."
The man leaned close to the waiter. "Listen," he hissed. "You don't know me and that's fine. But I'm tracking down some thieves. They're somewhere on this boat. Now leave me to my business." And he pulled his beard down just below his chin, so that the waiter could see it was not attached.
The waiter watched the man leave, beard reattached, in complete bewilderment. He was wearing a fake beard? He was tracking thieves? What on earth was going on?
"So you've met our resident detective then," First Officer Murdoch said, smiling sarcastically at the look on the waiter's face.
"He really is a detective then?" asked the waiter. "I thought he was a loon who wandered up from third-class."
"No," said Murdoch, shaking his head, "That is Detective Sam Bradbury, who is currently trying to capture some jewel thieves undercover. He has asked for us to ignore his efforts and remain calm, as he is trying to work incognito. You see, he doesn't want to draw attention to himself."
The waiter watched as Bradbury prowled the aisles between the tables, nearly knocking a glass of water into a lady's lap in the process. "He's doing a damn poor job of it," he commented before returning to his serving duties.
"And now I really don't know, Victoria," finished Anastasia. "He seemed very nice, but I couldn't help thinking he was a bit forward, talking about me in a dress and all."
"Very much different than when my husband courted me," agreed Victoria with a laugh. "But still, times change and it matters little if his intentions were good."
Anastasia, Victoria, and the grandchildren were taking a post-meal walk on the deck. The sun was shining, the gulls were crying, and all seemed well in the world. Anastasia was at least relaxed enough to retell the story of her encounter with the blonde boy to Victoria as the grandchildren ran about the third-class deck laughing.
"And he seemed so nervous the entire time," added Anastasia. "I wonder why, I felt rather sorry for him."
"I'm sure many boys would be nervous, talking to a pretty girl like you," said Victoria.
"Oh, I'm sure he didn't think of me like that!" exclaimed Anastasia, blushing. His smile, his laugh, she was sure he was just being kind. But still…
"Have you ever thought of marriage my dear?"
Anastasia frowned. "Sometimes," she said. "I was raised by my foster family since I was a young girl. After finding my parents, it's been a dream of mine to raise a family of my own. I want to have lots of children, and give them all the love I've missed."
"Ah, good morning Mrs. Vanderplank," called the Captain.
"Yes isn't it? Such lovely weather for sailing I'm sure." A tall, elegant lady strolled gracefully across the first-class deck to greet the Captain.
"How are the children faring on this voyage?" he asked, taking her hand in welcome.
"Oh, splendidly. Just splendidly," she gushed. "Rob! Barbara! Come and say hello to the Captain!"
Mrs. Rhoda Vanderplank's children glanced up from their games just long enough to give a brief "Hello!"
The Captain chuckled. "Well it must be quite exciting for them."
"Indeed it is."
"And may I ask how Mr. Vanderplank has taken to this voyage?" asked the Captain.
"Ah," said Mrs. Vanderplank, "I'm afraid my husband is not on this voyage. He was called away for the family business."
"I see," said the Captain. Of course, most on the ship knew about the famous Vanderplank copper mines.
"Why look over there!" said Mrs. Vanderplank in surprise, as she noticed a couple strolling at the other side of the deck. "Isn't that Mr. Jeremy McFlannel? The famous banker? And he has the woman on his arm! Winifred Brown, I believe her name is? Oh my word, he's clutching her arm as if it were a life preserver!"
"Why so you're right," commented the Captain, who had no idea what this signified. His work prevented him from keeping up with the latest news on the fortunes and misfortunes of the elite of the world.
"Dear me, he must be in hard times since his bank went under," she continued. "I expect he's heading abroad to make a new start. Who would have thought he would keep such close company with that Miss Brown? From what I understand, she's got no better prospects than he does."
"Curious indeed," agreed the Captain. "I suppose love would win out over money, or at least we'd like to think?"
"Of course," said Mrs. Vanderplank. Then, "Barbara! Come away from the railing!"
"My ball!" cried Barbara. "My ball fell down there!"
"Fell down where?" Mrs. Vanderplank hurried towards her sobbing daughter.
"It fell down to the third class deck, Mom," Rob explained. "I tried to catch it, but it slipped right past me."
"Oh dear," sighed Mrs. Vanderplank. "I'll get it then."
"Let me get it," said the Captain graciously.
"I'll get it!" came a cry by the stairs. The speaker was a young blonde man, who was headed towards the third-class deck before they could counter.
"Mummy look!" cried Bernice, looking over the handrail. "There's that handsome man who came to our room before!"
"Yes, who came to our room before!" echoed Hortense.
"Why so it is," commented Lady Tremaine, having a look herself. "Whatever is he doing at the third-class deck?"
"Getting that brat's ball," replied her daughters in unison.
"And look!" cried Hortense in disgust. "He's headed right towards Anastasia!"
"Look Mummy! Right towards Anastasia!" called Bernice in agreement.
Sure enough, the two were headed right for each other. Lady Tremaine glowered. That was the man who asked if she had another girl traveling with them. At the time, it briefly crossed her mind that he meant Anastasia. He was obviously a young man of high breeding though. How could he possibly prefer a working-class girl like her over Gertrude's own fine daughters? Still, she'd better make sure…
"Anastasia!" Lady Tremaine barked over the rail. "Come here at once! There's chores for you to do!"
On the third-class deck, Gertrude saw Anastasia's shoulders sag as she bade goodbye to the old woman and her noisy children. Just in time too. Not a second after Anastasia left, the young man walked dangerously close.
It had to be her! He only caught a glimpse, but he was sure of it! But where was she off to?
William had found the ball alright and tossed it back up to the first-class deck, where it was quickly caught by the children. He smiled as he watched the poor girl dry her tears and run off, happy once more. He had heard someone on the deck call out a name, but he could not make it out. It was then that he had turned and saw a flash of red hair as a girl fled from the deck, towards the cabins.
"Excuse me!" He ran to the closest person on the ship. An elderly, white-haired lady. "Excuse me!" he called again. She paused and he ran to her side. "Who was that girl? What was her name? Please?"
The woman gave him an appraising look. "I'm not sure I should tell you that young man. It's her business if she wants to introduce herself to you."
"But I don't know where to find her again," said Will. "I saw her enter a room in the first-class corridor, but the people staying there never heard of her. And now I see her strolling on the third-class corridor. I don't understand…"
"Does it make a difference to you if she is staying in first or third-class?" asked the woman sternly.
"Of course not!" cried William. It came out louder than he intended, and he paused to get better control. "I just…I just want to see her again." he said. "I want to just…talk to her."
The woman looked at him carefully. "You really want to see her again?"
"Yes! With all of my heart!" All of his heart? What sort of a thing was that to say? The woman raised her eyebrows and he felt himself start to blush. "Do you know where I can see her again?"
"Well," the woman seemed to consider. Then, "She always enjoys taking walks here after meals. Perhaps you might catch her on one of them, if you're lucky."