Part 5: Another Voyage
"Dear Emilia;
"Please do not go off again without informing us on where you are going. Mom got your wire about five minutes before the Oceanic set sail and she's happy you're going off with Murdoch to relax on the pleasure cruise. I know you'll be taking a round trip and please don't forget to post Randal a letter when you get to shore? We haven't seen him in a few years now.
"We know about the gossip article in the paper now and Dad is quite angry over it. I know that you and Murdoch have got something romantic going but I have not publicized it and I do know our parents would not do something like that either. Randal is obviously out of the question of course.
"On the Sarah front, we have established the fact that Tristan does not have a solid alibi for that night in question. Also there is conclusive proof that he had been drinking and he does have a volatile temper when he is inebriated. I think it is more than likely he's been ungentlemanly with you if memory serves me right. I saw how he acted towards you the night of the engagement party.
"Did you tell Sarah that her fiance was a complete ass towards you? I think she know, had it out with Tristan, and he got so mad in his drunken rage that he killed her. It's so likely it is ridiculous.
"I believe that Dad will outline a plan of action for a libel suite in case the rumor hasn't been proved true. He's giving it 3 weeks, which should be good time for this to be resolved by the time that you return to us.
"Be safe on the journey, Em.
"Love your brother Edward."
"In the flesh, my dear," Cal gave her an arrogant grin. "tripping over your own two feet it seems."
"I haven't forgotten the way you used me as a hostage," Emilia eyed him sternly, actually making him shrink back some. "that was a cowardly thing to do and heaven help you if you try a stunt like that again."
Cal attempted to bluster but it was no good. The princess leveled him off with a glare indicating that unless he proved he'd changed from a year ago, she would have nothing to do with him. Glowering at her, he turned heel and walked off arrogantly, the lonely figure without Lovejoy his obedient pet, or Ruth, his intended in-law. Emilia knew that Rose had gone down with the ship with her true love(so the survivors gossiped).
The princess turned on her heel and walked on deck, admiring the view of the calm ocean and the pedestrians waving dockside as the ship was tugged out of the harbor. Holding onto her hat, Emilia tilted it down so she wasn't easily recognizable, waving with a grin out to the crowds on the docks. The noise was a cacophony of cheering, seagulls shrieking, and the tugboats' motors revving as the ship went into the bay. Emilia felt her heart get lighter with the motion of the ship and the cheerful dockside crowd baying out pleasantries and farewells.
Waves lapped at the dock and the sides of the hull of the ship, exhaust from the tugboats' funnels permeated the air along with the salty atmosphere, the sun beamed down like mother nature was giving her blessing for the ship to have a safe voyage. The Oceanic's engines engaged then, grinding into action with a faint jar and the little vibration came up through the decks so Emilia felt it in her shoes a little bit.
The Oceanic started out for the open ocean, her engines going full blast. Emilia felt a moment of deja vu as the ship went out of the bay area, seemingly racing some seagulls along the way. A sudden grip of fear enveloped her and she felt vulnerable and afraid. Not knowing why she felt so unsettled, she demurely walked into the cabin she now shared with Murdoch and sat down at the desk with her head in her hands.
Images assailed her now of the Titanic sinking. The bow going deeper into the water all the time, women and children screaming, men crying for their loved ones and all to prevalent was the atmosphere of complete panic and death, the band playing gallantly, the last time she saw Wilde. While she had been helping Murdoch with the collapsible, Emilia had seen Moody with a bad head injury and she wondered what had happened to him. The princess heard later that someone had a gun that fired off a wild shot and clipped Moody on the side of his head. It was a real shame, as she liked Moody a lot.
A knock on the door startled her out of her musings. Boxhall had stopped by to say hello. He peered into the room and the smile faded off of his face as he saw Emilia looking shaken up. She was slightly pale and her hands were trembling as he stepped into the door and shut it behind him.
"Emilia, what is it?" he put a hand on her shoulder. "You can tell me."
"Joe, I'm being silly," she made an attempt at a smile but abandoned it. "I had flashes of the Titanic and I can't seem to shake it."
"That's all right. I would say that it is natural, wouldn't you?"
"Do you think?"
"There are several cases of this happening. I don't know what the doctors call it, but you do look stressed out. Do you want me to take you to the doctor?"
"I think that would be the best thing for me to do at the moment," she decided. "just to be on the safe side. Maybe something to calm me down a bit."
"All right. Come on." Boxhall guided her up with his rugged hands and opened up the door for her. Emilia meekly went with him over to the doctor's surgery and waited in line after the passengers seeking remedies to help their various ailments.
"Well then Miss Worthington," the doctor gestured for her to get up on the exam table. Clearly he had no knowledge of the royal bloodline and Emilia found it refreshing to be honest. Not having even this man fawn all over her because she was royalty made her happy. Boxhall met her eye and gave her a little grin, knowing what she was thinking. "what seems to be your trouble today?"
"I'm physically fine, sir. I was on Titanic last year and since boarding this ship I have been extremely nervous and experiencing flashbacks of the incident."
"Ah. I had a few of these cases already today." the doctor gave her a kind smile. "Well, I would advise that you go back to your stateroom and take a small amount of this medicine. It will help calm you down and put you to sleep if you feel very anxious or overwhelmed."
A small bottle of laudanum in a smoked brown bottle was withdrawn from the medicine cabinet, the doctor wrote instructions on the label in almost illegible handwriting, then handed it to her.
"All right. Thank you, doctor."
"You're very welcome, miss. I will check in on you tomorrow, all right? Which stateroom are you in?"
"She is partnering up with Mr. Murdoch, sir," Boxhall interjected. "there was a problem with the booking and we're working on sorting it out. In the meantime, Mr. Murdoch has offered her use of his own quarters."
"Ah! I always liked that Murdoch. I have family in Scotland and whenever I hear his accented voice, I think of home in the highlands." the doctor reminisced for a moment, full of nostalgia. Emilia had to smile, she loved Murdoch's accent as well and it often times she just enjoyed hearing him speak.
Back in the room, Emilia sat down on the bed with Boxhall as she took a small dose of laudanum. The officer watched Emilia closely, knowing that laudanum had been used ever since Napoleon's time, but he had heard stories about it's addicting properties. He kept up a conversation with Emilia until he saw the drug visibly take effect on the young woman.
"Working now is it?" he joked as she tried to keep her eyes open. Boxhall corked the bottle and set it aside on the bedstand as Emilia lay back on the bed and fell asleep.
Boxhall left the room and shut the door quietly, though it was unlikely that Emilia would wake up. Murdoch had assigned him the rounds, asking him to check in on Emilia and see if she was all right. The chief officer was on watch now and though Emilia could entertain herself, he felt a bit guilty for leaving her alone, but she knew that he had work to be done and watches to stand.
The navigator's steps sounded outside the bridge and came in as Murdoch came into the bridge from the chart room. "She's doing all right, sir," Boxhall quelled the question he knew he would be asked. "Emilia was having some nervous trouble, experiencing flashes of the Titanic disaster in her mind."
"Did you talk her down?"
"I took her to the doctor to see if he could help her. He gave her some laudanum for when the flashes got too intense to calm her down. I walked her back to the stateroom and she took a small dose, so she's sleeping now."
"It might be the best thing for her after all that's happened," Murdoch noted slowly. "poor thing went to pieces after her sister's death and experiencing these visions or whatever they are of the Titanic disaster is just too much for one person to bear."
"She has you, sir."
"Indeed. After my watch, I'll check up on her."
"Did you know Caledon Hockley is on this ship?"
"No. He tried to use Emilia as a hostage as the Titanic was sinking under us!" Murdoch indignantly sputtered. "I know she hasn't forgotten it."
"I don't think she would forget something like that. It showed Hockley's true colors and we know that he's a coward at heart."
"Damn straight," Murdoch tilted his hat forward to avoid the sun coming into his eyes. "time will tell."
Just then Captain McDonald came onto the bridge. He was a stocky man, blonde hair but mostly all of it was gray now, a thick mustache, a weather beaten but kindly face that had gentle brown eyes. He nodded to his two officers on the bridge. "Gentlemen, I think we can go ahead full for now."
"Yes sir." Murdoch and Boxhall crossed to the telegraphs and set them, making a ringing sound as they yanked the levers back to the appropriate dial setting. Captain McDonald observed his officers as they worked, checking their behavior mentally to make sure they were absolutely professional.
"So, how is our royal doing?" he inquired to Murdoch. "I hope she's happy with her accomodations!"
"She is quite happy, sir," a half truth. "she is comfortable going incognito as it were, not wanting any special attention on the ship for her royal bloodline."
"I thought there was an ulterior motive," McDonald mused. "very well. If she wanted her bloodline and royalty noticed she would have gone on the Olympic. That ship caters very well to the entitled and nobility."
Also to the notorious folks as well, Murdoch thought but he didn't say it. Hockley was notorious only to him, Emilia and Boxhall and since Emilia was so fragile lately Murdoch had sharpened up his attentions to her, feeling more protective than usual. She was still grieving for her sister and it would take time before she felt anything like normal emotionally again.
"She's been on the Titanic with us, sir," Boxhall informed him. "she wants to go on smaller sized ships at least for the time being. The bigger ones make her nervous."
McDonald's eyes radiated his understanding. "Ah, that debacle! Yes I can see where she thinks smaller is definitely better. This ship underwent a retrofitting after that disaster and while I do not say she is unsinkable, I do say we are better prepared to face the perils that could lie ahead."
"Well said, captain." Murdoch liked Captain McDonald a lot. He never said anything unpleasant, was never rude, and was a very careful gentleman. McDonald was good friends with Charlie Barton, the superintendent of the White Star Line and while Murdoch hoped for a promotion to captain, he always felt that he would be happy to serve with McDonald for a long time yet. The captain had an easy charm and grace, his manner would put anyone at ease. Even the rich and super rich liked him very much.
"Thank you, Mr. Murdoch. About your work now." the captain left the bridge.
"Aye, sir," the sailor continued his watch which was uneventful. He reminisced for a moment about Emilia and the physical intimacy that they finally had begun to share. Murdoch had been shy about another relationship, not wanting to scare Emilia away, though Lightoller's goading him had driven him crazy. His friend had ascertained that Murdoch had feelings for Emilia very early on and began to tease him gently about it. Lightoller was not a man without tact, as it had been months after Ada's death that he discovered Murdoch's half finished letter to Emilia.
The letter had never been sent, Murdoch had read it, hated it, and burned it in the fireplace later on that night. It had all of his true feelings listed out quite casually, as he needed to get his emotions down on paper. Reading it over had made sense to him and even through his friend's sassing him, he understood clearly that he did have feelings for Emilia. Sometimes at night he would imagine her in bed with him, just lying there. He was happy at the thought but not sure that it would ever happen.
Now it had, as it took Alphonse of all people to realize that Emilia truly loved him and wanted to be with him. In a way Murdoch was actually grateful to the butler for his surly attitude and selfish nature. Alphonse had acted unusually possessive of Emilia and cold to Murdoch, so it was natural for him to surmise after awhile that the hired help was in love with Emilia and wanted her to love him.
Emilia could not see Alphonse as anyone other than the hired help, which wasn't obvious at all to Alphonse but was obvious to everyone else. Funny how that happened sometimes, but Murdoch supposed that Alphonse was so blindly in love with Emilia that he was blind to her emotions and indifference towards him.
With the leaked news to the media that Emilia was involved with a "commoner", Murdoch knew Alphonse had leaked the story to the press as a way of revenge against the sailor and princess. Emilia had told him that she had made it very clear that Alphonse was just the help and nothing more than that. With her departure from England, she would be out of the gossip surrounding London and Southampton, and give her a well-deserved break.
With the watch changeover at 6 PM, Murdoch handed the shift to the second officer, a smart chap named Cyrus Linden, then went to his quarters.
Emilia was lying on the bed, motionless, sound asleep as she was when Boxhall had left her. Murdoch opened up the door softly and took a look at the princess. She hadn't changed out of her dress yet, her hat was lying on the desk, and her hair was askew, having unraveled the knot at the back of her head.
"Em?" the sailor asked in a low voice as he approached her. He spied the laudanum bottle at her bedside and put it in the nightstand, the little rattling of the lid startled her awake. She looked at him with a little gasp then sat up.
"How do you feel?"
"Calmer," she gathered her hair together and draped it over her left shoulder. "I needed that."
"Did you just start having visions of the disaster?"
"Yeah. What time is it?"
"Just past 6. Come on, let's get some supper into you."
"OK then." she accepted his helping hand up and they walked out onto the deck.
It was suppertime for everyone so the decks were vacant. Murdoch led Emilia to the officer's quarters where they had their suppers quietly and without any formality. Emilia was very happy, as her family suppers always had a bit of formality about them even now. Evelyn expected her children to be well-mannered and not a day went by where she didn't ensure her offspring had perfect manners.
"What do you want to do now? I'm not back on watch til 6 AM." there wasn't a lot of entertainment on board available for the officers, but Murdoch knew they could always go into the officer's reading room and play some games.
"I have an idea," Emilia found a deck of cards. "I'll teach you Rummy if you don't know it."
"OK."
The two of them played a full game of Rummy, Murdoch surpassing his teacher and winning the game by 575 points. Walking back to the room nothing much was said, they were about to go inside when Cal ambushed them near the crew passage.
"Mr. Hockley," Murdoch glared as Emilia clutched at his arm a little bit. Her face drained of color in the half light of deck lamps, but she controlled herself. "on your way to the smoking room?"
"I was just looking for the princess here," Cal tried to seize her arm but she resisted. "we've had unfinished business for the past year and we need to settle it now."
"Only business I have with you is my fist in your face!" she growled in a low voice. Cal merely raised an eyebrow and sniggered, encouraging Murdoch in his anger over the way Emilia had been treated in the past by him. He could still see the hostage situation like it had happened yesterday and only with a considerable amount of self control, he tugged Emilia's arm out of Cal's grasp.
"Calm down," Murdoch barked in his most authorative voice. "if you so much as lay a hand on her, Mr. Hockley, I will see you in irons for the rest of the voyage."
"That's right. You're her pet now aren't you?" the heir's face twisted into a leering smirk.
"Watch your tongue lest you want to spend the rest of the trip in detention cells."
"Don't forget Cal that I haven't said anything about your little act of cowardice on Titanic and one word from me will send the presses howling for your blood. They love my family and they loathe you. Can't imagine why." Emilia gave him a revolting and smug smile as she turned with Murdoch into the ship's superstructure.
The young Hockley turned red, frustrated at the princess and her lackey, their failure to take him seriously. Clenching his hands, he stalked off, knowing Emilia would face what she deserved.
Back in the safety of the bedroom, Emilia kissed Murdoch and right in front of him shamelessly stripped down to her underthings and put on a nightdress. He did likewise and soon they were curled up in bed together.
"He's just jealous you know," the sailor told the princess, twiddling with a strand of her hair around his fingers. "you have me and he has no one now."
"Even when he had that thug bodyguard with him, he was a nobody," Emilia wove her hair into a loose braid to keep it out of her way. "he's a big shot over in the USA which he loves, but he wants to be a big shot here in the UK too. People in the UK don't know his name or the steel firm he is an heir to and he wants that fame of everyone knowing who he is all over the globe. He thinks that by marrying me he'll finally gain that fame."
"I know you wouldn't marry him. He's a scoundrel."
"Indeed, Will. As long as I have you, I'm a very happy lady."
"Sure?" he lay down on his left side, looking up at Emilia as she lay down, tossing the braid over her shoulder. One might have considered his question impertinent, but in lieu of everything that had happened to her family recently, he thought it best to ask.
"Yes." she decided, kissing him on the cheek.
"Sweet dreams then." he returned it.
"And you."
"Dearest Emilia;
"Your father and I got your telegram message and we're happy that you decided to take a trip to clear your mind and get some time in with Will.
"Things have been quiet here at home since you left, though your father has people out searching for the leak who spilled the information about you and Will. Though Will is unnamed, it won't take much for people to put two and two together. I must admit that I find Will a very practical and entertaining men.
"It has come to our attention that a certain notorious person named Caledon Hockley might be on the ship with you. Darling, I want you to be on your alert around this man. People speak ill of him here and even your father's business contact in America have had nothing but horrible things to say about him. For instance, his former bodyguard who went down with Titanic was an ex con man whom Hockley hired upon receiving his probation sentence.
"Though Mr. Lovejoy (your father met him once; he was a reticent and scowling figure who did not have anything to say) is gone, Cal still remains. I hope you did not encounter him on your travels previously and you do not encounter him.
"Your brother Randal happened across Hockley when he was catching a train to Philadelphia en route to Sacramento. He reported to us through a letter that Hockley was terribly egotistic, simpering to people above his class and horrible to people who he regarded as inferior. When Randal met Hockley, he wrote of the revulsive nature of the man and the endless attempts to make Randal his friend. This man wants to be royalty and he will go to any lengths to achieve it.
"Be prudent, love. Your dad is suing the Southampton rag that published the story and it wil be successfully completed within days. He is also asking the publisher who leaked the story in the first place so he can take the man to court personally.
"Much love to you, stay safe.
"Lovingly, Mom."
Emilia yawned and stretched out, rolling onto her side to cuddle up with Murdoch before he was called on watch, but he was already gone. Momentarily she had forgotten that Murdoch had the 6 AM-10 AM watch morning and night, Emilia got up, tied on her robe, then grabbed a change of clothes, heading out to the bathroom.
When she was done, she went back into the bedroom, picked up her suitcase and picked out an ensemble for the day. Emilia selected a white skirt with a purple overskirt, it was cut so the white part showed just above the hemline. Her shirt was of pale purple with frilled edging at the end of the wrist, it buttoned loosely up the front with white lace sewn around the neckline. The princess picked up her hair and began to weave it into a braid, frowned, and mussed it back up.
"I'm going about this all wrong today," Emilia grumbled. She twisted her hair into a French knot, pinned it to the back of her head, then pinned her hat on. "much better!" applying makeup took a moment as she had the routine down to a science already, then tied on her shoes.
"Let's go have some fun." grabbing her leather gloves, Emilia opened up the door, surprised to come face to face with Lightoller's fist.
"Blimey, Charles!"
"Oops!" he colored slightly, lowering his fist. "Just wanted to check on you to see how you were doing."
"I surmised as much," she shut the door and locked it, sliding the key in her shirt pocket. "what do you want to do?"
"First off, I need some breakfast before I go to bed."
"Usually it's the other way around," Emilia joked as she took
Lightoller's arm and they walked down to the mess hall. "what shift were you on?"
"I've just come off the 3-6 shift and I'm bloody tired. Joe should be up and about shortly."
"Oh, OK." neither one said much during breakfast. Emilia insisted on walking Lightoller to his room and he was too tired to argue.
"Oh, Hockley's aboard this ship but from what Will told me last night you already know."
"Yes indeed. I just received a letter from my mother when we stopped in Queenstown last night for a few hours. She says the Hockleys are scum, Cal tried to get my brother Randal as a friend, but Randal didn't like him. Randal said Hockley was nasty to those he considered social unequals, a kiss up to people like me."
"Yikes," Lightoller unlocked his door. "so what do you think about him?"
"I think he's looking for a fight, Charles," she said mildly. "I don't like to use violence but if I have to make my point in that way, I will not hesitate to."
"I hope it doesn't come to that."
"Me too, but he's such a young hothead that I know his ill-mannered side will come out and that will degenerate into violence."
"Hmmm. May have a point there."
"I do. Also I do not want to go around the ship with one of you officers as a bodyguard. I can fend for myself." Emilia was determined to handle Cal without any interference.
"Let him go first if he tries anything," Lightoller advised. "that way you can justify it as an attack if he does start swinging at you."
"I would never throw the first punch," Emilia agreed. "he's got to be the one to start it. I'll just finish it."
Lightoller's smile lit up his tired face as he pecked her on the cheek. "Good."
"Thanks for breakfast, Charles. Sleep tight now."
"Thanks. Be safe."
"I will." he shut the door and the princess left the corridor.
Spending time with Boxhall that day was refreshing for Emilia, as he had a fond love of books like she did. He introduced her to his model ship building hobby and tried to teach her how to build one, but she did not have the patience to do so. She sat on his bed and thumbed through his book collection while he did some more assembling of the model for another hour.
"What do you think?" Boxhall held up the completed model of a small sailing ship. "Reminds me of the sailing ship I was on when I was a small boy. My father was a captain."
"You do a much better job than me, Joe."
"Well, I have to get ready for my watch now so I will see you later."
"OK." Emilia left the room and went down to the library to read for the rest of the afternoon.
Three days into the voyage, Emilia entered the boat deck from the crew passage, knowing that Hockley could not surprise her from places he was not allowed, and began to walk around the ship. The princess had on a light green skirt with a black shirt, and she was not wearing a hat that day as the winds were up. She had tied her hair back in a loose bun at the back of her head, a few ringlets of her hair had fallen down and were framing her face nicely.
Everyone was in for the night so the deck was hers. She slid her hand along the taffrail, feeling the cool and slick metal as it got sprayed gently by the ship's backwash. Her heels clacked dully on the hardwood floor as the whispering of the waves wafted up to her ears.
"You!" Hockley's voice cried out. Emilia sighed and turned around to see an irate Cal standing in front of her.
A sharp scent stabbed at her nostrils, making her wrinkle her nose. "Have you been drinking, Cal?"
"That's Mister Hockley to you!" he backhanded her across the face with such force that she stumbled.
"How dare you raise a hand to royalty." Emilia hissed in a deadly voice.
"You little spoiled brat!" Cal raised up his hand to hit her again, but she caught it in midair and kicked him in the shins, making him fall flat on his face. "You cost me my love!"
"How in the hell do you dope that one? I had nothing to do with her!"
Cal lapsed into a drunken shouting, none of it made any sense to Emilia at all. She dodged his attempts to hurt her until she stumbled over her own skirt, he grabbed her and hoisted her up against the wall. Trying to make herself remember the fight training her brothers had taught her, she brought her knees up to her chest and slammed him with her feet, causing both of them to fall. Emilia saw stars for a moment, then they cleared as the drunken heir came at her again.
A penknife glinted in the light, blinding Emilia as Cal lunged at her. He drove himself forward in his drunken rage, trying to jam the blade into her shoulder, but she ducked aside at the last minute and he opened up a three inch cut on her upper left arm.
Shedding her dignity, Emilia put both of her hands up and punched Cal repeatedly in the face until he managed to gain the upper hand by slugging her in the gut and kicking her in the belly twice. Through a haze of redness, Emilia saw Cal raise up a small deck chair, obviously intending to crash it down over her head. She could only put up a hand in a feeble effort to stop him as the redness turned to darkness edging into her vision slowly.
"WHAT THE DEVIL IS GOING ON HERE?!" a Scottish voice thundered, making Cal drop the chair in astonishment. "MR. HOCKLEY, STEP AWAY FROM HER AT ONCE!"
Stunned at Murdoch's commanding voice, Cal did so as the sailor rapidly strode to Emilia's side. One of her sleeves on her shirt was torn with a horizontal slash dug into her upper arm with a penknife that Cal had thrown aside. The cut was deep and Murdoch thought she would need stitches.
"Em?" she drew her glance over to him and before he could say anything else, she closed her eyes. Murdoch bellowed for his junior officer to come and arrest Cal, letting the officer know that he was tending to the victim of the attack.
Picking up Emilia from where she lay on the deck, Murdoch brought her to the ship's surgeon and put her down on the exam table. The doctor did not look very surprised to see Emilia was back under his care, but he was surprised to find that she had been wounded in an attack. He duly performed a physical exam, startled to see her ribcage had two black and blue bruises along one side.
"She has a slight concussion," the doctor diagnosed. "take her to bed Mr. Murdoch and keep an eye on her. I don't want her moving about for the rest of the day today. I will put stitches in and will come in tomorrow to check on them."
"Yes sir." Murdoch took Emilia to their room where he put her into bed, took her shoes off, and enlisted Lightoller to look after her for about half an hour while he went and gave his statement to the Master-at-Arms.
"I happened to find this swine," he started, glaring at Cal who was handcuffed and sitting in the corner, glaring at him. "attacking Miss Emilia W who was just standing there at the railing and minding her own business."
"The doctor's report?" Murdoch handed it over to the assistant who took it and paged through it.
"Slight concussion, gash on one arm, multiple contusions on the abdominal region... Yes, it's an attack all right." the Master-at-Arms decided, putting the paper in his folder.
"Mr. Hockley, one more incident like this and you will be in irons for the rest of the voyage. We cannot have you threatening people's welfare above and belowdecks. If I were you, I would be very wary of bad press. It would be bad for you if this got out now, wouldn't it?" Murdoch let his voice ooze venom so copiously even Cal couldn't fail to notice it. The heir just growled, still drunk, and tried to fight out of his cuffs.
Murdoch went and grabbed some ice from the kitchen, returning to find Lightoller sitting in the darkened room, dozing lightly. Emilia did not seem to have roused at all from her attack, so Murdoch sent his friend up to his own cabin to get some rest while he put a cold compress on the princess's head injury.
"I'm going to tell the captain before I turn in, Will." Lightoller peered around the corner of the ajar door, startling his friend.
"No, I have to do that. I will do it very soon. I just want to make sure she's all right." Lightoller watched the lines in his friend's face smooth out so he looked younger as he tended to Emilia gently. The first officer wished Emilia could see how kind and gentle Murdoch was to her, doubtless she would fall in love with him all over again.
After a long moment, Murdoch stood up and walked out to the captain's cabin while Lightoller retired for the night. Captain McDonald was just on the verge of going to bed himself, clad in his robe and pajamas when there was a sudden knock at his door. Shaking his head, he went over to the door and opened it up.
"Mr. Murdoch! What do I owe the honor?"
The chief officer appeared to him as very agitated and he seemed to be looking for the right words to be professional about what had happened, but he gave up on that altogether. His hands twitched like he was itching to get them around Hockley's neck as he bit his lip for a moment.
"Mr. Hockley, sir," he spoke in a clipped tone, rage evident. McDonald was shaken, as anything that could have worked up his normally calm and unflappable officer must have done something unspeakable. "that... animal attacked Emilia, sir."
"WHAT?!" McDonald barked out. "How dare he on my ship!"
Murdoch outlined the story for him briefly, mentioning how he was attracted to the scuffling and sounds of fighting from the bridge. Also noteworthy was how Emilia had never even said a word during the fight. He thought it strange but wondered if she did not want to call attention to herself since she was royalty after all.
By the time he finished, the captain was as angry as Murdoch himself. "By god, sir. How dare a man think he could raise his hand to a woman aboard my ship! In Nelson's time if that kind of behavior happened he'd be flogged around the fleet!"
Discipline in that time had been extremely strict on navy vessels, all ruled by the Articles of War laid down by the king. The officer and captain both thought they'd like to see Hockley standing blindfolded in front of a firing squad if this had happened back in those times.
"What do you think we shall do, Mr. Murdoch?"
"Me sir?"
"Yes, you! We can't make a public spectacle if Emilia wants to keep herself hidden out of the media light."
"Will all due respect, sir, Emilia needs to make the decision herself. Personally I wouldn't be adverse to having Hockley keel hauled."
McDonald snorted a laugh, imagining the look on Cal's face if he told him that was the punishment. "If this vessel had proper sailing masts, I'd like to see him tied to the yardarm for a few hours."
"Or a spell in the riggings."
"How is Miss Worthington, Mr. Murdoch? She all right?"
"Yes sir. The doctor took care of her and she's sleeping in my room right now."
"Oh, she's with you!" McDonald teased, taking delight in seeing his officer's cheeks flush red.
"Sir, please. My intentions are honorable."
McDonald bit back a smirk, thinking that Murdoch's actions might be a bit too honorable, but he did not say anything else. The captain dismissed Murdoch and made out the official report of the attack, noting that Emilia was incapacitated but would be ready to speak for herself when she was ready. Lord Pirrie from the White Star Line, the owner of the firm that built their ships, would certainly be scandalized that Hockley had acted to rashly.
Hockley and his entire family were not liked in Britain, as many thought they were too tempestuous, rash, impulsive, and far too quick to make money. It was widely believed that Cal had been the son of a prostitute, though there was no evidence on that front to be believed. The people of England didn't like his nature or his callousness and that was why the young man was so driven to establish himself as a well known heir and businessman in London.
The captain imagined that Hockley had booked passage on the Titanic just to be near Emilia, but he remembered Emilia had booked her ticket at the very last minute. Either way it was mutually convenient for them to be on the same ship, then disaster struck. McDonald didn't know the whole story, but from what Murdoch and Lightoller had told him, Emilia took every chance she could to condescend to Hockley. She didn't go out of her way to do so, just whenever they were at dinner and she found herself with his clique, he would always pride himself on something his father did and that irritated Emilia. Lightoller had told him of a few instances where Emilia put Cal in his place and the captain's opinion of Emilia climbed higher into the stratosphere.
McDonald put the report into the folder with a heavy sigh and resumed going to bed, now more tired than ever.
Slowly the night passed and Murdoch got up to attend his early morning watch shift. He assembled himself in the mirror, more tired than when he'd gone to bed if that was even humanly possible. Putting on his hat made him think it took more effort than usual, but nevertheless he went on watch.
Coming back from watch after inspection parade with the captain, Murdoch nearly tripped over his own two feet coming down the crew passage. He hung up his hat, jacket, took off his shoes, and fell asleep back in bed.
Lightoller peered in on his way to his watch, smiling at the sight of Emilia and Murdoch together in bed. He had teased his friend that he would enter into a romance with the princess, and often times Murdoch would reply that it wasn't possible, or he'd blush slightly and not acknowledge his friend's jibe.
Emilia stirred awake, saw Murdoch asleep beside her, then spied Lightoller looking in on them. She smiled to her friend without a sound, leaned over Murdoch, kissing him on the cheek. Lightoller flashed her a thumbs-up, making her snigger.
The tired chief officer roused at the sound as Lightoller made a mock face at Emilia and closed the door. Murdoch opened his eyes as the door thumped shut, then his blue eyes settled on Emilia as she lay next to him.
"How are you feeling?"
"Not bad. I didn't expect to be out for so long. How much have I missed?"
"The captain and I went over your predicament and decided you choose the punishment that the arrogant young bastard gets."
"My violent side would love it if he got a bullet between the eyes," Murdoch laughed. "the more restrained side of me would like him to be humiliated in front of people."
"I believe that would be ideal in these circumstances," the officer agreed, taking one of her hands and kissing it. "how do you feel?"
She gave him an exasperated glance. "You mean how am I feeling apart from two minutes ago when you asked last time?"
"I didn't mean like that," Murdoch slyly kissed her neck. "how about now?"
"Oh," her eyes lit up and she got on top of him, grinning as he wiggled his eyebrows at her playfully. "well, how do you feel right now too?"
"Much better than a few minutes ago." their kissing went into heavy petting, then it escalated from there.
One hour later, both were lying side by side, Emilia in Murdoch's arms with their hand joined together, both were panting from their exertions when the door resounded with a loud knock. Both of them jumped up, Murdoch tossed Emilia her bathrobe, she hastily put it on as he put his own on, then opened up the door.
Lightoller and Captain McDonald were standing there, the former saw them looking a bit unkempt, shot a glance at his friend, then politely tried hard not to laugh. McDonald was perfectly sober as Emilia grabbed her hairbrush and started working the knots out of her long tresses.
"Mr. Murdoch here has brought to light the incident with you and Mr. Hockley last night," McDonald began. "we decided to see what you would like to do as a punishment."
"Out of ideas are you?" she jibed. "I have an idea of my own. I need to write it all down and submit it to the media once we arrive in New York."
"What is your idea?"
"Well Mr. Lightoller, Cal Hockley tried to use me as a hostage in the Titanic disaster a year ago. He plugged a pistol at my temples and demanded that he be given a seat or he would kill me. Now with this attack over his head, I will ruin his good character so he will learn that there are consequences for his actions."
"Were there any witnesses?"
"Yes. Mr. Murdoch here was a witness to the first one. I assume he saw something on the attack on me last night." Emilia turned to Murdoch who nodded.
McDonald grinned widely. "Fire on a man with both barrels! I like that, your highness." Hockley had been approached a few times to donate to the Seaman's Mission House, a place for sailors to go when they were inbetween ships. Hockley would repeatedly deny them, threaten them with legal action if they ever showed up again, so McDonald wasn't endeared to the young man one way or another.
"I just want Hockley to know just because he's rich, there are consequences for his actions regardless of social standing."
"Well put, your highness. We will be arriving in New York tomorrow so if you want to get a press release ready, we'll have a representative from the New York Herald ready to receive it."
"Right. I'll get on that one right away." Emilia crossed over to the desk, pulled out Murdoch's pen, and began to scratch away on one of the blank sheets of paper he kept handy. "He'll be sorry he ever crossed paths with me! Will he be kept in the detention area until we are docked?"
"Yes ma'am," McDonald assured her. "I will not have you threatened my dear."
"Thank you very much, Captain McDonald."
"It's my pleasure, your highness. Now if you please, Mr. Lightoller, back to work."
"Aye, sir."
No sooner had the captain and Lightoller left the room when Murdoch approached Emilia. "Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, he's a powerful man."
"My family's more powerful, Will. I won't drag you into his, I just want him to learn a lesson."
"You know, Emilia, you might as well name me as the witness," he boldly stated, causing her to drop her pen in surprise and stare at him. "it's about time we told everyone that I'm seeing you."
"Will, I'd have to clear it with my father first."
"Are you ashamed of me?"
"No, I just don't want to do something irrational. Dad's keeping it quiet because he doesn't want any scandal."
"Me seeing you is scandal?" he asked bluntly, all the while asking himself why he was being so bold that morning.
"Will, I don't know how to explain it really." she finished her missive and left the ink to dry, sitting on the bed with a huffy sigh. "Everyone always expects me to marry into nobility, like a prince of Monaco, Spain or what have you. It will be a disappointment to my relatives who are not as progressive or... lax with tradition like my father or even my mother."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying, Will, that if we announce our relationship, you should be prepared for a certain amount of scorn from people who will think you're not good enough for me like Alphonse. Others will applaud you certainly because you have my heart," she beamed up at him. "and you make me happy."
"So I will be liked and disliked at the same time?" he was thinking he could handle that as he sat down on the bed beside her.
"Pretty much. Some of your privacy will be gone as the press will scrutinize your records and bring anything negative about you into the spotlight."
"I think they've already done that with me when Titanic occurred." he admitted with a rueful laugh. "I assure you that I can handle whatever is thrown our way."
"All right. I will let them know. Dad will understand."
"Tonight's the last night on board ship before we come back. Why don't we make it special?"
"Oh!"
At dinner that night, Emilia was dressed in a dark gray sweeping opera gown with matching gloves, her traveling tiara set onto the curly mass that was her hair, amethyst earrings glittered from her ears with a matching collar necklace. The princess carried a light balsa wood fan with ostrich feathers painted onto the fabric and she was arm in arm with Murdoch. The chief officer wore his best uniform, his dress hat, and was impeccably well mannered.
"Well, your highness!" Lightoller stage-whispered, causing many people to turn. "What a pleasure it is to see you here tonight!"
"Why thank you, Mr. Lightoller." she allowed him to kiss her hand. "It has been a long time since I last saw you, whatever have you been doing?"
"Oh, I've been here and there," he winked. "and you're with my old friend Will Murdoch!"
The witty banter went on most of the night with Emilia and Murdoch with the other officers at the captain's table. Everyone told stories, treated Emilia like an equal, and much fun was had.
Upon retiring to the room for the night, Emilia and Murdoch kept their faces welded together at the mouth, devoured each other with all their energy and spent the night in celebration.
Press release written by Emilia Audrey Frances Worthington for the New York Herald:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
"White I was on the RMS Titanic on the maiden voyage, I had the misfortune to meet one Caledon Hockley esquire of the Hockley steel conglomerate based out of Philadelphia Pennsylvania. The man was, nice to people who were above him in wealth and station, and rude to those who were below him or what he considered inferior human beings.
"Cal tried numerous times to be nice to me, under the blatant misconception that he and I would be a suitable match-and he was traveling with his young fiancee at the time! The poor girl never looked happy except when she wasn't in Mr. Hockley's company.
"While the Titanic was sinking, I was looked after very well by one a Mr. William Murdoch. We started a friendship and we still talk today. While Mr. Murdoch was helping me into a lifeboat and helping people, Cal Hockley came up behind me and put a gun to my head, taking me as a hostage, demanding to Mr. Murdoch that he get a seat in the lifeboat.
"We managed to thwart Mr. Hockley's misplaced sense of entitlement and got off of the ship all right and it was through Mr. Murdoch taking splendid care of me and the other passengers on the lifeboat that we lived to be rescued.
"Sadly that was not the end of Mr. Hockley's shenanigans. Recently while on the Oceanic, the young man decided to attack me on account of what had happened on Titanic's last night. Mr. Hockley was inebriated but that does not excuse what he did to me. I was not permitted to remain conscious through the whole attack, but through the timely intervention of Mr. Murdoch, I was saved from the drunken lout.
"Ladies, please steer clear of this man. He has given me a concussion which I still feel the effects of, cut my arm deeply, and has broken two of my ribs in his drunken rage. This man is not to be trusted.
"From her royal highness Emilia Audrey Frances Worthington, June 1913."
Disembarking the Oceanic in New York, Emilia had a faint memory of herself arriving in New York one year ago in a lobster trawler. She had been ill at the time of arrival and though the lobstermen had treated her kindly, she was still eager to go to the hospital and get looked at for her flu. Along with Boxhall, she had been hospitalized for almost two weeks.
Like he was reading her mind, Boxhall touched her on the shoulder as he walked up beside her, opening up the gangway door. "Nervous?"
"No." Emilia stated bluntly. "I think I'm quite glad that I'm not ill this time."
"Me too," Boxhall had been very well that past year as the seas had been kind to him after the Titanic disaster. "I haven't seen you since the launch party of your new jewel line there."
"I wrote you letters, Joe, but you're busy. Let me know when you have free time and maybe we'll have supper together."
"I would be delighted. Just fire that butler Will told me about so I don't get creeped out."
Emilia laughed. "He is creepy but we need evidence to fire him. Wait, I can fire him without any reason at all."
"Thank you, Joe!" Murdoch arrived in time to hear them talking about Alphonse. "Do you really need a butler now, Emilia? You're self sufficient."
"You're right. I don't mind fending for myself. Keeps me busy and out of trouble." Emilia liked to cook for herself and tend to the house chores. She didn't like washing clothes or dishes, but when they had to be done, she would do it.
"There you go. You're an independent woman and you need to seize the moment. You do a lot of that already but come on." Emilia wore her pastel red dress with white shirt and red peacoat, adjusted her red hat, took Murdoch's arm and descended the gangplank with him. Both were nervous about declaring the relationship to the public, but they were greeted with cheers and yells of goodwill.
Emilia's press release had made the morning edition. All of New York had read it and many were gossiping about the facts the princess had provided. Murdoch was a bit of a celebrity in Britain, having once averted a disaster at the helm of another ship. The couple switched on their smiles and waved until they reached the end of the pier where a towncar picked them up.
"I trust Mr. Hockley is being made aware of your article," Murdoch peeled off his gloves as it was too hot for them. He loosened up his collar as Lightoller slid in with a big grin. "I'm glad you let it all out there and really brought it to everyone's attention as to what a big jackass Cal is."
"Me too!" Lightoller chirped. "Cabbie, off to the Astoria!" the driver put the car in gear and chugged off across town to the hotel.
The day before arriving back on the Oceanic for the journey home, there was a knock on the suite door at 2 AM. Blinking sleep from his eyes, Murdoch knotted his robe, opening up the door with a tiny squeak from the doorknob.
Cal stood there, looking very unkempt and with a beer bottle in his hand. "You sir, have slandered my name!" he burbled drunkenly, wobbling back and forth.
"You did it to yourself, Mr. Hockley. If you don't mind, I need my rest and you need to make yourself scarce." he tried to close the door but Hockley barred the way.
"Do not close the door to me!" the heir bellowed loud enough for the whole hall to hear it.
"Do you realize what more scandal you're creating now?"
"Will?" Emilia's tired voice came into the room. She appeared in a white lace nightgown and her purple robe. Cal's eyes bugged out and he lurched into the room, stumbling against Murdoch in his haste.
"You cost me my good name!" instead of looking at Cal in anger, Emilia crossed her arms, her eyes narrowed at first but they got wider. She didn't think that Cal was the type of person to drink to excess. The Victorian age was very strict about alcohol, as Cal had to be moderate in his intake.
"Well, what have you got to say for yourself?!"
"Cal, sit down. Will, a word?" she grabbed Murdoch by the arm and brought him into the bedroom, keeping the lights off. Both of them spoke in hushed voices so they didn't disturb Lightoller, who was asleep in the corner.
"What? Should I call the police on him?"
Emilia sighed heavily. "Will, God help me, I want to help him,"
Murdoch's eyes bugged out but he waited to hear her reason. "he didn't drink to excess while Rose was around. As crazy as it may seem, he probably did love her or at least he thought that he did. My point is, I feel a bit remorseful after throwing him under the bus like I did."
"He used you as a hostage! He attacked you! He should be in prison!" Murdoch hissed angrily.
"No kidding. Cal needs to set things straight in his life. Drinking isn't one of them. He's turned into an alcoholic and I know people who can help him."
"You can help him, but I want no part of it." Murdoch went into the room and shut the door, disgruntled.
"Will..." Emilia gave up and went into the sitting room. Cal was taking a last swig from his beer bottle. He frowned, disappointed when there was no more, tossed the bottle aside, then looked up at Emilia with big puppydog eyes.
"Ever since Rose died..." he put his face in his hands, having reached the crying stage of drunkenness. Emilia felt pity for him, as he had nobody to hold him when he was in emotional pain, so edging forward, she gave him a pitying look, putting her hand on his shoulder.
"Come on, Cal. I want you to let it all out." he grabbed Emilia in a crushing hug while he cried out his grief.
The princess comforted Cal until he finally sniffled and raised his head up to meet her gaze. There was a different look in his eyes now, Emilia could see it clearly. "Thank you." his stare was fresher, the haunted look was gone now, replaced with his customary arrogance but it was softer.
"Cal, I know you're hurting," she handed him her handkerchief. "it's all right to grieve but you know it isn't OK for you to hurt other people."
"Yes, I do know," he interrupted her bluntly. "it's just that I was so hoping to marry Rose when we arrived in Philadelphia and she dies on the way over! You don't know the whole story like I do..." Cal began to tell her all about his voyage and a chap named Jack Dawson.
Finally he wound himself down with talking and had to fight his eyelids to keep them open. Emilia let him stay on the couch while he slept off the effects of the drink, going back to bed as well. She couldn't sleep then, thoughts flying around in her head with no way out. Finally she got up and wrote a letter:
"Dear Mom;
"Undoubtedly you know by now that I wrote a little expose or gossip piece or whatever you want to call it on Cal Hockley as revenge for what he has done to me in the past. You know he tried to take me hostage in order to get a seat on the lifeboat in Titanic when she was sinking, but he managed to attack me this past voyage on the Oceanic, drunk as a pig.
"Now we're in the Waldorf-Astoria hotel. Remember when we came here on a trip to New York when I was about ten? The place hasn't changed very much, still very spacious and the staff are so polite and accomodating.
"Mom, we hadn't been in here 4 hours when Hockley himself showed up at the door at around 2 AM, drunk again and wanting to curse me out for ruining his good name. Honestly I think he still deserves it, people need to be aware of what he is capable of if they choose his company. Anyone can be capable of anything if the mood is on them. You and Dad taught me well.
"Perhaps maybe a bit too well, I think. When I saw what a drunken wreck Cal had become, I felt pity. He had reached the emotional stage of drunkenness so I actually gave him a shoulder to cry on. I think of it this way, Mom, he went through a disaster, he had to be strong for his fiancee's mother, and after that he was alone for a long time. He grieved for his fiancee, I don't know what became of the mother-in-law, but he needed someone to talk to. His bodyguard went down with the ship, not that the ex con was much of a person to talk to anyway. I think that Cal finally realized that he is not above his own emotions, does that make sense?
"Anyway, he needs help and I know Dad has a few people in New York who might be able to help him out. I plan to offer Cal some assistance to get back on his feet and that's it. I do feel bad that I let the cat out of the bag on him so this is my way of making amends.
"Does anything I say in this letter make sense? If not, I'm tired and will write a better and more comprehensive one tomorrow. All these thoughts were in my head so I wrote them out to try to clear it. I know Cal isn't one of our family's favorite people, but with a little help, maybe someday we will find him tolerable.
"I think tonight was the first time Cal actually admitted that he was human, albeit in a drunken haze. He might turn his behavior around someday and be tolerable.
"Much love, Emilia."
Lightoller woke up first the following morning, unaware of the visitor in the middle of the night. He cleaned up and was on his way back from the bathroom when he saw Cal's form lying on the couch, sleeping. Narrowing his eyes at the obnoxious heir, the officer went into the bedroom where Emilia was sleeping at the desk, a pen still in her hand, her head pillowed on her arms.
"Emilia," he put his hands on her shoulders and spoke her name quietly. "Come on now." she jumped up.
"Oh, I was writing a letter to my mother because I couldn't sleep last night..." the princess trailed off, smoothing down her nightshirt.
"Would it be anything to do with the Hockley lad on the couch out there?" his voice was even and nonjudgmental. Emilia relaxed under his gaze.
"Yes, Charles. God help me, I felt sorry for the poor sot. I went too far."
"I was wondering if you'd feel this way," Lightoller sat down in another chair. "you're human, you know when you went too far. I think that's why Cal is here too."
"You think?"
"I know. Alcohol makes men more vulnerable to their emotions. You get the emotional stage when you're drunk which makes you act out ridiculous things like beating up another person. Some are violent drunks, some are fun drunks. Cal knows he went too far, he's here to apologize to you in his inebriated state because he's arrogant when he's sober, he can't admit to making a mistake because that's admitting he's wrong. A lot of people can't do it."
"To an extent me."
Lightoller chuckled. "You can admit that when you're sober. Cal can't. He needs some humility."
"He does. Right now, if he needs someone to talk to, I can be it. When does the Oceanic set sail again?"
"Tonight at 6. The crew cabins had to be inspected so that's why we're here in a hotel." there was a bimonthly inspection of all the cabins to check and make sure mice and rats hadn't holed themselves up somewhere nearby.
"OK. I'll talk to him." Emilia ordered breakfast to be brought to them, woke Cal up, then began to talk.
That night as the Oceanic went away from New York, Emilia was standing on the bridge with Captain McDonald and Lightoller. Murdoch came into the bridge them, fixing his cuffs and adjusting his hat.
"I've been thinking," Murdoch began. "you were right, Emilia. How did it end up with Hockley?"
Lightoller had filled McDonald in earlier about what had happened. The captain nodded sagely as Emilia told Murdoch that she had gotten Cal to face the fact that he needed help. She couldn't personally help him, but she knew people who would be able to do so. Cal accepted her help with remarkable humility and vowed that he would become a better person through intense work.
"You extended an olive branch, Emilia. You don't have it in you to be really mean." Lightoller grinned confidently at his friend.
"He was humble enough to recognize the fact that he needed help, you gave it to him. I could be wrong, but I think you just became friends with Hockley." McDonald teased.
"Gentlemen, only time will tell."
"Dear Emilia;
"It's been several months since I've last seen you and I miss you very much. I think you know by now that Britain has declared war. All the White Star Line ships have been requisitioned by the government and are being retrofitted as hospital ships, auxiliary cruisers, and though some of them remain in civilian service.
"The navy needs dedicated men, so Lights and I have been plucked from the merchant marine to the Royal Navy. Lightoller and I already did our obligatory stint to become RNRs. Neither one of us like the navy with all its pomp and circumstance, unnecessary formality and whatnot. The discipline is strict and rigid, another double edged sword if you get my meaning.
"Lights is off commanding a torpedo boat or a destroyer, I can't remember which. I'm off on destroyer duty very soon. I thought I'd drop you a line and tell you to stay with your family where you can be protected. Is your father going to transplant you to America where there is no war?
"Must close for now as I have a duty roster to line up.
"Lovingly, Will."
"Dear Will;
"Yes, my dad is transferring us to Canada where we will stay until the war's over. He doesn't like uprooting us from the English countryside we grew up in, but he won't have us within distance of air strikes, bombings, anything violent.
"Edward was making noise about entering the navy, but my parents, united (strangely) as it was with me on that one, saying that Eddie was an artist, a musician, and he did not have any experience in the navy or anything like that. Dad said I'd be better qualified!
"We leave England tomorrow and if you can make it any time, come and see us. The forwarding address is listed at the bottom. We're in Halifax, right on the coast.
"Cal is doing well with treatment, I'm a bit surprised. I think he'll be turning over a new leaf soon. He actually sent me a letter and I was pleasantly surprised by the fact it was devoid of any arrogance and condescension. The staff at the center I left him at have told me he's making rapid progress and will be able to be discharged quite soon.
"Time to go, still have a lot of the house to pack up. I pray this war ends quickly so we can come home.
"Lots of love, Emilia.
"PS news on the Alphonse front coming soon."
-so who's ready for me? Thank u for reviewing! :)