A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out! I had the worst time trying to find a sufficient block of time to write, so that's why it took so long.

But anyway, I just wanted to let you all know (this is probably going to sound really stupid), but I decided to change one of the characters names. He doesn't appear in this chapter, but just for further reference for the next chapter, "Bradley Carrington" is now "Brently Carrington." I decided I liked that name and thought it fit his character better. I debated over whether or not to change it, but in the end I decided to. I went back and changed his name all throughout the first chapter so there would be no confusion.

Now, the chapter! I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 2: Farewell to School

Summary: The Hampton School has its official sending-off Cotillion for the graduating class. Elizabeth becomes acquainted with some of London's high society before going back to America.

It was Sunday evening, April 7, 1912. Elizabeth carefully pulled on her delicate white gloves, and then smoothed the bodice of her white lace gown, the traditional attire that the graduates of the Hampton School wore during their Introduction party. It was custom at the school to hold its own cotillion for the girls, even though all of them would have their own held by their families once they arrived home. This cotillion was to introduce the girls to the London Society. For American girls like Elizabeth, it was also a nice way to make connections "across the pond."

Elizabeth was rather nervous; she had obviously never been introduced to society before, and this society wasn't even considered her own. She wondered how this night would differ from her own cotillion planned by her parents. She probably wouldn't know many people there tonight, which made her even more nervous. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair had been done in an elegant sort of twist with white ribbon strung throughout it and she was now permitted to wear make-up on her face. It had been done lightly, of course.

After a few moments of interrogating her appearance, there was a knock at her door.

"Are you read, Elizabeth?" one of her classmates, Louise, asked her. "Headmistress says it's almost time."

"Right, then," Elizabeth said, and with one last glance in the mirror, turned to leave.

The class of twenty-five girls was gathered in the main hall of the school. Each girl was wearing a white gown with similar white gloves to the ones Elizabeth was wearing. The ceremony was to take place in the school's banquet hall, though one would never be able to tell that it was part of the school. It was separate from the main building and only used during special occasions; it was used during the year as a social hall for upper-class gatherings and balls when the school wasn't using it.

The girls would be meeting their escorts for the night when they got to the hall. Elizabeth was feeling a little tense about the prospect of dancing in front of all of those people, and then being introduced. She hoped the boy was nice and not a replica of Brently Carrington. Elizabeth hadn't had much experience with boys during her early teen years; it wasn't expected of her nor was it proper for a young girl to be out cavorting with young men. Of course, she enjoyed the attention they would give her when she went out places, like any girl would.

"It's time, ladies!" Headmistress Carrington said with a smile, and the girls formed a line to walk to the hall.

The night was fairly warm and the stars shone brightly. The girls were whispering excitedly between each other. Elizabeth could feel her pulse rise as they approached the hall. When they ascended the steps to the main doors, she counted each one slowly as she stepped on it. The main doors were opened for them, and the group of escorts was gathered on the other side of them. They smiled nervously at the girls as they entered, nodding courteously to them.

Headmistress Carrington was looking at her list of names and pairing the girls off with their escorts. Elizabeth jumped a little when Headmistress called her own name.

"Elizabeth Westbury, you are paired with Liam Flannery," she said, guiding Elizabeth to her escort.

Liam was fairly tall with ginger hair. He looked quite the gentleman in his crisp tailcoat, and Elizabeth blushed some when he took her hand to kiss it.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," he said, his British accent well refined.

Elizabeth felt her cheeks redden some. "And you," she replied gracefully.

The group was now ushered into a line, preparing for their formal introduction and the opening dance. Elizabeth was eight from the front. The girls had been practicing for this moment for months; Elizabeth knew every step and motion and could do it in her sleep if she had to, but for some reason now her mind seemed to freeze. She heard the little voice in her head count the steps, 1, 2, 3, over and over again. This only made her more nervous. What if she forgot something in front of all those people?

"It's time!" Headmistress finally announced, once every girl had been paired off. The great double doors leading to the ballroom opened, and Elizabeth's eyes widened with anticipation.

The room had been done entirely in white; white linens, white candles, white flowers, white china, everything followed the theme. The guests, there were probably close to two hundred of them, were gathered throughout the room, now looking at the line of young ladies ready to make their debut.

When the band struck up the first chord, the line began to move to the floor. Elizabeth wasn't really thinking now, just doing, moving, going along with what was happening ahead of her. It was all becoming hazy now that it was actually happening. Liam led her to their position, and once ever couple was situated on the ballroom floor, the escorts bowed to their partners, the girls curtseyed back, and the traditional opening waltz began.

Elizabeth watched, eyes wide, as hundreds of faces swam in front of her while she danced. Liam whispered something to her, but she couldn't hear it; the band was loud, not to mention she could barely comprehend what was even going on around her. She hardly even noticed as the song came to an end and was brought out of her reverie as Liam stopped her dancing abruptly. Liam bowed once more and Elizabeth curtseyed, and the entire room exploded with applause. Elizabeth noticed Headmistress Collingsworth beaming in the distance.

"I think we're to, erm, mingle now," Liam said apprehensively, now that the dance was over.

Elizabeth, who still wasn't paying much attention, took a few moments to catch on to what he was saying. "Oh yes. Right."

The two linked arms, and Liam led her to the first guests they approached after leaving the floor. They were an aging couple, though still had the good looks and high esteem that they probably had back in their younger days. As Elizabeth and Liam greeted them, the woman's haughty face softened into a smile.

"Congratulations, dear," the woman said kindly, reaching out her hand to embrace Elizabeth's own. Elizabeth noticed that she had an American accent.

"Thank you so much," Elizabeth replied.

"Yes, yes, congratulations," her husband said also, also extending his hand.

"And what is your name, dear," the woman said, turning to Elizabeth.

"Elizabeth Westbury, of Boston, Massachusetts," she said.

"Really?" the man asked. "I thought we would be the only ones here tonight from across the pond!"

"Oh no," Elizabeth said, "there are a few girls here from the states. Whereabouts are you from?"

"Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Nathan Hockley," he said, and then gestured to his wife, "and this is my wife, Lillian. I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself earlier."

"It's quite alright," Elizabeth said with a smile, and then glanced over to Liam, who grinned back.

"We were so happy to have been invited," Mrs. Hockley said. "We've been visiting London for some time now. Our son, his fiancée, and her mother have been here, planning their wedding. We have friends and connections here, of course, but it was a surprise to be invited to what I hear is one of the biggest galas of the year."

"So you will be returning to Boston, then," Mr. Hockley said, apparently unaware that his wife had started a conversation. Mrs. Hockley, in turn, pursed her lips and cast a sideways glance to her husband.

"Oh yes," Elizabeth said with a nod.

"When, approximately?"

"Soon, actually. I leave in two days for Southampton, where I'll be boarding the Titanic on the tenth to go home," Elizabeth responded, not able to help the obvious elation and excitement in her voice.

With that, Liam finally decided to enter the conversation. "They say she's unsinkable, you know. The grandest in the world, ever built, even."

"Unsinkable she is!" Mr. Hockley said with great jubilance. "My son would know; he and his fiancée are going back to America on the Titanic as well. If only we could join him. We'll be home just in time for the wedding."

"In fact," Mrs. Hockley said, "I wonder if you might know our Cal's fiancée. She's only a bit older than yourself. Her name is Rose DeWitt Bukater, from Philadelphia."

Elizabeth nodded. She did indeed know the DeWitt Bukaters, though only through her parents. She had only met Rose, once, and she was very young. She hardly even remembered it, really; she was only about six at the time. But during the past summer, when Elizabeth was home for the holiday, she recalled the DeWitt Bukaters being a topic of gossip her mother and her friends liked to frequent. Even though Elizabeth's family was from Boston, well-known families from the east coast were known by almost everyone. Elizabeth remembered her mother saying that Mr. DeWitt Bukater had passed away and left the family in debt. Ruth DeWitt Bukater had resorted to finding a wealthy husband for her young daughter, who was only sixteen at the time. Apparently Ruth had succeeded.

"I know of her," Elizabeth said. "I've only even met her once, though, and I was very young at the time."

"Perhaps you will meet while on the ship," Mrs. Hockley said. "I'll be sure to tell Rose and her mother what a darling girl you are. And I'll mention to Cal to keep an eye out for you, since you're traveling alone."

"I'm not, actually. A friend of my father's has a son who attends Oxford. He'll be accompanying me home," Elizabeth said. "But thank you for your generosity. I'm sure my father would feel very good knowing that so many people want me kept safe."

But inside, something was telling Elizabeth that she wished they didn't. Didn't want to keep her safe, that is. The more Elizabeth was exposed to what life outside of school would be like, the more she felt like she was being drug into something she wouldn't be able to escape. In fact, she was beginning to think there would never be a time in her life when she would be anything but safe ever again. One would think that after leaving the confinements of boarding school the world would open up to new possibilities. But now those possibilities didn't seem so new. She would be safe for the rest of her life. This thought seemed to make the happy prospect of the night go sour.

A/N: Please review!! I really want to know what you guys think of this chapter, because it didn't go as I originally wanted it to. It's not as long as I had originally planned it, but when I hit what turned out to be the ending paragraph, I felt that it was an appropriate place to end. If you don't agree and feel that it seems unfinished, then by all means tell me so, and if a lot of people don't like it I can go back and add more. Thanks so much!