Emily had been staring at the R.M.S. Titanic for near ten minutes, and still she could not take her eyes off of it. The ship was magnificent, with its four smokestacks reaching up to the sky, and the many windows creating sparkles on the blue water beneath them. Emily and the Masons made their way forward, Madam Mason commenting the whole time on how slow the line was moving. Emily stifled an exasperated sigh as Madam Mason voiced her impatience loudly, taking it out on the nearest steward, who was helping with their bags.

"I'm sorry about her," Emily murmured under her breath to the hapless steward. He smiled at her slightly.

"I get this all the time, miss." The steward picked up Emily's luggage and carried them to their cabins as Emily, Edward, and Madam Mason got their tickets checked. The inside of the grand ship was even more magnificent than the outside. The walls were a rich burgundy color, with accents of gold. The plush carpet muffled the footsteps of the passengers as they made their way to their respective cabins.

"Here are our cabins," Madam Mason said, stopping in front of cabins B-44, 46, 48, and 50. She unlocked the door to B-48, and ushered Emily and Edward in. Emily gasped in awe at the room.

The walls were the same deep burgundy with gold accents as the rest of the first class area. Each room held a white marble fireplace, where one could light a cheerful fire in the cold evenings.

"Your room is in B-44," Madam Mason told Emily. "Mine is 50, and Edward's is 46." She pointed in the direction of Emily's room, and Emily eagerly took her luggage into the room, grinning when she entered the grand room. The bed was even more luxurious than the one that she had been given at the Masons' house, with tall, elegant posts at each corner, and a lovely feather mattress. Emily set about unpacking her wardrobe, hanging up her fine dresses in the closet and putting her nightclothes and under things in the mahogany dresser. When this task was done, Madam Mason agreed to let her go up on the deck to see the ship off. Emily hurried up the stairs to the open-air deck, eager to see the great ship leave harbor.

The deck was crowded, so Emily had some trouble finding a spot that she could see from, but she finally managed to secure a perch on the railing.

The ropes were just being let off of the dock as Emily leaned over the railing. It took two men to each rope to get them off, as they were about as thick as Emily's arm. Three tugboats, attached to both sides and the front, helped the Titanic make it out of the harbor. Emily could not keep down the thrill of excitement that went through her whole body: she was going to America, on the grandest ship afloat!

X

Emily went back to the cabins ten minutes after Titanic launched, only to find Madam Mason waiting for her.

"Ah, Emily, there you are," the older lady greeted her. "Now, it is time for lunch, so we must get you dressed. This will be the first time that everyone meets you, so you must make a good impression."

"Yes, ma'am," Emily said dutifully, as Madam Mason led the way to Emily's room.

"Would you like to wear your blue dress, or the lovely red dress?" Madam went to the closet and pulled out both articles of clothing.

Emily examined each one for a moment before deciding. "I'd like to wear my red dress," she said.

"Excellent choice, dear." Madam Mason hung the blue dress back up and turned back to Emily. "Now, take off that traveling dress, and I shall help you put this one on." Emily unbuttoned the tan and white traveling dress and stepped out of it. Madam Mason helped her lace up her corset tighter, and Emily gasped as the corset pinched her already small waist. After the corset was properly restricting Emily's breathing, Madam Mason pulled the red dress over Emily's head. Emily giggled slightly as the soft satin tickled her smooth skin. Madam Mason buttoned and laced the dress, and then let Emily step back to look at her reflection in the mirror. Emily was very pleased with what she saw there.

The dress was a deep blood red, trimmed in cream-colored lace; it was long enough that Emily was forced to hold it up as she walked. The gloves that she wore, even though her nails were suitable to be seen, were the same cream color as the lace on her dress.

"Now, aren't you lovely!" Madam Mason exclaimed joyously. Emily smiled in agreement. "Let's present you, shall we? Edward, come here please!" Edward appeared at the door as if he had been waiting there the whole time. Ed's eyes grew wide when he saw Emily.

"You look beautiful, Em," Edward said quietly, causing a delicate blush to creep into the young lady's cheeks. "May I escort a lady to dinner?" He held out his arm, and, after a moment's hesitation, Emily took the proffered elbow. "Coming mother?"

"Yes, of course, I shall be there in just a moment. You just take her to the dining room, introduce her to everyone." Edward nodded in consent and led Emily out of the room.

"Now, these people are fairly intimidating," Ed warned Emily as they made their way down the hall, "so just let me do most of the talking at first. When you feel comfortable, join in the conversation." Emily nodded silently. "Don't worry, Em," Edward assured her, giving her arm a little squeeze. "You'll do just fine."

They entered the dining room, which was very large, and very grand. The walls were painted white, in contrast with the warm mahogany of the rest of the ship. Each individual table was set for five, with the exception of one large table in the centre, which was set for about fifteen. It was around this table that Emily caught her first glimpse of the "royalty" that she would be expected to talk to.

They were all dressed to perfection, the men in impeccable suits and ties, and the ladies in dresses worthy to be seen by the queen herself. Edward led a very nervous Emily straight towards this group of lovely, intimidating creatures.