Supper let out at nine o'clock sharp, and Emily excused herself to her cabin, explaining that she was tired after such a long day. Everybody seemed to buy this excuse, so Emily walked back to her cabin as calmly as possible. When she was safely in her cabin, she sat down on her bed, finally able to giggle over Tommy Ryan, as she had wanted to do since she had met him. She thought of the way his smile sent butterflies fluttering against her ribcage, and how, when he kissed her hand, the spot where his lips had been tingled.
Emily stood up quickly, deciding that she needed to change out of her dress. It wasn't the same one she had worn at dinner, heaven forbid she should wear the same dress twice, but it was equally as nice. This one was a dark midnight blue, almost the exact shade of her eyes. Emily stripped off the dress quickly, and then loosened her corset herself, a difficult task, but very rewarding. She took a deep breath, smiling as air filled her lungs fully for the first time since the night before. Walking over to her closet in nothing but her underclothes, she rummaged through the numerous dresses until she found one that was suitably comfortable. Pulling it off the hanger, she nodded, satisfied with her find.
This dress was blue, the same shade as the one she had just taken off, but much simpler. This one didn't have a train, but it was long enough that she needed to hold it up when she walked. The lace trim was black, very subtle, yet elegant at the same time. She pulled the dress over her head, then let her hair loose, deciding that it complimented the dress perfectly, since her black tresses were the same color as the black lace. Stepping back, she looked in the mirror, satisfied with what she saw there. As she sat back down on her bed to wait, she couldn't help but laugh a little bit; she was getting all dressed up to see a man that she had met once.
She lay back on her bed, thinking that she'd take a small nap before meeting Tommy. As she drifted off to sleep, she thought of Tommy's smile, and how it was the first genuine one she had received all day.
X
When Emily woke up, it took her a moment to remember where she was. Memories of boarding the Titanic filled her head, and then she remembered Tommy Ryan. Sitting up with a jolt, she looked frantically at the clock that sat on the mantle of her fireplace. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that it was still twenty to eleven. Standing up, she smoothed her dress, which had gotten slightly mussed while she slept. She walked over to her vanity, which was much nicer than the one she had been given at the Masons' house, and sat down on the bench. Looking into the mirror, she noticed that her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her sapphire blue eyes were sparkling. Not willing to admit that this reaction was caused by the thought of the handsome Irishman she had met earlier, she picked up her ivory-handled hairbrush and ran it through her long black curls.
By the time she was done brushing her hair, it was ten to eleven. Deciding that she couldn't wait any longer, she drug the brush through her hair one more time, then stood up from her vanity bench. She hesitated a moment, debating over whether to bring a coat or not, decided not to, and opened the door of her suite room quietly. She closed it behind her as quietly as she could manage, not wanting to wake Edward, then opened the outside door and stepped into the empty hallway. Smiling, she made her way outside.
As soon as she stepped onto the outside deck, she regretted not grabbing her coat. She thought about going back to grab one, but decided against it, making her way, instead, to the bow of the ship, and Tommy Ryan.
He was waiting for her when she reached the bow. Emily slowed down when she saw him, and she couldn't help but noticed that he had the strong, muscled body of a laborer. He turned at the sound of her footsteps, and the smile that lit up his face was breathtaking.
"You came." He sounded delighted.
"Of course," Emily replied with a laugh. "Did you expect me not to?"
Tommy simply laughed. Emily decided that she liked his laugh very much.
"Now, what's this story ya were about ta tell me?" Emily laughed again, then leaned against the railing and began her story.
She told him all about growing up in the orphanage, and how Madam Mason had needed a companion. When she was finished, Tommy Ryan simply looked at her.
"What?" she finally asked.
"Ya have a lot o' courage, Miss Sullivan."
"Please, call me Emily. And what do you mean I have courage?"
"Puttin' up with that Miss Stewart like ya did. Not runnin' away. Ta tell ya in complete honesty, I woulda been long gone." Emily laughed again. "I like yer laugh, Emily." Emily stopped laughing immediately, and turned her head to hide the blush that was creeping up into her cheeks. Tommy chuckled quietly. "Well, Emily, 'tis been a pleasure, but ya must be gettin' back ta bed."
"Oh, yes, of course." Emily couldn't hide the disappointment in her voice, and Tommy chuckled again.
See the disappointed look on her face, he said, "Tell ya what, there's a party, down in third class, day after tomorrow. Meet me down on F Deck, an' I'll take ya there." Emily smiled.
"I'll be there," she promised. "Now," she sighed, "I suppose I must be getting back."
"O' course," Tommy chuckled. Taking her hand, he kissed the back of it, then released it and stepped back, a smile still playing around his lips. "I'll see ya then...Emily." Emily grinned once more, then turned and walked back in the direction of her cabin, thinking the whole time of Tommy Ryan's laugh.