Chapter 9
"Have you heard these rumors about the Captain's niece Harlean with some officer?" a woman in a large feathered hat in the dining saloon whispered to her companion.
Bruce Ismay was on his way to lunch at the Captain's table when he heard women whispering to each other as they drank their tea.
"No, do you know who it is?" the other woman asked.
"Oh no, I have just heard one of the Officers talking about it to another one. Someone walked in on Miss Carpenter and the Officer kissing!" the first woman exclaimed.
"How shameful, I was under the impression she was raised in a good stable family."
Bruce scowled and continued to walk to the table.
"EJ, are you aware of the rumors going around, about your niece?" he asked as he sat down.
The Captain looked up from his tea, "Bruce what are you talking about?"
"I have just heard two women talking about hearing an Officer saying that he walked in on Harlean and some officer….kissing!" Bruce said as a Steward came over.
"I am sure that is not true, she does not know any officers," the Captain said with a wave of his hand.
The Steward handed Bruce a cigarette, he lit it, and took a drag, "I wish we still lived in a world where if a woman was with child and not married, she would be kicked out of the family," he muttered.
The Captain raised an eyebrow, "That much has changed?"
Just then Harlean came in, with a white and yellow dress on and a large white hat with roses and a feather on it, "Forgive me for being late Uncle, I lost track of time and I had to go and change," she said as the Captain stood up and kissed her on the cheek.
"Do not worry about it, you are not nearly as late as you were yesterday," he said with his eyes twinkling.
Harlean smiled and then sat down, she saw Bruce who was staring at her with a look of disgust in his eyes, "Hello Mr Ismay," she said.
Before Bruce could reply, Thomas Andrews walked over, "Hello Captain, Bruce," he smiled at Harlean, "Miss Carpenter, I hope you have not had another incident with the librarian today," he said as he sat down.
Harlean laughed politely, "No I have not," she replied as the Waiter (the same one from the incident the first night on board the ship) then asked her what she wanted for lunch, everyone placed their orders and he rushed off.
"Did Ismay give you trouble again?" a Steward at the doors of the kitchen asked, he had dark brown hair and some what of a smile on his face.
"No…but he did give me a look," the young Waiter then walked into the Kitchen.
The steward glanced around; saw that his fellow blonde stewardess was no where around and then his face broke into a grin. Just then his waiter friend came out with a tray with tea on it.
"Which one is his?" the Steward asked.
"That one, why?" the other asked as he pointed to Bruce's cup.
The Steward then pulled out a Silver Flask and poured what little bit liquor he had left, into the cup.
The young Waiter's eyes went wide but the Steward put his finger over his mouth to keep the other silent, "Call it payback, he'll embarrass himself in public and you can walk away happy."
The other looked like he might protest but smiled slightly, knowing that the pushy Steward wouldn't take no for an answer…he had heard stories from a Stewardess about this problem of his. The Waiter then walked over to the table and made sure he set the cup down in front of Ismay, "Your food will be out soon," he said. He then turned away and began to walk back towards the kitchen, where the Steward was watching as Ismay took a sip and grimaced slightly but then he took another sip.
Harlean took a sip of her tea but listened intently as Mr Ismay, Mr Andrews, and her Uncle discussed things about the trip, a fire that had occurred in the depths of the ship, and the Ice Warnings they had been receiving. She noticed Mr Andrews seemed to have a look of disagreement as Mr Ismay and her Uncle were discussing about the last boilers being lit.
She did think it was a bit strange that her Uncle was ignoring Ice Warnings and going ahead full steam, but Harlean figured he must know what he was doing…right?
XX
"Hey Sparky, machine is acting up again," Jack called.
There was a groan of un-audible sounds coming from behind the curtain.
"Come on, I was in the process of taking a message for your girl anyways! So help me out," Jack called.
There was another groan and then Harold came out from behind the curtain, not looking his best, "Who is the message from?" he asked.
"I had one here from her mum and dad and I was in the process of getting one from her brothers," Jack answered.
"Harlean's you mean?"
"Yes Harlean's! Unless you have another girl you're courting," Jack cried.
Harold pretended to think for a minute but smiled, "Yes she is the only girl I'm courting," he replied.
"Alright, here take this," Jack handed Harold the message from Harlean's parents; Harold glanced at it briefly and then pocketed it.
Jack lifted something off of the machine and looked at the components inside, the things that were usually covered by the sparker. Jack muttered something under his breath and then took a screwdriver out from the desk and began to tighten a screw inside the machine, "We need to stop getting inundated with these messages, especially mindless messages about Bruce Ismays' fuckin' brandy!" Jack almost shouted.
XX
"Forgive me for speaking Mr Andrews, but I think something is wrong with Mr Ismay," Harlean whispered as she cut her sausage.
Thomas Andrews looked at Bruce who was slurring his speech and who also kept giving Harlean dirty and yet disgusted looks.
"It is alright Harlean, I think your right," he whispered back. Mr Andrews raised an eyebrow, "Bruce…are you alright?" he asked.
"I…I d-don't know," Bruce said, slowly.
"Bruce I think you should go back to your suite, something seems to be wrong," the Captain spoke up.
Harlean took a bite of her lunch with slight amusement on her face.
Bruce nodded, "Per-perhaps your right," he stood up, turned and fell face forward into a tray of deserts that a Waiter was carrying.
There were gasps around the hall and Harlean noticed the Steward and their waiter over by the door to the kitchen, watching with high amusement on their faces. The Steward held his hand up, which the Waiter slapped, and then they punched their fists together.
Bruce stood up a moment later shouting slanders at the Waiter, but after a moment he walked away. The Captain looked at Harlean, who looked at the Steward and Waiter, and she merely began to laugh, though without her knowing it…it was going to be one of the last times she'd laugh in a long time…
XX
A/N- *puts on threatening music* DUN DUN DUN!! Call this chapter a Halloween gift…I've been painting my nails while writing this…my mind hasn't been much on writing lately cause I got a book from the library (Golden Compass) and it's sooo good!! Whoever said the book was atheistic…they were DEAD WRONG! For the love of all that is holy, they start reading the bible in it! Haha….anywhos I must stress something to you.
The people who have reviewed have been fantastic, but to those who are reading and may not review…could you just please hit the little blue button?? I know like doing things like this are annoying…but for real? The reviews keep me motivated and keep me smiling during the day, there what I look forward to when I get online! Haha…no but really! Today was a craptastic day for me…so please review! Kay? I love you all dearly and you are a fantastic crowd! Love ya, Beccs! ^_^