Chapter 16
A week later someone came to the door and knocked. Holly was closest to the door so she went to answer.
Harlean was in the parlor with her brothers and mother drinking some tea. They had all been watching her carefully, ever since the ceremony they had in Southampton and the one that was held in Stoke on Trent, her Uncle's home town.
She had said a little about the few days the two had spent together on the ship, but nothing came out much about the sinking. And nobody wanted her to be pushed into telling them.
"Hello Holly, is Harlean here?"
Harlean almost fell out of her seat when she heard Bride's voice.
Her mother looked at her, "Do you know who that is dear?" she asked.
Harlean nodded and slowly stood up from her seat, having to pick up her dress slightly so she didn't trip on the black lace from her mourning dress.
When she saw Harold, Harlean smiled for the first time in two weeks. He smiled back at her and Holly stepped to the side to admit Harold in.
He took two strides and Harlean was in his arms, "I missed you." she whispered.
"You can't even believe how much I've missed you dear." He whispered back.
"Harlean?"
She pulled out of Harold's arms and saw her mother standing there looking somewhat worried, "Oh mother forgive me, this is Harold Bride. He is the Second Wireless Operator from the Titanic." Harlean flinched as she said Titanic.
"Well it is very nice to meet you sir, what is your reason for calling on us?" Her mother asked as she walked over to shake Harold's hand.
He shook it and glanced at Harlean for a moment and then her hand, her engagement ring wasn't on her finger, "You haven't told them then?" He asked.
"Well Sparks…it hasn't exactly come up. Besides I thought I'd just wait for you to come home to London before I said anything." Harlean answered simply.
"Harlean my darling, what are you two talking about?" Her mother asked.
"Perhaps I should go and come back later." Harold said slowly.
"That might be for the best." Harlean agreed.
"Oh who is this?"
Everyone looked up to see Harlean's father had just walked down the stairs, "Hello father, this is Harold Bride. He was the Second Wireless Operator on the Titanic." Harlean said.
"You would be the one then who sent us word that Harlean was safe?" Her father asked as he came over to join the group.
"Yes sir." Harold replied he then looked to Harlean, "Really I should go though. I can come back once you've told them. Besides…I came straight here from the docks. I haven't even gone home to see my mother and father."
"Alright I will send for you once they know." Harlean said as she looked at Harold in the eyes.
He nodded and went to kiss her on the cheek but pulled away, "It was lovely meeting you all." He said to her family and then Harold went for the door. Holly opened it and he smiled at her.
She then closed the door and looked at Harlean somewhat nervously.
"Now dear can you tell us what that was all about?" Her mother asked.
"You should probably sit down. Let us go into the parlor."
Harlean led the way followed by her family. Once everyone was seated Harlean looked at her hands for a moment as she attempted to figure out a way to break the news.
"On the Titanic…Harold…or Sparks as I like to call him, became a very close friend of mine. Jack Phillips…God rest his soul, was kind but not nearly as kind to me as Harold was. Somehow I found that over just a few short days I had…fallen in…love with Harold. The night of the 19th, Harold asked me to marry him…and I said yes." Harlean explained slowly.
"I beg your pardon?" Micah asked.
"Harold has asked me to be his wife and I agreed." Harlean answered.
"What do you mean you agreed? It is not up to you Harlean. It is up to your mother and I who you marry!"
The Carpenter children looked at their father who had raised his voice; he had never done so in such a loud voice ever since they were all little. That had been once and when he did get angry you did not want to be near James Carpenter.
"Father…I love him. I thought you and Mother would understand so of course I agreed." Harlean said, trying to muster her courage.
"Seamen, you want to marry seamen? One you do not even know?!" He shouted.
"James lower your voice!" It was the first time Mrs Carpenter had spoken since Harlean had told them the news.
"I do know him! I know a great deal about him. The most important thing I know about him is that he loves me!" Harlean cried.
"Harlean Carpenter! Do not raise your voice at your father!" Mrs Carpenter then ordered.
Tears were beginning to fill her eyes, "I love him…he loves me. Uncle Edward was able to see that and he gave Harold his blessings! He asked Harold to take care of me and that's what Harold promised Uncle he would do!" Harlean cried.
"Well it was not up to your Uncle to give his blessings. It is up to me to give my blessings and I will not let my daughter be married off to a Seamen. Especially not one that can't even make enough money to take care of his self let alone my daughter!"
"How do you know how much he makes?"
He was silent, "Harlean…he does not make enough money to be able to care for you."
"Well he and I both are receiving compensation from the White Star Line…that should be enough to get us started." She replied.
"I forbid it Harlean…you will marry who your mother and I find suitable for you." Mr Carpenter paused and looked to Holly who was standing by the door still, "Holly did you know about this relationship?"
"Not until we were on the Carpathia Sir." Holly answered.
"You were supposed to always be keeping a close eye on her, always!" Mr Carpenter said.
"Well I did not see the need in my following her up to the Wireless Room. She would tell me that she was going up to send you and Mrs Carpenter a message and then she might go and see her Uncle." Holly answered.
"Holly we hired you as our daughter's personal maid but also someone to always keep a close eye on her." Mrs Carpenter said.
"I'm sorry." Holly said, bowing her head.
"We will deal with you later, for now we need to deal with Harlean." Mr Carpenter turned back to his daughter, "I forbid you from seeing him. He may come and you will tell him that you can not marry him. If he has given you anything then you will return it to him. Is that understood?"
"Father I…"
"Is that understood Harlean?"
"No it is not!" She then turned around and headed up the stairs, before going into her bedroom she turned back.
"I do not know what is wrong with him. He's everything you told me you hoped I would find one day. A fine honorable man, who takes care of me and loves me, is it any wonder I fell in love with a Seaman? My Uncle accepted him and wanted Harold to be my husband, because he recognized that Harold loved me!" She then went into her room and slammed the door. Harlean locked the door and fell to her floor crying…
XX
A/N- AWWW!!! HOW SAD!
I went ahead and posted this, despite how short it was because I'm going away till Monday…I hope to finish this before the New Year…that is my goal at least!!!
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