Sorry if I seem to be going slow lately. You see, I'm practicing a new religion. It's called "couch potatoism." It involves sitting on my fat butt all day, doing nothing. It also forbids work practically 24/7. I'll get started on Chapter 5 ASAP. Until then, enjoy 4.

Chapter 4

"Rose, are you ready for dinner yet?" Cal asked as he opened the door to Rose's room.

Rose was standing at her mirror, adding the finishing touches to her wardrobe. She was wearing her favorite dinner dress: the black chiffon sequenced princess-seam gown. She knew Mr. Andrews was going to be there tonight and wanted to look astounding.

"Yes, darling, I'm coming," Rose replied. She glanced into the mirror once more. She smiled. After grabbing her purse, she left the room. Giving a slight smile, she linked arms with Cal and they, along with Ruth, headed down to the reception room.

At the bottom of the D-deck staircase stood Mr. Andrews. He was in the middle of a conversation with the Astors, but when he saw Rose he stopped talking and watched as she descended the staircase.

Cal and Rose unlinked arms when the reached the bottom of the staircase. They parted to chat. Cal walked toward Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon and Archibald Gracie while Rose moved to the Astors and Andrews. "J. J., Madeleine, such a pleasure to see you both," Rose smiled as they exchanged greetings. She then looked at Andrews and added, "Good evening, Mr. Andrews."

"Good evening, Rose," Andrews replied. "You look exquisite."

Blushing, Rose returned a thank you. She looked over Andrews' shoulder and could see Cal standing with his male counterparts.

"Hockley, she is splendid,"she overheard Sir Cosmo say.

"Cal's a lucky man," Colonel Gracie chimed in. "I know him well, and it can only be luck."

Ruth smiled and grabed onto Cal's arm somewhat fondly. "How can you say that Colonel? Caledon Hockley is a great catch."

An angry frown appeared across Rose's face when she heard their words. How dare they speak of her like a prized horse! It was sickening, and her mother only added fuel to the fire. Caledon Hockley a great catch?! Perhaps you should marry him then, Mother. God, how she wished she could say that to her mother's face.

"Rose?"

Mr. Andrews' voice bought Rose back to earth. She looked at him, not aware that anyone had been speaking to her. "Sorry?"

Andrews replied with a laugh, "You're quite the dreamer. I asked if you were ready to proceed into the saloon."

Embarrassed, Rose grabbed onto his arm and together they walked into the dinning saloon. They followed Cal and Ruth to a table, where they combined with the Astors, Ismay, and a few other guests. Andrews seated Rose between himself and her fiancé.

Dinner started out normal. They enjoyed their caviar, goose liver, and champagne while exchanging stories and conversation.

Rose tried to stay out of their conversations as best she could. She didn't belong in any of them. None of the topics interested her. She spoke with Molly Brown for a few minutes, then went back to being quite. Ruth noticed this and kept shooting distasteful looks. Introverted socialites tended to be colorless, something she didn't want Rose to be.

One thing Rose noticed was Mr. Andrews and how he was keeping out of the conversations as well. She watched him as he wrote in his little notebook.

"Mr. Andrews, what are you doing? You're always seen writing in this little book." Rose inches closer to Andrews, then reads what he is writing. "Increase number of screws in hat hooks from two to three. What difference is one screw going to do?"

"More stability," was his reply.

Rose gave a small laugh. She was shocked. "You build the biggest ship in the world and this preoccupies you?"

Andrews smiled sheepishly as Ismay chimed in. "He knows every rivet in her, don't you Thomas?"

"All three million."

Everyone listening in on the conversation laughed.

Ismay added, "His blood and soul are in Titanic. She may be mine on paper, but in the eyes of God, she belongs to Thomas Andrews."

"Your ship is a wonder, Mr. Andrews," Rose commented.

Mr. Andrews blushed. He had fallen for her charm. He thanked her, then went back to writing in his notebook. Rose watched intently as his pen moved vigorously.

Itching for a conversation, Rose asked, "What other plans do you have for Titanic, Mr. Andrews?"

"Nothing major," Andrews replied. "After we return from New York, I hope to convert half of the reading and writing room to more staterooms."

"And why is that?"

"The room is not as popular as I had hoped. Such space should not be wasted, so I figured a smaller room would be more adequate. In addition, more staterooms means more room for first-class passengers."

Again, Ismay butted into the conversation."And more fine first-class passengers means more money. Eh, Andrews?"

Rose glared at Ismay, wishing he would just stifle himself or at least stick to his own conversation. He must've gotten the picture because he never broke in after that. This gave her and Andrews the opportunity to engage into conversation again. Rose continued asking questions about the ship and Andrews proudly answered every one.

Finally, Andrews said to Rose, "My, I have never met a woman so interested in ships."

Of course, Rose wasn't much into Titanic. She was just trying to dodge Cal and make conversation with the lovely Mr. Andrews simultaneously.

"Well, besides my wife, of course," Andrews added. His face glowed.

Rose could feel her heart sink. "You're married, Mr. Andrews?"

He nodded. "Nearly four years. I have a two-year-old daughter as well, Elizabeth Law Barbour."

A small smile was forced on Rose's face. She couldn't believe he was married. Yet at the same time she could. A man as great as he could not stay single for ever. "Well, your daughter must be beautiful."

"She's very beautiful."

Rose watched as Cal and the rest of the gentlemen stood to leave for their nightly brandy in the in smoking room. All that remained was Mrs. Astor, Mrs. Brown, the Countess, Ruth, Rose, and Mr. Andrews.

"I best be going, too," Mr. Andrews said as he rose to his feet.

"Must you?" Rose asked.

"I have a few things to finish before I retire," Andrews replied. "But since you seem so interested in Titanic, how about I give you a personal tour of her tomorrow afternoon? You can bring your mother and Cal along if you wish."

Rose didn't wish to bring them along, but since her mother had overheard she had to. "We'd love to," Ruth answered before Rose could say anything.

"Splendid!" He looked down at Rose. "Until then, goodnight." He grabbed her hand and kissed it.

"Goodnight," Rose bade before he walked away. She closed her eyes, not wanting to believe he was married with a child. She didn't want to believe it. . .not one bit.

I can still make him love me.