Authors note: Hey! You didn't get to hear much as Cora's thoughts in the last chapter, so this is her reflecting on the events that have happened today. Please R&R, it's really useful for me to get any feedback. Enjoy! Xxx

I had a lot to think about. Today so many things had happened and it's only now that I can think properly, everything seemed to happen at once, meeting Ella, finding more stuff out about Rose, especially the fact that she, I don't know for sure, might be forced into getting married.

It's strange how someone can seem to have everything, and yet be deeply unhappy. I mean, Rose, she's the most beautiful person I've ever seen, even prettier than posters of actresses I've seen, or pictures in books. Her family's really rich, so I bet she could get anything she wants, her clothes are practically for royalty. And yet, she's unhappy. I couldn't understand why at first, I remember thinking how happy I'd be if I were her. But now, finding out more things about her, I'm not sure that I'd swap my life. When she was talking to Jack earlier, with me and Ella listening, she said she felt trapped, alone; she wanted to do something, not just sit around and be waited on. She wants to be an actress; I think she'd make a good one. She talked about how her weddings been arranged with her hardly getting a say, not even on her wedding dress. The more she talked about it, it sounds like she doesn't want to get married at all, to Cal, I think his name was, anyway. She said he can be controlling, thinks that a woman should be by a man's side, that sort of thing. He seemed so nice when I saw him in Southampton. I had no idea that he was like that. Now I can understand why she's so unhappy.

Mommy told me that when you're older, and have kids, you'll do anything to love and protect your children. If that's the case, then why doesn't her mommy not let Rose marry him, if she doesn't want to? Has she told her? She must have, you can't keep something that's gonna make you miserable for the rest of your life to yourself. Then why hasn't her mommy done something? She was really angry at Rose when I saw her, and don't get why, she was only with Jack, he's her friend. Maybe Jack knows more about her mom, I'll have to ask him about it, he wants to know just as much about her as I do.

When Rose was with Jack today, she was happy, she really was, the happiest I've seen her. She was laughing and smiling and joking with him. She seemed...free, like she could say her opinion, and then the next minute, when she was with her mom, she looked scared, she wasn't herself. I tell my mommy everything, well, most things anyway, I can't imagine having a mother who you can't be yourself around, who you're scared of. Why even have kids anyway if you're not gonna be nice to them? Maybe, her mommy is nice, really, and she was just having a bad day. I really hope so, but I can't see it, everything else adds up so well that what I first thought has to be the truth. But I can still hope. I used to think that life was simpler, that family's just worked the way they should do. But now, I'm finding out that it's not always like that, that it can be more complicated, well, in first class anyway. I may now know that it is, but I still don't understand it! Why can't Rose just say, no, I'm not marring you, and that be the end of it. Why can't she just marry someone she wants, someone nicer, more like her. And why was her mommy so angry about the fact that she was with Jack. They were just been friends. I'll never get why first and third class can't mix, so yeah, they have money, but that shouldn't matter. I know that not all first class are like that, Ella and her family don't mind the difference in class, I'm seeing her again tomorrow, I really like her, maybe we'll stay friends when we get to America. I looked up from the water and now into the horizon. It was still sunset, the warmth was glowing on my face and hair with a gentle calm breeze. The clouds were pink, like candyfloss. Where I'm from, everybody looks out for each other, no one thinks that they're above or below anyone else there. But in Roses world, it seems that they measure how valuable you are as a person to how big your wallet is.

Rose isn't weak, she's strong minded, I can tell. I think cos of that fact, somehow, she will get out of her marriage, she will, and then she can come with me and daddy, cos we wouldn't mind her been with us, or with Jack, they really get on so they're bound to stay friends, and then hopefully, we'll all meet up in Santa Monica. I'm not deluding myself, it could happen, she could just get some money and then run away. Maybe that's what she's planning to do, leave at the last minute, that's what I'd do, and then she can lead the life she wants, though I bet she'd miss the constant hot running water she must get. I look around the deck, no one else is here, dinner must be soon then. I wonder if Jack's at first class dinner by now, hopefully he got something more posh to wear, I don't think they'd let him in or else! It must be a really nice restaurant part where he is, and the food would be great too. He'll tell me all about it later tonight. Tonight! I forgot we're going to the bar area tonight! That'll be exciting, I bet Rose would love it there. The sun's nearly set into the sea now, Daddy will come find me soon. Before he does I close my eyes.

Dear God,

I pray that Rose will be happy, whatever it means for her to be happy I pray it happens, and that I get to meet her to. I pray that she won't have to do anything she doesn't want to, and that her life will be really good. Amen.

There, whenever I'm upset or worried I pray, and it always seems to work. I hope it can for Rose to.

"Cora, dinners now." I look over and see daddy near the entrance.

"Okay!" I call and run to where he is, I don't know why, but I feel happier now, about Rose and everything else, I just have a feeling that everything will turn out happily...