Apologies for the belated update but haven't been too well and then had long shifts at work etc. Anyway here goes and there is a short flashback which I hope works as there will be numerous other's I think as the fic goes on. Anyway enough rambling on.

"There's no other boat is there for the men. I heard someone telling a poor woman with some young children that the men might have been picked up by another boat but there's no other boat." She said as Peter sighed not wanting to upset her but thinking that giving her false hope might be worse. "I don't think so. I wish I could give you better news." He said as she nodded softly.

"He loved me so much. Oh god, what do I do now?" She whispered her eyes wide with fear. Peter looked at her puzzled. She was wearing a pretty dress not out of place in the first class and he thought surely she should have someone who would take her back in. She caught him gazing at her fine silk dress and smiled a little. "You are wandering I suppose of why I am fretful of what to do when we return to land. My Liam told me I'd stick out like a sore thumb with my dresses but well I thought perhaps when we arrived in America I could sell the silks and jewels." She said as she toyed with the small pearls of her bracelet. "Well I don't mean to pry Miss but…" Peter stared at her pearl bracelet with a questioning gaze.

She smiled softly a little embarrassed at her attire. "I am afraid I have not acted in a proper manner befitting a young woman of my standing. But I was been pushed into matrimony with a man who I did not care for, nor loved." She whispered as Peter nodded gently in a understanding manner. "I'm sorry I haven't even introduced myself to you and I'm sat here pouring my heart out. My name is Carla Wainwright. My father was a well known architect in London, following his death when I was five I was taken in by my mother's brother, my uncle and he has provided me with a home and food since then. But he wanted me to marry a wealthy friend of his. I hadn't met the man and they were already deciding on the invitations and such. No one thought to even ask what I wanted." Carla said as she gently extended her hand out to shake Peter's hand but he took it and raised it to his lips lightly.

11th April 1912

Frank Foster groaned as he reread the contents of the letter that his ward had left him. He still couldn't quite believe that she had the gall to do what she had. He thought she had more sense, more decorum and he was sure that he had made it plainly obvious that he would not condone her disobeying him in any sense. True at seventeen she likely thought she knew what she was doing but in his eyes she was still the young impressionable niece who he'd taken care of since she was just five and had arrived in his life in a little black velvet frock, in mourning for her father. He'd strived to give her whatever she desired and set her up with a affluent businessman who he had known for many years. And now she had disobeyed him and would likely cause a huge scandal in their social circles when the news got out.

Uncle Frank

It is with my deepest regret that I have had to leave the comfort of our home. However, I must follow my heart. Please send my apologies to Mr Gordon but I could not embark on a relationship where I did not love my partner. I am dearly sorry for any embarrassment I have caused to you or Mr Gordon with my actions but I hope you can perhaps one day understand why I have done what I have. I as always appreciate the many years you have brought me up as your ward and hope one day you will be able to forgive me for my actions.

Carla

Frank fumed as he scanned it once more for any sign of where she had gone to. He was no idiot and knew that it was no coincidence that the same day the lady's maid had entered Carla's bedroom to find her gone from her bed along with a few clothes; that the 19 year old stable-boy had gone missing as well. He should have realised there was something going on when Carla started taking far greater interest in her riding sessions whereas for such a lengthy time she had seemed to display an aversion to riding. He shook his head not looking forward to telling Mr Gordon that his intended had runaway. With the intended proposal there had been the promise that Frank would gain higher standing in society along with the promise of steady business for him. Now it seemed with Carla's disappearance that all these promises were lost.

"You must think I'm daft to have run off like this." Carla said as she revealed to Peter her identity and her reasons for fleeing from the wealthy home she had been accustomed to. "Madame I believe you did what you needed to do to try and secure your happiness. I'm only sorry that I do not think the man you were with has been picked up, though I deeply I hope I'm proved wrong." Peter said as Carla sniffed and nodded. "Thank you." She whispered as she sipped her sweet tea and sat quietly her eyes gazing out to the icy water.

Peter moved to help with some other passengers and was stopped by his friend and fellow crew-member Steven Macdonald. "You seemed somewhat taken with the young lady over there." He stated as Peter furrowed his brow. "She's upset, the likelihood is that the man she was travelling with has drowned in the sea. I was merely offering her a sympathetic ear." Peter said as Steven snorted.

"Oh that's all it was. No offence Peter but looking at the dress that one's wearing well I think she's way out of your league my friend." He said as Peter rolled his eyes irritated a little by Steven's taunting.