The Carpathia still had a lengthy trek towards the New York harbour, it's load now filled with sorrow and despair. The mournful wails from women adorned in well-worn dresses and dirtied aprons. Cheeks that were normally as rosy as apples were now stained with tears of woe. Peter made his way through the throngs of women desperately trying to describe their husbands to other crew; all still clinging to the tiny glimmer of hope that their loved ones were some of the lucky ones. Carla was stood in a long coat, one he suspected that the man she had runaway with had put on her when he became aware of the imminent danger they were in. Peter stood besides Carla silently as he followed her forlorn gaze over the icy waters below. The wind whipping her hair into her face. Peter coughed to make her aware of his presence. "You know you shouldn't stay out here too long. The weather is so cold." Peter said as he gently placed his hand over Carla's. "I cannot say I much noticed the cold." Carla said sighing softly. "Do you perchance have any news of what will happen when the ship arrives in America? I know it sounds so stupid but well Liam and I, we had not planned anything. We were going to find somewhere to marry and then he was going to see if he could get a job doing some manual work at the shipping district or something. I was going to perhaps get a few hours teaching piano lessons or something. It sounds so ridiculous now but I suppose we were been naive." Carla said as she bit her lip. "We had not even arranged anywhere for us to stay." She confessed.

Peter furrowed his brow slightly wandering if she would take offence at his possible solution to her problem. "Erm Miss, I hope you do not take this in the wrong way but well when we reach America I shall be staying with My Aunt Emily and her friend Rita. They have an established boarding house in the city. I am certain that they would be more than willing to have you stay there also."

"That would be much appreciated but I have very little funds with me. I could not impose on their hospitality." Carla said.

"Well maybe you could help out a little around the boarding house, do some cleaning or similar in order to earn your board." Peter said as he detested the thought of this lovely young lady been homeless in the large, busy city and without shelter. There were some very unsavoury characters out there and well he could not allow this innocent woman to try and fend for herself. No doubt some brute would take advantage of her. "Do you think your Aunt would mind if I did stay? I am not afraid of working hard." Carla said. "No I know for a fact my aunt Emily would only be happy to take you in. She strives on been a good Samaritan and well she would hate to think of someone struggling." Peter said truthfully. His Aunt was a kind woman and well when he explained what had happened he was sure that she wouldn't turn Carla away.

"That stupid, ungrateful, naïve girl. What the hell was she thinking?" Frank snarled as his mother shook her head, her hands clutching her grand-daughters ornate hair-clasp. "You refused to listen to her Frank. She never wished to become to this Laird Anthony Gordon!" Anne said tearfully. True she loved her son but she was distraught after receiving the news that her only grandchild had run off. "Oh are you happy that she has disobeyed me? That she has likely brought shame on us, do you want great-grandchildren whose father is an illiterate stable-boy?" Frank said as Anne sighed pursing her lips. "But she told you, she said she was not happy with the engagement. There were other keen suitors who would have been as acceptable, in some cases better." Anne said tears in her eyes.

"Oh well I highly doubt that any of them will want to have anything to do with her now. She'll be damaged goods no doubt. How dare she!" Frank said angrily as Anne shook her head.

"That's your niece Frank. You can be as angry as you wish right now but it does not change the fact that you doted on her from the day she arrived here. That first day after her father passed away, she all dressed in black with her hair in little ringlets, she was only five an…and you picked her up and promised to love her as your own. Do not tell me that has changed. Please dear we have to find her." Anne said already deeply missing her beloved granddaughter. "Then what? If we find her; if she has so stubbornly one ahead and entered into marriage with a mere stabel-hand then what do we do Mother? Simply accept it? Give them a nice little yearly sum of money, some property and simply smile and indulge her?" Frank said scornfully. "I don't care Frank. I just her back." Anne said firmly.

"I had an arrangement with Laird Gordon, a good arrangement. I was to get some leeway to supply some stores up in Scotland with our produce and well in return he would get a beautiful youn wife who is intelligent and witty not to mention has come from a good family." Frank stated.

"She was a bartering tool and more than aware of the fact. I don't care if she has married this stable-boy regardless of what has gone on I want her back here with us."

"Well I shall see what I can find out, perhaps that blasted Connor mentioned something to some of the other servants about his plans." Frank said in an attempt to appease his mother. There was a knock on the door of the study and Frank looked up. "Come in." He said in a calmer tone as his man-servant entered the room, his face grey. "I come baring grave news sir." He said as he lay the morning paper on the large Mahogany desk, it's headline declaring. 'Titanic Sinks On Maiden Voyage.'