Chapter 4
Both Cal and Rose joined the other passengers on deck in rushing to the railing and checking out the damage if there was any. Of course, no one thought there was This was an unsinkable ship of course.
"Do you see anything?" Rose asked, straightening up.
Cal frowned, looking more in the direction of the iceberg than looking for any damage caused to the ship. "I don't see any damage. I think we're alright. This is an unsinkable ship of course..."
Cal didn't see as Rose smiled and silently picked up a small piece of ice. He was straightening up, ready to turn towards her when he felt something ice cold slip down his back.
"Bloody hell!" He frowned as he heard her laughter and guessed what had happened. He gave her a stern look, the one he usually got before he began to yell, then he grabbed her and dipped her over the rail, like he was going to throw her overboard.
"Alright, it's overboard you go," Cal chuckled as Rose squealed and laughed in delight.
"No Cal! No!" Rose laughed.
He brought her back up and grinned, feeling exhilarated. "Rose...I must say. This has been the best night of my life. Thank you."
"It's been mine too. Let's go back to our suite before mother sends out the master of arms in search of us," Rose giggled, walking into the first class entrance, both unaware that the night was far from over.
…..
When they had returned to the suite, they found Ruth pacing the floor with a glass of vodka in her hand and Lovejoy standing by the entrance looking rather grim.
"We've been waiting for you, Sir and Miss," the manservant replied, his voice flat, yet there was a hint of disapproval there that rubbed Cal the wrong way.
"There you two are! Mr. Lovejoy here has informed me of what you two have been up to most of the night and I must say, I am shocked! Especially by you, Mr. Hockley. To participate in such inappropriate behavior, I'd expect that from my rebellious daughter here, but not from you. A gentleman of your caliber! Whatever will your father say?" Ruth whirled on them, her face pale and her green eyes flashing with anger. When the manservant had informed her of the whereabouts of her daughter and her future son in law, all she could think of is what would Nathan Hockley have to say? He'd throw both herself and Rose out in the streets for being a bad influence.
"Oh stop it, mother. You'll have yourself a nosebleed," Rose crossed her arms, refusing to be made to feel guilty for showing Cal that there were more ways to have fun other than boring galas and cotillions. "If you haven't noticed, both Cal and I are grown ups about to be married. It's up to us in what entertainment we partake in. Not yours and certainly not Cal's manservant here."
"May I remind you both that this is not a game. We are in a precarious situation here," Ruth growled through gritted teeth, her frustration showing.
"Or rather you are in a precarious situation, Ruth. May I remind you that it is my money that you are relying on to keep you in the life that you are accustomed to. You keep this up and you will be lucky to get that job as a seamstress that you so fear," Cal coldly replied, standing up for himself and Rose. He did not like being bullied and he was not going to have his fiancee bullied by this woman any longer things were going to change from here on out. "As for you Lovejoy..."
"Sir?" The manservant frowned.
"I do not appreciate being spied on by the hired help. Consider yourself fired. You may pick up your final paycheck when we reach Pittsburgh."
Rose couldn't help her smile of joy. No more Lovejoy? Really? This night was getting better and better.
"I cannot believe this. Whatever will your father say?" Ruth bemoaned.
"That is between my father and myself, Ruth. That is no concern of yours. Now I suggest you turn in for the evening. Tomorrow I have a whole Itinerary planned for us."
Lovejoy left the room bereft that he was now out of the job. Ruth, poured herself another drink, her stress level at a whole new high.
"You were wonderful," Rose turned to him, impressed.
Cal smiled and was about to answer when the door to the stateroom opened and a steward came striding on in as if he had every right to do so.
"What the hell?" Cal cursed, taken aback. What in the hell was this?
"Put your lifebelts on! Captain orders!" The steward demanded, going to the closet and pulling down three lifebelts.
"What?" Cal stared.
"Put your lifebelts on! Captain orders and may I suggest that you put on your coats. It's quite cold outside!"
"Put our...what is this? Some kind of emergency?"
"There's nothing wrong, I assure you sir. But the captain has ordered all passengers to wear their lifebelts and report to the first class dining salon."
"A drill? At this hour? How ridiculous," Cal frowned, accepting the lifebelt from the steward.
Rose frowned, remembering the iceberg. Maybe they weren't as unscathed as they had thought. But she kept that thought to herself. She didn't want to panic her mother, no matter how infuriating she was being tonight.
"Come along, ladies. Let's do what the good man says. I am sure that we will be back in our rooms in within the hour."
…..
Rose couldn't help but worry. She remembered the iceberg. She remembered how the ship had shook as it passed, scrapping against them. Could this be just a silly coincidence? A precaution? Or was there more going on here than the crew was saying. She stood close to Cal, trying to keep her own fear in check, but she saw Thomas Andrews, the builder of the ship heading up the grand staircase, his eyes dim with what looked to be heartache. She quickly walked up to him and grabbed his arm, unaware that she was followed by Cal.
"Mr. Andrews! I saw the iceberg and I see it now in your eyes. Please, tell me the truth..."
At first she thought that he wasn't going to tell her anything, but in a low voice, he explained just how dire their situation was. "The ship is sinking. Within a few hours, all of this will be at the bottom of the ocean. Tell only who you must. I don't want to cause a panic. You do remember what I told you about the boats?"
Rose nodded, her face pale, her eyes wide with shock. "Y-yes."
"Get to a boat as soon as possible. Good luck to you, young Rose," The shipbuilder nodded and was then on his way.
"Good lord," Cal gasped, in shock. Titanic, the unsinkable ship was sinking? It seemed impossible. All the hype, it was all done in by a single iceberg. He couldn't believe it.
"Cal..."
"We better get you and your mother on a boat as soon as possible. Not to worry, dear. It will be okay, I am sure," He patted her arm, trying to be as reassuring as possible.
Rose couldn't help but think of how unfair this seemed. She was finally accepting her life. She was finally accepting Cal into her life, and now it all may be destroyed because of a stupid mountain of ice.
"Come along, ladies. Let's do what Mr. Andrews had suggested. Let's get to the boats as soon as possible before they're gone," Cal placed a gentle hand on Rose's arm, guiding her towards the exit. The sooner she was safe, the better he'll feel.
…..
Upon decks, everyone was still confused. It seemed like it was only himself and Rose that was really taking things seriously. Everyone else was thinking that this was just a drill or some silly precaution being taken.
Cal lead Rose and her mother to the lifeboat that Molly Brown had just gotten into. He noticed that only women and children were boarding and his heart sank. He knew the law of the sea must have been issued, but he had to ask. He did not like the idea of leaving his fiancee and her mother on their own.
"Any room for a gentleman, gentlemen?" He asked, putting an edge of amusement to his voice.
"Sorry sir, women and children only," Was the short answer.
"Are the boats being divided by class?" Ruth inquired. "Oh I hope that they're not too crowded!"
Rose couldn't help but feel disgusted by her mother! What a disgusting thing to say! She was not only disgusted but embarrassed as well! "Oh mother, shut up!"
"What?" Ruth was taken aback, not having ever been talked to like that before, not even by Rose.
"Don't you understand? The ship is sinking and there's not even enough boats. Not enough by half. Half of the people on this ship are going to die," She hissed, hoping that her words hit home, but judging from the look in her mother's eyes, they hadn't.
"Come along now, Ruth. We got a space here for ya," Molly reached out a hand to help her mother into the boat. Ruth went gladly, wanting to get away from her annoyed daughter.
Rose turned to Cal, her eyes pleading. "Can't you do something? Pay them off? Just do something to get on a boat."
"Rose..."
"I can't lose you. Not when I'm just now appreciating...I...I need you. And not for the reasons my mother needs you," She clung to his hands, not wanting to let go. Not wanting to leave his side, but knowing that there was no choice.
Cal's heart soared and ached at the same time. Rose really did care about him, but just at that realization, there was a possibility of losing it all. It was so unfair. "I know...and I promise, I'll do all I can to join you on the rescue ship. But right now I need you to get in that lifeboat with your mother and stay there."
"But Cal..."
"Get on the boat Rose," Cal insisted. He gently touched her face, again fascinated by her beauty. "For me...get on that boat and stay on it. Promise me now."
"As long as you promise to survive," Rose shot back, not ready to let him go just yet. "I don't care how you do it, just do it. Survive."
Cal knew that it was a promise he couldn't keep, but at that moment, he'd do anything to see her safe. "I promise. Now go. Get on the boat before it's gone."
Rose still hesitated. She didn't want to leave him. She had grown to care and respect this man in the past few days. He had became her best friend, her ally against her mother, and now she could lose him. It wasn't fair. But he wanted her safe and she couldn't refuse him. Wrapping her arms around him, she kissed him good-bye. It was the kind of kiss that a bride gave the groom when sealing their vows. In all honesty, it was their first real kiss. Which made it all the more heartbreaking.
They were soon pulled apart by a crew member. Rose tried to reconnect with him, but it was too late. She was placed in the boat with her mother.
"Cal!" Rose cried out, tears streaming from her eyes.
"It'll be okay, Rose! I promise!" Cal called, watching the boat be lowered. He stood at the railing until he could no longer see her. Once he was sure that she was safe and away from the sinking Titanic, he rushed back to his stateroom. He had made a promise and he was going to need everything in his arsenal to insure that it was a promise kept.