"Will, it is absolutely beautiful!"

I gazed around the room in absolute awe. I had been given one of the parlour suites, reserved for the wealthiest passengers. Everything was perfect, brand new and just wonderful. The most beautiful room I had ever seen, let alone lived in! I turned to Will in shock.

"How on earth did I manage to get a room like this?"

Will grinned from ear to ear. "Only the best for you, lovvie. Besides, when I was asking Mr Andrews if it would be possible for you to have a first class room, he insisted you had one of these suites. I swear, I never even suggested it to him. The thought never crossed my mind – I won't claim recognition for Mr Andrews' generosity!"

I turned back to look at the room in amazement. "No Will – I can't stay in here. It's not right. I don't belong in a room like this! This is for someone with money and maids and -"

"Miss Banks, this is a gift from me to you." I spun around to see Mr Andrews himself standing in the doorway beside Will. "After all, you are travelling with your fiancée who will feel compelled to lavish more of his attention on my ship than on the woman who deserves it. I must admit I felt a twinge of guilt when he mentioned your engagement – I felt I ought to make it up to you."

"I would be perfectly satisfied with second class -" I began to protest. He was hearing none of it.

"Honestly, Miss Banks, you deserve this and more for consenting to join us on this voyage. Besides, this room will be empty unless you stay. You wouldn't want to waste a perfectly decent room, would you?"

I smiled, "I am very grateful, Mr Andrews. Your ship is wonderful and I would be honoured to be travelling steerage."

"Or bunking with Will, I imagine!"

Will reddened slightly, and I felt a blush rising on my cheeks too. Mr Andrews laughed softly, before saying goodbye and leaving. Will took my hands in his.

"Would you really rather bunk with me in my cramped quarters than stay in a room fit for a queen?"

"In absolute honesty? No." Will looked aghast. "I'd rather you bunked with me."

We laughed, before wandering further into the room. Everything was perfect – the fireplace, the mirrors, the panelling...Buckingham Palace itself couldn't be more beautiful.

"Will...I'll be afraid to touch anything!"

We both started laughing at that, and left the room, still giggling. Will linked his arm with mine and we paraded down my private promenade deck. I waved out to the people down below who, admittedly, weren't concerned with looking up at a foolish young couple in love pretending to be aristocrats. Will twirled me under his arm, catching me in his other arm, then kissed the end of my nose.

"And with that, lovvie, I must bid you adieu."

"Why?"

"Regrettably I have a job to do. The downside of being chief officer rather than a..." he looked at me impishly. "A toff!"

I knocked his hat off his head in mock anger. "I may be a toff, but surely that makes you my subordinate?"

"I walked right into that one." He kissed the end of my nose again. "Lovvie, I think I should tell you this sooner rather than later – as my future wife, you are my subordinate and you must obey my every command -"

"If you were still wearing your hat I'd knock it off again." I smiled. "I will be certain to obey your every command. However, my darling, you must remember not to command me to do anything!"

We laughed again and he hugged me tightly.

"You know I'd never, ever do anything to upset you, don't you Ada?"

"Of course I do, Will. All this talk is in fun, I know that."

He kissed me gently on the lips, and the spell was broken.

"I must run now, lovvie – if you need anything at all, I'll be on the bridge. If you are hungry, just go to the mess – there will be someone there all day."

"Have fun!" I called after him.

During the rest of the day I came to realise that there was not much for one passenger to do on her own on this ship. To be perfectly honest, I didn't want to do anything without Will. We had only met a month ago, but it seemed that our engagement and my absolute loyalty and love for him made perfect sense. It was completely crazy – I had spent most of my adult life secretly wanting to be a woman like the suffragettes, putting the rights I deserved before any man. As soon as I met Will though...God, it sounds like such an awful cliché, but everything seemed to click into place. Everything was perfect for once. I didn't care about votes, I didn't care about chaining myself to railings for a good cause – the only thing I cared about was being with Will.

At the same time, however, I almost felt cheated – even on this ship, with me travelling to New York with him, I knew the ship would come first. I knew his job would always come first. It wasn't his fault, I knew he didn't consciously choose his job over me, he would never do that – but he had always loved the sea and sailing, and it made absolutely perfect sense for him to put that first in his life. I didn't mind, not one bit because as soon as we were on dry land, he would be completely devoted to me again, as I am devoted to him. I almost didn't mind the prospect of travelling to and from America, if it meant being with Will – I loved him so much.

I rolled my eyes at this thought – I had become so pathetic recently, my only reason for getting up in the morning was seeing Will. I really was a disgrace to the cause I had once supported.

I left my beautiful room for the time being, deciding to see if I could find my way around the ship on my own. If I could at least find my way to the bridge I would be satisfied – if that is where Will was going to be spending most of his time, it would be worth finding my way up there. It wasn't until I realised I was back at my room again that I knew I should have paid more attention to where I was going when Will walked me there. I had been too busy gazing out across the dock at all the workers – they had seemed so insignificant to the world when compared to the ship. I had shuddered and moved closer to Will, the realisation hitting me that in the grand scheme of things, we were practically nothing.

Still, even that memory didn't help me now. I needed to find someone who could direct me to the bridge – anyone, at this stage. Surely one of those officers I was introduced to earlier would be somewhere in the area? I can't have been abandoned on this ship – Will wouldn't allow that to happen. He knew it was bad enough that I was on this ship while they were doing those trial things. I suddenly felt sick – sick and abandoned on an unfamiliar ship. No, I had to get off. There had to be a way out!

I started running, up any stairs I could find, in any direction. Tears started to fall as I felt myself start to panic. Where was Will? Why wasn't he there to kiss my nose and tell me I'd be fine? Why was I getting so upset over this? I could get through this without Will – he had left me, I didn't need him. But where do I go? Why does everything look the same? Why did I ever agree to come on board anyway? Why? Why?

So many questions flew through my brain, and each new question made me panic more. I stopped, suddenly feeling unable to breathe. God, I kept gasping for air but it made no difference. I gazed around in a panic, trying to find a way out, not caring that I could hardly breathe. I just needed to get out, everything would be fine once I got out of here. Where is the way out though? I didn't recognise this place. There was a beautiful staircase at one end of the room and I made my way over to it, still gasping for air. A glass dome let in sunlight from above – this must be the way out! I practically tripped up the stairs as I ran, desperate to get outside. As soon as I pulled a door open, the air hit me – I gazed out at the sea in disbelief. I hadn't noticed we had actually left the dock. I was finally able to breathe again, and I wandered out, taking everything in. I had been up here before, I remembered it now. Which meant I should easily be able to find the bridge.

As it turned out, I didn't need to find the bridge – I heard Will's voice nearby, shouting orders to someone. I hurried in the direction his voice came from.

"Will!"

"Ada?" He looked absolutely bewildered. "Whatever are you doing up here?"

"I needed some air..."

He looked down at my tear stained face, concern in his eyes.

"Lovvie, I'm working at the moment but...can you just wait by the deckchairs? We should be stopping for something to eat soon."

"But Will -"

"I'm truly sorry, Ada, but I have to keep working." He squeezed my hand gently. "Mr Moody! To the bridge now!"

He walked away, leaving me alone in the middle of the boat deck. I shivered, wishing I had taken my coat with me. I watched Will disappear over the other side of the deck, and I can honestly say I've never felt more alone. I wanted to go home, I wanted my coat...but I had to wait by the deckchairs. I couldn't leave this deck. I knew I would end up lost again if I tried to find my way back. I sat down, staring blankly out across the water, listening to the sounds of seagulls and men yelling orders to eachother.