That evening Titanic arrived in Cherbourg to pick up some more passengers. Will was off duty when they started to come aboard, and he arrived at my room to bring me to dinner.

"Come on, lovvie, you look absolutely beautiful."

He kissed my nose and smiled at me. I looked up at him, skeptical. I felt completely awkward – I had just been manoeuvred into a corset for the first time in my life and now felt unable to move freely. My maid, Lizzie, stood to the side admiringly.

"Really, miss, you look lovely."

I looked at her sadly. I still didn't feel entirely comfortable with having someone else dress me, but Will had insisted. I felt terrible – Lizzie and myself were both the same class and she felt obliged to treat me as someone better. Forcing a smile, I looked up at Will and took his arm as he offered it to me.

"I promise you, lovvie, you will enjoy yourself during this week. You will be telling everyone it's been the best week of your life when you see them again!"

I wasn't convinced that I would, but Will seemed so determined to raise my spirits that I just smiled and nodded at everything he said. We had been walking for what seemed like an hour when we heard an excited yell.

"Will Murdoch!"

We looked over to see a woman waving frantically. She had obviously just come on board, as she was in her furs and surrounded by luggage. She grinned widely as Will approached with a smile stretching across his face.

"Molly Brown! What a surprise to see you here!"

"Don't kid me, sonny – you knew I was coming! How do you like being chief?"

Will's smile faded slightly. "Er...I'm not chief anymore, Molly. Henry is."

"Henry? He's on the Olympic!"

"Not at the moment. Anyhow, I don't mind – I'm first officer."

She didn't believe him, but that was when she noticed me. Her grin spread across her face again.

"And who is your lady friend, Will?"

"Ah, this is my fiancée, Ada Banks. Ada, this is Molly Brown."

She shook my hand excitedly. "Fiancée? You're a lucky girl, Ada – most women would kill to get a man like Will." She grinned up at him. "I know I would!"

"Molly! What about your husband?" Will looked reproachful, with humour in his eyes.

"Excuse me, madam, do you require any assistance?"

A steward interrupted us, nodding to Will as a sign of recognition. Molly shook my hand again.

"Hope I see you around, Ada. You too, Will." She turned to the steward. "I wasn't about to wait all day for you, sonny!"

The steward looked taken aback as she bombarded him with luggage.

"Here, if you think you can manage."

Will led me away, smiling. I looked up at him.

"She seems nice."

"Nice? She's the only truly authentic first class passenger I've ever encountered. Bar you, of course, lovvie."


We were lucky enough to eat our dinner alone at a small table, away from the other diners. I still didn't feel comfortable with the thought of eating with them. They were all so perfect, and I wasn't one of them.

Will had obviously decided to try and find out what was troubling me.

"Lovvie, I...it's not the crew is it?"

"No, Will. There is nothing wrong."

"There is. Ada, you have changed in the last few days. You used to be happy with the little things like daffodils and Dalbeattie...now you act as though you couldn't care less about any of those things."

"How can you say that, Will?"

He didn't respond. I felt like crying.

"Will, I am just nervous about this trip. I don't like ships and I don't like unfamiliar surroundings. You know that."

"Yes, I know that."

His voice was bitter.

"Will...I'm sorry I'm a burden to you." I grabbed his hand across the table.

"No, Ada, you're not. I just wish you would talk to me instead of making me worry about you."

"What time are you on duty?"

"Ten."

There was a silence between us. Will spoke first.

"I tell you what, why don't you finish that and then we can go for a walk on deck?"

"Why?" I had seen enough of that deck to last me a lifetime.

"Why not? For the fun of it!"

I tilted my head as I looked across at Will. He looked just like an excited schoolboy.

"Well, alright then," I smiled at him. "Another adventure in the dark?"

He nodded, grinning. "You know how you love adventures, Aid!"

"Aid?"

"It sounded endearing in my head," he was still grinning like a maniac. "Adventure?"

"Alright, then," I smiled. "Why not?"