This chapter is dedicated to my uncle who passed away on the 11.08.2009. RIP.



The crossing to New Zealand took about ten days, during which Will and I just talked, mostly about Titanic. I had felt uncomfortable about the subject at first, but Will insisted that he needed to talk about it in order to come to terms with what had happened. It made sense, and after a while I didn't feel quite so awkward about it.

"I admit I feel guilty about it," Will mused on one occasion. "But at the same time, I did what I could. I don't blame myself for what happened, I just wish I could have done more."

"You know, some cruel people were saying that you had taken your own life."

He smiled drily. "I heard some rumours like that, although I don't think I heard a specific name," he paused. "No, I think I heard someone claiming that Wilde had taken his life. Shot himself, apparently."

I shook my head. "Harry saw him in the water. He didn't mention anything like that."

"It's just a cruel rumour," Will muttered. "Not worth our time thinking about it. None of our officers would do that with so many passengers depending on them."


Our arrival in my hometown went undetected, as we had expected. Will and I had decided that we should visit my grandmother first to tell her about our wedding and to sort out our finances. Will wanted to send Davy his money back as soon as possible, and so we needed my dowry as soon as possible. As I knocked on my grandmother's front door, I couldn't help feeling guilty that I was only there for money. All thoughts were pushed out of my mind when she opened the door, however. Her face lit up as soon as she laid her eyes on me.

"My little Ady!" She pulled me into a tight embrace. "I never thought I'd see you again. You told me you were leaving to get married!"

"It didn't go according to plan, Granna," I smiled, then gestured at Will. "This is Will, my fiancé."

She embraced him too, taking him by surprise. She then gestured behind her. "Come in, Ady! And you, young man."

"We can't stop for too long," I said, shaking my head. "We were just going to go to my parents' house, if it's still empty."

She nodded. "Of course, Ady, I wouldn't have anyone but you or your sister in there."

"You see, Granna, we want to get married as soon as possible," I said, smiling as Will squeezed my hand. "And we were wondering about the dowry..."

She kept nodding her head as I spoke, then took my hands in hers. "Of course, my darling. I'll have it all ready for you tomorrow. You name your date and I will be there, Ady."

The house was empty, as my grandmother had said, and was standing silently beside the orchard I used to play in as a child. I hesitated before pushing the door open and stepping inside. As Will and I walked through the hall, our footsteps echoed throughout the building. Dust had settled everywhere, and so much of the woodwork looked like it could do with being fixed up. The house hadn't been empty for that long – only since the end of the previous year, in fact – but it was already starting to look like it had never been lived in.

"You know," Will said, stopping to stick his head through a doorway. "I think this house may need a bit of work done to it."

"Thank you for stating the obvious," I smiled. "It looks like you'll have your work cut out for you for a while then."

"Don't think I'll be fixing it, lovvie. I have never used a hammer in my life."

I took my coat off and laid it down on a rickety old table. Will had taken back his greatcoat, but on the crossing from Southampton he had tried to remove any parts of it which could identify him as a White Star Line officer. I suddenly remembered something, and started rummaging through his pockets while he was still wearing the coat. He looked down at me, utterly bewildered.

"A-ha!" I exclaimed, pulling out the jewellery I had stuffed into the pockets before I left Titanic.

"I fail to see the significance," Will responded in a confused tone. "You don't seriously think dressing up will improve our situation?"

"Don't be ridiculous!" I replied brightly. "We can sell them and use the money to improve the house."

Will was silent for a moment. "So why didn't you mention this before we took Davy's savings?"

"I forgot," I shrugged. "Besides, you were wearing the coat. Surely you must have noticed."

"Be that as it may, we can't sell them all in one go. That would draw unwanted attention to us."


After a short discussion, we both decided that the best option was to find some sort of well-paying job as soon as possible. And that was how I found myself knocking on the door of the school-house, silently praying that the old offer still stood.

The door creaked open, to reveal an older woman, pulling her old shawl around her shoulders tightly. Her face broke into a smile.

"Miss Ada! You're back!"

I nodded. "Yes, Mrs Jackson. I only just got back a couple of hours ago. I was just wondering about that suggestion you made the last time I was here?"

"Suggestion?" Her forehead wrinkled slightly.

"Yes, you suggested that I take up a teaching position in this schoolhouse."

"So I did!" She grinned, taking my hand. "And if you are still interested, so am I!"


So it was that later that evening Will and I sat in our dusty little house, just talking about how well everything was working out. No obvious money worries, we'd soon be married and nothing could go wrong.

Or so we thought, until later that night. I had fallen asleep in Will's arms, but woke with horrendous pains in my stomach. I sensed immediately that something awful had happened. Will woke a while later to find me crying in another room, crying for the baby I had lost. The one I didn't even know had existed.