A/N: Wow! Six reviews for the last chapter - that's so great. Thanks to Big Fan, Leo Me Enmoraste, BabyDoll, Blue-eyed-artists-girl, PreciiousPrincess and AC!

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Cal laughed wholeheartedly to himself. After being a little bit depressed thinking of Rose, he was soon cheered up by the faithful Clarissa.

And Dawson?

A week he had said and still no sign of him and the diamond.

Well it doesn't seem that his friend is very important to Dawson.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could make out Ruth coming down to have breakfast. She was still living here, despite her constant complaining about Clarissa.

Fine then, it she wants that way.

It's not my choice she's staying here, but she's got to live with the consequences.

"Good morning, Ruth," Cal smiled at her cheerfully.

Ruth was sitting down not deigning a look at him.

She had tried so hard to forget about Rose and what happened, but she simply couldn't. The memory of her daughter running away from the lifeboat was all too fresh in her mind. Wanting to take her thoughts of the tragedy, she had bought all kind of useless things in the past – only to have something to distract her.

'Goodbye mother.'

She remembered the last of her words so clearly in her head, as if they were just spoken yesterday.

Rose had been so determined to break free. Ruth smiled bitterly at the irony of it all. Who would've thought that a sinking ship was what was needed?

All around her, people were laughing, smiling, going on with their lives. Not that Ruth would blame them, they hadn't been there, hadn't heard the cries for help, and hadn't seen the dead bodies floating around in the water…

Even the thought of it, sent shivers down her spine.

Was it really three weeks already?

The news had been replaced by others…they were now writing about something more important.

Ruth frowned.

What could be more important than 1500 dead people?

She glanced at Cal, who had taken the newspaper. He seemed completely at ease with himself.

"Ah, I see Mr Franklin is making debts once more. They write that his company isn't selling as much cartwheels as before. No wonder, the future is lying within cars…the time of carriages is finally over," he laughed out. "Stupid man," he threw the paper in the corner, knowing someone from the servants would've to pick it up.

Ruth looked at him dumbfound.

How can he be so relaxed? Wasn't it his fiancée, who died?

Oh, of course, I forgot…

"Ruth, aren't you eating anything?" Cal wondered looking up from his paper.

Not that he cared much. He just wanted her out of the picture. Now with Rose dead there really wasn't a reason anymore to pretend anything. Only he didn't have the courage to throw her out.

Can't let my reputation be ruined by that woman…

"I'm not hungry," Ruth sharply shot back, her eyes indicating for her maid to come over. "Edith, please bring me more tea."

Edith nodded. She had been hired after the death of Trudy, but already grown into the household and a confidante to Ruth. When Edith returned and was about to place the teacup on the table, Ruth stood up unexpectedly.

"No, I'm drinking it upstairs," she announced.

Cal rolled his eyes in anticipation.

Her staying here meant another day of having to fake false feelings. Politely as ever he rose up from his chair.

"I hope you don't mind, Mr Hockley. You see, I'm simply not feeling well," she spoke up both knowing very well that she didn't care at all about his opinion.

"Of course not, Ruth, my dear, whatever you wish," he answered giving her a permission that she had never asked for, kissing the palm of her hand.

He crunched his teeth once she had turned her back to him.

Lettice was so relieved, when Ella had safely returned home that even forgot to ask her, where she had gone, much to the relief of Ella, Jack and Rose.

"Please, Grace, make my niece some bath…really dear you're getting a cold," Lettice said tapping her on her shoulder.

Ella felt guilt wash over her, as the noticed her aunt's panic. However, she quickly replaced it telling herself that she had a least found Mr Dawson's love.

"No, I don't want to. I just need want to lie down," Ella lie.

The truth was that Rose was taking a bath. Jack and she had made one for her as soon as they had gotten home.

She needs it more now than me.

"As you like," Lettice said "but I do hope that I'll see you down for dinner."

Ella nodded not paying attention. She didn't have much appetite, but wanted to know what had become of Roger Lindsay.

Was he really the same Mr Lindsay Mrs Pearson and Rose had been talking about?

Upstairs Rose had moved out of the bathtub wrapping a towel around her body. She felt like dreaming, not really believing that Jack was waiting for just a room away. It was cold in the hallway so she hurried inside, where Jack had already prepared clean linen for her.

He's so thoughtful.

Jack hadn't joined her in the bathroom; for fear that he might scare her. After all nobody really knew what had happened to her.

"Come on, Rose, make yourself comfortable," he told gently reaching for her hand. "Here, Miss Mansfield has offered you one of her nightgowns."

"That's very nice of her," Rose choked out.

Although she didn't know Ella, Jack did and obviously trusted her. This was enough for Rose to be friends with her as well.

The whole situation was so unbelievable to her. As she put it on Jack once more turning his eyes away. Only when Rose was lying in bed, the covers drawn up to her neck and getting out a shy – "Now, you can look" – did he turn over again.

Jack sat down on her bedside, stroking her hand.

"How, are you feeling?" he asked her worriedly.

"A lot better, now that you're here with me again," she answered laying her head on his shoulder.

Jack didn't dare question her any further.

She's going to tell you, once the time is right for her.

You shouldn't pressure her.

His mind wondered, thinking of the diamond.

How could he take it away from this evil woman?

Rose must've noticed his distraction, because she instantly looked up at him.

"What's wrong with you, Jack?"

Jack didn't answer, but simply gave her another kiss on her forehead. He didn't want to concern her any more than she already was.

"Nothing, don't you worry," he gave her a very short reply.

He and Ella would get the diamond – alone. He was sure that she would help him. Rose didn't need to be put into danger once more.

However Rose wouldn't give up so easily, knowing that he was keeping something very essential from her.

"Jack, you may see threw people, but you're a very bad liar," she said pointing her finger at his chest. Jack took her hand, gently kissing it.

If only she knew…

Jack remained silent, smiling at her.

"I simply don't want you in any trouble," he told her, his voice indicating to her that he wasn't in the mood for talking now.

Cal was tiptoeing threw the house.

In my own home – he thought bitterly.

Carefully he eavesdropped at Ruth's door. Now, it didn't look like she would move out any time soon. Ruth had never been easy to deal with, but with Rose gone she had become even more of a pest.

Silently Cal opened the door to Fabrizio's room.

"Listen," he whispered aware of possibility that Ruth would overhear them.

Fabrizio wondered slightly.

Caledon Hockley quiet?

And afraid?

"I've been thinking. Since it looks like you're not very important to your friend…," he stopped, when he recognized Fabrizio's expression. "Anyway, you could help me with my work. It's just sorting out some papers, ordering…you know…nothing difficult."

He wants to say nothing too complex so even an idiot like me can comprehend it.

Fabrizio hadn't seen much of Cal the past days, but noticed all kind of things going on. He shook his head, observing Cal carefully.

"What's your answer?" Cal shot out angrily, but still keeping his voice low.

Something must've really gotten on him. He wasn't the usual relaxed type of man any more as Fabrizio remembered him. Had he heard right with Ruth complaining about some mistress? And here one would've thought that he's mourning his dead fiancée.

Surely he's a master at showing off the distressed groom around others.

Fabrizio had seen him in the garden with another man, Cal doing his best play-acting. Maybe Ruth was angry at him, because she knew that he was only pretending?

"Why not? At least I got something to do that way," Fabrizio told him.

Not that he was very eager to help Caledon Hockley, of all people, but it was true that it was quite boring just sitting here the whole day and doing nothing.

"Fine then, I'm going to bring you some stuff later on," Cal stated placing the tray of food on the desk.

Cal smiled to himself, an evil thought entering his mind, when extending the room.

Life was almost perfect. If only Ruth would be out of the house once and for all, things would become a lot easier.