A/N: Thanks so much to my constant reviewers AC and PreciiousPrincess! Your reviews are so nice.

Roger Lindsay only returned in the morning. He had been visiting Mrs Pearson again, wanting to see his Lygia, but had been told that she had left.

'I've no idea, where she has gone, Mr Lindsay. I'm sorry.'

Roger was angry, very angry.

And this anger was displayed the next day, when he was having dinner with Ella and Lettice. Jack had excused himself and Rose was officially not even there. Lettice was, like most times, the only one speaking at the table.

She should've seen that Ella and Roger simply didn't match together, but she was too blinded by his money and the possibility of getting a foot in the Bostonian high society and maybe even meet the major once. Ella was only part of the plan. And frankly, who wouldn't have wanted to marry Mr Lindsay? He was the perfect son-in-law or nephew-in-law in her case.

Roger looked away, which Lettice thought to be fatigue, but Ella saw rightly as shame.

He can't even look me in the eye.

"Mr Lindsay, is everything alright with you? You're so quiet today. I hope there's nothing wrong in your company."

Ella wondered if she even knew what he was doing the whole day. If he was indeed the same person, then he couldn't have spent much time working. Also he didn't look like being tired from doing his job.

How could her aunt still support him?

Roger had that smile on his face once more that made Ella wanting to slap him, every time she looked at him. It was showing a – I'm better than anyone else kind of attitude – which Ella hated. She felt nausea coming up, every time she saw this expression on his face.

She had heard enough stories of Mr Dawson of the real life, to know that what he and her aunt thought to be work was nothing compared to the life most people in the world had to endure.

How could they think that they were superior to people like Mr Dawson?

"No, everything's fine. You know how businesses are nowadays, there are ups and downs," he explained his head turning away once more.

Yes, right, Mr Lindsay and I do believe that your downs may start very soon.

Unexpectedly she felt a nudge on her arm.

"Ella, what did I tell you about leaning on the table?" her aunt half whispered half hissed in her ear.

"I'm sorry," Ella mumbled sitting up straight again.

The rest of the dinner contained the usual talk about her wedding. Ella didn't pay any more attention, only watching Roger, who seemed to be quite uneasy and edgy.

Are we suddenly nervous, Mr Lindsay?

Was he sweating?

Yes, indeed, the risen panic was visible in his eyes as was the annoyance. Ella hadn't spoken to Rose so far, but it wouldn't take long to find out the truth.

I'm not even half of the problem that he's got once Mr Dawson finds out.

"Mr Lindsay, are you already leaving us?"

"Yes, I had a hard day. Need to get some sleep," his voice was hush.

Too cowardly to tell her the truth, Mr Lindsay?

Yet, part of her didn't want to believe it. Rose hadn't conformed anything so far – right? What, if she was only confusing him with someone else? Was her lovely Mr Lindsay really capable of doing what she thinking about?

Ella was startled, when she heard him got up.

Roger quickly stood up, Ella feeling him kissing her hand.

Luckily her aunt didn't notice her wiping off her hand on the table cloth afterwards. He was already halfway out, when Lettice remembered something, walking after him.

"Ah, Mr Lindsay, I completely forgot to ask you. Would you be so kind to accompany Ella and me to the train station tomorrow?"

"Sure," he answered though not really amused.

Lettice didn't mind or most likely didn't even notice.

He can't do anything wrong in her eyes.

Now Ella was angry and annoyed.

"Are we going somewhere, aunt Lettice?" Ella asked perplexed.

Please say no, I need to find out the truth about my fiancé, before I marry him. If I marry him…

"No, we're just meeting someone. I invited a friend of mine to your wedding, who's had some difficult times in the past. I figured that seeing a young happy couple like you, would do her good. To my delight she has accepted," Lettice told them. "We should be there at three in the afternoon," she added.

"I wanted to ask Mr Dawson, but he doesn't seem to be a very reliable person. I haven't seen him in days. If I wouldn't know better, I'd say he's hiding from me," she laughed out.

If only you knew…

Jack, Rose and her had agreed previously that it would indeed be better for Rose and every else to keep her presence a secret as long as they didn't know what would become of her and Roger or the diamond. Ella wasn't sure, if Jack had already told Rose about Cal's threat, but was sure he would do soon.

Mr Dawson was a fine man, much more of a gentleman than the so called gentleman Mr Lindsay or the gentleman Caledon Hockley. He would never blackmail anyone, or do any harm to a defenceless woman. No, he was always trying to do the right things and knew exactly what was wrong.

It wasn't fair of her aunt to make him sound like being lazy and neglectful of his duty. In fact her aunt judging him now the way she did and Roger displaying his consent to her every word, it made them seem idle, not Mr Dawson.

For a moment she wanted to burst out everything, especially when she noticed Roger's smug smile, but realized that nobody would probably believe her now.

"Fine, I'll come with you. It'll be my pleasure," Roger nodded and Ella made grimaces, which immediately stopped as Lettice gave her a cold glance.

Ella shrank back in her seat again, but she vowed to herself that she wouldn't give up until she had found out the truth.

Jack had taken Rose for a walk, thinking that it would be a good idea for her be out again and of course he finally wanted to spend time alone with her.

Ella had borrowed her a few dresses and given them money to buy herself something new.

'You lost so much in the sinking.'

Both Jack and Rose were reluctant at first to take them, but had finally given in.

Rose didn't want to see or hear anything. She closed her eyes and let Jack lead the way, pretending that she didn't notice anything going on around her. Jack looked at her worriedly. For him she was too quiet.

"Rose," he gently nudged her.

"Mmh…," she looked up noting him smiling at her.

"I was just wondering if you've noticed the flowers. Aren't they beautiful?" he stammered, of course having wanted to ask her something completely different instead. Somehow he didn't have the guts to.

Maybe, because he knew of what he would've to tell her afterwards?

"Sure, yes…," she told him.

They made their way on, the awkward silence continuing.

All kind of thoughts consumed them both, every next one more ridiculous than the one before.

He's found another one.

How should I tell her about the diamond?

He and Miss Mansfield, they're together. They're only too thoughtful to tell me.

Once she realizes how life in third class is really like, she's going to leave me.

Both exchanged glances, smiling shyly at each other.

In the end it was Rose, who broke the quietness. She found it sweet and nice in a way that he didn't pressure her, but the other half of her wished he would.

"Jack," she said her voice coyly, smiling uneasily.

"Yes?"

"Can I ask you something?" she got out timidly.

"Of course, whatever you want," he added not having the slightest idea of what was to come.

"I…are you…how did you…I mean…are you and Miss Mansfield…do you like her?" she muttered.

She had seen them together and heard them laughing. They were sharing some secret. How, who could guarantee her that they didn't share something else as well? Maybe her mother had been right about Jack? After all what did she really know about him?

Deep down of course Rose knew that she being unfair, judging him incorrectly, but the days with Mrs Pearson, where she had seen all kind of human abysses had made her both confused and more careful towards her surroundings.

Jack looked at her bewildered, not really understanding what she was getting to.

"Sure, why not?" he gave a very short answer, wondering what this was all about.

"I mean…do you like her…," she stopped herself thinking that she being silly for a moment, but she needed to know the truth. "…more than me?" she whispered barely audible.

Jack was taken aback for a minute. Had she really just asked him if…if he had betrayed her? When he had snapped out of his daydream, he pulled Rose closer to himself, looking at her seriously.

"No," he answered sound and stern. "She's a friend, only a friend. You're my one and only."

As if to prove his words he took her face in his hands and gave her a small kiss on her lips.

"I love you, Rose, only you," he added.

That's the first time he's said that Rose realized her heart jumping of joy.

"Hey, look, there's a store ahead of us. Let's see what they have got," he suddenly called out talking her hand and running on.

Rose giggled, having trouble to follow him.

When they entered the store they were immediately observed closely. Rose felt uncomfortable once more, when she became aware of the whispers around her.

Were they talking about her?

"Yes, it's her," a woman whispered to her friend.

"I wouldn't come anywhere near decent people, if I were her," the other one shot back, both of them glancing at Rose.

Rose tugged Jack on his arm.

Being watched at like an ape in the zoo was totally new to her.

"Everyone is staring at me," she told him.

"That's, because you're so beautiful, my dear. They're just jealous," Jack joked not taking her seriously. He didn't seem to have heard anything, smiling at her once more.

"No, Jack, I…," she started again, but Jack had already turned his head away.

It was quite obvious now to everyone that Rose was very famous here and not in best way.

Jack had moved on, looking through some clothes, while Rose tried her best to hide from the other customers. She didn't want to be an embarrassment for Jack, putting up a brave front for him.

Suddenly she saw a shop assistant coming towards her.

"Excuse me…ahem," she said in a low voice.

Rose instantly knew what she wanted.

People weren't looking at her the same way they once did, not with awe and respect, but with contempt.

Like I'm the insect now – she thought.

"I'm deeply sorry, but…," she started Rose didn't even need to hear the end. "…I've to ask you to leave. The other customers…well….ahem, you know…," she went on. "They seem to recognize you."

Rose didn't know them, but she figured that they were the wives or girlfriends of her former clients. She shuddered at the word, but smiling trying to demonstrate self-confidence.

"It's alright, I understand," Rose told her taking the task of having to throw her out away from her, again thinking more of being a humiliation to Jack than of herself.

Her eyes were searching for him.

He was standing near a window, talking to another one of the shop assistants. When their eyes finally met, Jack was immediately at her side, sensing that something dreadful had happened.

"Rose, what's wrong?" he asked her, gently touching her cheek.

"Nothing…I just…I'm tired," she lied. "I want to go home."

"Sure," Jack said wondering what she was keeping from him now. "If you want…let's go."

Outside, when they had moved away from the store, being out of sight to everyone else, Rose couldn't take it anymore and was erupting into tears.

"Come here," Jack silently took her in his arms, stroking her hair, her chest heaving up and down.

He hated himself for bringing her in this situation.

The next day was a happy one for Cal. When he got up he found a note on the dinner table from Ruth.

I'm gone for a few days to visit a friend and have taken Edith with me. – Ruth Dewitt Bukater.

She hadn't mentioned a word before, so it must've been a very spontaneous decision. The note didn't even tell anything about the location she was staying at now.

Well whatever…

I don't care anyway.

Cal wondered what a few days meant. If one would asked him he'd make this a few months or better even a few years or the even the best…forever…without raising an eyebrow.

Sadly nobody asked him in that matter.

At least she's out for now.

Cal smiled to himself, returning upstairs again to Clarissa.