Chapter 5

Who'd Have Known?

It was not until after Clara had gotten Benjamin into bed and she went into her own room to prepare for sleep, that she realized she was still wearing Herbert's coat.

"Where did this come from, miss?" Esther asked as she helped Clara out of it.

"Oh uhm," Clara shrugged, "I went up to the deck without my coat and an officer gave it to me. I completely forgot I was wearing it."

"Would you like me to make sure it gets back to him?" Esther asked.

Clara shook her head, "No, I will return it myself, thank you."

If Clara had been facing Esther, she would have seen the look that the young woman was giving her employer. Instead, Esther stayed quiet and began to take down the remainder of Clara's pinned up curls. "It would seem you had quite a night," Esther stated quietly.

"I just," Clara shrugged, "David upset me at the dinner table and I took off immediately."

Esther was just about to help Clara out of her dress when they heard a gentle knocking on the stateroom door.

"Perhaps it is the Officer looking for his coat," Esther offered before leaving the room.

Clara's heart jumped at the idea of Pittman being back again. She quietly followed Esther and stood to the side, out of view, as Esther opened the door.

"Yes, is Mrs. Moore available?" The voice was Irish and kind, and Clara quickly stepped into the doorway to see Mr. Andrews on the other side.

"Oh, hello Mr. Andrews," she smiled brightly, "What brings you here?"

Mr. Andrews took in the sight of the young woman, as if making sure she was physically okay and then gave her a gentle smile, "Well your husband took off in such a rush and I realized your things were still in your seat. When you did not come back for them I wanted to make sure they got to you alright." In Thomas' hands were her gloves and a small beaded bag.

Clara took her possessions and smiled, "Thank you so much. I apologize for running off like that I just," she shrugged, "It was not a healthy conversation for me."

He nodded at her, "Absolutely and I am very sorry for any upset or painful memories it caused you. I have a baby girl and I know if something happened to her, I would not want to discuss it."

Clara sighed wistfully, "I love little girls. They are just the sweetest little things. You must treasure her."

"Everyday," Mr. Andrews smiled again, "I miss her and my wife very much."

"Well thank you again, Mr. Andrews. I truly appreciate the effort you went through to get these back to me."

"You are welcome, Mrs. Moore."

The two said goodnight and after closing the door, the women returned to Clara's bedroom. Soon enough, Clara was in her night gown for the evening and she was propped up in her bed. Esther was back in her room asleep and despite feeling exhausted from crying, Clara could not fall asleep. She stared over at Pittman's coat, which was hanging on the door of her wardrobe, and she wondered again, what had brought that man into her path. Why, of all the people on the ship, it was him who found her and made sure she was okay. Of course, she wasn't okay and the thoughts of her babies still danced in her head. Clara glanced over to her nightstand and took a small framed photo into her hands, one that had been taken shortly after Benjamin had been born. She and David looked happy in the photo and Benjamin was just a small thing in her arms, sleeping soundly.

Clara set the picture down and gently rubbed at her eyes, the thought racing through her mind, "What have I done to him? What has changed between us?" Eventually, she did fall into a very restless sleep, where she tossed and turned all night long. At quarter to six she woke up with a start, she had dreamed that someone had tried to take Benjamin away from her. Clara threw the blankets off of her and quietly slipped out of her room and into her sons. The little boy's brown hair was sticking up from under the blankets. His chest rose and fell in a steady motion; he was okay.

Clara returned to her room and once again, she could not sleep. She stared at the coat, still hanging on her door, and wondered if Pittman would be up. She went to her wardrobe, found a dress and began to prepare herself for the morning. Carefully she brushed out her long curls and put a clip in to just keep it out of her face. Clara expertly applied her own makeup and she put on her coat, slung Herbert's coat over her arm, and she very quietly slipped out of the suite.

Everything was still so quiet in the halls that morning and it was the first real sense of peace Clara had experienced since they boarded the ship. The sun was still climbing in the sky when she reached the deck and Clara stood in awe for a moment, just staring at the sky around her. She smiled to herself before heading down the deck, towards the bridge. No one was at the stairs to the bridge to stop her from climbing them and it was only until she approached the wheel room, that Clara saw another soul.

"Hello?" she asked gently.

The man at the wheel turned to look at her and an Officer approached her, "Yes ma'am?"

"I was looking for Officer Pittman," she began, "He loaned his coat to me when I had lost mine. I wanted to return it to him, personally."

"Oh you are the one!" the Officer smiled at her, "Yes I had to loan him a sweater last night. He is likely in his room but he should be getting ready for breakfast."

Clara nodded and followed the man to a hallway of small rooms. "Stay here just a moment," he told her before walking down, mid way and knocking on the door, "Hey Bert, there is a beautiful woman here to see you."

Clara heard a distinctive swear from behind the closed door and then the door opened to reveal Pittman, fully dressed, "Get out of here Lowe," he said, and for extra measure he shoved him gently out of the way. Pittman walked up to Clara, "Good morning," he greeted.

"I am so sorry I took your coat," Clara began, "I did not realize it until well after my son was in bed." She began to walk as Pittman was trying to lead her away from an eavesdropping Harold Lowe.

"Oh not at all Clara," he smiled, "I was fine last night. If I needed it that badly, I knew where to find you."

Clara felt a blush creeping up her neck and she smiled back, "This is true but still," she handed the coat back to him and he took it, gratefully.

"Did you really feel as if you had to deliver it at six in the morning?" He asked.

"Oh I had a bad dream," she shrugged, "So I thought I would come up here instead."

"Well I was just about to get some breakfast, you are welcome to join me and talk about it, if you would like."

Clara bit her bottom lip, an occasional nervous tick she had when she was not sure if she should do something or not. Eventually, the side that did not want to be anywhere near David won out and she nodded, "That sounds lovely."

Pittman smiled, almost in disbelief, like he could not quite believe his luck. He held an arm out to indicate which way to go and several minutes later they were in a small room that had been set up with breakfast foods for the Officers. Clara sat down at a table in the corner while he filled some plates for them.

"So, what was this dream?" he asked as he set a plate down in front of her and then sat down across from her.

Clara picked up her fork and it was then that she realized just how hungry she was, she never did have a chance to finish eating the night before. She took a small bite out of the fresh eggs and then dabbed at the corners of her mouth with a napkin before beginning, "It kind of jumped all over the place but every time, it ended with my child being taken from me."

"Who was taking him from you?" Herbert asked.

"Usually someone from David's family...his mother, sister, someone who was not my blood family would try to lay claim to him, as if he was some item to be won at an auction." She sighed heavily, "I would never cope if I lost my little boy. He is everything to me."

"Well at least it was just a dream, right?" He gave her a smile which she returned.

"Yes, it was just a dream," she replied, as if Clara was trying to re-assure herself.

"So why are you and your family going to New York? Moving there permanently or just visiting?" Pittman was eager to change the subject to see if Clara would cheer up a bit.

She gave a shrug, "David has business to deal with for his firm or something. So he and his friends were asked to represent the firm in America."

"Not a permanent stay, then?" He asked.

"Well it could potentially turn into one I suppose, I hope it does not though. My entire family is in England, if something were to happen to them it would take forever for me to get back."

"England is a better country anyway," Herbert smiled and Clara could not help but laugh at his words.

"Well it is my first time going to America, so I guess I can decide that for myself," she said before lifting her fork to her mouth again.

During that meal, for a short while, Clara was able to forget herself for awhile. She felt more comfortable talking to Herbert than she had ever felt with David, even during the best years of their marriage. The conversation was easy and light, and it danced from their childhood lives (hers in London and his in Somerset,) to Pittman's career and why he chose the ocean, to Clara's social activities at home and the charity's she volunteered for.

With each passing moment, Herbert Pittman found himself more and more intrigued by this woman and a part of him felt like in the long run it could cause him serious trouble, but every time she opened her mouth, he completely forgot about it all.

Clara was in the middle of telling a story about her son's first birthday when the door to the small dining room opening.

"Pittman, it is almost time for your shift," the officer said, coming into the room.

"No it is not, Will," he said, turning to face the other officer, "I do not work until ten-thirty."

"And it is now ten am," Will said, giving Herbert a look.

Pittman frowned and checked his stop watch, "Blimey you are actually right."

Clara stared, "Wait, I've been here for four hours already?"

Herbert nodded, "Yes apparently."

"Oh God," Clara dabbed at her mouth with a napkin and got to her feet, "Benjamin is going to be so upset, I need to get back to him."

"Of course," Herbert said, "It was a pleasure, Clara and I will see you later, I suppose."

Clara flashed him a warm smile and nodded, "Yes of course. Thank you for breakfast."

She grabbed her coat and the two officers watched the young woman tear off out of the room.

"Herbert, I do not need to remind you that being alone in a room with a married woman could lead to people whispering, telling false reports, and landing you both in serious trouble, right?"

Pittman looked at Murdoch and gave a nervous smile, "It is too late for warnings."

"Why is that?" Will asked.

"Because I think I am in love with that woman," Pittman answered before staring back at the door.

Xx

A/N- ooooooooooooooooooh. You know the drill. Once again, I must get ready for work.

Love y'all. xoxo