Chapter 6

Trapped

"Mummy!" Benjamin squealed when Clara walked in the door of the suite.

"Hello my little love!" she greeted as she bent down to his height and the child threw his arms around her neck.

"Where were you? We did not have breakfast!"

Clara opened her mouth but then she was cut off, "Yes Mrs. Moore, where were you?" She looked up to see David standing by the sofa, with a rather cross look on her face.

Clara stood up to her full height, "I had a nightmare and I could not sleep. So I went for a walk, there is no crime in that."

"No, I suppose not." There was a tense silence and then, "There was a man's coat in your room last night. Who did it belong to?"

Clara stared at him and then said, "Esther, take Benjamin up to the deck for some sun."

"Yes ma'am," Esther said quietly. She came over and took the boy by the hand who instantly began to protest, "But I want my mummy!"

"Mummy will join you shortly, little love," Clara said, giving her son a warm look.

Once they were alone Clara was silent and then said, "You were in my room last night? Why?"

"Never mind why, I asked you a question," David snapped.

"When I was up on the deck, trying to calm down after your onslaught on my emotions, an officer loaned his coat to me so I would not catch ill from the cold air. I returned it this morning," Clara paused and then added, "Someone felt they should be doing your job, considering you were not."

"Remember your place, Mrs. Moore," David snarled.

"You remember your place!" she cried, "You used to be so good to me and you actually treated me like I was your wife and not an inconvenience! You used to care about me and my feelings and now..." Clara held her arms up in exasperation, "You completely humiliated me last night and made me so uncomfortable."

There was a long silence between the two and then David spoke, "I am your husband and I do not have to explain myself to you. Remember your place and stop landing yourself in situations that are an embarrassment to this family," he paused, "I am dining with Ismay for lunch, you may join us or dine with your friends."

Clara watched David turn on his heel and disappear into his stateroom. After a moment, Clara gathered her emotions, brushed away the stray tear on her cheek, and walked out to find her child.

When she found Esther and Benjamin they were down near the stern where Benjamin was playing with another first class child. Clara fought very hard to hide any emotional pain she was experiencing as she sat down on a bench with Esther.

"Are you alright ma'am?" Esther asked, noticing the way Clara looked.

"I will be," she answered, looking straight ahead.

"Mr. Moore is not someone worth shedding tears over," Esther said very quietly.

"I am learning that now actually."

"Well this may make you smile, but do not look when I say this; an officer is standing up on a higher deck staring at you."

Clara looked at Esther and gave her a real smile, "Does he have a mustache?"

"Yes ma'am."

Clara then felt her first real tug of happiness since breakfast that morning, "He is quite a nice gentleman," she offered.

"He looks absolutely smitten, ma'am."

For a brief moment, the fact that Clara was the employer and Esther the employee was completely forgotten as the two women laughed hysterically.

–

"You are not subtle at all, Bert."

Herbert looked at Lowe and Moody who had been watching him, watch Clara and he simply shrugged, "How can someone that incredible be married? It is so infuriating!"

"Ah yes, all the good ones are always taken," Moody agreed solemnly which just caused Lowe to snort with laughter.

"Alright children," Herbert said, shaking his head, "We should get back to work before Wilde swoops in and gives us the eye."

"Ah yes, the eye is quite an evil one," Moody said.

"Jim, stop saying ah yes as if you are some wise and mythical god of knowledge," Harold said.

Pittman laughed as he walked off.

–

After lunch (which Clara and Benjamin ate alone,) the mother and son strolled the decks once more. Esther took some time until supper to herself so Clara and Benjamin could spend some time together. David had disappeared, likely to be with his friends and it honestly did not bother Clara any. She was headed towards the bow of the ship when she noticed Pittman standing at the end of the ship, he was looking down the side towards the water. Clara leaned over the side of the ship and followed Pittman's gaze, with him completely oblivious, "What are we looking at?"

He jumped at the sound of her voice and then his face broke into a huge grin, "Oh hello."

"Hello," she said.

"Well to answer your question," he began, "Nothing really. I am off until tonight and I was having trouble sleeping so I came down here to watch the ocean splash against the ship."

Clara smiled and opened her mouth to speak but she was cut off by a tugging on her dress, "Mummy, I wanna see."

She turned to pick Benjamin up in her arms, "Is that not wonderful, little love?"

"The water just goes on and on!" Benjamin cried.

"Ah but, it does eventually end. At the United States," Herbert said.

Benjamin whirled around in his mothers arms to look at the officer, "Really?

"Yes, it may seem like this is all vast and endless now, but land eventually pops up here and there."

"Wow," Benjamin said, in complete and total awe.

"So," Clara began as she set her son down, "You also could not sleep?"

Herbert smiled as he watched Benjamin go and play and shrugged, "Too much on my mind I suppose."

"Would you like to talk about it?" she offered.

He laughed, "I suppose it would only be fair since you opened up to me about it but," Herbert shrugged, "It is just boring ship stuff going through my mind." In truth, Herbert was lying, he had laid awake in bed thinking, but it had more to do with the beautiful, married woman in front of him, and not the ship.

"Boring ship stuff?" Clara smiled, "I guess it could be worse."

"Agreed," there was a pause and then, "Your husband was not upset with you for not being there when he woke up,was he?"

"Well he told me that it was not appropriate and to remember my place," she shrugged and a frown replaced her smile, "He is more concerned about being embarrassed I guess."

"What a gem," Herbert muttered.

Clara looked at him, "Yes, my parents know how to pick them."

"I hope you know, that I personally believe you do not deserve to be treated this way."

She blushed and looked away, "Well we live in a world that states the way a man treats his wife is perfectly acceptable, even if it is cruel and horrible."

Herbert sighed, "Clara I do not mean to upset you."

"I know," she turned to watch Benjamin and sighed, "In the three days since I have been on this ship I have learned so much about myself and my marriage and I honestly do not think I like it that much."

"The marriage or what you have learned?" Herbert asked.

"Both," she answered in a soft voice, "And I am trapped and that scares me more than anything."

A/N- That was a rather dramatic ending. I really wanted to get this posted before I have to go work...I tried to call out. Idk. I have tomorrow off...finally...

I shall see y'all on the flip side. Please leave me reviews, they are gonna be the only thing that will get me through my 3pm-2am shift.