Authors Note

Between university, house work and trying to maintain what little social life I do possess, I don't have much time to write anymore. But I do want to try and write everyday in 2016 and the act of writing helps me relax. However, I do apologise if my writing isn't very good, limited time does mean I have to rush through my writing sometimes but I do it for my own enjoyment than anything else. On that note, please enjoy the new chapter :)

There were no stools and so we both leaned against the kitchen surface, both seeming a little shyer than either of us were used to. I had been raised with crowds, joining my parents at their political parties since I was old enough to walk. Being shy had never been an option. Discomfort was not something that I was allowed to show and must be hidden beneath the cover of a false smile or ridiculous small talk.

Charlie beside me leaned awkwardly against the edge, his arms crossed on the counter, before reconsidering his position and swapping out for another. He fussed with his hair and his shirt before swapping back to his original position. He was a bag of nervous energy and I had to suppress a giggle. I had barely known him for long, but of what I had seen of Charlie he had come across as cockiness incarnate. To see him so flustered seemed so unnatural and, as much as it pained me to admit it, was rather adorable.

I picked up the small silver fork and took the first bite. The fish was a little cooler than I would have liked, the warmth gradually seeping away in the still night air. If it had been anyone but Charlie with me, I could have taken my wand and with a simple flick of my wand it would be heated and at the perfect temperature. However, it was Charlie beside me and the option of a quick charm was out of the question. It could have been a lot worse too, I had to remember that. The sauce was flavoursome, the subtle balance of lemon and herb making a captivating taste that I probably could have drank it from the pot. As for the fish, it was nicely seasoned and regardless of the temperature, it was delicious.

Charlie stood beside me, his fork hovering in mid-air but his meal untouched. His eyes bore into me. I suppose he awaited my verdict.

"Delicious" I suppressed a smile as I watched his chest heave with relinquishing a held breath "You didn't need to do all of this"

"I did, I feel at fault for…well, for what happened this morning" My smile slipped and I focused on the plate of fish in front of me. The sting of Victors slap had long since faded away, but the sting of my pride was still hurting me. How many others had witnessed the spectacle that had occurred in the tea rooms? How many people had idly gossiped about myself and the man whom I was expected to take the hand of? "A man who treats a woman like that, they are no man at all"

"Charlie" The roughness of my voice surprised me, my throat feeling like sandpaper had been scraped against my trachea. I had to keep calm. Victor could only bother me if I allowed him to. "I am a grown woman, I can handle myself and I can certainly handle Victor"

"I have no doubt that you can" he chuckled slightly "I had barely known you five minutes before you had bit me remember. I don't care if you are weak or strong, he should never have lay a hand on you"

"And what would you know about it?" I didn't mean to snap, but despite his endearing nature he was still a stranger. This was my private life and I wanted it to remain so. Yet as I watched him swallow and turn away from me, the room seemed to grow considerably colder. "I'm sorry…I just…I don't know what to make of the situation"

He cleared his throat and his eyes seemed to focus on something distant and far away. He looked so much more tired, so much older than he had a few seconds ago. Like a fragile old man, vulnerable and alone.

"When I was a lad, my Dad would come home from the pub stinkin' of whiskey" he didn't look at me as he spoke "My Ma would send me upstairs to bed but I would lie awake and hear them both. My Ma was a good woman, the best I had ever known, but it never stopped my Dad layin' his hands on her. I would wake up each mornin' and find new bruises replacing the faded ones. Before I was even ten, he had left us. Ran out of town with some barmaid. For the life of me I never understood why my Ma wasted tears on him, but I suppose love makes you do funny things. Just…just don't let your love for that man, allow you to become his punch bag"

A heavy silence seemed to fall between us. I swallowed down a shaky breath, feeling ever guiltier for snapping at him. The silence seemed to draw on for decades, growing ever more uncomfortable with the passing seconds.

"I have no love for Victor" I said finally "Honestly, I rather hate him"

"Then why do you associate with him?"

"I don't have a choice…the situation is complicated but trust me, I could never bring myself to love him"

"I'm glad" I gave him a side glance and saw a goofy smile spreading over his features and felt the corners of my own lips tugging into a smile. We didn't finish our food, neither one of us feeling particularly hungry after the evening's conversation. He walked me up to the second class deck before parting our ways. He slunk away, heading back into the shadows of third class whilst I made my way towards the upper decks. I tried to act natural, but the silly little smile that Charlie had drawn from me refused to leave.