A/N: Bit of a filler chapter and very little Rose×Thomas interaction in this one, I'm sorry! But it had to be done to move further in the story without going on into the material I've written for the next chapter. I will be posting the next chapter in a day or two so you won't have to wait long for it! It's gonna be a good one ;)
The next morning after breakfast Rose made her way to the chapel with her mother and Cal. Most of the upper class was in attendance but Rose couldn't find her Master Shipbuilder anywhere in the congregation. She did spot Lissie and Helen seated a few rows up from where she herself sat. Lissie looked over her mother's shoulder and, noticing Rose, immediately became excited and attempted to wriggle free. Rose giggled and waved at the child and put her finger to her mouth, gesturing for the wee one to sit still and quiet. Lissie calmed and with a sigh, resigned herself to rest her head Helen's shoulder, all the while looking to Rose.
Throughout the service Rose found her attention solely fixated on Lissie, she hardly paid any mind to the sermon. By the end of service Lissie had dozed off and Rose had spent the whole time memorizing the little one's face, the way her hair fell in soft curls, how much she looked like Thomas! Her heart ached with the need to hold the child. She wanted desperately to throw caution to the wind and make her relationship with Thomas known. 'I should be the one holding Lissie, not her.' Rose hoped she kept her contempt from showing on her face.
"Sweet-pea, are you ready for luncheon? I do believe our party is ready to make it's way there." Cal looked utterly bored with the situation already but Rose hardly cared, she'd just seen Thomas appear and make his way toward Helen before heading over with her and Lissie.
"Good day everyone, wonderful to see you all." he gestured to Helen who looked a tad uncomfortable to be in the spotlight. "This is Helen, my wife." he introduced everyone to her before reaching Rose. "And last but most certainly not least, Miss Rose Dewitt Bukater." Rose was surprised to find something she could not quite place glinting in Helen's eyes. Jealousy? Loathing? Perhaps a bit of both? She certainly didn't seem to take well to Thomas's subtle affection.
"How do you do, Helen?" Rose felt she could not call her by Mrs. Andrews, that was to be her name and she would wear it proudly.
"Just fair Miss." she replied curtly.
"Well, shall we head to luncheon?" Thomas asked, taking Lissie from Helen's arms.
At the table Rose was seated beside Thomas as usual, with Helen on his other side. Thomas glanced down to Rose's hand and saw the ring glinting softly and couldn't help but smile. He was not sure what had possessed him to bring it on this voyage but was so glad he had.
"So glad you could join us today, Mrs. Andrews." Ruth spoke, her words taking on cheerful tone too strained to be genuine. "I trust you're feeling well now?"
Helen blushed lightly in embarrassment, the others thinking due to the shame of being sea sick, Rose and Thomas knowing it was for the lie and the truth it concealed.
"Yes, I didn't feel as weak this morning and thought I could survive church and luncheon."
Molly spoke up, ever exuberant "Always good to be up and moving' again! I hafta tell ya, we've quite enjoyed your little girl at meal times. She's been a perfect little angel!" Molly's eyes darted to Rose's with that same knowing spark.
'This woman knows more than she lets on.' Rose thought with a smirk.
Helen only nodded. "She usually is with Tom. I never seem to do as she likes." the tight look on her face indicated she didn't mean to say the words aloud but truly believed them.
There was a brief awkward pause before Ismay started bragging about something, as per usual.
Rose joined in the conversation as often as she could to seem interested and to keep from focusing solely on her two loves beside her. She refrained from taking Lissie into her arms and was grateful the child didn't reach and wriggle as she had last night. The icy glances she was receiving from both her mother and Helen were enough, she didn't want to incur any more wrath.
"I fancy a turn around the promenade, would you care to join me, Rose?" Molly surprised the girl with her sudden request.
Recovering quickly, Rose responded "Yes, a walk sounds lovely, thank you."
Ruth spoke quickly "If you don't mind my absence, I'm getting a bit of a headache just now, I think I'll retire to my cabin."
Rose stifled a giggle as her mother excused herself from the table.
"Ismay, care to join me in the lounge? I'd like to discuss that investment opportunity you spoke of last night." Cal stood to leave, Ismay following.
That just left the Andrews with Molly and Rose.
"Helen were you wanting to join in on any activities this afternoon?" Thomas asked politely.
Helen, who had been unconsciously eyeing Rose, tore her gaze away and up to his face. "No, Elisabeth needs to go down for a nap just now." she push back from the table to go and everyone else followed suit.
"Real nice meetin' ya, Helen." Molly shook her hand.
"Likewise." she said less than enthusiastically. She turned to Rose but didn't say anything.
"Well, let's get Lissie girl back to the nursery, then. Ladies, enjoy your stroll." Thomas smiled apologetically to Rose before turning to leave.
Rose turned as well to follow Molly but something caught her hand. She looked back to see Helen staring at the ring. The looked up with a mix of pain and irritation mingling in her brown eyes. Rose didn't understand why Helen should have such emotions, she was leaving Thomas, not the other way around.
"Rose, honey?" Molly called and Helen dropped Rose's hand. "Everything alright, sweetie?"
"Just fine."
"She knows now, doesn't she," she stated more than questioned.
"Pardon?" Rose hoped she came across as innocent.
"Oh come on now, you and Tommy Boy! Everyone else seems not to notice or not to care but I have! The way his eyes follow you, how you light up when he's near, you two practically radiate in each other's presence." Molly had made it clear she knew something was going on.
Rose blushed. "Please, promise you won't speak of this to anyone else."
Molly patted the young girl's hand. "Honey, I'm a vault."
She sighed, gathering her nerves. Regardless of what her mother thought it the woman, Rose had no real reason not to trust her. "We, that is, Thomas and I, didn't mean to fall for each other. He was there when I needed someone and he showed me compassion and a kindness I haven't received from anyone since my father died. I felt terrible at first, thinking of him in that way. I couldn't help it, really. This man, this kind hearted, caring, loving man had stolen my heart. I felt like a wretch until he told me of his wife's intentions. She's leaving him when we dock. Lissie as well, she's leaving her child behind because mothering does not suit her. How she could leave that angel behind I'll never know!"
The older woman let her talk as they made their way around the deck.
"I'll not deny it was evident to us the growing attraction we shared. But last night he… he told me he loved me. And he wants me to leave Cal, go to Belfast and marry him. Helen wants a divorce, not just a separation, a clean break." She drew in a shaky breath, "And I've accepted. He gave me his grandmother's ring last night. And I think Helen recognized it just then."
"Will she interfere?"
"I would like to see her try."
"So," Molly stopped their stroll, "what will you do now? Is there a plan for leaving Hockley?"
"I thought about it all of last night and I'm not quite sure. The only thing I can think of is leaving the boat and disappearing in the crowd to return. I will probably need Thomas to do so." her brow furrowed in thought.
"Well you have few days to think of somethin'." they had made it back to the starting point. "If you need any help, I'm certainly available"
Rose beamed, "I am most grateful, Molly. I know my mother is rude to you and for that I am sorry."
"Ha! No need honey, I know she can't stand me. Makes dinner all the more entertainin'!"
Rose giggled openly before saying farewell before supper. She made her way back along the corridors to her cabin, thinking of how she would essentially escape her boorish fiance. Back in her suite she found Cal seated on her bed, he didn't seem cross by any means but one could never tell with him.
"Cal, how was your chat with Ismay?" She turned from him and sat at her vanity to take down her elegant updo.
"Oh, it went well. I believe I'll be investing in his next ship or two. He plans to have Mr. Andrews build all his ships in the foreseeable future and if they are as exemplary as Titanic, they will be well worth the money."
Rose began to brush through her curls till they gleamed. "Well, that seems like the perfect opportunity for you. I'm sure it will be most profitable."
Cal stood and moved to her side, slightly unnerving her. "Speaking of perfect opportunities, I thought this might be the moment to give you a little present." he pulled out a large black velvet case and handed it to her. "I know I called you a spoiled child the other day but in reality, darling, I wish to spoil you to the best of my abilities if only you will permit me to do so. I intended to save this till the engagement gala next week. But I thought tonight, perhaps a reminder of my feelings for you…"
She looked down to the case and opened it, revealing a massive heart shaped jewel pendant surrounded by smaller gleaming white diamonds. She sucked in a breath, it truly was magnificent. "Sapphire?"
"Diamond." Cal took the necklace from the box and fastened it around her neck. " It's 56 carats. It was once worn by Louis the Sixteenth. They call it Le Coeur de la Mer, the-"
"The Heart of the Ocean. Cal, it's... it's overwhelming." Rose could hardly bear the weight pressing down on her.
Cal gazed at the image of the two of them in the mirror. "It's for royalty. And we are royalty." She felt his fingers caress her neck and throat. Rose noticed a glimmer of desire in his eyes and hoped he wouldn't press her to intimacy. She had successfully avoided him thus far, wishing to prolong joining him in bed as long as possible. For once he seems to be ungarding in his emotions and she can see what he speaks is truth, "There's nothing I couldn't give you. There's nothing I'd deny you if you wouldn't deny me. Open your heart to me, Rose."
She felt a chill run down her spine, absolutely disgusted at the thought of being in his arms. She didn't know what to say to him but thankfully she didn't have to. Trudy knocked and entered the room. "Time to dress for supper, Miss Rose."
"Trudy, choose an dress to match Miss Rose's new necklace, if you please." Cal ordered before he kissed his fiance's cheek and left with a smile, none the wiser to her hatred toward him.
Rose sighed when he shut the door. "The cream one, if you don't mind, Trudy." she stood to get undressed and redressed.
A/N: Let me know what you think! I know it wasn't much as compared to the other chapters but the next will be longer and MUCH more Rose×Thomas togetherness!
Much Love,
Nanahbelle