Everyone was gathered around a large banquet-like dinner table in the dining room, and just like Rose had warned, they were dressed in fancy evening wear, just like the first-class dinner on Titanic. Jack, Rose, and Lily took their seats and nervously smiled at their hosts.
"Welcome, Jack and Rose! I know that this may seem like a lot to you, Jack. We do apologize," Jeffery smiled. "We were thinking of making this a more casual affair, but we thought you'd appreciate it more if we kept with the traditions of the family, but if you like, we can be more casual tomorrow."
"This is fine. Don't change anything on my account," Jack smiled, appreciative of the thought, but it really would make him feel weird if they changed their routines just because of his presence.
"I am sure that his wife is used to such finery, despite her...origins," Enid snorted.
"I have you know, Philadelphia is just as upscale as Boston, Enid," Rose frowned, not missing the dig. She relaxed as she felt Jack's hand on her knee.
"Enid. Remember what we talked about," Jeffery warned.
"Yes, yes. I remember. Do not worry. I will keep my mouth shut about the scandal that the girl has caused and the ruin that is about to be heaped upon our family by associating with her," Enid sniffed in derision.
"Some people can't help themselves but be horrible," Charlotte grumbled. "We apologize, Rose."
"When is that boy arriving? He is late," Enid questioned, her voice full of derision. "If I had my way, he would have never been allowed through the front door. Really, Jeffery."
"Will you cut it out," Jeffery glared at his sister.
Giles the butler was suddenly in the doorway, his hands behind his back as he made his announcement. "Mr. Steve Cutwell has arrived for dinner, sir."
"Show him in, Giles!" Jeffery directed and turned a hard stare onto his sister. "Behave! I mean it! Or I will send you out and you can dine in your quarters!"
Enid just silently huffed, much to Rose's amusement. Jeffery seemed to know his sister inside and out and had her on a really tight leash. She could have used such lessons when it came to dealing with her own mother back in her life before Jack.
"Darling! You're here!" Charlotte went over to her fiancee, a young man with strawberry blond hair and smiling green eyes. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and lead him over to the empty seat next to her own.
"I do apologize for being late. My mother needed my assistance," Steve apologized.
"Oh, no apologies are needed! You're here right on time! Let me introduce you to our new family members! Steve, the new young couple and child are Jack and Rose and Lily Dawson. Jack is the only son of my Uncle Eric who had left home when he was our age I do believe. Rose is his wife and Lily is their adopted daughter. They're from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin! Well, Jack is. Rose is from Philadelphia," Charlotte explained.
"How do you do," Steve nodded, giving a nervous smile. "My name is Steve Cutwell. I am usually the family driver…"
"But his dear mother was ill today," Charlotte smiled lovingly at her fiancee. It was evident that she was head over heels for him.
"You're the family driver and you two were able to realize your love...that is truly amazing. My mother is just now accepting my marriage with Jack," Rose couldn't help but comment, impressed that the Dawsons were for the most part so open-minded.
"It's a travesty if you ask me. Beyond inappropriate. Almost as inappropriate as accepting your marriage to my nephew after the trouble you caused for the poor Hockleys," Enid ranted.
"Yeah, the Hockleys that shot at your beloved nephew on a sinking ship. I suggest that you shut up, Aunt Enid!" Charlotte glared at her Aunt, having enough and knowing that Jack and Rose must have had enough as well. She was going to make it clear that the couple had allies here. They weren't like her hateful Aunt at all!
"Well...I love dear Jack, but the man was probably driven insane with jealousy," Enid sniffed.
"Honestly, this is why Eric had left us! He was tired of the strife that Enid caused and is still causing," Jeffrey threw down his napkin. "Giles, please escort my sister to her quarters and serve her dinner there. She will not be dining with the family tonight."
Enid's eyes widened in shock and outrage. "Jeffrey! You cannot be serious! I was only speaking the truth!"
"You were commenting on issues that do not concern you, dear sister! Issues that you know nothing about and the fact that you're here, standing up for a man that could have killed Eric's only son, as you like to remind us, not once, but twice...it's beyond the pale! And how you keep taking digs at Steve, who has been of assistance to this family for a few years now...I am not going to abide it at this table. Not today! You must go! Now!"
"Fine. You keep siding with the interlopers in this family and this family will fall. I am just trying to keep our prestigious position in society."
"Enid, do as your brother has requested. Go," William Dawson stated, his voice booking no argument.
Enid didn't say anything else as she got to her feet and stormed out of the room with her head held high.
"I do apologize for my daughter's attitude, Jack and Rose. I do not know why she behaves the way she does. Eric was always the kinder of the two," William sighed, his voice full of disappointment.
The rest of the dinner went by peacefully. Jack shared tales of his travels and everyone was just as charmed by him as the millionaires at the first-class dinner onboard the Titanic were.
"Jack, tell them your motto!" Rose urged, feeling like the young seventeen-year-old she had once been onboard a luxury liner and was so enamored by the young artist that was sweeping everyone off of their feet.
"What do you mean?" Jack chuckled.
Rose sat upright, giving her best Ruth impression. "You find that kind of rootless assistance appealing do you?"
Jack laughed getting what she was referring to. "The make each day count speech?"
"Yes. Make each day count," Rose smiled.
"Jack was a poor artist when he and Rose met and Rose was in high society," Charlotte explained to a confused Steve.
"Wow, that's interesting. And your parents didn't have a problem? Did they know that Jack was a member of this family?" Steve asked, curious.
Rose laughed. "Mother hated Jack on sight. She had no idea he was a Boston Dawson. None of us did. Neither did Jack. What did you say to JJ when he asked if you were from the Boston Dawsons? Oh yes, Chippewa Falls Dawsons actually."
Everyone laughed at this, but all laughter faded when they remembered what happened to JJ Astor. Sensing the somber turn, Jack took Rose's hand.
"It was one of the moments I'll never forget."
"Me either," Rose gave a sad smile, wondering what had ever become of Madeliene and her unborn baby.
"Jack and Rose, would you like to join me and Steve as we walk the gardens. We barely get time to do so with Steve at the family's beck and call," Charlotte giggled after dessert was finished.
"That would be lovely, but I think we're better off to head up for bed. It's been a long day for the three of us," Jack gently rejected the offer, noticing how Rose seemed to be nodding off in her chair, right along with a yawning Lily.
Everyone was in good cheer as they all got up and went in different directions. Jack and Rose carried Lily to her room and began to get her ready for bed, dismissing the nanny who had been waiting to assist.
"We have it, ma'am, but thank you," Jack gave her an extra dollar as a tip as he let her go for the night. He turned back to Rose, who was already helping a yawning Lily out of her dress.
"That went surprisingly well. It all could have gone downhill. By the way it started, it was going downhill," Jack went over to help Rose.
"Thank goodness for Jeffery sending that woman to her quarters. Honestly, Jack. I was about to get up and give her a good wallop!" Rose ranted, pulling Lily's dress off over her head as Jack allowed the sleepy child to lean against him.
"What kind of influence would that be on Lily, Rose?" Jack questioned, his voice grim, yet amused.
"A good one. Never push someone's buttons because you won't know what you're going to get."
"I'm sorry that she's acting like this. My pa would have been mortified. I do believe the rest of the family is embarrassed as well. I'm glad that Jeffery sent her away. I halfway wish that I had never spent so much time with her and neglected you in the process. It's just that...she had so much information about him…"
"What really gets me is that she lied about your grandfather...disrupting our trip to Santa Monica. She knew what she was doing!"
"I know…"
"I intensely dislike her Jack!"
"I know that too," Jack chuckled as they finished getting Lily settled and then headed off for their own room, hand in hand. Once they were in their bedroom, Rose wrapped her arms around Jack's neck and smiled. "But I like you, Jack. I like you an awful lot."
Jack just smiled and wrapped his arms around Rose's waist, pulling her against his body. "I like you an awful lot too, Rose."
Smiling, Rose pressed closer to him and felt his desire for her press against her hip. "How about a trip to Jupiter?"
Suddenly, there's a knock on the door, and Sally and Rick stuck their heads into the room.
"We are here to help you undress, Ms," the lady's maid blushed.
Rose sighed and looked at Jack. "I swear, I am never going to be used to this again."
Jack just chuckled and gave Rose's pouting kiss a quick kiss. "Let them help us quickly and then I'll take you on that trip, yeah?"
"I'm holding you to that, Jack. Santa Monica may be postponed, but I will see Jupiter, damn it."
Jack simply laughed as he followed his valet into the changing room that they had used before.