Chapter 63: Under Watch
The next few weeks to follow are relatively uneventful except for the changes as the winds of summer gave way to early autumn breezes. Ruth leaves after re-building some of her relationship with Rose and promises to visit when she can. She also gives her communication information to Mr. Calvert so they can keep in touch. Emma prepares for her results of her classes and is still working on the wedding plans. Jack, Peter and Emma work hard at their jobs and at home as Rose is less and less able to be on her feet for long periods of time. Her recent doctor visit says that everything is healthy and the baby is responding properly, much to the couple's delight. Dress shopping, however, has become a bit of a challenge.
"Come on Rose it can't be that bad," Emma calls from the front. She, Rose, Holly, and Sybil have gone out to look for dresses for the wedding. This errand, however, has raised several problems, one of them being that many dress shops are turning away Rose due to her condition of conceiving out of wedlock. The owners are also not approving of Emma and Holly's status as "working class" women and the prices of the dresses in general. They had walked all over Sacks Fifth Avenue and most of downtown Manhattan looking for a place that did not put emphasis on these problems.
This was the tenth shop they'd tried and everyone was becoming tired, especially the pregnant bride and the infant of the group. Emma was searching for new materials to repair her mother's old dress, finding something for Holly to wear as a bride's maid and for Sybil. Rose was looking for a dress that fit and wasn't crazy expensive.
The most recent dress was meant for women of a large body size and made her look like a pumpkin from all sides. The sleeves made it look like Rose had wings and could take off like a great white bird and the veil was so thick, Rose could not see where she was going.
She stumbles out in front of the others and both Emma and Holly do their best not to laugh. Rose looks at herself in the three mirrors of the boutique and can't believe the giant white monster staring back at her. She herself begins to laugh and soon all three are laughing very hard at this atrocious dress.
"It seems so fruitless," Rose sighs heavily, doing her best to keep the thick veil out of her face as she sits on the platform erected to allow the brides to feel as if they were the star of the show to rest her feet. "No one wants a bride of a shotgun wedding and they only have very high prices for custom made dresses. I may as well get married in the lavender dress I wore on Titanic."
"No Rose, you saw what salt water did to my dress, can you imagine what yours must be like," Emma says, not ready to give up hope. "Besides, I can't believe I sound like your mother, but it's your wedding day and you deserve to look beautiful."
"If everything wasn't so expensive," Rose mutters.
"Come on, there has to be something here you like," Emma says. "I can make the alterations of the dress myself and for no extra cost."
Just then Sybil begins to cry and Emma goes to tend to her sister. Rose sighs and goes to change out of it. On her way, she notices one of the boutique ladies carrying something very shiny and elegant through the back.
"What's that?!" Rose calls out suddenly.
The woman stops and turns around. "Oh, this Miss?"
"Yes," Rose stumbles along in the massive dress she's wearing to get a closer look.
"It's a 1912 dress Miss, it's a bit old, some of the diamonds are coming off and there are a few stains in places, there are holes in places, it's also going out of style and…"
"Beautiful," Rose says.
The dress is basically a work of art. The entire thing is made of silk with a fairly short solid silk train. There is lace over the shoulders, formed in such a way that it looks like she's wearing a cardigan. There are nicely formed ruffles that hang over the entire skirt of the dress and light fabric make up the sleeves. But the crown jewels of this garment are the lovely arranged flower of silk in the center of the dress, studded with diamonds and the embroidered flowers along the sides of the dress and the train.
"May I try it on?" Rose asks.
"A-Are you quite sure Miss?" the clerk asks.
"Yes," Rose says, she can barely take her eyes of the piece.
The woman follows her into the dressing room, helps the pregnant woman remove the monstrosity she's wearing and slip into the new one.
"The zipper will not go all the way up to the topMiss, due to your um… condition"
"That's alright," Rose says. "My friend can make the adjustments accordingly."
"Well, despite the wear and tear of it, you do look beautiful Miss."
"Thank you," Rose says. "I'm going to go show my friends."
"Might I recommend a veil Miss?" the clerk suggests.
"Something simple please," Rose requests.
The clerk goes out and comes back with a nice thin veil with a small crown of flowers formed into a circle. The woman helps put the veil in Rose's curly red hair.
Rose then goes out in front of the others.
It feels as if the entire world goes quiet. Emma and Holly's eyes go wide in amazement as Rose steps onto the platform and examine herself in the mirror.
She absolutely loves what she sees. Rose DeWitt Bukater is no more, instead, the soon to be Rose Dawson stands in a very elegant and beautiful gown, the dress hugging the life inside her, setting off her green eyes and making her lovely ringlets stand out. She seems to be glowing radiantly in the light of the shop and the train trails her at the perfect length. The veil only enhances the look, framing the demure seventeen-year old's face and accenting the lovely curves of her face. The diamonds glitter proudly and the skirt swishes as the young bride turns to examine it from all sides.
"Oh Rose," Emma says, so taken by the beauty of her friend, she can't find the right words. "You look like an angel."
"Sent directly from Heaven," Holly adds, her eyes taking in the magnificent sight. Even Sybil is entranced by the beauty of the gown, but that is most likely due to the colour.
Rose blushes and the red is emphasized even more by the white/cream colour of the dress. Rose knows instantly that this is the dress she is destined to marry Jack Dawson in. It is a truly unique piece, just like the two of them. This is the dress she wanted, nothing else.
"It does need to be cleaned up a little," the woman who helped Rose into the dress states.
"That will be very easy for me," Emma says, examining the dress, making mental notes of what needed to be repaired.
"I can make a list of the flaws," the woman offers.
"That would be most helpful," Emma says.
"How much is it?" Rose asks.
"Approximately 250 dollars, the price has been lowered since it's not in season anymore and some of the flaw defects. The last woman who tried it on did not take good care of it, it didn't fit her properly and she insisted on drinking whiskey while wearing it."
"It seems like a fair price," Holly says.
"It's up to you Rose," Emma says. "You do have the money from that auction."
Rose takes a few moments and gives another long look in the mirrors. This is the dress she wanted and she found it, not her mother, not some random designer, her. Sure, it has its flaws, but it was perfect for her. Her eyes fill with tears of joy.
"I'll take it. I say yes to this dress."
There is cheering amongst her companions and Rose beams, taking a bow in her dress. The happiness and relief felt by everyone were lost on a distant figure, watching from afar. He stood on a street corner, face concealed by a newspaper, as the women and child left the boutique, bags in hand towards their homes. The man, in his uniform, writes down a few things on a pad of paper and then goes off in the opposite direction, towards his master's car.
…
Later in the evening, the man returns to the apartment of his master, climbing up the steps, his hat in his hand. He knocks on a heavy oak door leading to the man's office.
"Come in and shut the door," a voice calls out.
The man obeys without a second thought, shutting the door, even thought they were the only ones in the apartment. The man servant stands across from a leather, rotating chair, in which sits his master, drinking his evening brandy and writing a few things out on a sheet of paper.
"What do you have for me Riptide?" Caledon asks.
"A wedding is imminent Sir," the manservant says. "I followed the women to a dress shop today. Your ex-fiancée has selected her gown for the event. She could not be more ecstatic."
"Anything else?"
"The Dawson boy works at the police station and they are planning to send out invitations soon. I believe the wedding will perhaps take place in late October or early November at my estimate."
"Interesting," Cal says, taking a sip of his brandy.
"Sir?" Riptide asks.
"Yes?"
"Forgive me for being rather straightforward but what do you plan to achieve by having me follow these people around?"
"Surveillance my dear Riptide. Since I am forbidden by law to be within 500 feet of any of them, I need someone like yourself, so inconspicuous and unassuming to learn their patterns and their plans."
"But what is your plan, Sir?" Riptide asks.
"All in good time Riptide, all you need to know is that you need to keep and eye on them for the time being. Unfortunately, my father has summoned me to Philadelphia next week, something I cannot get out of, but I need you to remain here and keep up your watch."
"B-But sir, will you manage?"
"My father has a butler who can assist me, but I will be in touch with you every evening to see what you have learned."
"Forgive me Sir, but where is all this leading us?"
"Me to know and you to find out. I assure you, both you and I will have clean hands by the end. Thank you, Riptide. I will ring for you when I am ready to retire."
"Very good Sir, I will see you then." The manservant bows before exiting the room.
Once alone, Cal finishes his brandy and then picks up the telephone and dials a certain number.
"What is it you need?" a gruff voice on the other end of the line asks.
"I need your services…"
Happy Holidays to all my readers. I provided a link to get a picture of Rose's dress. I described a genuine 1912 dress that I thought would be perfect for Rose.
albums/g57/minathegoth/2%20antique%