Chapter 12
Nellie
Somewhere in the Atlantic
April 12, 1912

"Can I please stay with Uncle Jock?" Callen asked as Nellie motioned him back towards The Grand Staircase. "There's nothing to do in my room when you're with Isla and Leana."

"There's always the library," Nellie said. "You could use this as an opportunity to keep up with your studies."

Callen's glare at Nellie made her burst into laughter. "Very well, stay with my brother. But I expect you back in your room by ten o'clock."

Callen's face lit up into a grin before running back towards the first class dining room to catch up with Jock. Nellie nodded politely to the stewards who opened the doors for her as she headed back towards the second class decks. As she navigated through some of the first class hallways, it was strange to hear her heels clicking on the floor. It had been so long since she'd worn anything other than her work boots. She passed by a large mirror hanging on the walls and smiled when she saw her reflection. She had worn her hair in its usual knot at the base of her neck, but had decorated it with one of her late mother's combs which stood out nicely against the dark brown. Her dress was not ornate enough to fool people into thinking she had a first class ticket, but she enjoyed how her appearance seemed to bring light back into her dark eyes. She looked less sallow than she had since Callen's death.

"Mrs. Milroy?"

She was surprised to see Mr. Hockley coming her direction. The hallway was empty, with all of the passengers seemingly still at dinner.

"Are you following me, Mr. Hockley?" Nellie snuck a look in the mirror once more to make sure she looked tidy.

Mr. Hockley smiled. "Not intentionally. I was trying to find where Rose ran off to."

Nellie glanced over his shoulder, knowing his fiancee had gone in the opposite direction. "I'm sure she's not far," she said. "It is a ship after all."

To her surprise, Mr. Hockley pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one right there in the middle of the hallway. He took a long drag before he slumped against one of the doorways, smoothing back some brown hair that had fallen into his eyes.

My God, is he handsome! Nellie thought. His clothes fit him perfectly and his brown eyes seemed to be the same shade as her own. Beneath the many layers of clothing, she could tell he was a well built man, which gave him an inviting yet intimidating appearance at the same time. He also towered above her, several inches taller than her husband had been.

"To be honest, Mrs. Milroy, I'm beginning to wonder if this engagement was a good idea," he said. "Rose has hardly looked at me since we became engaged, but perhaps it's because she thinks I'm too old for her. I fear she'd rather be with one of these younger chaps, like that Crawley boy at dinner."

"I doubt that very much," Nellie said. "You appear to have many fine qualities."

Mr. Hockley smirked, taking another drag of his cigarette. "You mean my money."

Nellie blushed. "Well, I won't deny that it certainly helps your charm."

He burst out laughing. "You know, Mrs. Milroy, I appreciate an honest woman."

"Please, won't you call me Nellie?" she said, unable to help herself. His behavior at dinner had been so friendly, flirtatious even. There was a part of her that knew men like him wouldn't consider being with someone like her, especially as a rich American to a middle class widow from a small Scottish town. "And don't let the age difference make you second guess your engagement to Miss Bukater. My husband was thirteen years older than myself and we got along just fine."

"Thirteen years, really?" Mr. Hockley said. "Funny, that's the same age difference between Rose and me. But you probably didn't marry your husband at only seventeen years-old."

Nellie's eyes widened. His fiancee was only seventeen? No wonder she was acting childish at the end of tonight's dinner.

"I know," Mr. Hockley continued. "Why would a man like myself marry a young girl like Rose? Unless…"

"Mr. Hockley—"

"Cal," he interrupted, giving a boyish grin.

She couldn't help but mirror his grin back. "Cal, please, I won't question your reasoning."

"It's a good match," Cal said. "Her father was the richest man in Philadelphia, mine was the richest in Pittsburgh. Together, we'll be the richest couple in all of Pennsylvania."

Nellie gave a laugh. "Mr. Astor better watch out then."

Cal gave another chuckle. "Indeed."

Their conversation was interrupted by a pair of stewardesses entering the hallway. They smiled slyly when they saw Cal, giving a slight curtsy as they passed. "Is there anything we can get you, sir?" one of them asked. They ignored Nellie, able to tell she didn't belong in this part of the ship.

"Actually, yes," he said, standing straight and hiding the cigarette behind his back. "Tell my man in B-52 to find my fiancee." He pressed a wad of cash into the stewardess's hand, causing both of them to burst into giggles.

"Yes, sir," they both said before rushing off.

"Another privilege," he said. "I don't even have to go look for my fiancee if I don't want to."

Nellie wasn't quite sure what to make of this, so she merely smiled before saying, "Well, I must be getting back. My daughter's nurse will be wondering where I am."

She turned to leave, but not before Cal grabbed her gloved hand. She stared at this strange embrace before glancing back up at him.

"I very much enjoyed getting to know you better tonight, Nellie," he said, leaning towards her. "You just heard where my room is. Please, feel free to stop by any time."

Without giving her time to react, he dropped her hand and turned on his heel, heading back towards the first class dining room. Nellie stared after him, her mouth slightly open. Had this American playboy really just invited her to his rooms, which were no doubt one of the grandest rooms on the ship?

No, she thought. He could certainly have been more discrete if he had been asking her for what she dared not think or say aloud. But as she turned around to continue down to her room, feeling her heart thumping wildly in her chest at the thought of his brown eyes, she realized that while he had taken her hand, he had slipped something into it.

She unfolded the piece of paper before gasping and letting it fall to the floor.

It was a one-hundred American dollar bill. And this man had given it to her like it was nothing! She quickly swiped it up from the floor, casually looking around to make sure no one else had witnessed what just happened.

There is no doubt now, she thought. Caledon Hockley was either willing to break off his engagement with Miss Bukater to be with Nellie, or he was bored of his young fiancee and was looking for a bit of fun on this voyage.

Nellie could easily guess which one it was.


So many uploads back to back! Trying to stay motivated to chug through this story and get it on this platform since I've been working on this for years (since 2021 with MANY hiatuses).

I feel like in my previous stories I've never gone too in depth with Cal. I focused on him a little bit in Breakwater, but I think everyone has to admit that somewhere deep down they have a soft spot for Caledon Hockley. A troubled man, but let's be honest that Rose doesn't make his life easy either...