Chapter 19
Jock
Somewhere in the Atlantic
April 13, 1912

"Alright gentlemen," Wallace said after their final piece. "That's it until we're in steerage this evening."

"Must we really wear our uniforms down to steerage?" John asked. "I doubt they'll be dressed up for us."

It was the early afternoon and the band had just finished a concert for second class, most of whom had attended in their finest day clothes. It seemed everyone in the band also shared John's pessimism with performing for third class before dinner.

"Yes," Wallace said. "And not a button out of place either. It's The White Star Line's rules, not mine."

The band dispersed, many of them muttering under their breath as they did so. Jock had just finished putting his violin in its case when a small figure appeared before him.

"Ah, Callen," Jock said, ruffling his hair. "I'm surprised I haven't seen you about causing mischief yet. Where has my sister been hiding you?"

Callen looked from side to side, making Jock raise an eyebrow. "Did you know Mr. Hockley found me and Stepma this morning while we were walking Isla in her pram?"

Jock frowned. He'd been afraid that in his drunken state the previous evening he'd only encouraged Mr. Hockley's advances towards Nellie.

"Don't tell me he's invited us to dinner again," Jock said as he threw his violin case over his shoulder.

Callen shook his head. "He cornered Stepma this morning. She had to leave me with Isla outside while he took her to first class."

Anger began building within Jock. Was Nellie really that stupid? Had bringing her along just been a mistake on his part? He could envision the headlines now as he shook his head: BAND MEMBER'S SISTER CAUGHT IN THE BED OF WEALTHY AMERICAN ABOARD TITANIC.

"It's not what you think," Callen said, interrupting his thoughts. "Do you remember that man I was playing cards with yesterday? Tommy Ryan? He helped Stepma get away from him."

Jock's eyebrows knitted together. "Isn't he a steerage passenger? How did he manage to get into first class?"

"Don't worry about that," Callen said. "But you really need to thank him for getting Stepma out of there."

"Why don't you walk with me," Jock said, ushering him out of the library. "I'll find Nellie and see if she's alright."

"Oh, she's just fine," Callen said. "She's been in a strangely happy mood all morning. She even invited Tommy to your concert in steerage."

"Ah," Jock said with a smile. "Well, that'll be the perfect way to thank him then. Do you know what kind of music he likes?"

Callen shrugged. "All I know is that he's Irish. Stepma was joking with him about how the Irish are always going on about their music."

Jock let out a chuckle. "Aye, it's true. Well, I may be biased, but us Scots have the best music of the Brits But since he saved my sister, I'll see what Irish tunes we can pull out for this evening."

It was true what Callen had said about his sister. Nellie had been frightfully cheerful when they had come back to their rooms. She had even gone out of her way to bathe before the concert, combing her still wet hair into an elegant updo and putting on a new day dress she had been saving for when they arrived in New York. Even Jock, dressed in his musician's uniform, felt shabby compared to her. Isla was left behind with Leana while Callen, Nellie, and Jock descended to third class.

"You do know you don't exactly fit in dressed like that," Callen said, motioning to Nellie's dress. He was still dressed in his day clothes, making him much less noticeable among the rest of the steerage passengers. People stared after the strange looking trio as they made their way into the dining saloon where the rest of the band was waiting. Jock went over to Wallace, unpacking his violin before noticing a vacant chair next to him.

"Where's Georges?" Jock asked, looking around.

"The seasickness finally got to him, poor chap," Teddy said from the wobbly spinet they'd wheeled to the corner of the room. Jock glanced at Nellie, who had taken a seat in the first row with Callen.

"Jock's sister can play," Clarke said. "You have an extra violin right there, Wallace. Why don't you let her join us?"

Wallace looked at Jock for a moment. "Is she a good player?" he asked Clarke.

"As good as her brother," Clarke answered with a wink to Jock.

Wallace considered this for a moment before nodding. It wasn't long before Nellie was in the seat next to Jock, a rag stuffed between her chin and Wallace's extra violin. As the orchestra was tuning, a well built man sat beside Callen. From his bowler hat and curly hair, Jock recognized him as the Irishman Callen had told him about. He saw Nellie staring at the man, even smiling slightly when he tipped his hat towards her. As Jock tuned his own violin, he saw a stewardess standing at the back of the dining saloon, half hiding behind one of the pillars. Violet wiggled her fingers at him and he beamed, striking the first notes of their English set with a giddy beat.

The steerage passengers clapped along to the music, many making appreciative hoots and hollers as music from their homelands was played. When they arrived at the Irish set, many in the audience leapt up to dance, even pushing chairs out of the way so they could form a circle. The Irishman was one of the men dancing, much to Callen's amusement as he was bent over in his seat howling with laughter. Jock could hear Nellie making mistakes as they played through the set which was unlike her. They had both been taught by their father that mistakes while playing was unforgivable. But as he glanced towards her, he could see she was watching this Irishman rather than the music before her, laughing when he pulled Callen from his seat and made him perform a jig along with the other dancers.

The music shifted to the Scottish set, much to the siblings' excitement. Many members of the orchestra looked at Jock knowingly and he stood up while he played, stamping his feet to the music. Other Scottish passengers shooed the Irish away and began to dance as well, their arms swinging about as they step-danced to the lively reel.

Nellie stood up too, setting her violin on her chair before turning to Jock. "Play another reel, will you?" she said.

The passengers cried out in delight as the music changed. Nellie joined the circle of dancers and took turns as partners weaved in and out from the center. Callen and the Irishman were watching from the sidelines, whispering to one another as they looked on. Nellie's cheerfulness from that afternoon seemed to bubble into her dancing, her neatly pinned hair becoming messier the more she leapt and skipped. When the song ended, instead of rejoining the orchestra, she went to Callen and the man, laughing when the latter whispered something in her ear.

Jock shook his head but smiled as they began their Welsh set. At least this man was harmless, not a first class passenger looking for someone to keep him warm at night.

It was nearly an hour later when the concert ended, Nellie choosing to abandon her post in the band to talk with this Mr. Ryan. Violet had stayed the entire time, making eyes at Jock whenever he looked in her direction. As the band began to move their things upstairs to play in the first class dining room, Violet made her way over while Nellie and Callen were distracted.

"Well done," she said to Jock. "I think you gave them a good time, poor souls. I almost forget about steerage as they're so tucked away from the rest of the ship."

"I'm not sure if the passengers or my sister enjoyed it more," he said. He raised an eyebrow at her. "Why are you here? I thought steerage was 'beneath you.'"

Violet smirked. "I was off duty and heard you all were giving a concert. I can never enjoy your music in first class because I'm always working."

"Speaking of, we're headed that way," Jock said, motioning to the empty seats around them as most of the steerage passengers had cleared out. "When you have a free moment you can listen and enjoy."

"I'm sure you won't be playing the same music you were playing for this lot," she said.

Jock laughed. "You're right. You'll like what we're playing upstairs if you like Grieg and Franck."

Violet made a face which made him laugh even harder. "I'll let the experts such as yourself give their musical opinion on those composers," she said. "Anyway, my shift starts in a few minutes so I'm off. Maybe I can catch you when my shift ends at ten o'clock. Maybe we can discuss this Greek?"

"Grieg," Jock corrected, unable to hold back a smile. "And sure. I'll come down to Scotland Yard after dinner."

As they parted and Jock headed upstairs, he was filled with memories from their previous voyage together. He did his best to remember Mary, to remember their lovemaking and that she was carrying his son, but all that would fill his mind were Violet's exquisite eyes.

He would find her tonight after he was done in first class. If he didn't give into this longing soon, he might end up doing something he would come to regret.