Our cabins were as luxurious as promised, fresh flowers perfuming the air. I could hardly smell the new varnish under their scent. Father bid us goodbye as he left to go witness the engine room during the launch. The maids and his valet were seeing to the unpacking, dresses and coats being hung in the large wardrobes that had been provided. I sat on my bed for a moment. "Isn't this wonderful Mother? Everything is so new, the beds, the carpets, everything."

Mother lifted her pearl necklace, safely ensconced in its velvet bag from her valise. "Indeed, but nothing less would suffice."

I couldn't help the little snort that came out. While Mother may like the high life now, I knew she had spent longer trips in rougher conditions. But that had been before her marriage to Father had catapulted her up from a shopkeeper's daughter in Nebraska to a social maven featured in the New York papers. They considered us new money, my grandfather had been the one to start Dalian shipping and build it, but they fell over themselves to report on out every move. What parties we went to, and those that we didn't. Who our dresses were from, who I danced with. Thank God there would be no reporters on the ship, I would have a moment of peace.

It had gotten harder to maintain our social presence in the papers while we scrambled behind the scenes of Dalian Shipping to keep everything running. When Mother had gone to Boston to deal with the failing negotiations by the branch chief with strikers, I had to come up with something to draw attention away from her absence at the party she was missing. I decided to 'accidentally' throw a full glass of champagne down the front of a Vanderbilt's skirt when she walked by.

The social sniping had distracted the papers long enough that Mother's absence was forgotten.

"I am going up to watch the launch." I said as I stood up from the bed. "Care to join?"

Mother shook her head. "Watch our for Zachary. No private areas."

I felt a slight shiver go down my spine at that memory. Pawing hands, a dark corridor, struggling to breathe. "I will stay around the other women, I promise." With that I left the cabin, headed up two decks to the Boat Deck. I greeted friends along the way, voice bright and cheery. The Duff Gordons were supervising a pair of stewards with a suitcase, Lucille nodding her majestic hat in my direction. I nodded back, then stifled a giggle. Two doors across from each other had been open, and the stewards were trying to figure out which one the suitcase went to. It was fairly obvious there were marital problems occurring between those her and Sir Cosmo. Oh what a piece of gossip that would be.

Coming out onto the Boat Deck was like being slapped with noise and light when compared to the below decks. The crowds were cheering, the steam rattling through the funnels, and the sun shining brightly. It almost distracted from the boats tied up at the docks due to a lack of coal. The miner's strike had been felt hard here. In dealing with Father's papers I had become acutely aware of the pinch that was affecting the coal supply, Dalian Shipping had begun to throttle back engines in order to conserve coal in response.

I shook the thought from my head, instead pulling out a handkerchief to wave. At who? I had no idea. Someone on the dock would see me and wave back. The Titanic let out a great whistle as she began to move away from the dock, pulled seaward by tugs. Once the ship was far enough away from the dock, I could feel a slight vibration build below all the decks, the massive engines slowly beginning to revolve. The cheering on the ship grew louder, even on the first class promenade, almost obscuring a slight popping sound. I stepped to the rail and looked over. One of the ships that had been tied to the dock was slowly sliding towards us.

I threw myself back from the rail, looking for someone, anyone who might be able to get to the bridge. I spotted a black jacket with some gold braid along the cuff. Chasing after him proved a slight difficult in my traveling suit, and I felt my hat get dislodged at some point. But when I grabbed his shoulder, pulling him around I saw it was the officer from before. "Officer Murdoch, please. Tell the Captain to stop the engines, a ship is about to hit." I spoke in a rush, gesturing over the rail. He looked over then rushed towards the bridge.

The vibrations beneath my feet stuttered and stopped, the propellers slowing. My heart was still in my throat as I watched the smaller boat swing closer, but a quick glance showed a tug coming up from behind it. I could see the line thrown from the tug, secured to the stern of the other ship and slowly they began to pull her back. I felt like I could breathe again, my hands shaking on the rail.

There was a cough behind me. "Miss Dalian, your hat?" Officer Murdoch had come back up, my hat held in his hands. The white silk brim looked so delicate in his hands, the ribbon still dancing in the breeze.

"Oh thank you," I said, taking it from him.

"The Captain would like to extend his thanks for your assistance." He spoke formally, but there was a slight accent to his words. "He hopes you will join him at lunch in the restaurant, with your family."

I placed my hat back on, tucking a few strands of hair back up underneath. "How kind of him, will you be joining us?"

A flush crept up his neck. "I hadn't thought to, but if you would prefer?"

"Of course I would." I smiled at him, batting my eyelashes a bit. He was handsome, and I will gladly admit that I enjoyed seeing him flustered.

He had just stepped forward to offer his arm when a slick voice cut in. "Sir, this stoppage will not effect the time we arrive in Cherbourg correct?" Zachary Reichster had slipped around the corner, coming up behind me. That voice, I would never be able to forget that voice. A large hand gripped my shoulder, squeezing it painfully. I froze, pulling my arms in. "I have a dear friend waiting and I just cannot wait to see him again. You remember Elliot from Boston, right 'Stasia?"

The scent of his cologne, heavy musk, choked me. I cast a pitiful look at Mr. Murdoch from below the brim of my hat, opening and closing my hands. He seemed to take the hint, stepping forward again. His voice was calm, but there was a stern note to it. "It should not effect our timetable sir, please if you will excuse us." I moved my hand quickly to his arm, wrapping my other one around it too, so I held myself much closer to him than was needed.

Once were were far enough away I loosened my grip a bit. "Thank you Mr. Murdoch. You have no idea how desperately I needed your intervention."

"I take it he wasn't a friend of yours?"

"Oh, dear God, no." I pressed my lips together, "Nothing of the sort."

We walked in silence for a moment, heading inside to the magnificently paneled stairway. I stopped a steward and asked him to inform my parents of our new meal plans. As he hurried off, Mr. Murdoch spoke up again. "I hope I am not being too forward by escorting you to lunch."

I gamely took his arm again. "Not at all Mr. Murdoch, in fact your company has been most needed."

He brought his hand up to cover my own at that. "I should hate for a lady such as yourself to be in need of company. I would think you'd have the boys lined up around the block to promenade."

We proceeded down the stairway before I answered. "I'm afraid the boys have been rather lacking. Far more concerned with their horse races and yacht clubs to come calling." I caught him smiling at that. He had a handsome face, pale, but lively when he chose to smile. I squeezed his fingers, "Perhaps you might inspire some jealousy in them."

"I should hardly think they be threatened by a humble seaman such as myself." His voice was low, and he nodded to the stewards who opened the doors to the restaurant. The place was beautifully done in the Louis XVI style, lushly embroidered chairs and gilded ceilings. He handed me down into a chair, then sat himself to my right.

I fluttered the napkin down into my lap. "Thank you Mr. Murdoch, this is beautiful."

"It is, isn't it?" He said, looking around, "Far sight from our mess."

"Do officers not typically dine with the passengers?"

"No, we have a mess room on the Boat Deck. Close to our quarters. It's rather barren, especially when compared to this." He waved his hand at the lavish woodwork and sparkling crystal glasses.

"Then I shall have to invite you down for a meal or two during this trip." I kept my voice light and watched that slight flush creep up again.

He took a drink of water before replying. "I'm not sure your parents would approve of that Ms. Dalian."

"Please, call me Anastasia, Mr. Murdoch. And you'd be surprised at the number of sailors that show up at our table at home. Father is very democratic."

"If you wish I shall call you that, if you will call me Will, when it is only us of course."

I extended a hand. "I can happily agree to that Will."

His hand was larger than mine, his black glove covering my white one. "Then we have an agreement Anastasia. Or would you prefer 'Stasia?" Will had a crooked grin on his face.

"Will, if you call me 'Stasia I shall throw you overboard through that window." I couldn't help but laugh at my idle threat, and he joined in. He had relaxed more as we had talked, and I smiled widely when I caught his eye. There was something about his eyes, a spark that lit them when he laughed.

He lost his mirth in an instant, rising from his seat. "Captain Smith, this is Miss Anastasia Dalian. Miss Dalian, Captain Smith."

I started to rise from my chair to greet the white bearded gentlemen with kind eyes when he gestured for me to stay sitting. "No need Miss, please sit." He took the place across from me, Will sitting back down as soon as the Captain was settled. We passed a few minutes in idle chatter about the weather we could expect before Mother and Father arrived and introductions were completed again.

Father accepted a beer from a waiter and took a long draught before speaking. "This is quite a surprise Captain, what brought it about?"

The gold leaves on Captain Smith's hat brim and the trim on his cuffs caught the light as he gestured across at me. "Your daughter alerted Mr. Murdoch here to a ship that had snapped her moorings. If not for her warning we may have been struck and delayed in the harbor."

"That must be why the engines stopped," Father said thoughtfully, "Do you suppose it was because of the suction caused by the propellers?"

"Perhaps Mr. Dalian," Captain Smith demurred, "But I fear such a discussion would not entertain the gentler half of our table."

Mother, looking up from the menu, shook her head. "Actually I am curious myself. My husband has a habit of leaving his work papers and magazines lying around and I find myself reading them. Shipbuilder said that this ship is fitted with many new safety features. Would the watertight doors have prevented major damage if we had collided?" In actuality Mother had begun secreting those magazines and papers away, reading them late at night to see if any advantage or a new innovation for Dalian Shipping might be lurking in the pages.

"According to Mr. Andrews, so long as only four compartments would flood, the ship would still be afloat and able to move." Will said, "Seeing the slow speed of the smaller ship, I cannot think much damage would have occurred if we had been struck."

I sipped orange juice from my glass before replying. "I did not realize you had spoken to Mr. Andrews before, Mr. Murdoch. Here I only thought he was aboard because Father had begged for a tour."

Captain Smith, finishing ordering from a waiter, spoke up. "Actually Mr. Andrews sails on the maiden voyage of each ship, in order to iron out the last issues."

"Nothing major, I hope?" Mother returned her menu to a waiter.

"Some Second Class cabins have not been able to receive hot water, but aside from that, everything is running as intended. Mr. Andrews is intensely focused on small details such as that, more than likely he is fixing it himself."

That drew a laugh from the whole table, and we fell to our meals as they were brought out. Everything was delicious and delicate, fitting given that the restaurant apparently was an added charge to our bill, but this meal was compliments of White Star Line for my meritorious service on deck. I did my best to draw Will into quiet conversation as my parents and the Captain fell into a talk about the coal strike. "So, was this better than the mess?"

"We receive First Class meals, but the company is much improved."

"I have also found the company much improved from what I am used to." I reach up to touch my hairpins, swearing I felt one move, "In fact, Mr. Murdoch, if you are not opposed to the company here, I would ask a favor of you."

"I'm afraid if it's to be your dance partner tonight I will be on watch when it is scheduled."

"Oh, I do not think I will be dancing tonight. However, you remember the man who came up behind me on deck? Who was concerned about the stoppage?"

Will nodded. "You did not seem to care for him much."

"I do not care for him at all, but he seems unable to recognize that. I suppose you could call him a persistent and unwanted suitor." I folded my hands together in my lap, "In fact, we were discussing that I may need a companion of sorts during the crossing to dissuade him. Mother asked Father to arrange for it with White Star, but I was hoping that, as long as it did not interfere with your duties, you might accompany me when I need it?" His face was rather blank, so I blundered on, "You do not have to say yes, it is only that I have enjoyed your company and should like to spend more time with you but if you are not interested please don't worry. I merely wanted to speak to you about it before I brought it up to Father."

Will blinked several times before answering. "I should not be opposed at all, Anastasia. If the Captain agrees then I can see no issue."

I turned to face Father, the conversation had moved on from the coal strike to the various oddities that had been sent as packages. Apparently a canary had been loaded for the brief trip to France. At a break in the conversation I broke in, "Father, do you remember the discussion we had before boarding? About a certain acquaintance of ours?"

He narrowed his eyes, obviously struggling to remember. Mother cut in, "Of course dear, I hope he hasn't been pestering you already."

"Unfortunately he has, and Mr. Murdoch here was most gallant when I needed it. I was hoping that, with the Captain's permission of course, Mr. Murdoch might accompany me during my promenades and perhaps a few meals to prevent another incident."

Mother looked to the Captain. He tilted his head. "So long as Mr. Murdoch is still able to carry out his duties at his usual standard, I can see no reason why not," He looked at me, "When you require him come to the Officer's Promenade and collect him. Mr. Murdoch, is that to your liking?"

"Yes, Sir. I shall double my efforts to that my performance is still up to your standard."

"Well then, we had better return to the bridge." Captain Smith stood, Will following him. "Thank you again for your service, dear."

I bowed my head. "Thank you for the meal Captain. Mr. Murdoch, I shall see you soon."

Will bowed back to me, a quick dip. "Whenever you require it Miss Dalian, assuming I am not on watch."