A DEEP OCEAN OF SECRETS
Chapter Ten
Dinner continued smoothly, and
when it ended, Colonel Gracie stood up. "Well, join me for a brandy,
gentlemen?" he asked. All of the men stood up, including Jack.
"Joining us, Dawson? You don’t want to stay out here with the women, do
you?"
"No, thanks. I have to be
heading back," Jack replied.
Cal walked up to him, and said,
"Probably best. Talk of business and politics wouldn’t interest you."
He turned to go, but then spun around and flipped Jack his matchbox back. Jack
caught it swiftly. "Oh, and Dawson. Good of you to come." Jack
watched the men exit, then walked over to Rose.
"Jack, must you go?"
she asked him, her eyes begging him to stay.
"Time for my coach to turn
back into a pumpkin," he joked, and took Rose’s hand. He kissed it, and while
doing so, slipped a piece of paper into her hand. "Good night, Rose,"
he said, and turned away, leaving the dining saloon.
Rose glanced around her, making
sure nobody noticed her, then hastily opened the piece of paper. In Jack’s
messy, but somehow neat, handwriting, she read the note.
Make it count. Meet me at the
clock.
The clock at the Grand Staircase.
Rose excused herself, exited the dining saloon, and made her way into the
B-Deck foyer in front of the Grand Staircase. She saw Jack, back facing her, at
the top of the stairs. She sighed and made her way up the steps slowly. Jack
turned and faced her as she reached him.
He smiled. "So…wanna go to a
real party?"
*****
Music filled the room. Laughter.
Dancing. Drunk men and women, all from third class. Except for one girl,
dressed in a lavish red dinner gown, obviously visiting from first class. Rose
sat at a table, clapping and laughing with the music, watching as Jack twirled
around with a five-year-old girl named Cora. When the song ended and a new one
started up, Jack brought her over to the table.
"I’m going to dance with
her, now, okay?" Jack said to Cora, indicating Rose. Cora only nodded.
"What? Jack, no!" Rose
objected, but he pulled her to her feet.
"You’re still my best girl,
Cora!" Jack cried, and Cora smiled. Jack led Rose to the dance floor.
"We’re going to have to get a little closer." Jack pulled Rose closer
to him, and he began to dance around.
"I don’t know the
steps!" Rose cried, laughing.
"Neither do I! Just go with
it! Don’t think!" They twirled around the platform, both laughing and
smiling, getting into the rhythm of the music. Rose was actually enjoying
herself for once in a long time, and was glad she could be free for one night,
doing what she pleased, without her family and friends swamping around her.
Jack suddenly let go of her and
began to do a detailed foot dance. He spun and kicked his heels with the music,
hands in his pockets, and looked like he was having a great time.
Rose suddenly kicked off her
heels and began to follow Jack. She was a little off at first, but then caught
on. Jack watched her, amazed, then started dancing again. They swung their arms
around each other and did a barn dance for a minute, switching every minute.
Then Jack grabbed Rose by the hands and began to twirl.
"Jack…" Rose pleaded,
smiling, but Jack only smiled and started whooping. Rose closed her eyes and
screamed happily.
After dancing for a while, the
couple retreated from the dance floor and headed back to the general room.
Tommy Ryan, Jack’s friend, handed him and Rose glasses of beer. Jack took a
sip, while Rose chugged hers down. When Jack looked at her, she replied,
"What? You think a first class girl can’t drink?" Jack only smiled.
Suddenly, a man knocked into Jack and he spilled his beer all over Rose. He
pushed the man away, while Rose only laughed.
She put her beer glass down and
grabbed Tommy’s cigarette, taking a puff. "You think you’re big tough
men?" She gave Tommy back his cigarette. "Let’s see you do this. Hold
this for me, Jack." She gave Jack the train of her dress. In no shoes, she
got into ballet stance, and ever so slowly began to rise on her feet until all
of her weight was on her toes. The men gaped at her, wondering how she could do
that. Her face began to show pain, and then, with a cry, she fell into Jack’s
arms. Everybody clapped, and Jack and Rose stared into each other’s deep eyes.
From not too far off, there was a
door leading to an upper corridor. The door opened gently, and Spicer Lovejoy
peered through. He caught Rose in Jack’s arms, smiling and laughing, and Jack
staring down at the redhead with joy. Just as quickly as he had come, Lovejoy
slipped back through the door discreetly, walking back up the stairs to tell
Caledon Hockley.