AN ADVENTURE TO REMEMBER AND A MEMORY TO FORGET
Chapter Eleven
Father motioned for me to sit on
the couch next to his chair. He put his book on the table between us. "I
don’t know quite how to tell you this. But you are an adult and deserve to hear
the truth. So, I will just say what I need to say." He stopped to collect
his thoughts. The waiting was killing me. "Victoria, I want you to be
honest with me about this Officer Lowe. Have the two of you done anything that
should warrant the captain knowing?"
I looked at him and felt the
color drain out of my face. How did Father know? I swallowed, hoping to swallow
with it the lie that I knew would ruin me. "No, sir, Father. Officer Lowe
is a wonderful gentleman, and I am afraid I have taken quite a liking to him.
But I know that such interaction between passengers and crew is strictly
forbidden."
He looked at me. "Victoria,
I can see that you have feelings for this young man. While I do not object to
your friendship with him, I do wish that you keep things on a professional
level until the ship docks. I would not want Officer Lowe getting into any
trouble on the ship. I hear he’s up for a promotion the next time the Titanic
sails back to England. I wouldn’t want you to come in between that. With a man
such as Officer Lowe, a man’s career is everything."
I was floored and confused by
Father’s last sentence. I figured that Father would be mad. "Father, you
do not object to my taking an interest in Officer Lowe?"
Father shook his head. "No,
I do not, but only on the friendship level. I suspect he has the same interest
in you, my dear. I saw the way he was looking at you during Sunday services
earlier. You might want to pray for forgiveness, as I doubt God had in mind
that His worship services be used for courting purposes." Father stood up,
and I did, too. He leaned in towards me and kissed my forehead. "You are
old enough to do as you please. If Officer Lowe turns out to be the one you
love and wish to marry, should it come to that, and I’m not saying it will,
then I have no objections. I asked Officer Lightoller and Officer Murdoch about
the young lad, and they had nothing but great things to say about him. I must
say I was impressed. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I know Belinda needs you to
dress for dinner, and I need to go check on Shannon." Father paused. Then
he turned around. "Just be careful. Men such as Officer Lowe are often
only interested in one of two things--a well brought up girl’s money or her
innocence. Please make sure he isn’t like that before you become involved more
than you already are."
I was practically screaming
inside. "Thank you, Father, but I’m not sure marriage is something that
will be happening in the next week or so."
He excused me, and I walked back
to my room, very pleased about how everything went.
Belinda changed me into another
gown for dinner. I stopped by Rose’s room on the way to the dining hall. She
answered when I knocked, obviously flushed and tired.
"Rose, what is wrong?"
I asked as I let myself in the door. She quickly shut it behind me.
Rose had a huge smile on her
face. It was the same one I saw when she walked to the Grand Staircase to greet
Jack at dinner the other night. "Jack and I are going to get off together
when the ship docks. He’s waiting for me in the other room. We’re going to tell
Mother and Cal after dinner. Please, if anyone asks about me, tell them I’m not
feeling well and have gone to lie down. Jack wants me to go down to the third
class again."
I nodded as I told her I’d cover
for her, and watched her practically run to the sitting room where Jack was. I
noticed the couch had been moved towards the center of the room. I wondered
what went on, but didn’t ask. I figured Rose would tell me later. I shut the
door behind me and walked to the dining room.
Harry’s POV
I was lying in my room, the
events of the last little bit going through my mind. I couldn’t get her out of
my head. Victoria was unlike any girl I’d known. She was everything I wanted in
a girl, and more. I knew that her father would most likely never approve of the
union, so I had to do my best to make him understand. My thoughts were
interrupted by someone pounding on my door.
"Lowe! Get up! We need you
out here a little bit early today."
I got up to answer the door, and
there was Lightoller. "Why?" I wanted to know why I was needed early.
He shrugged his shoulders.
"Captain’s orders. Get dressed and then come outside." He walked off.
Rather than be fired, I did what he said. I shut the door and turned around to
face the inside of my room. I sighed as I saw the bed. I walked over to the
chair next to the bed and sat down, just staring off into space. The events of
the last hour flew through my mind. I wished that Victoria didn’t have to go
back, but I understood. It’d get both her and me in trouble. As much as I
wanted to be with her, I couldn’t be with her right now. I sat in silence for a
little bit longer before I got up, finished getting dressed, and walked outside
to find Lightoller. He told me to go greet passengers in the dining area and to
help with anything. I realized Victoria would be there and gladly accepted
Lightoller’s orders.
Victoria’s POV
I got dressed, heading to dinner,
all the while thinking of Harry. I had a smile on my face as Belinda was
dressing me.
"Begging your pardon, but
I’ve noticed that you’ve been smiling. It reminds me of the cat that ate the
canary." Belinda looked at me as she was tying my corset.
I realized what I was doing. I
shook my head. "I’m just excited, Belinda. This has been a fantastic
voyage. Everything is going well, and I’m just happy."
Belinda smiled. I guess I was
contagious. "I can tell, miss. Your smile seems to be contagious. You’ve
given it to me, as well."
She finished tying my corset and
helped me into my dress. When she finished fixing my hair, I found the matching
earrings and necklace and slipped them on. She helped me with my gloves, and I
met up with Father outside. He escorted me to the dining area, and we met up
with Cal and Rose’s mother.
"Where’s Rose?" I
wanted to know what Cal would say about her.
Cal looked around, as if he was
trying to find someone better to talk to. "I’m afraid that she took ill
and was in her room resting. I’ll have my manservant go check on her after
while."
I knew she wouldn’t be in her
room. "Mr. Hockley, there is no need to trouble him with that task. After
dinner, I’d be more than pleased to go check on her."
Cal nodded. "As you wish.
Now, shall we go sit for dinner?"
Father nodded. "Victoria,
that was very cordial of you to volunteer to go check on Mr. Hockley’s fiancée as
you did. I am proud of you."
I smiled at Father, but if he
knew the real reason why I wanted to go check on Rose, he would not be happy
with me for keeping Rose’s secret.
Dinner came and went, and I
excused myself to go check on Rose. I got up, left the dining room, and made my
way back across the boat deck. I saw a couple of officers ahead of me, talking,
and my heart skipped a beat. I recognized one of Harry’s friends, and there was
Harry.
"Excuse me, gentlemen,"
I said as I got to them. They were blocking the way to my hall door.
"By all means, miss, excuse
us for being so inconsiderate and taking up the walkway," one of the
senior officers replied.
"Miss Metcalfe, what a
pleasant surprise." Harry walked to me, smiling. He took my hand in his
and kissed it gently. I was glad it was dark out, as the rest of the officers
wouldn’t see my expression when Harry kissed me. He continued, "May I
introduce Second Officer Charles Lightoller and Sixth Officer Moody. Gentlemen,
this is Miss Victoria Metcalfe." We all exchanged pleasantries.
"If you will excuse me, I
need to go check on a friend. She’s taken ill, and her fiancé has asked me to
check on her to see if she needs anything." I looked at Harry, who got
what message I was trying to say.
"If you don’t mind, I would
like to walk Miss Metcalfe back to her destination to ensure her safety."
Harry looked at the other two officers, and they excused him. I slipped my arm
inside Harry’s, and he opened the door to the hallway. He looked around the
corner and saw no one. Then he kissed me.
"I was hoping you’d tell me
to walk you back to your room. Are you really going to check on Rose?"
I nodded my head. "Sort of.
She’s asked me to volunteer to check on her. She went belowdecks with Jack. I
told her I’d cover for her." I looked around the corner to make sure no
one was nearby. I didn’t want her secret all over the ship. "She’s not
planning on getting off with Cal when the ship docks. She’s fallen fast and
hard for Jack." I looked up at Harry. "I know how she feels
there."
Harry looked shocked. "You
mean she’s going to leave all this behind?" He gestured with his hands, as
if to point out the luxury that money could buy.
"Yes, she is. I don’t blame
her. She’s going to be forced into a loveless marriage, only to be held hostage
in the same manner as an indentured servant the rest of her life. That’s no way
for anyone to live. She’s going to tell her mother and Cal later on
tonight." We got to her door. "You’d better get back above deck. I
wouldn’t want you getting into trouble." I kissed him again, this time a
more passionate kiss than before.
"Victoria, I love you.
Please be careful." Harry kissed me gently on my forehead before he opened
the door.
"I love you, too, Harry, and
I’m always careful. You need to be, too. Who knows what might happen?"
And with that, I walked into
Rose’s room and watched Harry walk back to his duties.