AN ADVENTURE TO REMEMBER AND A MEMORY TO FORGET
Chapter Seven
I slept soundly that night. I
dreamed pleasant dreams of Harry and myself. We were docking in New York. I had
told Father how I felt about Harry and Father was pleased. We were engaged and
we were about to be married. I was happy. For the first time in my life, it was
a true happy. It was something I wanted instead of something forced on me.
When I awoke the next day, I
remembered my dream. I smiled, but thought to myself how silly it was. I had
barely known Harry a day. There wasn’t much of a point planning something like
this. We’d dock in New York and I’d probably never see him again. But he did
say I had the power to make my life what I wanted. Right now, I wanted him. So
I’d just see what we could do about that. I was supposed to meet him when he
got off work again after dinner. I was looking forward to it.
There was a knock at my door.
"Yes?" I called out.
Father came in.
"Victoria. I need to speak
with you." He had a serious tone about him. "I understood you
witnessed what happened last night with Mr. Hockley’s fiancé. I was under the
impression you were leaving dinner to check on your sister. She said you never
showed up. What on Earth were you doing out so late at night?"
"Forgive me Father, I was on
my way to check on my sister when I saw a couple officers run past me. I felt
inclined to see what was going on, so I followed. I stayed hidden behind one of
the large pipes at the back of the ship. It seems that Miss Rose slipped when
she was trying to see the propellers and a young man by the name of Dawson
saved her. Mr. Hockley was quite pleased with Mr. Dawson’s timing. He is
joining us for dinner tonight so Mr. Hockley and Mrs. DeWitt Bukater can show
their appreciation for saving Miss Rose."
Father nodded. "Very well
then. As long as you did not get in the way, I am in no way displeased with
your behavior. I just wanted to know why you were out at such a late hour and
alone. Rose said she saw you, but you were by yourself."
I made a mental note to ask her
about that later. She could have told Father I was with Harry as he was behind
me with his hands on my shoulders when she saw us, but she spoke of nothing.
"I apologize Father. I was worried as to what was going on."
Father got up and left. "I
will see you at lunch. I have arranged for you to eat breakfast with Shannon in
your state rooms. She is quite upset she is being left out of the meals on
board. Perhaps we can take her along for lunch? That meal is not as strict as
dinner is."
"I agree. I’d love to spend
time with my sister and ask her how her night went last night."
I heard the click of the door
when Father shut it. I got up to go take a bath. I found Belinda and she ran my
water and helped me into my morning dress when we got done. Shannon was in her
bed reading when I walked in.
"Hi Shannon. Did you enjoy
your night last night with Melissa?"
She looked up from her book.
"I guess so. I would have rather gone with you." She began reading
again.
I sat down on the bed with her.
"Trust me, you wouldn’t have. It’s all boring talk about Father’s
business. I did meet one of his partners and his fiancé. She looked absolutely
bored to tears during dinner. You didn’t miss much. I’d gladly let you go in my
place tonight if Father would let us."
She never looked up from her
book. "I know he won’t."
"Shannie, I know that. Just
count yourself lucky that you get to stay here. Father told me to take you to
breakfast. Get up, get dressed and let’s get going. I’m starving."
She got out of bed, already
dressed.
"Gotcha. Melissa had already
been in." She put her book on her bed and we made our way down to the
breakfast room.
We ate breakfast in silence.
Shannon was really mad. But she’d get over it. I took her back to her room and
made my way up to the boat deck. I ran into Rose. She was talking with the
blonde guy from last night. I didn’t mean to listen in on their conversation,
but I did.
"Mr. Dawson, I…" She
was interrupted by Mr. Dawson
"Jack. Call me Jack."
He said.
"I want to thank you for
what you did. Not only for pulling me back, but for your discretion as
well."
"You’re welcome."
She went on. "I know what
you must be thinking. Poor little rich girl, what does she know about
misery?"
"No, that’s not what I’m
thinking. I was thinking what could have happened to this girl to make her
think there was no way out."
Rose looked up and saw me.
"Miss Metcalfe. May I introduce Jack Dawson."
"Pleased to make your
acquaintance, Mr. Dawson." I wanted to get to know him better.
"Please, both of you ladies
call me Jack. Mr. Dawson was my father."
Rose and I both looked at each
other and said together, "All right Jack."
He laughed. "See, that’s
better. So what are you ladies doing up here?"
I started in, "I’m just
passing time until dinner is served. My sister is upset with me for not taking
her to dinner last night. But Father will not allow her to go." I couldn’t
say anything about meeting Harry.
"She’s lucky. I’d give
anything in my power to be her right now." Rose stared out over the
railing of the ship.
"She doesn’t think so. She
thinks Father treats her like a baby." I stood next to Rose. Jack was on
Rose’s other side.
"How old is your sister, Miss
Metcalfe?" Jack asked.
"She’s ten. And if I can
call you Jack, you can call me Victoria."
"Prime young age. Not old
enough to be a teenager, but too young to be a child. She’ll remember her years
fondly."
"Right now, I’m not too sure
about that." We all started walking around the ship, talking and
discussing mundane subjects. Jack was talking about his travels all across the
world which really seemed to put Rose in a trance. Jack had been everywhere and
had no worries.
"Teach me to ride like a
man." Rose said interrupting Jack’s story about riding horses in the surf
of a beach.
"And chew tobacco like a
man" Jack finished.
Rose laughed, "And spit like
a man."
"What, they didn’t teach you
ladies that in finishing school?"
Rose and I looked at each other
and said together, "No."
Jack took Rose by one hand and me
by the other hand and led us over to the railings. He gave us our first
spitting lesson. I was watching Rose try her hand when I saw her mother and the
Countess walk up.
"Rose! Look!" She
turned around just in time to see her mother standing there.
"Mother, may I introduce
Jack Dawson. You do remember Victoria Metcalfe from last night?" Ruth
looked at me and nodded.
She looked at Jack.
"Charmed, I’m sure."
The dinner horns sounded. Rose
and I walked back to our rooms to dress together leaving Jack on the deck. We
turned around just in time to see Mrs. Brown lead Jack to her room, we guessed
to dress him up.
Rose said bye to me and ducked in
her state room and I into mine. Belinda helped me dress. I couldn’t find
father, so I walked to the grand staircase myself. I found Jack waiting on Rose
and I spoke with him for a few moments. The instant Jack spotted Rose all of
his attention was turned to her. Father walked up behind me and apologized for
being late. He escorted me to the table with Jack, Rose, Ruth and Cal. Jack had
to have been nervous but he never showed it. I was seated between Rose and my
father. My father was on the other side of me.
Rose’s mother, ever the prude,
started in on Jack. "And where exactly do you live Mr. Dawson?" She
took a small bite of food when she got done.
"Well, right now my address
is the RMS Titanic. After that, who knows."
I could tell Rose’s disdain in
the whole conversation and she fixated on the White Star Line emblem on her
glass.
I checked the clock on the wall
by the front door. Harry had wanted me to meet him at 8 at our normal spot. I
still had an hour to go.