THE GRACE OF THE SEA
Chapter One
April 10th
Boarding
"Right this way, Mr.
Montgomery. You'll be boarding over here." Hundreds of voices were all in
use at the same time. People were bustling about; the excitement was almost
tangible. Today, the Titanic would set out on her maiden voyage across the
Atlantic from Southampton to New York. Headlines all around read that the
Titanic was the ship of dreams, the largest and most luxurious object ever
built by man in all of history.
George Montgomery and his family
were heading back to America to their large estate in Maine. Occupying one of
the ship's suites, the Montgomerys were one of the wealthiest families on
board, just behind John Jacob Astor. Montgomery owned a large company back in
the states, giving him a good name and lots of spending money. His family, consisting
of his wife, Elizabeth, and his daughter, Grace, had just about everything they
ever wanted, and now, they were to board the Titanic.
Montgomery told one of the
stewards where to bring their belongings to: B-58 and 60. Elizabeth stepped out
of their automobile, her long auburn hair done up in a tight bun with her hazel
eyes on the wall of steel looming in front of her. Next came Grace, the heir to
the Montgomery fortune. Her slim, 5'3'' figure with perfect posture stepped
onto the ground with the help of her father. Light brown ringlets gently fell
around her face, and she brushed them aside with her gloved hand.
Grace was nineteen years old, and
nothing less than what her parents had hoped for. She was beautiful,
intelligent, and disciplined. Her blue eyes scanned her surroundings. Inside
her heart was pounding; she hated the ocean, ships, and everything else
associated with them. However, on the outside she remained cool and collected.
"Ready to board,
darling?" Montgomery said to Grace, motioning towards the ramp. Grace
gently nodded, clearing her throat. "I know you dislike sailing, dear, but
no worries should travel with us here. The Titanic is unsinkable. The safest
ship in the world."
His daughter smiled. "You
seem to read my mind, Father." At her father's reassuring words, Grace
quickly left all her doubts behind her on the dock and walked fearlessly onto
the Titanic.