THE GRACE OF THE SEA
Chapter Three

April 11^th
The Meeting

The morning sunlight crept onto the decks of the Titanic slowly at first, then increasing in speed. Before long, the ship was enveloped in the blinding light.

Grace woke up completely refreshed. It was about breakfast time, and she could hear Cassandra's giggling just outside in the hall. Grace quietly went to the door and opened it slightly. It would be inappropriate for someone to see her in her sleeping gown. However, Cassandra was speaking with her mother, Elizabeth, so Grace wasn't so cautious.

"Good morning, Mother, Cassandra," Grace said to the two.

Her mother replied, "Good morning, Grace. You're not dressed yet. Breakfast will be served within the hour." Elizabeth walked into the room, and Cassandra followed. "Cassandra, I would like to speak to Grace alone for a moment."

Cassandra nodded and left the room. Elizabeth turned her attention to her daughter’s corset. After a few seconds of silence, Grace asked, "What was it that you wanted to speak to me about?"

Her mother answered, "When we arrive in New York, Benjamin Wilkes will be at the dock." She pulled Grace's light blue dress down over her slip. It matched her eyes almost exactly.

"Benjamin? He lives in West Virginia, doesn't he? What will he be doing in New York?" Grace responded.

"He took a train up there, so at the dock he can greet us, in particular, greet you..." Elizabeth replied.

Grace could feel her fair cheeks turning red. Why would he want to see her? Did he like her? Grace fought back the color in her face. She turned her head towards her vanity and began fiddling with her jewelry box. "Why would he want to see me?"

Elizabeth laughed, "Don't act as though you don't know already. He is rather fond of you." She turned to her daughter and placed a hand on her shoulder. "He is a wonderful man. The two of you would get on well," she said. "Come, dear. Let's eat some breakfast."

The meal was very delicious, as were all the others; however, Grace didn't truly enjoy it. Most of the meal she was silent, just nibbling away at her food. She had much to think about. Benjamin Wilkes...

The last time she had seen him, he had been picture perfect. Tall, dark, handsome, and proper, he was what any young woman would hope to marry. Grace felt lucky to be able to have such a man, even if it was more her father's choice than hers. There was no doubt in her head, though, that it was made in her best interest.

Following breakfast, Cassandra and Grace returned to their room. They decided they were going to stroll along the promenade for a bit.

Once on the promenade, Cassandra began telling Grace about Douglas Johnston, a first class gent she had met that morning before breakfast. "He's absolutely splendid!" Cassandra concluded.

"He does sound great," Grace agreed. Her voice lacked any enthusiasm at all, and Cassandra noticed this.

She asked, "What's wrong, Grace? It seems as if there's something bothering you."

"No, I'm fine. There's just a lot on my mind lately. Perhaps I should lay down for a bit."

Cassandra looked at her, concerned. "Are you sure you're well? Do you want me to fetch the doctor?" Grace shook her head.

"I'm fine," she repeated. Cassandra's eyes lit up.

"Grace! There's Douglas Johnston! He's coming this way!" Cassandra inconspicuously nodded in his direction.

Grace smiled at her cousin. "Well, what are you doing, then? Go over and speak with him!" she encouraged. "I'll be heading back to rest now anyway."

Cassandra smiled excitedly and whispered, "I owe you!" She casually walked over to Douglas, a light-haired man of about twenty-five years. He held out his arm for Cassandra, and she willingly took it and walked down the deck with him.

Grace sighed, watching the two disappear into the late morning sun. She hadn't noticed that the ship was about to dock in Queenstown.

She turned and headed back towards her cabin, B-63. On her way, she passed a steward talking to a woman.

"Yes, ma'am. We'll be docking any time now. I would suggest staying in one spot. There will be some commotion with all the loading and such. Wouldn't want to get lost or anything..." the steward was telling her.

Grace continued down the hall. She opened her door and sat in one of the chairs. Her eyes rested on her night table. She wanted to read, even though she had promised she wouldn't. The steward's words passed through Grace's mind. "There will be some commotion with all the loading..."

Her mind was made up. She opened the drawer and grabbed her book. She looked around to be sure Cassandra wasn't there. With all the stir of loading passengers, Grace was sure she could slip off and find a secluded area where she could read without being disturbed or discovered.

She looked down the hall. The only people there were stewards. Her mother was most likely having tea, her father was probably on the deck, and Cassandra was surely still with Douglas Johnston.

Grace decided to head to the reading and writing room, but then dismissed the idea; it would be too obvious a place to find her. She decided to head off to a place where no one would expect to find her. She began walking down the grand staircase.

Her mother's voice was suddenly heard. "Have you seen my daughter?" she asked a steward. Grace froze on the stairs.

"Ah…yes, she was heading down that way last time I saw her," he said. "I'll help you find her, ma‘am, if you'd like." Two sets of footsteps started coming down the stairs. Grace quickly began to descend the staircase again. She saw a sign that read F Deck. The third class promenade was located there--a perfect place to go.

She sped up, hoping to lose her mother and the steward somewhere in the hall. She quickly rounded a corner but came to a dead stop. She had collided with some man. She was quite startled, and the stranger was, as well. Grace took a step and lost her balance. The two landed on the floor in a pile of the stranger's luggage, quite unsure about what had happened.

Grace looked up and saw a set of green eyes staring back at her. They looked at each other for but a second before Grace turned her head, embarrassed. He started apologizing immediately. "I'm sorry. I wasn't watchin' where I was goin'," he said.

He stood up and held out a hand to help her up. Her elegant silk-gloved hand was locked with this stranger's large, rough, workman's hand. He hoisted her up off the ground. As Grace gained her balance once more, her eyes met those green ones once more. He turned away this time, but only to pick up her book that was lying amongst his luggage.

It had been damaged in the accident. The majority of the pages had fallen to the ground in a clump, but for some reason, Grace couldn't have cared less about this. All she could think about was who this man was.

He said, "Are you okay? I'm sorry about all a' this." He spoke with an Irish accent. He looked up at her. "I'm Tommy Ryan. Nice to meet ya." He held out a hand.

She took his hand and smiled. "I'm--" She was cut off by her mother's call.

"Oh, here you are!" her mother said. Grace and Tommy both turned their heads to see her mother coming down the hall. "Dear, I've been looking all over for you! What are you doing all the way down here?"

"I was...um..." Grace stuttered. "I got confused with all the moving around and headed in the wrong direction."

Elizabeth chuckled. "I figured as much. I couldn't think of any other reason why you would be down in steerage." She finally noticed Tommy standing there. His dirty-blonde hair was a mess due to the fact that his brown hat had fallen off. His belongings were still spread about on the ground.

Her mother didn't give him a second thought. "It's about time for lunch. Come along," she said.

"I'll be right along. I was just about to…um…discuss with Mr. Ryan…" She motioned towards him. "…when we could meet to plan…um…to plan how he can repay me for damages." She picked up the cover of her book, allowing her mother to see the space void of any pages. Her mother nodded.

Tommy was surprised at how quickly she had changed her attitude towards him. Grace turned to Tommy. "I have plans now, but perhaps after lunch we could meet on the deck, around two o'clock. I could escort you from the third class deck to my deck to discuss these matters." He nodded.

Elizabeth began walking away, yet Grace hesitated for a moment. As soon as she was sure that her mother wouldn't see, she smiled at him. He now understood that it was all an act due to the presence of her mother. Once again, she tried to introduce herself, but was stopped by her mother. "I'm--"

"We'll be late if you don't hurry, dear," Elizabeth said. Grace turned and followed her mother. She looked back towards Tommy and tossed him the cover of her book, then quickly caught up with her mother.

Tommy leaned on the wall and watched the two walk away. He collected his belongings and stuffed them back into his bags. He shouldered his pack and began heading to his cabin. He looked at the cover she had tossed him. On the inside, it read, "Property of Grace Margaret Montgomery."

He sighed at the thought of her. He could still picture her smile in his mind. "Grace Montgomery. That's a nice name," he concluded.

Meanwhile, Grace was still picturing his mesmerizing green eyes staring back into her own eyes. She had a smile on her face, and didn't even notice. They reached the dining saloon and sat down in two empty chairs. Cassandra was sitting next to Grace with a big smile also.

"I take it you had a nice time with Douglas," Grace whispered. Cassandra nodded.

"You're quite lively as well, Grace. Your father told me about Benjamin Wilkes. I guess he's been on your mind, hmm?" Cassandra said under her breath.

Grace had totally forgotten about Benjamin. Her thoughts about him had been totally erased when she had met Tommy. This wasn't the time to tell Cassandra about him, so she simply nodded her head, letting her think what she wanted.

Chapter Four
Stories