After Rose's announcement, the conversation had headed in a different direction entirely. Jack heard none of it. He could feel the weight of Rose's hand in his and nothing else. Rose, who was much better at bottling up her feelings, continued on as though nothing had happened. Fabrizio shot him a few questioning looks, but he, too, had continued on as though nothing had happened. Tommy just stared at him, unable to believe what he'd just heard. He didn't know Jack very well—they'd met only three days before—so he didn't have the kind of unwavering faith in him that Fabrizio did.
Jack and Rose wandered the halls of third class after lunch. Going outside didn't seem like a good idea. They would be too easy to spot if someone were trying to find them, as Rose was certain they were. Jack almost suggested they go back to his room, but decided against it. As much as he wanted to be alone with Rose, he didn't trust himself enough. It didn't matter that she had been the aggressive one. It was up to him to make sure she didn't do something she might regret later. She asked you to marry her, his mind argued. How much more proof do you need that she's not going anywhere? It wasn't about needing more proof. It was about protecting her. He couldn't just let her throw herself into something she wasn't ready for.
"I'm sorry about what happened back there," Rose said, smiling sheepishly. "I didn't mean to say that out loud."
"How long had you been thinking it?" he asked, trying sound casual.
"Since last night," she admitted. "Since the shooting stars."
"What did you wish for?"
"Something I can't have."
He stopped walking and pulled her close to him, oblivious to fact that they were surrounded by people. "You can have your wish," he said, pressing his forehead to hers.
She smiled up at him. "What did you wish for?"
"Something I thought I couldn't have."
Meanwhile, back in first class, Rose's suspicions of fury were proving true. It hadn't taken Ruth long to discover her daughter was missing. Her room was empty, but the bed was made. She had either left early—very early—and the maid had already taken care of tidying up or... Don't even think it! Rose couldn't possibly be that foolish. She knew what was at stake.
"Where is she?" Ruth demanded, turning her fury on Trudy.
"I don't know, ma'am. I haven't seen her."
Ruth narrowed her eyes. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask if Rose had slept in her bed, but at the last second, she realized the full implication of that question. With no way to prove Trudy was lying—and she wasn't even certain of that—and breakfast about to begin, she gave up. "Fine!" she snapped. "Tell me the instant you see her again."
Illness was the excuse she used to explain Rose's absence at breakfast. There were murmurs of sympathy, and then it was forgotten. Everyone was too wrapped up in their own lives to care if Rose showed up or not. Cal shot Ruth a look. She ignored it. It wasn't the time or the place for his questions. Rose was ill, and as far as she was concerned, that was all there was to it. If she was lucky, Rose would show back up soon, and the whole thing would just blow over.
Once or twice during breakfast, she caught Molly watching her. Ruth avoided her eyes. Vulgar woman. It's none of her business. It's even kind of her fault. If she hadn't dressed him up...
At the other end of the table, Cal was lost in his own head as well. He knew Ruth was lying. She was with him last night. He'd been appalled by Lovejoy's report. Drinking with him. Dancing with him. And now this. Well, I won't have it. He briefly considered going out to look for her himself, but his absence from the chapel would be noticed. So, he'd sent Lovejoy out immediately after breakfast, but by lunch he was back, shaking his head.
"No one's seen her."
"What do you mean, no one's seen her?" Cal's mouth thinned. "There are over a thousand people on this ship—one of them has to have seen her."
"I don't know what to tell you. I've been all over this ship, and no one I've spoken to has seen her. Him either." Lovejoy decided not to mention the possibility that some of the steerage passengers might lie for Jack.
Cal closed his eyes and breathed deeply. This is not happening. "Just go find her," he said calmly.