A LIFE’S TRAGEDY
Chapter Three
Rose retired to her room while I
went back to the smoking room.
"What on earth was going
on?" Mr. Ismay asked, a bit concerned.
"Rose almost fell over the
railing. She’s all right, though." I smiled. "If you’ll excuse me,
gentlemen."
"Of course," they said
in unison.
I stood and took my leave of the
group. I went back to my suite. I quietly entered my wardrobe. I walked over to
my little green safe.
I turned the knob quickly,
stopping on the combination numbers. Then the thing made a loud noise and was
unlocked. I opened it and pulled out the case I had placed there earlier.
I opened it up and ran my fingers
over the blue diamond. I smiled, knowing the gift was really too much, but also
glad of the image it would give me.
I walked to Rose’s door, which
was cracked slightly. I peered in. She sat at the vanity, more beautiful than
ever. I gently pushed open the door. She hadn’t heard me. Only after a few
minutes did she know I was there.
She watched me standing in the
doorway, not taking her eyes from the mirror.
"I know you’ve been
melancholy," I said lovingly. "I don’t pretend to know why."
I walked over to her and sat on
the vanity. Her music boxed played lightly, but I wanted no interference, so I
closed the thing and shoved it aside.
I brought out the case, holding
it before her.
"I intended on saving this
until the engagement gala next week," I was saying, still speaking softly
to my sweet Rose. I opened it, revealing the splendid jewel. "But I
thought…tonight."
Rose gasped at the sight of it. I
smiled, being very pleased with her reaction. She touched the velvet interior
of the case.
"Oh, my God. Is it a--"
"Diamond?" I asked,
smiling. "Yes. Fifty-six carats, to be exact." I removed it from its
casing. "It was worn by Louis the XVI. They called it le Coeur de la Mer.
The--"
"The Heart of the
Ocean." She spoke the words as I did.
"Yes." I laughed. I
held the chain closed behind her neck. I stared at her in the mirror.
"There’s nothing I couldn’t give you, there’s nothing I’d deny you, if you
would not deny me," I said. I turned my gaze from the image in the mirror
to her. "Oh, open your heart to me, Rose."
She continued to inspect the gem
in the mirror, not saying anything.
The true reason I had given this
priceless gift to her early was to ensure Dawson would not be a problem
later--or so I told myself.
Perhaps it was because my mind
was plagued with images of that third class girl. I wanted to forget her. I
wanted things to be as they were. I wanted Rose DeWitt Bukater to be my wife.
That was what I wanted.
So, whether or not I wanted to
hold off Dawson is unknown to me. I loved Rose. I won’t deny that. But what was
this hold that this steerage passenger had over me?
She was poor, probably an
immigrant. Never could she fit in with me. But Rose did, and so I gave her the
gem. I loved the way she marveled at its beauty.
I stood and kissed her on the
lips, fastening the necklace around her neck. "Good night, sweetpea,"
I spoke softly. I kissed her again, then left her.