A LIFE’S TRAGEDY
Chapter Six
I paced the length of my
stateroom, drinking down the brandy. How could she do this to me? And behave
like this? I didn’t know what had gotten into her, really, but I had every
intention of finding out.
After about fifteen minutes, Mr.
Lovejoy returned, anger in his expression.
"Well? Did you find
her?" I demanded.
He nodded. "She is down
there. With him. Dancing like common trash," he said coldly.
The anger overwhelmed me. I
screamed out a bit in frustration, throwing my brandy glass into the wall.
Shattered pieces of glass scattered over the carpet.
"Want me to get her?"
Lovejoy asked.
I looked over at him, breathing a
bit too hard. "No," I managed to say. "I’ll take care of it.
Thank you, Lovejoy."
He nodded.
"Listen. Tomorrow, I have a
feeling he’ll try to show up again. Don’t let him. Put him in his place!"
I demanded.
"Of course," he said in
a low monotone.
"Good. Now, leave me,"
I said.
I watched him leave through the
front door, gently pulling it closed behind him. I walked over to the dresser
with the mirror. I leaned over on it, my palms flat on the wood surface.
I lifted my head and stared at my
reflection in the glass.
"Damn it!" I shouted,
slamming my fist into the wood and chipping it a bit.
I went into my wardrobe, taking
out my pajamas and robe. I quickly got dressed in the fine nightwear. I sat in
the comfortable chair by the end table. I pulled the brandy bottle from the
shelf and poured myself a drink.
I drank it down quickly before
retiring to my bed, anxious for the morning to arrive.
I found sleep quickly, greeted by
dreams of Catherine at first, which I woke up from, feeling confused and
irritated that she would plague my mind. Then, as I drifted back off, I dreamt
of my future wedding to one of the most beautiful girls in the world--Rose
DeWitt Bukater.
*****
Rose joined me for breakfast the
following morning on the promenade deck. The rising sun threw gentle shadows
over the table.
We sat silently for a few
moments. I was patiently waiting for Trudy to leave us. When she did, I turned
my attention back to Rose. She sat, staring at her plate and not at me.
Guilt-ridden, I told myself, for behaving like an animal
the night before.
"I had hoped you would come
to me last night," I spoke softly.
"I was tired." She
still didn’t look at me.
"Your exertions belowdecks
were no doubt exhausting," I said, trying to remain cool and collected.
She sipped her tea, then gently
set it back on the table. She finally looked at me a moment, then turned away
again.
"I see you had that
undertaker of a manservant follow me again. How typical," she said. She
tensed a bit, but continued to keep her cool.
"You will never behave like
that again, Rose," I ordered calmly. "Do you understand me?"
"I’m not a foreman in one of
your mills that you can command. I am your fiancée," she said, staring
into my eyes now.
Something snapped in me. No wife
of mine would behave like this. Who did she think she was?
"My fiancée?" I asked
quietly, then was unable to hold it in any longer. I stood, glaring down at
her. "My fiancée? Yes, you are! And my wife!" I slammed my hand on
the breakfast table, sending it and the expensive china noisily to the floor. I
leaned over her, one hand on each armrest of the chair. "My wife in
practice if not yet by law, so you will honor me! You will honor me the way a
wife is required to honor her husband. I will not be made out a fool, Rose. Is
this in any way unclear?" I asked, still standing over her. I waited for
her reply.
Tears welled up in her eyes, but
that didn’t dim my anger. Finally, she shook her head, saying, "No."
I smiled. "Good. Now, if
you’ll excuse me." I stood, seeing Trudy entering the room with the orange
juice.
I smiled politely at the maid and
walked past her. I walked out onto the deck. Mr. Guggenheim sat with J.J.
Astor, discussing world politics.
"Good morning,
gentlemen," I said politely, taking a seat beside John.
"Good morning, Cal. How are
you doing?" John asked.
I smiled. "Fine, sir."
I looked out at the ocean, feeling not the least bit guilty about what had just
happened.
"Well, we must go dress for
services," Mr. Guggenheim announced after a few minutes.
I knew he was right. Ruth and
Rose were probably already dressed, though women seem to take forever in such
instances.
I walked beside the two men into
B Deck, which was where Mr. Guggenheim and my rooms were located.
"I’ll see you gentlemen in a
few moments," John announced as he headed to his suite, which was on C
Deck.
I quickly got dressed in a fine
black suit, white shirt, vest, black bowtie, and black leather shoes.
I went to where the services were
to be held, the dining saloon. Rose and Ruth were already seated when I
arrived.
"Mr. Lovejoy!" I called
to my man. He stood in the doorway to the dining saloon.
"Mr. Hockley," he
replied.
"Remember what I said about
Jack Dawson. Keep him away from here," I ordered quietly, so as not to
make a scene. I waited for his answer. He nodded his head in understanding.
His eyes were cold, ruthless, as
they had always been, but in times like these, he was a good man to have
around.
I entered the saloon, then stood
at Rose’s side, the hymnal in my hands now. Captain E.J. Smith stood before us,
leading us in song. We sang Eternal Father Strong to Save.
I heard a commotion at the doors.
I turned my eyes, trying not to make my staring known. Jack was at the doors,
but I knew my man was taking care of him.
"Oh, hear us when we cry
to thee, for those in peril on the sea," we sang in unison, now that I
had returned my attention to the hymnal once more.
After the services ended, we went
on a ship tour with Mr. Thomas Andrews as the guide.
I followed behind, surveying the
carved details, the chains, the railing. Everything, but hardly listening to
what Thomas was saying.
First, we entered the gym. I sat
down at the rowing machine. I picked up the oars and began moving them in a
rowing fashion.
I smiled up at them.
"Reminds me of my days at Harvard."
Ruth laughed a bit. I stood and
rejoined the tour.
"Next stop will be the
bridge," Thomas announced. "This way."
We followed closely behind him.
When we were on the lower deck, I saw Catherine. She smiled at me, but I didn’t
return the gesture.
When we reached the bridge,
Captain Smith stood as if he were waiting for us.
"Enjoying the tour?" he
asked, smiling.
I nodded, though the tour didn’t
really matter to me.
Harold Bride, the wireless
operator, raced up to the captain.
"Another ice warning, sir.
This one’s from the Northern," he said, handing a paper to the captain.
"Thank you, Sparks,"
was the captain’s reply. Bride turned and left. The captain glanced at the
paper briefly before stuffing it into his pocket.
"Not to worry. Quite normal
for this time of year. In fact, we’re speeding up. I’ve just ordered the last
boilers lit," he announced.
Thomas glared at him a moment
before returning to the tour.
"Follow me," he said,
Rose at his side, Ruth behind her, and I behind them all.
We were led to where the
lifeboats were tied. Very absurd to see such a waste of deck space.
"I did the sum in my head,
and forgive me, but with the number of lifeboats times the capacity you
mentioned, well…there aren’t enough for everyone on board," Rose said.
I rolled my eyes and turned
around. I saw a strange man. He looked as though he was attempting to hide,
leaning on the rail. Then I saw her again. Catherine. Her daughter was at her
side now.
I turned back to Thomas and the
women. Thomas was looking directly at Rose.
"About half, actually. Rose,
you miss nothing, do you?" he asked.
I rolled my eyes again.
"In fact, I put in these new
type davits, which can take an extra row of boats inside this one. But it was
thought...by some...that the deck would look too cluttered, so I was
overruled." Thomas sighed.
Ruth took my arm and we started
to walk out in front of them. I tapped my walking stick on the side of a
lifeboat.
"It’s a waste of deck space
as it is on an unsinkable ship." I laughed.
We continued to walk down the
starboard side of the ship.
"Where is Rose?" Ruth
asked after a few minutes.
Mr. Andrews and I turned towards
the bow. She was nowhere to be seen.
I walked back a little.
"Sweetpea?" I called
out. Then I spotted her. She speedily walked up to us.
"I’m sorry, darling,"
she said as she approached me. "I was looking at the boats and lost
you." She laughed a little.
I smiled, holding my arm out for
her. She wrapped her arm around mine, and we continued the tour.
"Well, that concludes the
tour," Mr. Andrews announced after we had been shown the stern. I was
personally thankful it was over. It was just a ship. Yes, I did believe it was
the grandest ever, and was thoroughly enjoying the voyage. But must they
talk about it all the time? I kept asking myself.
I escorted Rose and Ruth to their
rooms. I lightly kissed Rose on the cheek.
"We’re going for tea, Mr.
Hockley. Where do you plan to go?" Ruth asked.
I looked over at her. "I
think I’ll go join the men in the smoking room," I replied.
"Good. We’ll see you at
dinner, then," Ruth said politely.
I nodded, taking my leave of
them, but going to my room first.