THE SHIP OF DREAMS
Chapter Twenty-Six
Coddie Anna stood before the
mirror about an hour before the ball. Ruth pulled gently but firmly on her
granddaughter’s posture corset strings, while Rose bustled about, having just
come in ten minutes before. She thankfully had not come in contact with Cal
yet, though her heart pounded in her chest anxiously.
Coddie Anna sighed, holding out
her arms as instructed as she stepped timidly into the dark purple gown. Her
auburn hair hung down, though twisted halfway up in the back and fastened with
her mother’s butterfly comb. She was very nervous about the dance, and babbled
all sorts of questions.
"What if I say something
foolish, or step on his feet? Oh, Mother, what if he turns out to be absolutely
dreadful?"
Rose chuckled. "Relax,
dear…you’ll be just fine! Remember your manners and everything will go
nicely."
Ruth buttoned the back of the
gown, remaining silent. In fact, she’d not said much at all since Rose’s
arrival, clearly wanting to spare the child’s ears from what she wished to say.
Instead, she kept her lips pursed, talking only to Coddie Anna when necessary,
and as cheerfully as possible.
"There you are, love."
Ruth patted Coddie Anna’s waist. "Turn around so your mother can see you properly."
Coddie Anna turned around slowly,
and Rose beamed with pride. "You look absolutely beautiful, darling."
She planted a kiss on the girl’s cheek.
"Thank you, Mama,"
Coddie Anna replied.
"Yes," Ruth agreed.
"Now, Coddie Anna, could you spare us a couple of moments while I have a
discussion with your mother?"
Coddie Anna suddenly seemed to
feel the tension in the air, and looked from one to the other. She bit her lip,
looking down at her black shoes. Rose felt her stomach roll over as she added,
"Go and see if you can find Cal…I’m sure he’ll want to see you all dressed
up."
That seemed to set her off, and
Coddie Anna finally complied, stumbling a little as she made a mad dash for the
door. Once it opened and closed tightly behind her, the two women stood in
silence again.
"You are very lucky you did
not meet up with Cal yet today, Rose." Ruth finally spoke after taking a
deep breath. "He is positively furious, I hope you realize. And he has
perfectly legitimate reasons, Rose! Where on God’s earth have you been for the
past day? Yes, it has been that long!" she added, when Rose started to
protest.
"I do not believe it is any
of your concern, Mother," Rose replied bitterly through gritted teeth.
"I am most certainly not a child anymore, in case you’ve failed to
notice."
Ruth scowled. "It is most
positively my concern. Now, I know…or a least I believe I know…that you were
with him."
Rose swallowed, but said nothing.
"Rose, you are not to see that man again! You are an engaged woman with a
young daughter you have neglected to look after…I realize Coddie Anna is old
enough to make her own decisions, but what perceptions she has of you, I fear
to imagine!"
Rose shook her head. "Stop
exaggerating, Mother."
Ruth gripped Rose’s shoulders.
"That man will put both of you in poverty! Do you want your daughter on
the streets? It is a fine match with Hockley, Rose! It will ensure our
survival!"
Rose moved out of her mother’s
grasp. "Our survival. This is all about you, Mother. If we were still
rich, you would not have forced me into this engagement. Oh, yes, Mother.
Forced. I had absolutely no say in the matter…"
"Rose…" Ruth started to
inject, but Rose held up her hand. "All this marriage will be about is our
own desire for wealth. I do not need to be showered in jewels to feel as though
I am living the charmed life. Love is what makes a marriage work…something
you’re surely lacking knowledge of. As for my daughter, I have no doubt that
the two of you have been brainwashing her to believe otherwise."
More silence passed between them,
and Ruth’s face was white with anger, her green eyes flashing. "Made you
think a bit, didn’t I?" Rose added, nodding. "I know Coddie Anna felt
differently towards him at the beginning of the voyage. Something happened to
change her mind so suddenly, and I know either you or he had something to do
with it."
"You know that’s not true.
Your daughter is old enough to decide for herself what is right and
wrong!" Ruth snapped.
"Only if she’s been exposed
to both sides in a proper way, Mother. And in case you were wondering as to
where I’ve been for the past day, he is terribly ill in the hospital with
pneumonia…he may die, and possibly leave his daughter an orphan." Rose wet
her lips, which she felt were trembling. "For once, I do wish you would
try to step into someone else’s shoes and feel what they feel!" She
stalked out of the room, not waiting for her mother to respond. She stepped
outside of the suite, breathing heavily and leaning against the wall. It did
feel wonderful to get all of that off her chest, but thinking of Jack made her
feel as though something were being ripped away from her.
She made her way down the private
promenade, running her fingers through her hair. Even though the breeze was
cold, it felt quite nice against her flushed skin. She’d barely made it to the
edge of the deck when she almost ran into someone, and without even looking up,
she already knew who it was. "Well, well, well. So, you have decided to
come back to me. Became bored with that steerage swine, did you? I thought you
would."
Rose stepped back, and sure
enough, Cal stood right in front of her. He had his arms folded and a rather
nasty smirk on his face. Coddie Anna peeped out from the sitting room door,
holding her breath and watching. "If you’ll excuse me," Rose replied,
trying to move, but he stepped in front of her.
"Oh, I don’t think so. I’m
not letting you out of my sight again, Rose. Not after this. Do you think I
trust you anymore after what’s happened?"
"Nothing has happened!"
Rose snapped.
Cal would have struck her then,
but he suddenly glanced over his shoulder and noticed Coddie Anna looking at
them worriedly. "I’ll expect you in our quarters as soon as you take her
to the dance."
Rose watched as he turned and
walked away, and she felt more anger than fear. Coddie Anna stepped out of the
sitting room when he was out of earshot, her hands behind her back and her head
down. "He was going to hit you, wasn’t he, Mommy?" she asked, and
Rose did not reply for a moment.
"No, of course not,"
she insisted, lifting her head high.
Coddie Anna did not look as
though she believed her, but was quiet nonetheless. Suddenly, Coddie Anna’s
face lit up after she finished hugging her mother, and she cried with delight,
"John!"
Rose whirled around, noticing a very
handsome boy coming towards her. He was beaming, dressed in a black tuxedo with
his dark hair slicked back slightly. "Hullo…you must be Mrs. DeWitt
Bukater?" he asked, bowing politely to Rose, who had to smile at him.
"Yes. And you must be
Jonathan?"
Jonathan nodded, blushing a
little as he glanced at Coddie Anna. "I’m so terribly sorry to have come
early, but I met up with your…father?"
"No, not my father,"
Coddie Anna responded quickly.
"Oh. Well, I met up with Mr.
Hockley, then, who told me where you were staying, and I thought I’d surprise
you. If you’re not quite ready, I’ll wait. I don’t mind."
Coddie Anna breathed deeply,
looking at her mother with hopeful eyes. "Might I go with him now,
Mother?" she asked, and Rose could not help but hide her relief. This
would give her a chance to run back to the infirmary and shut herself in with
Jack before Cal became too suspicious.
"Of course, dear. Have a
lovely time, both of you. Remember your curfew."
Coddie Anna rolled her eyes.
"Of course I will. 10:30."
"I will be sure to have her
back on time," Jonathan insisted, holding out his arm for Coddie Anna to
take. She beamed, accepting it, and with one last grin, the two children
disappeared around the corner.
Rose shook her head softly before
hitching up her skirts and dashing off in their wake to the hospital.
*****
"Fabrizio, we have a bit of
a problem."
Fabrizio looked up from where he
sat at a table with Tommy. Anastasia stood in front of them, a worried
expression on her face.
"What’s wrong?"
"Mac’s hiding under the bed,
and won’t come out! It’s only ten minutes until Michael comes to fetch her!
I’ve tried everything, too!"
The men smirked, each having
thought this might happen. Cold feet were common on first dates, and given the
circumstances with her father, there was no doubt she’d be even more nervous.
"Oh, dear," Tommy muttered. "I think you might need some help,
so I’ll come with ya." He set his beer mug aside, and the two men stood
up, following the girl out of the saloon.
Mac, meanwhile, lay in the dark
space, a tear or two rolling down her cheeks. She knew she’d agreed to go to
the ball, but now that it was nearly time, she was not sure she would be able
to bear it. Her father was not any better, and she knew all she’d do was worry.
Anastasia had made a strong argument, but Mac wanted more than anything to be
left alone for now. If she had to sleep under the bed, so be it.
The door to the cabin opened. Mac
saw two pairs of boots enter beside Anastasia’s white flats and gulped.
Anastasia’s head appeared, and she used a free hand to point behind her.
"I’ve gotten Fabrizio and Tommy. Please, Mac, you’ll have such a good time
at the party!"
"Come out and at least let
us talk to you," Tommy said, kneeling down beside Anastasia, who moved
over so he could peer under the bed.
"I don’t want to go. I want
to be with my father!" Mac replied. She’d abandoned all reason at this
point, as she had at the palace when she’d locked herself in the closet. There
was no Marie this time to comfort her.
"Lass, your constant
worryin’ ain’t goin’ ta help things along now," Tommy told her. "We
know you’re scared about yer da, but he’d want you to go if he knew ya had the
chance. I’m sure of it."
"I’m going to be in trouble
for going with a boy," Mac told him defiantly. It was one thing to be
going to a party, but a whole other thing to be disobeying one of her father’s
strictest of rules, especially when he was ill. That wasn’t fair.
"He’ll understand if we tell
him," Fabrizio replied. "He wants you to have a good time."
"C’mon, lass, it can’t be
comfortable all cramped under there!" Tommy chuckled, offering his hands.
Mac looked at them, biting her lip and looking at Anastasia, who appeared to be
holding her breath anxiously.
"Oh, please, Mac. Rose said
it was okay! If she did, I’m sure he’ll understand!" she exclaimed.
"Cold feet’s natural,"
Tommy continued. "What you’re feelin’ is perfectly normal, so don’t feel
ashamed about it. Do you think your da was calm when he met Rose for the first
time at the dinner?"
Well, no, he hadn’t been. Mac
peeped her head out, and everyone stepped back as though afraid they might do
something to scare her back under again. Anastasia smiled wide as Mac
eventually pulled herself out, thankfully in the posture corset at least,
though not the dress itself. "There you are now!" Tommy chortled as
Mac wet her lips, looking down at her feet. "You’d best finish dressin’
before the boy comes, eh? I don’ think you’ll be wantin’ go to in your
bloomers!"
Mac managed a small giggle, and
Anastasia pointed at her, covering her mouth and laughing also.
"Thanks," Anastasia told them once she managed to catch her breath,
and Fabrizio nodded.
"He did most of the work, of
course."
"Eh, I’ve had experience
with children, havin’ come from a family of eight."
"Eight?" Anastasia
gasped. "Really? Were you the oldest?"
"Second ta the oldest, yeah.
Sister Sarah is the oldest gal, livin’ with her husband in Cork."
"Oh!" Mac breathed.
"You get used to it,"
Tommy told them. "Now, we’ll let you two go so we won’t intrude."
"Have a good time,"
Fabrizio added, and Mac nodded.
"I will. Thank you."
They left, and Anastasia clapped
her hands. "Oh, I’m so glad!"
"I still don’t feel very
good about this," Mac admitted as Anastasia fluttered about the room,
fetching the gown, the hair pins, and the shoes and gloves. Seven minutes to do
all was not much at all, but she would have to manage, and even make Michael
wait a bit if he were early.
"It’ll be fun! Just think of
it as though you’re going to Olga’s ball again."
Mac frowned. "I don’t want
to think about that," she muttered, and Anastasia swallowed.
"Oh…I’m sorry…I didn’t
mean…I forgot," she stuttered, and Mac shook her head.
"No, it’s okay." She
stepped into the gown, grimacing once it was buttoned up and tied. Several ows and
watch its later, Mac was completely ready, and Anastasia squealed with delight.
"Oh, if only your father
could see you all dressed up!"
Mac gasped. "I was supposed
to see him before the ball!" she cried, realizing how much time had
passed. "We’ll never get a chance now!"
"Perhaps it’s best if you
don’t, or you’ll worry all through it," Anastasia told her. "Michael
can drop you off at the hospital when it’s over."
Mac sighed. "I
suppose…"
As if on cue, there was a knock
on the door, and Anastasia bounced up and down. "He’s here! Go on! Open
it! Open it!"
Mac rolled her eyes, pulling the
door open and revealing Michael. "Hi," she told him in a very timid
voice. He was dressed in a tuxedo with ruby cufflinks and a pair of shiny black
shoes. He smiled at her, bowing politely.
She bowed back, and Anastasia
giggled, nudging her. "You don’t bow. You curtsey," she corrected,
and Mac gave her a murderous glare. She turned back to Michael, smiling
sweetly, and curtsied. He merely laughed and held out his hand, which she took.
"Never mind all that. Are
you ready to go, then?"
Honestly, Mac shook her head, and
he chuckled. "Neither am I."
She grinned, and Anastasia waved
as they headed out. "Let us make the best of it, then." He nodded his
thanks to Anastasia before helping Mac down the hallway.