TITANIC: A STORY TOLD
Chapter Thirty
Ruth was having tea with Noel Lucy Martha
Dyer-Edwardes, the Countess of Rothes, a 35ish English blue blood with
patrician features. Ruth saw someone coming across the room and lowered her
voice.
"Oh no, that vulgar Brown woman is
coming this way. Get up, quickly, before she sits with us."
Molly Brown walked up, greeting them
cheerfully as they were rising.
"Hello girls, I was hoping I’d catch you
at tea."
"We’re awfully sorry you missed it. The
Countess and I are just off to take the air on the boat deck."
"That sounds great. Let’s go. I need to
catch up on the gossip."
Ruth gritted her teeth as the three of them
headed for the Grand Staircase to go up. As they crossed the room, they passed
Bruce Ismay and Captain Smith at another table.
"So you’ve not lit the last four boilers
then?"
"No, but we’re making excellent
time."
Ismay looked at Smith impatiently.
"Captain, the press knows the size of Titanic, let them marvel at her
speed too. We must give them something new to print. And the maiden voyage of
Titanic must make headlines!"
"I prefer not to push the engines until
they’ve been properly run in."
"Of course I leave it to your good
offices to decide what’s best, but what a glorious end to your last crossing if
we get into New York Tuesday night and surprise them all." Ismay slapped
his hand on the table. "Retire with a bang, eh, E.J.?"
After a moment, Smith nodded, stiffly.