AN UNEXPECTED TURN
Chapter Six

The next morning Gwen woke, like she always did. But this morning she did not sleep in on purpose. Judy had already been awake for an hour as always. When she heard Gwen wake up she went to the girls bedroom to see if she had picked out a gown.

"Good morning," Gwen said.

"Good morning miss," Judy replied.

Gwen wiped at her eyes, still feeling the sting from when she had been crying last night.

"So Miss. Gwen I thought maybe you could wear this dress for breakfast," Judy said as she held out a gown from the wardrobe.

Gwen looked the dress up and down, the dress was one of her favorites.

It had loose sheer sleeves, a v neck line, beads, and different shades of pink. Almost the color of roses, it in fact had a pink rose pinned to it and just a slight train.

Gwen nodded, not much in a mood to talk. So then Judy helped her as always into the stupid corset she was forced to wear, then the dress. Judy left her hair down with just a clip to keep her hair out of her face. Then a simple necklace, and like the previous day, just as they were finishing up Bruce was knocking on the door. Gwen sighed, she tried to fight back the tears as Judy went to answer the door.

As Gwen stood in her room for a moment she heard footsteps coming to wards the room and assumed it was only Judy. But to her horror she looked up and saw Bruce standing there.

"I need to talk to you in private. Not with that maid of yours listening," he began.

Gwen looked at him, she didn't care if Judy listened or not. Judy wouldn't eavesdrop anyways.

"You are not to see William Murdoch ever again. I do not know what kind of relationship you two were leading but it ends. You are my fiancé and you will honor me. People are already whispering, they saw you two in a embrace last night. If I find out that you have been with him he will be fired from the White Star Line and I will see to it that he never gets a job working in the sailing business anywhere. I am a very powerful man and I have connections. If you care for him then you will not ruin his life," Bruce said.

Gwen was silent as she looked down at her feet.

"Do you understand?" he asked.

Gwen nodded.

"Good, then lets go to breakfast," Bruce said.

Gwen took the arm he had held out for her and the two went to breakfast.

When they sat down already at the table was her father, Molly, Thomas, and J.J Astor. Madeline did not come down because she was tired.

The table were all in their usual conversations about the weather, where they were at during the journey and just the normal chit chat with the occasional gossip. But Gwen chose not to participate, choosing to be alone in her thoughts as she took small bites of fruit. Molly was interested in her silence, after being so joyful the night before. But she decided the breakfast table was not the place to ask.

As the breakfast died down Molly chose to speak up.

"Gwen darling would you care to go for a walk after breakfast?" she asked.

Gwen looked up and spoke before Bruce could open his mouth, "Thank you Mrs. Brown that sounds lovely."

Bruce nodded slightly and watched Gwen for a few moments. Then he turned back to his tea and continued the conversation with Thomas.

Once Gwen was finished she waited for Molly who was also finished. Then they excused themselves and stood up and went up to the deck.

For a few moments they walked in silence and then Molly opened her mouth.

"Gwen darling, why were you so quiet this morning at breakfast?" she asked.

Gwen looked at Molly as she thought of something to say.

"Well Mrs. Brown, I just...I'm tired. That’s all," she lied.

"First off I know I've told you, it's Molly. None of that formality. Also, your a horrible liar. Tell me whats really bothering you," Molly replied.

"I don't know if I should say it. I do not wish for the whole ship to know about my problems," Gwen said softly.

"Gwen your secrets are safe with me," Molly said.

Gwen stood on the side and looked out at the ocean, she was about to open her mouth when she was cut off.

"Pardon me a moment dear. Hey Will! Come here a second," Molly said.

Gwen froze, she didn't dare turn around to look.

"Why hello Mrs. Brown," the familiar voice said.

"Now I've told you more than once already don't call me that. It's Molly or nothing at all. No formality needed with me," Molly said with a laugh.

Will let out a laugh, not noticing Gwen who was praying Molly would not say anything about Gwen's presence.

"We missed you at breakfast this morning," Molly said.

"Well last night at about two I had a shift to go onto but I went early at nine and I was working the shift until about four this morning. So needless to say I slept in a bit," Will replied with a slight laugh.

"Hey Will you remember Gwen right? Gwendolyn Wilde?" Molly asked with a point to the now upset Gwen.

Gwen turned slowly to face Will, "Good morning Mr. Murdoch," she said.

"Good morning Miss. Wilde," he said softly.

"Well I'll take that as a yes to my question," Molly said laughing.

The two looked at each other, a odd silence had fallen. Molly observed the two.

"Molly I'm sorry but maybe we can talk some other time. I need to go now," she said as she fought back tears. Then Gwen turned around and went rushing off to her suite.

"Do you know what that was about?" Molly asked.

Will shook his head slightly in a negative response, but in truth he had a feeling he knew why she was upset.

"Well that was a bit of a waste," Molly commented as she watched Gwendolyn disappear from sight.

"Well Molly I was just heading to the kitchens now. To try and get something to eat. Have a lovely day," he said.

Then with a tip of his hat Will walked into the first class door and made it look as if he was going to the kitchens. But in truth he began to walk to the first class suites. When he reached her door he stopped outside and heard Judy trying to calm the crying girl.

He took his hat off and then knocked gently on the door. When it was opened he was face to face with a nervous Judy.

"Hello Miss. Judy. May I please speak to Gwen?" he asked.

"Well Mr. Murdoch, in truth I was told not to let you in this room but Miss. Gwen's father and fiancé," Judy said.

"Judy...I need to see Will. One last time," he heard Gwen say from inside the room.

Judy was hesitant but then stepped aside to let Will in. He walked into the room and then Judy shut the door.

Gwen stood up, wiped her face and looked at Will.

"Will I can't see you anymore. I wish I could but I can't. I just want to look at you one last time. The past two days have been truly memorable. But I am engaged and I care about you. I care about you a lot, but I care to much. So I can't see you any more," Gwen said slowly.

"Can I ask why? Why you can't see me anymore?" he asked.

"I can no longer see you because...if I do you could get fired. I would not be able to live with myself if I knew that I was the cause of your job loss. So that’s all I had to say and, please leave," Gwen answered, again slowly.

Will looked down, then he took Gwen's hand. He then planted a kiss as he always did on it and then he turned and left the room. Gwen watched as the door shut, and as it did the tears came back up. Judy sat the girl down on the sofa and did her best to comfort the girl.

That afternoon for lunch Gwen did not go up. She had Judy tell Bruce she was not feeling well and then she went to sleep. It was similar for that evening, Judy told Bruce and her father that she still did not feel well. Then once the men were gone down to dinner Judy ordered a meal to be brought up to the room. Gwen sat at a table in her sitting room and ate in silence, alone with her thoughts.

Chapter Seven
Stories