AN UNEXPECTED TURN
Chapter Nine

Once Gwen finished her breakfast (which was sooner than usual since she had been up so early) she drank on her tea to make everything look normal. Then she and Molly both stood at the same time (something they had planned before breakfast began) and they excused themselves and said they would be in Molly's suite.

Then Molly took her to Will's room and Gwen knocked ever so lightly. There was a sound of rustling papers and clinking dishes and then the door was opened. Will stood on the other side with a smile beaming down on Molly and Gwen.

"Thank you Molly," Gwen said, almost laughing at Will's smile.

"Your welcome darling," Molly replied. Gwen walked into the suite and then she closed the door.

Will continued to smile and the two sat down.

"So now Gwen dear. I know about your planned future with the 'President of the White Star Line' but I'm dying to know. Tell me about your child hood," Will said with just a bit of sarcasm.

Gwen laughed, if only her mother could see her now.

"Well Mr. Murdoch I as you know was born in 1895. I grew up and soon my parents had another kid. My childhood was pretty normal. I grew up in Liverpool and had a wonderful little life. That sounds a bit strange but it was all good and great, minus the occasional visits from Mr. Ismay which began when I was ten. Then about two years ago my mother and little brothers came down with Scarlet Fever and died. Then my family went on with life. I guess my father just didn't want to talk about it. My mother was the love of his life and when she died he just, well I guess he didn't know how to cope. He had children from ten to fifteen and he just couldn't handle it. When he went on his ship journeys we stayed in Liverpool with my grandparents. Actually though, last year was the first time I had gone on one of the journeys with him and unfortunately that journey I had to endure Ismay as well. That man he just...gives me the chills," Gwen finished talking and they were quiet for a few minutes.

"Yea I noticed how he is. The morning of the tenth when you came into the lunch hall I noticed him look over and in all honesty he was looking you up and down for at least three minutes before calling you over," Will explained.

"Well he's always done that. Whenever he would come over my mother would have me say a quick introduction then make up some excuse to get me away from him. She told me she didn't like how he looked at me. If she were here believe you me I would not be in the situation I'm in now. Why my father even chose Bruce, I will never know," Gwen replied.

Will sighed with a chuckle, then how they found themselves in this position they didn't know. But soon Will was reclined back and Gwen was resting in his arms.

"So Mr. Murdoch you know about my childhood. Tell me about yours," Gwen said with a laugh.

Will returned the laugh.

"Well lets see, where to start? I was born in Scotland in 1873. I've just realized that age difference between us," Will said with another laugh.

Gwen laughed then said, "Continue."

"OK, I went to Dalbeattie Primary School in High Street, and then at the High School in Alpine Street until I earned my diploma. Which I earned in 1887. When I finished I was apprenticed for five years to William Joyce and Coy. But not to sound like I'm boasting after four years and four voyages, I felt so prepared that I passed my Second Mates Certificate after only one try. But is it just me or is that getting off the subject of childhood?" Will asked.

Gwen smiled, "Just a bit," she replied.

The two talked for the entire time that Gwen had before she had to return to her false life. She honestly hated having to go through this and having Will have to go through this but for now she was determined that Will was going to keep his job. Before standing to leave the couple exchanged a few kisses and then she left to change and then go to lunch.

When she reached the lunching room Bruce was sitting whispering something into Colonel Gracie's ear. As she approached the table the Colonel gave her a slight look but then turned to his cup of tea.

"Good afternoon Bruce," she said with a smile. Not a happy smile to see him, just a smile to make it seem real and also on part of something she and Will had said about Bruce's mustache.

Bruce stood up and smiled back at her, "You look splendid in that gown," he commented. He pulled her hand and kissed it and then pulled out the chair for her to sit.

"Thank you Bruce," she said as she sat down.

Everyone sat down with Molly beside her and her father across from her. They were also joined by J.J Astor, Madeline Astor, and Thomas Andrews.

"So, if we may ask you Gwen. Where were you last night?" Thomas asked.

"Well I was just not feeling myself. So I stayed in my room and ate dinner with my maid Judy," Gwen answered.

"You know perhaps if she had not of met a certain someone she would of been fine last night," Bruce said just loud enough for the table to hear.

Gwen looked at him with disgust.

"Pardon?" Madeline asked.

"I said perhaps if she hadn't of met a certain officer she would of been fine last night. I do not wish to disclose names but if this man acts up one more time he will simply have to be fired. I can't handle this man chasing Gwen. He is insistent that he will steal Gwen away from me," Bruce said as he lied straight through his teeth.

Gwen and Molly both this time stared at Bruce. What was this filthy lie that he was feeding the table. 'And he claims to be a Christian.' Gwen thought.

One more comment though and she was sure she would go off on him.

After lunch Gwen tried to get away with a buy able excuse but Bruce wanted to go for a walk. He took her by the arm as he always did when he insisted on walking and they went up to the deck. As they walked both were quiet until Bruce opened his mouth.

"Now Gwen I know the truth about that kiss from the other night between you and Will. He forced you to kiss him. Your father said you two had some words afterwards but won't tell me what you two spoke about. If Will does put his hands on you tell me. I care about you and do not wish to see you hurt, let alone by that scum," Bruce said.

Ok that was it, he had pushed the last button.

"Oh for God's sake Bruce! You know just as well as I that the kiss was not forced. I wanted that kiss just as much as he wanted the kiss," Gwen said as she pulled away.

"Pardon?" Bruce asked.

"Bruce if you cared about me as much then let me go! I don't want to be with you, I want to be with Will!" Gwen said.

"I am the President of the White Star Line. You would prefer a officer as a husband over me? I'm a president of a major famous company! I can give you things he can't even dream about!" Bruce said.

"I don't care about what he can provide me with! I mean I could be living on the streets and I wouldn't care. I know that being a woman I should not be talking like this but you are driving me mad! It's something I inherited from my mother, I am to outspoken," Gwen replied.

"Well unfortunately for you I am not giving up that easily! It's too late anyhow. I have given you that ring which cost me one thousand dollars! You will marry me in a church in London. You will!" Bruce said.

Gwen looked at him then down at her finger.

"Mr. Ismay would you care to know what I think about your one thousand dollar ring?" Gwen asked.

Bruce looked at her as she pulled the ring off of her finger.

"What?" he snarled.

She took the ring and then threw it as far off into the ocean as possible.

"That Mr. Ismay is what I think about your one thousand dollar ring."

Then she turned around and ran as fast as her legs could carry her. All the way to Will's suite. This time she didn't bother with knocking. She just pulled open the door, ran in, shut it and looked at the dumbstruck Will.

"Uh hello Gwen. Are you OK?" he asked.

Gwen just started to laugh and showed him her now barren hand.

"What? Did Bruce break off the engagement?" Will asked.

Gwen shook her head and began to laugh again.

"I got angry with him and threw the ring into the ocean," Gwen said with another laugh.

Will began to laugh himself at the crazy act she had done.

"He's probably standing up on deck now trying to figure out how he can rescue his one thousand dollar engagement ring," Gwen said.

She walked over to Will and he pulled her into a embrace as she tried to calm down from laughing so hard.

Will looked down at her and smiled at her face.

"Have I told you how beautiful I think you are?" he asked.

Gwen thought, "Actually I don't think you have mentioned it but once or twice," she said with a smile.

"Well Gwendolyn I think you are the most beautiful woman I have ever lay ed eyes on. And woman, not piece of property, not beautiful possession, a beautiful woman," he said.

Gwen got a little serious now and the two found themselves kissing. She thought this was so strange and yet so right. In his arms Gwen felt a sense of safety and calmness. The two stayed together, talking until it was late. Gwen had decided that she would not be going to dinner that night. But she did need to return to her room, before departing for the night the two shared at least three or five passionate kisses and then she had left. To be in her room to sleep so she could return to his company in just a few short hours.

When she reached her room Judy had her night gown already laid out. She got into her gown but stayed up, reading a book. At about quarter to twelve there was a knock on the door. Gwen looked from the door to Judy. Just from experience since she had become the future Mrs. Bruce Ismay she assumed that this was Bruce. The past three nights he had been about looking for her. She sighed and went to her room and Judy answered the door. Tonight though instead of a introduction Bruce just stormed through, alcohol reeking off of his body. He went into Gwen's bedroom and found Gwen who was pretending to be sleeping.

"Gwen wake up!" he snarled in a drunken state.

Gwen slowly stirred and looked at him.

"Bruce? Are you alright?" she asked, pretending to be worried.

"You are going to honor me! If I have to force you!" he said.

He then proceeded to pull her out of the bed and she almost knew what he had planted to try and do to her. She then proceeded to yell for Judy to get help as Bruce attempted to take advantage of her. Judy ran out of the suite, not even thinking twice about going to Gwen's father. She ran straight to the room that she had been told was Molly Brown's. She knocked as loudly as possible and the door was soon answered to a fully dressed Molly.

"Judy? What is it?" Molly asked as she looked at the girls terrified look.

"Miss Gwen, she was reading and then Mr. Ismay and now he's and she's and-"

"Whoa Judy calm down, whats wrong with Gwen and Bruce?" Molly said.

"Miss. Gwen was about to go to bed but she was reading and then there was a knock on the door. She went to her bedroom and got into the bed. It was Mr. Ismay, he shoved past me and went into her room and pulled her out of the bed and she seemed to of known what his intentions were and now he's in the suite. Gwen screamed for me to get help and I thought of you," Judy said through tears.

"Oh dear lord. Alright let me just get something," Molly said. She disappeared for a moment and Judy tried to stay calm but she just began to cry even harder as she imagined the horror Gwen would be going through. As she cried she did not hear the sound of another door open.

"Judy?" the familiar voice asked.

Judy looked to see a tired Will.

"Oh, Mr. Murdoch," she said through tears.

Just then Molly reappeared.

"What is it? Whats wrong?" Will asked.

"Bruce is up there hurting Gwen," Molly said.

This woke Will up.

"What?!" Will asked as his temper rose.

"Oh just come on. Gwen doesn't have time," Molly said.

She took Judy by the hand and the three ran upstairs, the interesting thing was Will must have fallen asleep in his suit because it was still on. They all ran to the room and Judy opened the door and almost started to cry again as she heard Gwen's cries' for help. Will went in and ran into Gwen's bedroom.

"Mr. Ismay step away from Miss. Wilde right now," he said as calmly as possible.

Bruce looked up.

"Oh look, your little First Officer Murdoch is here to save you!" he said, still in a slurred manner.

"Will," Gwen managed to say.

Bruce did not move and Will spoke again.

"Move now or else."

"Or else what? You'll shoot me?" Bruce asked.

"No, but I will do this," Will said.

He then proceeded to punch Ismay which caused him to fall unconsciousness. Then he walked to wards the crying Gwen. Judy heard Will trying to soothe her and she and Molly went into the bedroom.

"Oh miss," Judy said.

Gwen stood, trying not to show her body from where Bruce had ripped her night gown and Molly pulled her into a hug and Judy got a coat and wrapped it around Gwen. Gwen sobbed in the women’s arms and then Will's.

She sat on her bed and Will rocked her back and forth while Judy got a pack of clothes that Gwen could take with her to Molly's. Nobody had seen Molly go in and Molly Brown's suite would be the last place anyone would look for her. Molly carried just the few dresses she would need and then they went back to her suite.

Then at the last moment Gwen asked if she could just change her night gown and stay with Will for a little while. Molly said that might be wise and then after changing into a new nightgown Gwen went into Will's suite and they sat down on the sofa as she continued to cry softly in his arms. After it all she wound up being even more tired than she thought and wound up falling asleep in his arms.

Will somehow managed to carry her to Molly's suite and they got her tucked away in Molly's bed with Molly insisting on sleeping on the sofa.

Will watched her sleep for a few moments and then after kissing her gently on the forehead he went to his suite and went to sleep.

Chapter Ten
Stories