By the Light of the Silvery Moon (34 page)

“Of course.” He nodded. “When they let me, I’ll be the first to board.”

Next to the young woman an older woman stretched her hands out to her husband. “Please, won’t you get in with me?”

He sadly shook his head. “Darling, what type of man would I be if I allowed women to wait while I found my way to safety?” He shooed her with his hand. “Don’t worry. We’ll meet up soon enough.”

Seeing that the woman wasn’t leaving her husband’s side, Quentin took her hand and led her to the next lifeboat. As soon as he helped her aboard, he stayed there, assisting the frightened women as they stepped from the firm foundation of the
Titanic
‘s decks to the lifeboat that swung by ropes hooked to rigging.

Amelia stood with her aunt, wondering if they should board a boat, too. She glanced around and noticed a steward standing among the passengers. A cigarette dangled from his lips, and it seemed he, too, was waiting his turn to board the life vessel. Surely if someone who spent his life on the seas believed it was best to get into the boat, she should trust that. Amelia closed her eyes and imagined what her mother would do. Would she hang back, feeling security in the ship?

Get on the boat, she felt something in her say. Trust … trust you will be carried to safety.

A woman with dark hair falling from its bun approached the steward, grasping his arm.

“Sir, my mother is elderly. She’s still sleeping below. Do you think I should wake her?”

With slow movements, he pulled the cigarette from his lips, flicking ashes onto the deck. “Listen ma’am. I know it doesn’t seem like an emergency, but I’ve worked on liners long enough to know that they don’t launch lifeboats unless they believe this ship is going down.”

The woman gasped. “That’s impossible. It’s an unsinkable ship.”

The steward shrugged, and it was clear he wasn’t going to argue. Reluctantly, the woman entered through the doors and moved down the hall.

Amelia peered into the icy ocean. The woman had a point. What about the watertight compartments? Had they been compromised? She rubbed her hands together, trying to warm them. Weren’t the many safety precautions supposed to keep the ship afloat?

As they waited patiently, the line lengthened, and both Amelia and her aunt took a step back. It seemed wrong to push their way to the front. She was sure they’d all get their turn.

As they stood, a white-haired stewardess approached, and through the fog of her thoughts, Amelia realized it was Geraldine.

Geraldine’s face was pale, and she grasped Amelia’s arm in a vicelike grip. “I heard Mr. Andrews—the designer—talking to Captain Smith. The ship will sink, Emma. You must get on a lifeboat as soon as possible.”

“Geraldine, I am Amelia, Emma’s daughter,” she tried to explain.

The older woman nodded. “Yes, Emma, of course.” Then she hurried down the deck, approaching another passenger with the same news.

Just then, a roar blasted through the funnels, sounding like a line of train engines roaring down a tunnel. Amelia jumped and tried to control her emotions that carried her away like wild horses. Fear gripped her heart. Her stomach ached, and she was sure she’d lose her dinner.

Just when Amelia felt her legs would no longer be able to hold her up, Quentin approached with a blanket, wrapping it around her.

“Amelia, I need to leave. I must go find my father. My brother. But I can’t leave the deck until I know you’re safe. It is time. I want you and your aunt to get on the next boat.”

She looked into his eyes, seeing love there. “Yes.” She nodded, not wanting to be like these other women. She wanted Quentin to know that she trusted him. She was determined not to argue.

“I want you to know something.” He stroked her cheek. “Never regret giving me that ticket, do you understand? Even if I don’t make it—“

Her hand reached for his. “Don’t say that.”

“Listen.” He placed a finger to her lips. “Even if I do not make it, I will always be thankful for meeting you. For having the chance to love you.” His eyes glistened with unshed tears.

“All women and children head down to the deck below. We’ll board there. Men stand back,” a voice called, interrupting.

“But more than that.” He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “If I hadn’t been on this ship, I never would have found my way into my father’s arms. If I’d never made it to the ship, I never would have discovered that God still loved me, that I could be forgiven. God used you, Amelia.”

He smiled at her. It was a sad smile. “Now, do what the man says and head to the deck below.”

She nodded, but she didn’t move.

“Amelia, you must go.” He placed a kiss atop her head, hugged her tightly—adjusting her coat to make sure she was snug—and then gently pushed her back.

With a tear-filled gaze into his eyes, Amelia took her aunt’s arm, and they followed the others. Near the bottom of the stairwell, a woman next to them clung to her husband, refusing to leave. Another young woman pleaded for her father to join her.

“He must wait,” the officer said simply. “Once the decks are cleared of women and children, he will be put in a lifeboat, too.”

Amelia’s knees quivered at the scenes around her—fathers parting from their children, giving them an encouraging pat on the shoulders. Men kissing wives.

“I’ll be with you shortly,” one man whispered as he helped his pregnant wife into the boat. His wife nodded, but Amelia could tell she didn’t believe him.

Another woman cried as she hung on to the lapel of her husband’s jacket.

“Darling, it’s just a precaution. There is no danger,” he stated simply. “Don’t you remember? This is the finest ship ever built. With the water-tight compartments, we won’t sink.”

“Then let me stay with you,” she cried.

“Darling, please. Just do as the good officer says.”

The husband waited as she climbed in and then tucked the blankets carefully around her as if she were preparing for a motorcar ride.

Just then a loud roar sounded and a hiss filled the air. Amelia clung to her aunt and looked around. “It’s one of boilers, I suppose.”

A child’s cry split the air, and the women around her spoke in hushed tones.

Amelia looked back to the deck where they’d just come from, and she noticed Quentin was gone. Maybe it was better that way. She hoped he’d find his father. And after that she guessed he’d help more people—it was what he would do.

Another deafening boom sounded, and Amelia jumped. The strains of the band’s song gently reached her ears, and she saw they’d moved onto the deck. Did they hope to cheer up the passengers by playing outside? She imagined that if this was a false alarm, they’d have a fine story to tell in the morning.

“Did you hear that?” someone called out. “Men are being loaded on the port side.” With hasty steps, most of the men moved that direction. Only a few others remained.

“Amelia!” A woman’s voice filled the air.

Amelia turned to see Ethel Beane moving toward her. Her husband, Edward, was one step behind.

“Ethel, it is you.” Amelia grasped the hands of her friend. Had it been only four days ago they’d pranced around the first-class deck together, taking in its opulence?

“Amelia, do you think the ship will go down?”

“Maybe not. Maybe it will only sink so far. They say it’s unsinkable after all. Still, I promised a friend I’d get in a lifeboat just the same.” Amelia thought about mentioning Quentin’s name but realized Ethel wouldn’t know whom she spoke of.

Ethel looked to Edward and then back to Amelia. “I left my jewels on the nightstand and my beautiful linens and embroideries in my bride’s trousseau.”

“Ethel, that’s not what’s important. You must go with Amelia and get in the lifeboat,” Edward urged.

“Are you sure?” she looked to her husband.

Edward smiled. “It’s good-bye for a little while.”

Noticing the next lifeboat was filling, Amelia led her aunt to its side.

Looking back, she noticed the deck was nearly empty. Many of the women had stayed on the deck above, she guessed.

An officer approached. “It is your turn now, miss.” Amelia stepped in, helped by the man’s guiding hand. Her feet caught on the tackle and oars, but she righted herself. The lifeboat swayed. Aunt Neda gasped and clung to Amelia. They hurried to their seats, and she gripped the wooden bench with her hands.

She sat in the boat, shivering, her aunt near her. Ethel was in the seat in front of her.

“Any more ladies?” one of the officers called out.

As Amelia looked around, she saw that they were among the crew, some stokers, and a few men passengers. Her heart pounded. Maybe Quentin would have been able to get on board if he were near. She scanned the decks but didn’t see him—hardly saw anyone.

The call for ladies followed again. One sailor looked up and pointed. Amelia looked up and noticed C.J. Walpole looking down from the deck above.

“Any ladies on your deck?” the sailor called up to him.

C.J. looked around “No. None.”

“Come now, you sir. We still have room.”

C.J. hesitated. “But my son. He told me to go to the first-class promenade, but I’m afraid I got lost. He’s going to be looking for me. Both my sons will be looking for me.”

Amelia stood, placing a hand on her aunt’s shoulder to balance herself. “Please, Mr. Walpole, I am here. We’ll find your son—your sons—together later, but for now please come on our boat, there is room.”

He paused for only a brief second and then hurried down the stairs and climbed into the lifeboat. Behind him a young couple with a baby climbed in, too.

“Did you see Quentin?” Amelia asked.

C.J. lowered his head. “No, I was with Damien. I told him to find his brother. He told me to go to the promenade. What if he goes there and doesn’t find me?”

“He’ll know. He’ll know you are safe. Perhaps they even got in boats, too. I heard they were loading men on the other side.”

Even as Amelia said those words, she knew it wasn’t the truth. She could tell by the look in C.J.’s eyes he knew, too, but neither said a word.

“Edward, you should join us!” Ethel called.

“I’ll wait for the next one, darling. I want to help these others first.”

An officer in a long coat strode by. “Lower away. Once afloat, row around to the gangway. Wait there, and you’ll receive orders.”

“Aye, aye, sir!” a sailor’s voice called. Then with soft swinging, they began their descent.

“I love you, Edward!” Ethel called up to her husband, waving. He smiled, but he didn’t wave back. Amelia could tell he was trying to stand strong. Trying to hold in his emotion.

Her eyes moved to the old man as they lowered. She didn’t know who was supporting whom with their gaze, but it helped to know there was another person whose heart ached for the same people she ached for.

The boat continued down in jerks. The ropes squeaked under the strain of the boat laden with people. One side started to lower faster than the other. Amelia gripped her seat, praying they wouldn’t spill into the icy waters.

The crew in the boat called to the sailors above. “Lower aft!’ Lower stern!” The boat leveled out. “Lower together!”

They passed by brightly lit cabins, empty of their residents.

Light from the portholes brightened their faces for a moment until darkness enfolded them again. It was a slow journey through the levels, and Amelia thought her heart would pound out of her chest.

As they descended, a hissing roar sounded and a rocket sped into the sky. It burst in the air, filling the blackness with what looked like a thousand candles. A second rocket followed, and not much later a third. Amelia’s stomach clenched as she watched.

“They’re signaling for help,” Aunt Neda whispered, only loud enough for Amelia to hear.

When they were near the water, someone pointed upward. They watched as a boat above them lowered in jerks. It continued downward until it was level with B deck. Women and children climbed over the rail, filling the boat quickly. Soon that boat began to be lowered, too.

Amelia looked to another woman who was sitting across from her, a stewardess with a black dress and a white apron and cap. Beside them, the ship groaned as waters engulfed the
Titanic.

“Look how far down she’s sunk,” Amelia whispered to her aunt. Stretching out before and behind them more lit portholes glimmered … from under the water.
Dear Lord, help us all.

Finally, they reached the water and floated with the ropes still connected. The officers worked quickly to free them, slicing the ropes with their knives. The boat from above bore down. Finally, the knives sliced through, and they drifted into the dark waters.

“Amelia, do you think Edward will make it?” Ethel asked.

“Of course, Ethel, of course.” But as a shiver moved up her spine, Amelia knew that if he did, it would be nothing short of a miracle.

Q
uentin thought about finding his father and brother, but instead it was Damien who found him. A hiss and loud bang sounded as a rocket shot into the air. An explosion of white stars filled the sky. The sparkles of lights tumbled toward the ship as Damien approached.

Damien looked to his brother. “You know what that means, don’t you?”

Quentin sighed. “Where’s Father?”

Damien shrugged. “You care?”

“Of course I care.”

“After all these years?” Damien asked.

Quentin studied his brother’s eyes. Damien hated him, but even he knew Quentin wouldn’t leave their father helpless. He guessed their father was on one of the lifeboats. There was no other reason for his brother to be so calm. Knowing that caused Quentin to release a breath.

“Tell me, Quentin.” Damien held his arms behind his back as he strode closer. “Tell me, what did Father say to you today?”

“When?”

“When he settled you into your new stateroom. Did he promise you half of his kingdom once again? The half of the half that remained?”

Quentin thought back to the day—had it only been just this morning? His father had promised many things, but he had focused not on what he could get. He only wanted to think about them being together.