Cold April (17 page)

Afterward they watched the captain, escorted by several officers—all in splendid uniforms—head off to make his required rounds, examining even the engine rooms and other areas passengers never saw. Although a boat drill usually followed the inspection tour, the captain had decided against holding one. Beth learned that such a drill required only that one of the lifeboats be uncovered and lowered so that its contents could be checked. As in the case of the ship inspection, this routine safety measure did not affect passengers.

Lunch followed close behind, and they took it at a table with Col. Blakemore, his wife, and the Blakemore’s friends, Mr. and Mrs. Crawford. Still unsettled about the events of the previous day and night, Beth was relieved not to be alone with Richard. She wished she knew if the men had played cards the night before or not.

“
Are you aware, Miss Shallcross,” Mrs. Crawford said, “that wagering is going on amongst the passengers about how many nautical miles the ship will cover each day?”

“
No, I was not,” Beth answered.

“
After the captain took sightings at noon,” Col. Blakemore said, “a few of us went up to the lounge to learn how far the ship traveled yesterday.”

“
I heard a rumor,” Mrs. Blakemore added, “that we’re traveling much faster than expected. Is that so?”

The colonel spoke with extra emphasis: “I should say so! Can you believe it—five hundred forty-six miles—a speed of almost twenty-two and a half knots.”

“
And what was our speed the day before?” Mrs. Crawford asked.

“
Five hundred and nineteen.” He looked smug. “I’ve won twenty-seven pounds on those extra miles.”

“
It would appear they are trying for a record after all,” Crawford said. “It makes Thursday’s three hundred eighty-six miles positively sluggish by comparison.”

Richard said nothing during this exchange, and Beth decided he had placed his bet on the losing side or else had not wagered on the outcome at all.

After lunch Kathleen needed to take a nap, and Richard announced he was going out for a while. Beth had hoped he would prefer to stay in the stateroom—not so that she could be alone with him, but so that she could go out. She needed to find Harry and learn if he was the person who had discovered Toby’s hiding place and left the doll at their stateroom door. The colored paper—which Richard had saved and showed to her—seemed to confirm her theory.

A few hours later, when Kathleen awakened from her nap, Beth debated going back to third class with Kathleen to look for Harry, but the girl wished to stay in the cabin.

“
I don’t want to play outside today. I don’t want Toby to get losted.”

“
You don’t have to play games if you don’t want to. We’ll just go down and say hello to your new friends, shall we?”

Kathleen changed the subject. “Will you read to us? Toby wants to hear a story.”

* * *

When Richard returned, he found Beth and Kathleen close together on the sofa in the sitting room. Several of the child’s picture books lay scattered on the floor.

As usual, Kathleen ran to him for a hug. He kissed her first then swung her around before setting her back on her feet.

“
Getting quite chilly out of doors.” He rubbed his hands together. “Perhaps the ship has angled north. I’ve heard more rumors that Captain Smith really is going to try for a speed record. We might reach New York by Tuesday night after all.”

“
Is that so?” Beth did not show any interest. She probably had no particular reason to want to arrive early. Nor did he, for that matter. He wanted to spend as much time as possible with Beth, and that would require more days at sea instead of fewer.

He’d tossed and turned in bed the night before, worrying about their relationship and what he ought to do about it. Finally, in the early hours of the morning, he’d made up his mind and had already begun to put his decisions into action. Yet, if the ship arrived on Tuesday, he must prepare for that alternative as well.

He glanced at Beth again. “I believe I shall send a Marconigram to my cousin. She planned to meet the ship on Wednesday and will want to know if we’ll arrive on Tuesday instead.” He headed for the door again. “I won’t be gone long.”

Once again he went straight to the wireless room, instead of the purser’s office to send his message. Both Phillips and Bride, the wireless operators, sat in the telegraph room. They were busy sending messages and didn’t even look up to acknowledge his entrance.

“
Excuse me,” he began.

“
Can’t talk now,” Jack Phillips barked at him. “Wireless was down most of last night, and we only got her working again at five this morning.”

“
We’ve tons of undelivered messages on our hands,” Harold Bride added.

“
Oh, I see.” Richard paused. “Does this have anything to do with the rumors we shall be arriving early?”

Bride answered. “That and iceberg warnings.”

“
What do you mean?”

“
Lots of ice hereabouts this time of year. Other ships have spotted it and sent messages to the captain.” He backed his chair away from the desk and stood, a fistful of what were apparently telegraph messages in his hand. “Excuse me, sir. I have to take these to the bridge. You can write out your message, if you like, and leave it there for me. Maybe I’ll get to it after I come back.”

Richard thought of doing so but then decided he’d just come back when they weren’t so busy. Besides, they were apparently inundated with other passengers’ messages and looked exhausted from their all-night ordeal.

Time was also short. He’d been invited to join some very distinguished passengers at dinner that evening—as well as in the reception room for cocktails beforehand—and he needed to change clothes and ask Beth to do the same for herself and Kathleen.

He hurried back to the cabin and announced the evening’s plans.

“
We must dress now?” Beth glanced toward Kathleen, who was busy combing Toby’s hair. “Perhaps you should go without us.”

“
Not a bit of it. This is a very special night. I’m told there will be exceptional entertainment and even dancing in the lounge. You must come.” He took both her hands in his and gave her a broad smile.

While she hesitated, Richard felt his heartbeat increase. Having her with him was vital to his plans for the evening. She had obviously been wooed on more than one occasion during the voyage by the clever and good-looking Harry Palmer, but he would not give up without a fight. He had much more to offer than an out-of-work magician and, even though she considered herself far below him in rank, he knew he’d prevail. All he needed were two more days alone with her on the beautiful and luxurious Titanic.

Chapter 17

While Beth helped Kathleen change into an exceptionally pretty dress, she pondered Richard’s earnest invitation to join him, not only for dinner, but also to meet potentially famous or not-so-famous first-class passengers in the reception area. She had to admit he seemed more like the Richard she’d come to know and admire in the first few weeks of their acquaintance. Perhaps she’d only imagined a cooling of his interest in her after he saw her with Harry Palmer. Surely he must realize she considered the magician a mere friend, a colorful character beloved by children for his talent and cheerful nature.

But what about him? Did his dinner with Cecily mean anything or not? He hadn’t said anything, and she refused to ask him about it.

She’d been told that, since the passengers would be packing on the night before arriving in port, the next-to-last evening on board was traditionally a gala event, men in white tie and tails and women in ball gowns. She pulled out her finest dress, unworn so far on this voyage. A lovely creation of aqua-blue taffeta and lace, it had elbow-length sleeves and a neckline that flattered—yet didn’t reveal too much of—her bosom. The skirt had only slight fullness below the empire waist before hanging straight to her shoe tops.

She’d spent a great deal of money on this dress in New York and had worn it to more than one of Lady Wheatly’s dinner parties. She also wanted at least one really splendid dress for the trip back, and this was the perfect occasion for it. Because she’d been in the habit of sending money home for the previous three years, she otherwise never splurged on her clothes, and the rest of them had been worn many times.

She brushed out her hair and twisted it in its usual coil, once again nestling a matching ribbon and small feather into the side. Unlike the other women in first class, she had no expensive necklace or other jewelry to wear. Nothing but the bracelet-watch Lady Wheatly had given her on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of her employment. A few small gem stones, nothing really valuable, made up the wristband and surrounded the watch face, but Beth knew it came from a very posh New York shop, and she’d never before owned anything as beautiful. Plus it told the time quite accurately.

Inasmuch as Lady Wheatly herself wore such a bracelet- watch, Beth sometimes suspected she’d given it to her so she would always be on time for events and appointments. Bracelet-watches were very popular among New York women. Men, however, still preferred pocket watches, which they considered more manly.

Beth applied a dab of rice powder to her nose and smiled at her reflection in the mirror.

When she entered the sitting room, Richard’s quick intake of breath told her he approved. He came toward her and again took her hands—now swathed in long white gloves—in his. He looked quite splendid—his tall, lean figure perfect for a cutaway coat and snowy shirt front.

“
You look beautiful.” He dropped her hands, new color in his cheeks. “But then, you always do. However, I think you will put all the other ladies to shame tonight.”

She blushed at his compliment, even though she knew she could never look as grand as Cecily Thornton.

Richard called to Kathleen, who had been standing on the sofa and peering out a window. “Come along, sweetheart. It’s time to go to dinner.”

Beth followed Richard and Kathleen—who clutched her doll once more—out the door toward the Grand Staircase. Impressed as usual with the elegant structure, with its ornamental clock on one landing and magnificent chandelier overhead, she felt especially grateful that evening for this opportunity to enjoy the splendor of the largest and most glamorous ship in the world. On its maiden voyage at that. Something to tell her children about one day ... if she had any of her own.

In the reception room, they met the colonel and his wife, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Purcell and Doctor and Mrs. Crawford. They chatted about the possibility of arriving in New York earlier than planned, as well as the weather, which had turned exceptionally cold.

“
The cold is not a problem, for we shan’t go out on deck tonight,” the colonel said. “The orchestra will play in the lounge instead.”

While the grown-ups stood about holding cocktail glasses, Kathleen sat with Toby in her lap on a chair nearby and sipped from a glass containing a non-alcoholic concoction the waiter had prepared especially for her. Beth smiled at her from time to time, appreciating the little girl’s forbearance. She was probably hungry, although she’d had milk and biscuits at tea-time.

Finally ushered into the dining saloon, they found their table and proceeded to taste their way through the ten elaborate courses. Beth helped Kathleen, who, as usual, sat next to her, choose from the many dishes. She suggested Kathleen try only five: a little soup, a small portion of poached salmon, even smaller amounts of sautéed chicken, and lamb with mint sauce, plus peas, carrots and potatoes.

“
You may have whatever dessert you like,” she told her.

But Kathleen merely dabbled in the chocolate éclair she chose, her body slumping in the chair and her eyelids heavy.

Beth stood and dropped her napkin into her chair. “I believe it’s time Kathleen returned to the stateroom.” She glanced around at the others seated at the table. “It’s been a pleasure to dine with you this evening, and now I must say good night.”

Richard stood, too, and quickly came around to Beth’s side. “I’m going to put Kathleen to bed tonight. You must stay and enjoy yourself.”

“
I couldn’t,” Beth protested.

“
I insist. I want you to go into the lounge and listen to the orchestra. I’m told they’re going to play ragtime tunes and will have special entertainment this evening.” He took his sleepy daughter into his arms. “Do stop in later and tell me all about it. I’ll be waiting.”

With that, he exited the saloon, and Beth could only stare at his retreating back in wonder. What a generous thing to do. How considerate. She couldn’t help regretting that their time together would soon come to an end. Even if he was not attracted to Cecily, even if the ship did not arrive in New York ahead of schedule, only two more complete days lay ahead of them. She followed the others leaving for the lounge, hoping no one noticed the tears that clouded her eyes.

In the lounge, chairs had been pushed together at the sides of the room, widening the usual space cleared for the orchestra and dancing. On most nights, few people danced so more space wasn’t necessary. Beth and her companions took seats close by.

A master of ceremonies, rather than the band leader, announced the musical numbers, and Beth enjoyed the rhythm of the new music. The tempos were slower than in the tunes she’d danced to the night before; nevertheless, she found her feet tapping from time to time.