The Breath Between Waves

by Charlotte Anne Hamilton

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Discover more New Adult titles from Entangled Embrace… An Unexpected Kind of Love

  Most Ardently

  Full Measures

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2021 by Charlotte Anne Hamilton. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.

  Entangled Publishing, LLC

  10940 S Parker Rd

  Suite 327

  Parker, CO 80134

  rights@entangledpublishing.com

  Embrace is an imprint of Entangled Publishing, LLC.

  Edited by Jen Bouvier

  Cover design by LJ Anderson/Mayhem Cover Creations

  Cover photography by napa74/Adobe Stock

  kanareva and vrvalerian/Deposit Photos

  Christian Petersen and holgs/Getty Images

  ISBN 978-1-64937-188-1

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  First Edition August 2021

  At Entangled, we want our readers to be well-informed. If you would like to know if this book contains any elements that might be of concern for you, please check the book’s webpage for details.

  https://entangledpublishing.com/books/the-breath-between-waves

  for Gran,

  for never giving up on me

  even when I gave up on myself

  Chapter One

  10th April 1912

  The docks were wild.

  Penelope had never seen anything like it.

  She couldn’t count the number of bodies; a huge variety of people from different backgrounds. She passed upper-class ladies with maids trailing behind them with their luggage. Young children ran off in front of their parents as they headed towards the steerage entrance.

  Penelope tightened her hands around her bag as she stepped closer to her mother. She was so focused on ensuring that she didn’t get separated, she hadn’t had a chance to pay attention to the ship. It wasn’t until they stepped into the line for Second Class passengers that she finally allowed herself a moment to look.

  There were no words that suited the ship.

  Four yellow and black funnels were spaced along the deck on top, and countless windows adorned the ship’s body, together with white, black, and red horizontal stripes.

  “She’s magnificent,” Penelope whispered.

  Her father gave a soft laugh. “Isn’t she just?” He slowly shook his head in wonder. “She’s nearly nine hundred feet long and one hundred across, and more than that tall.” There was a sparkle in his eyes that she couldn’t recall ever seeing. “If all goes well with the new job, it is my dream to take a trip back here in First Class… It would be a wonder.”

  Penelope wasn’t sure what shocked her more: that her father had planned to return to Scotland at all, or that he was actually sharing a dream with her. She was so bemused that she couldn’t form a reply.

  Her mother went through the entrance first, and Penelope followed closely, knowing that there was no way off anymore.

  She was aboard, and she was leaving Scotland.

  That thought didn’t keep her attention for long, however—she was mesmerised by the sheer beauty of her surroundings. The walls were white-painted wood, to match the linoleum of the floor. A darker wooden rail sat along the centre of each wall panel, with elegant, electric wall scones placed intermittently to provide lighting.

  A young man beckoned them to the reception desk.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Fletcher, and Miss Penelope Fletcher.” Her father’s voice was straight to the point, not even bothering with returning the young man’s “Hello.” Penelope winced and offered the steward a small smile when his gaze flicked over to her, wishing that the ground would swallow her whole.

  The steward merely turned his attention to the folder in front of him, glancing down the long list before ticking three times. He smiled and waved his arm out to the side.

  “This way, Mr. Fletcher, and I’ll show you and your wife to your room.” He took off without a backwards glance. Penelope wondered if she had been forgotten about, but he added, “Miss Fletcher will be sharing a room, as you are aware. Thankfully, it is only a few doors down from where you and Mrs. Fletcher will be staying.”

  Penelope was just able to hold her snort of laughter in. Her parents would not care if she were two doors away or down in steerage. For the twenty years of her life, she had drifted through their house like a visitor, feeling like an afterthought. She didn’t think it would change now.

  “Your luggage is already in your rooms. Linens are changed daily, and you may request a bath from any of the stewards.” The steward’s pace was so brisk that Penelope had to trot to keep up. Her heart hammered in her chest.

  He said a few more things, giving them directions to the dining hall and some of the amenities, but Penelope hardly listened. Mostly because the things she was interested in—the gymnasium, the saltwater swimming pool, the Café Parisien—were all restricted to First Class, which she was not. She vowed to take some time, after the ship had set sail, to just wander and try and create a map in her mind of the areas she was able to explore.

  They were brought to a stop as the steward opened a door and ushered her mother and father inside. Penelope waited in the corridor, stepping up against the wall to let other people pass by and take a brief minute to catch her breath.

  She had just gotten her breathing back under control when the steward reappeared. Penelope straightened, once again offering him a gentle smile, which he returned this time.

  “Right this way, Miss Fletcher,” he stated and took off again.

  Licking her lips, Penelope took a deep breath and asked, “Is it too much to hope that the room has a map inside?”

  The steward glanced over his shoulder. “You’ll get the hang of it soon enough, Miss Fletcher.” His voice had a different twang to it, an accent she was pretty certain was American, but she had no idea where in America he hailed from.

  The things that Penelope knew about America could barely fill a thimble. It seemed utterly ironic that she would now be calling it her home. A thought that filled her with distaste. She’d been born in Scotland and had hoped to die there.
Scotland meant loved ones and cherished memories. She knew no one in America. Perhaps it would be where she lived, but it would never be her home.

  “I pray you’re right,” Penelope said to the steward. “I do hope to eat on this journey.” She allowed herself a small chuckle and fell into a comfortable silence as they made their way down the corridor.

  Before they reached the end, he stopped and turned to her. “And this is your room, Miss Fletcher.”

  He reached for the handle and pushed the door open as Penelope took a deep breath and held it in her lungs. She let it out in a long gust when she realised that the room was empty—her roommate obviously hadn’t made it aboard yet.

  The steward stepped aside to let her enter and closed the door behind her.

  There was a small floral sofa off to the side. Dark mahogany wood extended through the entire cabin, from the bunks against the wall to two cabinets.

  Penelope turned towards the beds. She couldn’t remember ever sleeping on a bunk, never mind on a ship.

  Placing her case on the bottom bed, Penelope sat down. She was surprised at how soft the mattress seemed as she smoothed her hands along the covers. There was a faint rumble from the engines that she hoped she would grow accustomed to, otherwise she would never get any sleep.

  “No turning back now, Penelope.” She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “The New World means a new life.”

  A distinct click forced Penelope’s eyes open, and she bolted to her feet, narrowly missing banging her head against the top bed.

  Her eyes landed on the opening door, watching as another steward stepped aside and let a young woman enter.

  A large hat with blue and white silk flowers was perched on her head, and she wore a light cotton and lace dress that flew elegantly around her person. Her blonde hair was pinned beneath the hat in messy curls, and her skin had a beautiful pink tinge to it. She looked like an angel.

  “Oh!” The woman drew to a halt as she took in Penelope. An easy smile spread across her face. “May I assume that you’re to be my roommate during this journey?” When she stepped farther into the room, the steward left and closed the door behind him.

  “I am. My name is Penelope Fletcher.” As Penelope held her hand out, she noticed that the stranger’s hands were clad in crocheted lace gloves.

  “Charmed.” She had an Irish lilt to her voice that had grown more noticeable after she’d heard Penelope speak. “Ruby Cole, at your service.” Her plump lips tugged into a grin, and she gently squeezed Penelope’s hand.

  Ruby then released her hand, looking around the room. “So this is it? I must confess, it is nicer than I dared hope.” She slowly turned in a circle. “I see you’ve already claimed a bed.” Her eyes rested on Penelope’s case that she’d left on the lower bunk.

  Colour flooded Penelope’s cheeks. “I hope you don’t mind, I was worried about being on the top…”

  Ruby carelessly waved a hand. “Have no fear. I have no preference.” She had a small purse looped around her wrist, and as she spoke, she slid it free and placed it by the pillow on the top bed. “And I’m rather used to sea voyages. My family makes the journey across to America quite often.”

  Penelope’s eyes widened. “Truly?” Ruby nodded once, that easy smile still in place. “I’ve never been on a ship before,” Penelope confessed, even though she felt a little like a fool for saying such a thing.

  Ruby’s thick brows puckered, and her smile grew. “Well, perhaps it is a good thing that you picked the bottom bunk. We shall also have to move a bucket nearby, just in case.”

  Penelope’s cheeks felt like they were aflame, and she wondered what sort of a mess she looked like. Her hair was in disarray due to having had no care for more than an easy bun, and now her cheeks were red from embarrassment. Sometimes she wondered just what Caroline had ever seen in her.

  At the thought of the ex-lover she’d had to leave behind, Penelope flinched, turning her back on Ruby to examine the piles of luggage that had been brought to the rooms. They mostly contained clothes, but she had managed to sneak an embroidery hoop and some threads inside with help of the maid.

  “Shall we share the wardrobe, or will we live out of our suitcases?” Ruby asked.

  Before Penelope could reply, a loud sound shook the ship, causing her to give a startled yelp. Her hand flew to her heart, and she felt it hammering against her ribs.

  Ruby placed a hand on Penelope’s shoulder, and the touch tingled Penelope’s skin, even through the cotton of her dress. It did nothing to ease the rapid beating of her heart, however, especially when her grip tightened as their eyes met.

  “Calm down, dear, it is just the horn to signal that we’re getting ready to launch.” Ruby’s touch lingered for a moment longer before she clasped her hands together in front of her. “Do you wish to go up to the deck? I heard talk that there is a huge crowd here to see the ship off.”

  Penelope nodded and followed Ruby through the corridors towards the stairs. It seemed that other people had had similar ideas, for the entire staircase was packed, both up towards the deck and down towards the engines.

  The quick journey, which should have taken no more than five minutes, ended up taking fifteen. Penelope started to worry that they would miss it all, but when they stepped onto the deck, the ship had barely moved. It was leaving at a painfully slow pace.

  Penelope had believed that the crowd on the docks would have thinned out by now, but it seemed even busier. The people looked tiny from here as they cheered and waved farewell to loved ones.

  “Is it always like this?” she enquired when she felt Ruby step up to her side at the railing.

  Ruby answered her with a carefree laugh. “No, I’m afraid not. This”—she spread her arm out towards the cheering crowds—“is because the ship is setting a precedent, both as the largest ship afloat and the first ship to sail to America from Southampton. If it goes well, Daddy reckons all ships will soon be sailing from here.”

  Ruby started to wave back at the crowd. It took Penelope only a second of hesitation before she joined in.

  “So…in many ways…RMS Titanic is making history?”

  “Exactly.” Ruby smiled as she continued to wave. “And everyone loves to be a part of history.”

  Chapter Two

  Penelope still didn’t want to move while the ship set sail. Even after Ruby had left to find her family, she had stayed on the deck.

  She found it difficult to believe that it would be the last time she would ever see Britain—at least for a while.

  It was only when the sea stretched on before her and a cool wind started to chill her bones that Penelope wrapped her arms around her midriff and made her way back below deck.

  She remembered the deck—E Deck—but navigating there proved a touch more difficult, especially since every room seemed to be a cabin and she’d been so anxious when boarding that she hadn’t made a note of their room number.

  Penelope pursed her lips, glancing around to find something familiar to ground herself.

  Her pace was slow, taking in every little detail as she walked. She could tell from all the doors that she passed that E Deck was largely cabins for all classes. She passed door numbers as high as E-200, and it made her head swim, wondering how many rooms there were in total and how many people such a mighty ship could hold.

  When she turned a corner, she was thankful to see Ruby leaving a nearby room. She was pretty certain it wasn’t their room, however, and so she called out, “Miss Cole!”

  Her roommate drew to a halt, turning to face her with wide eyes and raised eyebrows. “Oh! Miss Fletcher, please, call me Ruby!” She smiled. “What can I do for you?”

  “I’m…afraid I’m a little lost? I’m trying to find our room so that I can find my parents’ room to see what we’re doing for luncheon.”

  The teasing nature of Ruby’s smile only
served to make Penelope’s face redden further. Her hands fisted the folds in her skirt that cascaded from the pleats at her waist.

  “You weren’t too far away. At the very least, you’ll remember now that our room number is E-56.”

  Penelope didn’t want to admit that, despite now knowing the room number, she would probably still get lost. It was such a huge ship, and she was painfully aware that there were so many different directions and so many corridors. It made her wonder how she was going to cope in Massachusetts with all its bustle.

  Ruby stepped forwards, winding her arm through Penelope’s.

  As soon as her fingers settled in the crook of Ruby’s elbow, all she could focus on—and look at—was the way they nestled so perfectly against her as she led her down the corridor, thankfully in the same direction she had been heading.

  There were so many layers between them—Penelope’s coat and dress, Ruby’s gloves—but that didn’t seem to matter. As Penelope stared at where they touched, she was pretty positive she could feel Ruby’s skin against her own…feel her breath against her lips…feel her moan in her ear.

  Surprised at the direction of her thoughts, Penelope cleared her throat and tried to remember what Ruby had been saying. “Then…my parents must be in Room E-62…” Penelope declared, distracting herself.

  When they stopped in front of the door, she was all too aware that Ruby was still there, watching her with that damnable smile on her pink lips. “Will you knock to see if you are correct? Or just stand there, hoping it’ll magically open before you?” Her Irish accent was so strong, her tease rolling off her tongue so quickly, it seemed to be one long word. And even though it was completely different from Penelope’s, it made her feel a bit less homesick.

  Catching herself as she bit her lower lip, Penelope rapped her knuckles against the door. Ruby smiled before moving down towards their shared bedroom.

  Please let this be the right room. I shall die of embarrassment if an unfamiliar face answers, she thought as she heard the door handle click. Her breath left her in a gush as her father’s clean-shaven, sharp face greeted her, his chestnut brown hair combed to one side.