At noon, with much fanfare—including loud whistles that Beth was certain could be heard all over Southampton—the ship, pushed and pulled by five tugs, moved out into the River Test. When the tugs dropped their lines, the engines started to turn the Titanic’s propellers, sending the ship down the river toward the English Channel. As Beth hurried toward the stern, she saw the giant wake formed by the hull push against two other ships docked in the river. One of them, the New York, rose up in the water because of the Titanic’s wake and, when it dropped back, its mooring lines snapped. At that, the stern of the New York swung toward the Titanic. The other ship closed in and Beth’s heart pounded. She held her breath, expecting a crash at any moment.
But, almost at once, another tug came near and its crew got a line on board. The Titanic was only four feet away from the New York, when she slipped past the other vessel without damage to either. Beth let out her breath. She should have known those captains were experienced sailors, too skilled to let bad things happen.
She walked the promenade deck slowly, enjoying the sights and sounds of the moving ship. Lunch was supposed to be served at one, but it was an hour later when she heard the bugle play the call. She supposed that, this being the first voyage of a new ship, delays could be expected. She found Richard and Kathleen back in the stateroom.
Kathleen rushed to her. “Are you hungry, Miss Beth? Pa-pa says lunch is late because we almost bumped into another boat.”
“Yes, isn’t it lucky they didn’t hit each other?” She glanced at Richard. “I am hungry. May we go to the dining saloon now?”
“By all means.”
Once in the vast, beautiful room, they decided to forgo the regular menu and instead go to the buffet, where they chose from lobster, roast beef and shrimp, as well as cheeses, pudding and pastry.
After lunch Beth suggested Kathleen might need a nap, but the child protested. “I’m not the least bit tired. I want to see everything on the ship.”
“It’s such an exciting day for her. I think we can skip naptime just this once.” Richard took the little girl’s hand and looked at Beth. “We won’t be gone long.”
Beth sighed and watched them leave, happy to see Richard doing what he’d told her he wanted to do—spend time with his daughter. She returned to the stateroom and wrote a short note to her parents, using the elegant stationery the ship provided. Later, a steward brought her a tray containing a pot of tea and a few biscuits. She welcomed the time to herself, which would be, she supposed, rare. She expected few breaks during the crossing. After all, in spite of Richard’s attention to the child that day, she was responsible for Kathleen’s care and safety. She knew well that governesses seldom enjoyed off-duty time.
In the late afternoon, she ventured outside again. After a while, she thought she might see the ship’s arrival at Cherbourg, but the dock was too small to accommodate a vessel as large as the Titanic. It was almost seven o’clock by then and too dark to make out much except black shapes of buildings and lights in the distance. Two tenders approaching the ship contained more passengers boarding for the voyage. Then, when a sudden squall brought rain and wind and made the sea choppy, she retreated to the protection of her cabin.
Moments later, Richard knocked on the connecting door.
“Come in,” she said, and he entered, frowning.
“I’m afraid I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Not at all. I’m here to do whatever you want.”
“Kathleen has fallen asleep. Poor thing. I suspect she’s rather worn out from the excitement today. In addition,” he added somewhat sheepishly, “I may have walked her around the ship too much this afternoon.”
Beth rose from her chair and followed him into the sitting room, where Kathleen lay on the sofa, eyes closed. She surmised that his favor involved staying with Kathleen while he went to dinner alone; her recess had come to an end.
“I’ll get her into her night-dress and stay with her,” she told him. “Go on to your dinner.”
“But—” he protested.
“I don’t mind, really. That’s what I’m here for.” She gave him a reassuring smile.
He shrugged but carried the child into the other room and laid her on the bed in her sleeping alcove. He turned to leave. “I shan’t be long.”
“Please don’t hurry on my account. Just ask the steward to bring me something.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I am.” She paused. “There is one favor I might ask of you.”
“Anything. What is it?”
“Since you will be dining in the first-class saloon and I’m told there are many famous people making this maiden voyage ...”
“Yes?”
“I’d like to know if you see anyone important, if some prominent people are seated at your table.”
Richard chuckled. “So you might attend vicariously.”
“Yes. Perhaps you could describe them for me. That will be almost as good as meeting them myself. My mother and sisters would be thrilled to know I came close to such persons. Especially Lady Duff Gordon.”
“Lady Duff Gordon? Who’s that?”
“She’s the famous couturier who calls herself Madame Lucile.”
“She’s on this ship?”
“She and her husband boarded at Cherbourg because she had just visited her Paris salon.”
“How did you come to learn all this?”
“I overheard some ladies talking about her when I walked on the promenade deck this afternoon.”
He shrugged. “I can’t guarantee I’ll see anyone famous, but I’ll do my best.”
When Richard left, Beth gently removed Kathleen’s clothes and got her ready for bed. The child wakened only briefly during the ritual, smiled a moment at the sight of Beth and fell instantly asleep again once the covers were pulled up to her chin. Beth turned out the light in the alcove, left the connecting door open and settled into a lounge chair in the sitting room.
As she had predicted, the steward soon appeared.
“Mr. Graham stopped in the passage and asked me to see to your dinner, ma’am.”
“Thank you.”
“I can bring you the meat and the fish. Fish tonight is Lemon Sole.”
“Only the fish, if you please.”
When, twenty minutes later, he wheeled in the cart of food, she discovered far more than Lemon Sole. He’d provided an appetizer of pate, then five more courses, Parkerhouse rolls, even a luscious dessert called “Waldorf Pudding.” Plus both coffee and tea.
She finished her meal and was about to go next door to bring back a copy of The Virginian, which her father had given her, when the door opened and Richard entered. He seemed suddenly shy and didn’t speak at once.
“Mr. Graham, you’ve returned so early.”
“I’d finished my meal and didn’t find the other diners at my table terribly interesting. In addition, I worried about you not having dinner.”
“The steward brought mine, as you see.” She pointed to the serving tray with its empty plates. “He said you asked him to do so.”
“That’s right, I did.”
Again he lapsed into silence before taking a seat in the lounge chair opposite her.
Beth broke the silence. “I’m disappointed that you found the other diners uninteresting. I gather the Astors were not seated at your table.” Beth grinned to let him know her expectation had not been serious. Lord Astor’s recent marriage to a very young girl had been the topic of many newspaper and magazine articles.
“No, I didn’t see them. They may have dined at the captain’s table.” He rose and poured himself a small glass of wine from the decanter on the sideboard. “However, we did have at least one distinguished passenger at our table; Sir Hubert Thornton and his wife were there, as well as their daughter Cecily.”
Beth had a sudden thought. “Their daughter? How old is she? Might she become a playmate for Kathleen during the crossing?”
Richard chuckled again. “Hardly. I b
elieve the young woman is at least eighteen, although at times she acts considerably older. Not every man’s daughter is as young as mine.”
Beth shrugged. “Well, perhaps there are other children on board who, like Kathleen, are asleep instead of at dinner.” She remembered the other recreational opportunities. “After dinner, I thought you might want to have a cigar in the smoking room or play cards.”
“I don’t smoke.”
Beth stared at him, her mouth partly open. Not smoke?
He seemed to feel an explanation was necessary. “When I was about twelve, and still living at home, of course, some school chums and I tried smoking behind the barns, but—in my case at least—it never caught on. I became terribly sick. They told me that would wear off, that I’d get used to it in time and actually like it. However, I never tried again.” He paused. “It’s a long story I won’t bore you with right now.”
“Right now,” he had said. Did he mean to tell her more about his growing up another time? She hoped so, then scolded herself. Under the circumstances, it was probably better not to get to know him too well. In fact, perhaps he had no intention of allowing her to do so. After all, in his eyes, she was a mere employee.
“I do play cards, however,” he added.
“Whist?’
“Yes, and the new game, Auction Bridge, as well.”
“Then I’m surprised you returned so soon. I’m told many people are flocking to it.”
“Whist has been around a long time, of course, but Bridge is becoming very popular, although it requires great concentration. Something I don’t feel up to at the moment.”
Beth rose from her chair. “I’m sorry to hear that, sir, but perhaps you need rest. I’ll leave you now.”
He stood and moved toward her. “No, don’t go. Stay and talk to me.” He held out a hand. “It’s not often I have an opportunity to speak with a lovely young lady.”
She halted, smoothed her hair, which, since the hour was late and she wore no hat on the ship, had come loose from its usual coil, long strands lying about her shoulders. “I ... Thank you, sir, but I ...”
“You remind me of Julia Marlowe. Indeed, I think you are as beautiful as any stage actress.”
A stage actress? Many people still frowned upon actors, although personally she felt they didn’t deserve such scorn. Acting required a great deal of talent and hard work, to say nothing of good looks. She couldn’t suppress the sudden smile that lifted her lips but moved closer to the connecting door.
“Thank you, sir. Good night, sir.” She entered her cabin and closed the door.
Instead of undressing immediately, she sat on the couch and thought about what Richard Graham had just said. No opportunity to speak with a lovely young lady? But, what about that young lady—what was her name?—Cecily Thornton—he’d just been introduced to at dinner? Perhaps, Beth reasoned, Miss Thornton was not a very attractive person. On the other hand, many a gentleman had married a plain woman for her fortune. Why, in fact, had Richard brought up the subject of Beth’s looks at all when he obviously had no intention of following through?
Of course, some men had motives other than courting and marriage on their minds when complimenting women. She knew from conversations with other girls that servants were sometimes the object of less-than-honorable attention from males in the households where they were employed. Some had even lost their jobs when they refused those advances.
Beth found it difficult to believe that Richard Graham would behave that way. He seemed the soul of propriety and had been singled out by Lady Wheatly as a suitable marriage prospect for her very own niece. His wife now deceased, he might merely be in need of feminine companionship. Because everything he’d said and done pointed to his considering her beneath him, he probably didn’t have any intention of pursuing a respectable courtship with her. If that were the case, how would they get along during the seven days spent on board the ship?
Chapter 5
As if trying to prove he’d not spoken hastily about getting to know his daughter better, Richard announced the next morning that he would be Kathleen’s caretaker that day. Although she liked the child enormously and looked forward to their time together, Beth was glad for a respite from her responsibility as governess. She said goodbye to them as they departed.
After breakfast, she decided to explore the ship. On registering the day before, she’d been given a booklet with statistics and several maps, so she’d already learned the Titanic was the newest and largest passenger liner in the world, with ten decks and 840 staterooms.
After an hour of reading and testing the validity of the maps by walking down several corridors, Beth returned to the Promenade Deck and discovered that—as she’d been told—they were anchored outside of Queenstown. More passengers were embarking by way of tenders bringing them from the dock to the ship. She stood at the rail to watch the process. After almost an hour, Richard and Kathleen joined her.
Kathleen left her father’s side and, despite her doll, threw her arms around Beth’s skirt. “Miss Beth, are you going to walk with us?”
Richard tipped his hat and smiled. “You’re more than welcome.”
Beth paused a moment, wondering if she should join them after the events of the night before. Perhaps she had taken his words too seriously. In the light of day, he once again seemed the perfect gentleman. Besides, Kathleen was already saying, “Please, Miss Beth,” and, putting her hand in Beth’s, was pulling her along.
“Very well, if you wish. I’d be happy to join you.” She smiled at Kathleen but didn’t glance at Richard.
Kathleen set the pace, either pulling them along or stopping suddenly to rush to the rail and look at whatever caught her attention.
“I believe we’re to have a rather large group of emigrants on board,” Richard said.
Beth looked up. “I’m not surprised.”
“I don’t mean that disparagingly. I’m sure you know that most ships making the crossing carry scores of people who are leaving England and Ireland for good. They intend to make their future home in America.”
“Yes. One of my very own school chums has done the same thing.”
“I believe you told me you’d like to remain there as well.”
“My plans may differ from theirs, however.”
“No doubt you have no need to seek a better life. When I called for you at your home the day we went to the zoo, I couldn’t help noticing your parents have a ...” he paused, “a quite suitable house.”
“It’s rented. They don’t own it.” Beth walked away from him then, joining Kathleen at the rail. Her face felt warm, and she decided she’d been too hasty to point out her parents’ lowly status compared to him. On the other hand, he’d surely meant to be polite and didn’t care about their circumstances anyway.
Richard came to her side and spoke softly. “You must remember I’m an American. I don’t ascribe to distinctions of class or heritage. I find it admirable that you—as well as these thousands of others—are willing to go to such great lengths to find new homes. In my opinion, there is no better place than America to do that.”
“I think their better life has already begun,” she said. “They may not have a spacious cabin in first class, but I’ve been in homes in the poorer parts of London, and I’m sure even third class is nicer than most of those. I’ve read that this ship has electric lights and heat in every room.”
Kathleen had tired of the current view from the deck and skipped ahead. Beth and Richard followed.
“I get the feeling,” Richard continued, “that you’re more concerned about your so-called station in life than I am. That you believe I look down on you because you’re not as wealthy as the Wheatlys, or me, for that matter.”
“Except that you live ...” She stopped. She’d been going to remark that his house in Belgrave Square was far grander than anything her salary could provide, but that would make her sound envious. She didn’t envy him, or anyone with a larger home or more material poss
essions. She was, however, envious of his ability to improve his prospects—a privilege that seemed only to be accorded in the United States. That’s why she wanted to go back. That was why all those emigrants were willing to leave their homelands.
“I’m a working man, just as you’re a working woman. I was fortunate to have skills that were useful to Lord Wheatly’s company, and for those he pays me handsomely.” He angled toward her as they walked. “You’re using your skills to make your way as well, so we’re truly no different.”
She smiled at him. His little speech had made it clear he thought as she did. “Thank goodness for America.”
He grinned. “Amen to that.”
Kathleen rushed up to them. “The people in the little boats disappear when they get close. Are they getting on our ship?”
“Yes, they’re going to America with us,” Richard said.
“I saw lots of children. Will I get to play with them?”
“I don’t know,” Beth answered. “We shall see.” She wondered if Richard would stay true to his egalitarian speeches if a child from steerage wanted to play with Kathleen.
Richard pulled his watch from his vest pocket. “Shall we go to the dining saloon? I believe it’s time for lunch.”
“Oh, yes, please.” Kathleen took her father’s hand. “May we go in the lift?”
“In America they call it an elevator.”
“Then may we go in the ela-bator?”
Richard chuckled at her pronunciation. “Yes, in the ela-bator.”
* * *
After lunch, when they walked out on the deck again, the view had changed dramatically. The day was fine, with a blue sky and a few puffy white clouds but, other than that, nothing but blue-green ocean stretched out around them on all sides.
Kathleen soon grew bored and yawned. “Will you read a story to me, Miss Beth?”
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