Queen of the Waves

by Janice Thompson

  This certainly piqued Nathan’s interest. “Are you working onboard, then?”

  “Only just.” The fellow chuckled. “It’s the luck o’ the Irish to blame.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes. I planted myself dockside early this morning all in the hopes that a stoker position would open up.”

  “And it did?”

  “Yes, and quite the tale, from what I hear. A handful of slouches overstayed their welcome at a local pub. Had one pint too many and let the time get away from them.” The fellow slapped his knee, and a raucous laugh followed. They arrived portside just as that gangway was pulled up. Missed boarding by a quarter inch, they did.”

  “You’re saying they were turned away?”

  “Indeed.” He chuckled. “And not a mite happy about it, from what I hear. Almost started a fight with the petty officers when they held their ground on the matter.”

  Nathan shook his head as he tried to imagine the disappointment those men must be feeling right now. “All that for a few pints?” The fellow nodded and crossed his arms at his chest. “Their loss is me gain.” He squared his shoulders and puffed out his chest. “The position has now been filled.” When he offered a broad smile, it revealed a missing tooth. Not that the fellow seemed to notice or care. He continued to grin, his eyes wide with excitement. “Six days aboard the finest ship ever built. I don’t mind crawling below to stoke the fires if it means I can take me meals like a gentleman. Even the crew will eat like kings aboard Titanic, I hear tell.”

  “Yes, I understand the food is marvelous.”

  “Marvelous.” The young man offered another near-toothless grin. “That’s the word for it, yer right about that. Still a marvel to me that she’s sailing at all, what with the coal strike. You know they’ve stripped the coal from other ships to make sure Titanic has what she needs for the journey?”

  “So I read in the paper.”

  “I doubt you will see much of me, but that’s not a complaint on my end. Happy to be onboard, I am.”

  Off in the distance a whistle sounded and the man started to attention. “That’s my signal. I’d best be gettin’ on my way. Nice to meet you, sir.”

  “And you as well,” Nathan said. “I hope the trip is everything you’ve hoped for.”

  “No doubt it will be. And more.” The fellow took off sprinting toward the stairwell, his voice fading away among the multitude of people.

  As Nathan turned his attention back to the churning waters of the Atlantic, he couldn’t help but think the fellow was right. This trip would turn out to be all they had dreamed. All, and much, much more.

  Wednesday, April 10, 1912, 11:59 a.m.

  The White Star Line Dock

  Jacquie stopped to catch her breath, now safely ashore. Knowing that Tessa had made it onboard relieved her on several levels, but tendrils of fear still wrapped themselves around Jacquie’s heart as she contemplated the fact that Mother was somewhere in this crowd, looking on. Hopefully they wouldn’t stumble across one another.

  A long, low whistle blast sounded from the ship one minute before noon. From the crowd came a roar of approval. From the top deck, flags flew and the band played with merriment. Within minutes, Titanic would begin her voyage toward America—with Tessa and Iris safely tucked away in Cabin B-54.

  Chapter Twelve

  Wednesday, April 10, 1912, Noon

  Aboard the Titanic

  Tessa gripped the Boat Deck railing and gulped for air. She fought to get control of her emotions. Her gaze shifted away from the large vessel, which now held her captive to her new life, and onto the rolling hills in the distance. For a moment—a few brief seconds, really— she longed for home. Just as quickly, the feeling passed. After the noon whistle blast, she realized there would be no turning back.

  Off in the distance, the sound of the drum corps battled against several male voices singing “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.” Something about the mix made her a bit dizzy. Of course, this whole thing had her feeling dizzy. As the singing grew louder, she glanced up to see several fellows, with arms linked, making their way through the crowd in front of her. From the way they stumbled about, they’d had a few too many. She recognized the familiar stumble-bumble routine from years of watching Pa in such a state.

  Pa.

  Tessa pinched her eyes shut to avoid thinking about him. Still, as the inebriated fellows staggered by, their voices raised in ill-harmonized singing, her knees began to ache. When the men disappeared into the crowd, she drew a steady breath. “I’m onboard.”

  She had expected a confrontation. A challenge. And yet here she stood, a lady dressed in an expensive gown with a very tight corset, holding a boarding pass in her hand. She glanced up as a group of women passed by. One was rather odd in appearance, dressed in a man’s vest and smoking a cigar. Tessa waved her hand in front of her nose as the obnoxious odor permeated the air.

  A spruced-up lady followed behind the group, practically dripping with diamonds and a variety of other colorful jewels. Her tall, feathered hat bobbed this way and that as she attempted to walk on shoes that were clearly too tight. As if she hadn’t drawn enough attention to herself with her eccentric attire, the woman carried a smallish yappy dog in her arms, one that clearly didn’t care for his surroundings. Interesting, how much the dog and the woman resembled one another, each wearing a diamond-studded collar.

  The woman spoke to the fussy pup as one would coddle a child. A dapper fellow with a cane stepped into the spot behind her and the feisty canine bared his teeth. Just as quickly, the man tipped his derby, offered a wide berth, and disappeared into the crowd. The woman clung tightly to the little dog, still speaking in baby talk, as she headed off on her way.

  Tessa closed her eyes and attempted to breath in the salty sea air but caught a whiff of overpowering perfume. Her eyes flew open as she heard youthful voices. Her heart soared to her throat as a group of young ladies about her age passed by. One of them wore an emerald-encrusted tiara, which sparkled under the ribbons of sunlight streaming down from above. Was she an heiress, perhaps? Or royalty of some sort?

  Tessa pinched her eyes shut again, as if to hide herself away from the girls. Realizing how silly that must look, she opened them again. Hopefully they wouldn’t stop to talk. No, thank goodness, they barely gave her a second glance before moving on.

  Finally convinced she could manage the trip to her room, Tessa set off to find it. Inside the lobby, she approached the most impressive staircase she had ever seen. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched well-to-do passengers ascending and descending this magnificent flight of stairs, which seemed to lead to heaven itself. If she climbed it, would she find herself on a cloud, perhaps? Having dinner with an angel? Or would she step off into the unknown, never to be heard from again?

  Tessa glanced up at the domed ceiling and gasped. Beams of sunlight rippled through, casting a rainbow of colors below. The whole thing felt like a scene from a fairy story, one set in palatial splendor. How could she, a pig farmer’s daughter, have landed in such a place? Had she fallen asleep and dreamed it? Would she awaken to find she’d been booted overboard?

  “I feel like Alice gone through the looking-glass,” she whispered. “Is this really to be my home for the next six days?” She could hardly imagine such a thing possible, and yet here she stood, in the most opulent of surroundings, dressed in a gentlewoman’s finery and feeling like a queen.

  She gave her boarding pass another look. It was much larger than she had imagined, and more colorful. She ran her finger over the words: OCEANIC STEAM NAVIGATION CO LIMITED, WHITE STAR LINE, MESS: I’S ISMAY, IMRIE & CO., 30 JAMES ST. LIVERPOOL.

  It felt so…official. So real.

  This is real, isn’t it? I’m not dreaming?

  No, from the sights, sounds, and smells enveloping her, Titanic was, indeed, real. Her opportunity to leave the past behind suddenly held appeal. Bright blue skies shone through the glass domed ceiling overhead as if to say, “Better thing
s lay ahead, Tessa.” For a moment, she felt invigorated, courageous. Just as quickly, she thought about Peter and wondered how she could possibly live without him.

  From behind, someone bumped into her and she had no choice but to begin the ascent. One careful step after another she made the journey, pausing only to gaze at the exquisite clock in the middle. Another whistle blast sounded, deep, sobering. Then another followed. The ground beneath her feet began to tremble. Or was that her trembling?

  A steward at the edge of the stairway gave her a little nod. “Do you need help finding your room, miss?”

  “Oh, I…yes.” She nodded and did her best to look calm and assured. “That would be very helpful. I’m searching for B Deck, but I’m afraid I’m a bit turned around.”

  The fellow offered a comforting smile. “Easy to get that way on the Titanic. She’s larger than most and designed like a maze.” He gave her detailed instructions for reaching B Deck, but she found it difficult to focus with so many people rushing by.

  After she took just a couple of steps upward, the ship jarred, and she grabbed hold of the railing. She glanced back at the steward, who offered an assuring smile. “The engines have started now, miss. The hawsers are being dropped, and tugboats will pull us out to the River Test. You might want to put off finding your room until we’ve pulled away from shore. You don’t want to miss this.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes. Why don’t you head up to the Boat Deck at the top of the ship to watch as we pull away from Southampton? You may never get an opportunity to see something like this again. I daresay none of us will.”

  “All right, then.” The idea of delaying the inevitable held some appeal, particularly when she thought about having to face Iris in Cabin B-54.

  She ascended the stairway and, minutes later, found herself in the midday sunlight on the Boat Deck. Tessa managed to press herself into a spot along the harbor-side railing. Glancing out at the scene before her, she took in the crowd along the shore.

  To her right several women decked out in furs and jewels stood at the railing, waving their lace handkerchiefs and smiling. From somewhere off in the distance the band continued to play its merry tune. Then, as the song ended, everything fell eerily silent. She could sense the breathlessness in the people at the railing as they waited for Titanic to press her way toward the mighty Atlantic.

  Like a bird taking flight, the splendid ship began to ease away from her berth. Reverent silence was replaced with cheers and shouts as the people offshore waved their farewells. Passengers returned with waves and cheerful good-byes. Tessa’s heart swelled within her as she took it all in. Truly, the majesty of such a moment could not be expressed in mere words. She silently thanked the steward who had suggested she witness firsthand such a grand occasion as this.

  A passel of rowdy fellows standing near her whooped and hollered. One even played a mouth organ while waving his cap. All around her, people celebrated. Tessa felt a surge of excitement rush through her, coupled with the usual feelings of terror. Oh, how she longed to see her brother one last time. If only she could make out his face in the crowd. With so many pressed in together, she could not. Still, she imagined him standing among them, waving and wishing her well.

  Tessa felt a gentle movement beneath her feet as the ship stirred. She peered over the edge at the rollicking waters below. As the Titanic moved along, the massive vessel stirred the waters with such force that another smaller boat appeared to be in harm’s way. A loud noise, much like a gunshot, rang out as the moorings broke. A collective gasp went up from all onboard the Titanic as they watch the little vessel steer frighteningly near. Would they crash before ever setting out to sea?

  Titanic ground to a halt, and the smaller vessel quieted. With a bit of maneuvering, she got on her way again, avoiding catastrophe. Still, the near miss caused Tessa’s heart to rise to her throat. Only when Titanic glided ever forward toward the River Test did she begin to relax.

  Onlookers on the dock followed the ship’s movements, running alongside at a steady pace, as if they could run all the way from Southampton across the waters to New York. Many hollered out their Godspeeds. Tessa felt their energy as it laced the air around them. Then, with the haughtiness of a queen approaching her throne, Titanic headed out to sea—bold, courageous, and just a bit too big for her britches.

  Iris peered out of the cabin window at the small ship off in the distance. Unless her eyes deceived her, the smaller ship, the New York, bobbed up and down like a cork flung from its bottle. Clearly, the vessel was no match for the massive Titanic.

  Iris certainly understood how that felt. Cowering under the rocky movement of Jacquie Abingdon’s charade, she too felt like a ship pulled from its moorings. Why, oh why, had she allowed herself to be pulled into such a poorly conceived plan? Ah yes, to begin a new life in New York, one where rich debutants didn’t rule the day, and where girls such as herself actually stood a chance at making something of their lives.

  The rumble of the engines from deep within the bowels of the mighty ship convinced Iris that there was no turning back now. She looked away from the window and drew a deep breath as she reclined on the settee. Whether or not Tessa Bowen had made it onto the ship, Iris could not be sure. She half wished the irritating pig farmer’s daughter remained ashore. Then Iris could travel to America in peace.

  Yes, wouldn’t that be lovely? She could spend her days in this room, eating fine foods and dreaming of a better life in America. And hopefully, like the little vessel outside her window, she would weather any storms life might bring her way and come out stronger in the end.

  Wednesday, April 10, 1912, 12:15 p.m.

  The White Star Line Dock

  Jacquie wove her way through the crowd on the dock, avoiding anyone who even remotely looked like her mother. The next couple of days would be tricky. With Mama staying overnight at the Harbour Hotel and Jacquie at the nearby Willingham, she would have to guard her every step. Having her meals brought to her room would be the only solution. After Mama left for Paris on tomorrow morning’s train, Jacquie could finally relax.

  A niggling of fear ran through her as she thought about her plan. It would not include fancy rooms onboard a luxury liner, nor would it include fine foods or new dresses. But with Peter’s hand in hers, it would be a life worth living.

  Peter.

  Just the mention of his name brought a rush of courage and joy. He would meet her at the Willingham tomorrow to discuss a plan. If they played their roles with ease, Father would be none the wiser. For now, anyway.

  Six days. Jacquie had six days until the Titanic arrived in New York. Then her parents would know all. Until then, she could focus on planning the rest of her life with the man she loved.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Wednesday, April 10, 1912, Midafternoon

  Aboard the Titanic, on the Boat Deck

  The encounter with the smaller ship set Nathan’s nerves on edge, but he breathed a sigh of relief when Titanic found her legs. “That was a close call.” He gave a nod toward the vessel that still bobbed about on the rocky waters.

  “I’ve been aboard the New York.” An older man at his side pointed down at the smaller vessel. “She seemed large at the time, but no more.”

  Nathan chuckled. “Glad I’m not her skipper. That was a little too close for comfort. My congratulations to the captain for managing the maneuver with such detail.”

  “I have it on good authority that our captain is the finest in the industry. We’re in good hands with Edward Smith at the stern.”

  “So I’ve heard. An admirable fellow. About ready to retire, I believe.”

  “Who could retire with a ship such as this? I think I’d stay in my position as long as possible, just to ride the pond aboard the Titanic.” The man gestured to the smokestacks off in the distance. “Was there ever anything more impressive?”

  “She’s a beauty, that’s for sure.”

  The man introduced himself as George A. Brayton jus
t as four whistle blasts sounded. “Looks like we’re passing the Royal Yacht Squadron,” he called out.

  Nathan’s excitement heightened. “Perfect. We’re on our way.”

  Mr. Brayton nodded. “Yes, it’s just a twenty-four-mile journey down the River Test to the English Channel. After that, it will be smooth sailing to the coast of France.”

  “Smooth sailing.” Nathan nodded, happy to be heading home. “Sounds mighty good.”

  “An hour and a half until we arrive in Cherbourg. Just enough time to win a pocket full of money with a hand of cards. Might I entice you to join me?”

  “No, thank you.” Nathan couldn’t abide the idea of gambling while on land, let alone at sea. Still, he wouldn’t insult the fellow by saying so aloud. “I think I’ll have a look about the ship. There’s much to see.”

  “All I care to see is a handful of aces, my friend.” Mr. Brayton tipped his bowler, elevated a bushy brow, and headed off toward the stairs.

  Convinced that everything was under control, Nathan strolled the Boat Deck, taking in the sights, the sounds, and the people. A little girl with dark curls skipped along, a jovial dance in her step. If one could judge from external appearances, the child had not a care in the world. She turned to call out to a man in an unfamiliar language, and he scooped her into his arms and twirled her around until she laughed with glee.

  Well behind them, a woman of means tried to walk in her hobble skirt, her stance putting forth the image of one who was austere, proud. She drew attention to herself not just with her unusual attire, but in her inability to take more than a few steps without stumbling. Nathan did his best not to laugh at her obvious self-inflicted misfortune.

  A fellow in a plain brown suit carried a large camera and paused several times to take pictures. Nathan watched his fellow passengers, completely mesmerized. What an eclectic mix of people.