Then she turned and ran up the stairs, hoisting her evening gown in her free hand as she dragged Ruby along behind her. Their laughter stopped as they reached the Bridge Deck and continued to the next level.
“Last chance to back out,” Ruby announced, even though she had overtaken Penelope and was now leading the way.
Penelope just scoffed. “No chance, my dear.”
So they continued to climb the stairs up to A Deck.
Ruby had told her that the staircase actually began on the Boat Deck, and to get the true effect of stepping inside and then descending the Grand Staircase, it would be best to approach it from that direction.
The two slowed, creeping up the stairs, and as soon as they were able, peeked around the corner onto the exclusively First Class Promenade Deck.
It was adequately lit for the time of night, and as far as Penelope could tell, no one was around. She heard the faint sound of ragtime music and chatter, no doubt coming from the smoking room the gentlemen retreated to. And perhaps even from the reading and writing room the ladies would be in.
“I think we’re clear,” Ruby whispered, her hand tightening around Penelope’s just a little.
The courage that the beer had given her had faded a little. The last thing she wanted was to get caught—she knew it wouldn’t be a criminal offence, but God above, her father would see it as such. And punish her accordingly.
When they stopped at the foot of the stairs, the pair drew to a halt.
The Grand Staircase was huge, spreading out wide and taking up most of the open area. It was made from solid oak with wrought-iron grilles decorating the bannisters. The floor was made up of cream tiles interspersed with occasional decorative tiles with a black-and-white cross pattern.
A cherub holding an illuminated torch graced the central newel post at the bottom of the staircase, while overhead, at the very top, was a large glass dome that would have allowed natural sunlight to enter the room. Now, as the sun had long since set, countless chandeliers illuminated the area.
Penelope turned slowly on the spot, seeing large and comfortable-looking sofas and chairs, all upholstered in a plush blue velvet. There were even potted palms in raised containers in each corner of the open waiting area.
“This is…” she started, only to stop because she could think of no words that would adequately describe the splendour.
Ruby was looking up at the clock with wide eyes. Penelope recalled what she had told her about it—“Honour and Glory crowning Time.”
Two angels stood, one on either side of the main clock face, which was set within a carved pedestal. One of the angels had her foot resting upon a small globe as she wrote upon a tablet. The other angel held a palm branch over the clock, and near her feet was a laurel wreath. The frame of the main clock was plain, but it was supported at the bottom by two griffins, and a variety of fruit and flowers filled the area between the frame and arch.
“Daddy was right,” Ruby whispered as she reached out to graze the wood with a fingertip. “It is breathtaking. It’s been carved so perfectly…” She lowered her hand and took a step back.
“Do you think the people of First Class even give it a second glance?” Penelope asked with derision. “Or do you think they just see a clock, rather than a work of art?”
Ruby looked at Penelope with a wry twist of her lips. “I think that they don’t even bother to know the time. I’d bet that most of them haven’t even noticed this is here.” She shook her head, waving her arm at all the grandeur. “That any of this is here!”
Penelope felt an anger at these people grow inside her, stirred further by the alcohol in her veins. She resented them and the wealth they hoarded, flaunting it in front of others only to make them feel inadequate. And she loathed that her father and mother wanted to be them, because that’s what was expected of everyone—to further their station and improve their lot.
They wanted to get to a point where this was their life.
But what good was a life when the money around you meant you could no longer see the beauty?
Before she could start letting out her anger, a voice cut through the silence. “May I help you?”
The pair whirled around. A steward, dressed in fine livery with his hair smoothed to the side and his arms folded behind his back, stood at the base of the staircase.
As soon as they turned, the realisation that they didn’t belong there seemed to slowly dawn on his face—whether due to their clothes, their flushed cheeks, their guilty looks, or even because he simply didn’t recognise them, Penelope had no idea.
Penelope grabbed Ruby’s hand and shrieked, “Leg it!” Then she promptly took off up the staircase towards the Boat Deck above.
She heard the steward call out after them, but neither paid any attention to him as they hoisted their skirts up to an improper height and dashed up the stairs, stepping out into the frigid night air.
Penelope’s breath created puffs of smoke as she panted. She didn’t dare to stop in case the man was following them. They just kept moving, their hands locked firmly around each other’s, uncaring as to how it looked.
No doubt they were in utter disarray, hair falling loose from their messy chignons, their stockings visible to the world as they weaved around the obstacles on the Boat Deck until they got to the stairs at the rear of the ship. They passed the four funnels—only three of which were functional if the steam was anything to go by—and the First Class-exclusive gymnasium. They made their way past room numbers as high as E-100 and the Second Class barbers before they finally reached their own cabin.
Ruby giggled as Penelope shut the door and pushed her up against it, then fell silent as Penelope rocked forwards and pressed their lips together.
Her fingers tightened against the soft chiffon of Ruby’s dress, bunching it up so much that it raised the hem several inches from the ground.
Penelope pressed her body further into Ruby’s as her fingers trailed from Ruby’s waist, following her curves up to cup her breasts. The loose cut of her dress made it easy for Penelope to guide the fabric over Ruby’s shoulders and down her arms, revealing the soft cotton and lace of her chemise.
Her tongue teased at Ruby’s lips, but just as she went to part them, her stomach started to churn, causing her to freeze. She pulled away, clenching her jaw, and was just able to see Ruby’s puzzled expression before she threw herself across the room.
Her hands fumbled for the handle to the foldaway basin, yanking it down just in time for the beer in her stomach to come rushing back up.
She vaguely heard Ruby call her name and felt her hands rubbing soothing circles on her back. Tears flooded her eyes as her throat started to burn, and when she had finally finished vomiting, she wiped her mouth and groaned, resting her head against the porcelain of the basin.
Ruby murmured soothing sounds, her hands wrapping around Penelope’s arms, guiding her upwards. The movement was almost too much for Penelope, who had to close her eyes.
The world was still swaying, but it no longer felt fun—it was as if she were trapped on some awful carnival ride, and she wanted off.
“Shh, let’s get you out of these and into bed, you silly cookie.” Ruby’s voice dropped to a whisper. Penelope grunted in response, continuing to stand still with her eyes shut, raising her arms when bid. She only knew that Ruby was undressing her as the fabric brushed her skin before exposing it to the colder air.
When Ruby slid her stockings from her legs and guided her down onto the bed, Penelope knew that she must be down to her chemise. She felt the covers being draped over her body and, as she settled into the pillow, she was already descending into the depths of sleep.
Chapter Twelve
13th April 1912
As Penelope awoke the next morning, it was to a dull, constant thudding in her head.
Everything hurt, even places she didn’t kno
w she had. She groaned and rolled herself over, burying her face into the soft pillow.
When she stilled, she realised that the pillow was moving, slowly rising up and down. It wasn’t a pillow—she was resting upon Ruby’s bosom.
She knew that she should move, yet no matter how hard she tried, she remained in place, her arms winding around Ruby’s waist. Then she registered short nails scraping against her scalp and long fingers trailing down between the long strands of her hair.
The touch was so soothing, so mesmerising, that Penelope relaxed further, as if ready to fall asleep once more. “I don’t even want to ask what time it is,” she murmured into the soft cotton of Ruby’s nightgown.
“Luckily it’s not too late. We’ve not even missed breakfast yet.”
The mere suggestion of scran made Penelope groan. Her stomach churned at the thought.
She pressed her face farther into Ruby’s chest, allowing her eyes to fall shut.
She soon regretted that decision, however, when Ruby’s body started to shake as she laughed softly at Penelope’s reaction.
It reminded her too much of the spinning sensations she had felt last night, just before the contents of her stomach had made a reappearance, and she quickly rolled off Ruby’s chest and onto her back. One hand landed on her stomach whilst the other landed on her forehead.
Ruby shuffled over to her side, her hands snaking down Penelope’s arms so that they rested atop her hands, and Ruby threaded their fingers together.
When Penelope felt lips against her exposed shoulder, she finally reopened her eyes.
Ruby grinned back at her, a smile so enticing that, despite the effort it took, Penelope mirrored it.
Penelope leaned forwards, and Ruby readjusted her position so she could meet Penelope halfway. Her smile caused her cheeks to ache when their lips finally met in a soft, gentle kiss.
Ruby’s hand moved to thread into Penelope’s hair, wrapping it around her long, elegant fingers until there was just a faint sting of pain. It shocked a moan out of her mouth and she rocked her hips forwards, adjusting herself so that Ruby’s leg was now between her own.
Just as she began to enjoy it, as if the kiss had cured the pain and dizziness, Ruby pulled away.
“You are so adorable when you pout.” Ruby pressed her finger against the centre of her lower lip, just as she had done last night. She laughed quietly to herself when her words made Penelope pout more.
“I only pout when I have reason to,” Penelope admitted. Her hand moved to Ruby’s hip and started a slow trail up to her waist. “Why did you have to stop?”
“Because we need to get up and have breakfast with our families. If we don’t, they’ll come looking.” She glanced over Penelope’s shoulder. “I’m actually surprised they haven’t come knocking already.”
Penelope groaned and threw her free hand back over her face. Ruby laughed, a beautiful song sung directly into her ear. It was followed by a light kiss to the knuckles of the hand covering her face.
“Come, we must get up.” Ruby gave the side of Penelope’s thigh a soft pat. She started to climb over Penelope, who removed her hand just as Ruby was straddling her waist, her hands planted on either side of Penelope’s head.
“I’m now expected to get out of bed when you’re doing this?” Penelope asked incredulously.
Ruby rolled her eyes. “Oh shush, and get your mind out of the gutter.” She leaned down and pressed the briefest of kisses to Penelope’s lips, then slipped from the bed in one elegant move.
She danced easily out of the way of Penelope’s hands as they tried to grab at her to keep her where she was. Penelope’s fingertips were only able to graze Ruby’s nightgown.
“You, miss, are evil.” Penelope sighed and threw off the thin cotton covers. It took her another minute to find the strength to roll to the edge of the bed and into a sitting position.
She surveyed the room, finding no evidence of her embarrassing situation last night, and when her gaze returned to Ruby—who was getting their clothes sorted—she felt her heart stutter and swell.
She moved over to Ruby, wrapping her arms around her waist from behind. Her chin perched on Ruby’s bare, freckled shoulder. She couldn’t resist pressing a kiss to the constellations on her pale skin. “You are wonderful.”
Ruby snorted and continued to sort through their clothes. “I thought I was evil for being some sort of temptress?”
Penelope tightened her arms around Ruby’s waist. “You’re not evil. You are wonderful. You’ve been so sweet to me, not just last night, making me have fun and then looking after me when I had too much fun. But this entire journey so far… It feels like we’ve known each other longer than three days.” Penelope cleared her throat, realising she was being overly sentimental and no doubt embarrassing Ruby. She stepped out of the embrace and hastily gathered her clothes over her arm. “I’m going to go and have a bath drawn.”
It was suddenly impossible to meet Ruby’s gaze, so she focused on the adorable spattering of freckles on her shoulder. “Don’t feel like you have to wait on me. I’ll meet you at the dining room before breakfast.”
“Penelope—” Ruby started, but Penelope didn’t wait to hear what she had to say and rushed to the bathroom.
She took her time as she bathed and dressed herself. Anything to stop her from looking so peely-wally. When she gingerly made her way back to her room to retrieve the boots she had forgotten in her haste, she stopped and stared at the door for a solid minute, wishing she could see through the wood to find out whether Ruby was still inside.
After taking a deep breath and pushing the door open, she let it out in a long gust when she was greeted with an empty chamber. Her fingers combed through her loose ponytail as she stepped farther into the room and shut the door behind her.
The bath had helped with the ache in her bones, but the throbbing in her head was still there, as was the roiling in her stomach. She knew that she would probably vomit all over her parents’ plates if she had to look at food.
Even though she knew it would raise questions, Penelope lowered herself back onto her bunk and closed her eyes.
…
She was awoken by a gentle shake of her shoulder.
When she opened her eyes, Ruby was staring down at her, her blonde hair piled atop her head in messy curls with several hanging loose around her face and the nape of her neck. Her blue eyes were soft, gentle, filled with concern.
Penelope rolled onto her side, holding her weight up on one of her arms as the other reached up to cup her grandmother’s locket. She had rather hoped to get her thoughts in order before she had to see Ruby again.
Ruby cleared her throat and moved from her perch on the edge of the bed. Her fingers were tangled together in front of her body, drumming nervously against each other.
“I just wanted to make sure you were all right. I managed to keep your parents away by telling them it was just a small sick spell. They seemed to believe it and didn’t ask any further questions.” She gestured towards the small table by the sofa. “I snuck some scones and water out for you, should you feel up to them. You must drink, at the very least, if you do not feel up to eating. And I’m rambling…sorry…”
Penelope rose from the bed, reaching for the glass of water on the table and taking a sip. “I’m sorry I didn’t show up for breakfast,” she said as she lowered the glass. Her nap had helped ease the pain, and she was pretty certain the rumbling in her stomach was from hunger rather than sickness. “And that I just…ran away this morning.”
Her nerves were on fire, as she thought about what she had said. She had wanted to tell Ruby that she was wonderful and had planned to stop there, but perhaps the alcohol had still been in her system and had caused more words to come spilling out instead.
Ruby’s soft lips stretched into an easy smile. “You did dash off rather quickly. You didn�
�t even give me a chance to agree with your sentiment.”
Penelope’s eyebrows darted upwards. “What?” she croaked out, her mouth dry.
“It does feel like we’ve known each other longer than we have. Perhaps we can’t explain it, or people would think we’re fools, but they obviously haven’t experienced anything like this.” She shrugged one shoulder, taking a step towards Penelope and, after a brief moment, wrapping her arms around her waist. “And if you hadn’t run away earlier, I could have told you that.”
Penelope ducked her head against the curve of Ruby’s neck. “Sorry,” she mumbled, her arms snaking around Ruby’s hips. It was rather strange how perfect it felt to hold her like this.
Ruby’s tinkling laughter sang in her ear, and she felt her fingertips dance up and down her spine. “It’s all right. You can make it up to me later.”
Penelope leaned back in Ruby’s arms. Her brows furrowed as she asked, “Whatever do you mean?”
Ruby let out a low laugh and said, “Why, at the party in Third Class. That’s happening again tonight. It seems only fitting we attend it again, since it was such fun last night.”
Penelope’s brows furrowed further until they almost caused her pain. “Yes, it was fun, but there’s no way we can go again. Not after what happened last night.”
Ruby giggled. “No one is asking you to drink as much as you did then, Penelope. We can share one bottle between us and enjoy the music and the dancing! It’ll be delightful!”
Penelope wanted to agree—she wanted to be that carefree person—but she had already done that. And look where it had got her. Utterly drunk, feeling horrible the next day, and admitting some embarrassing things to her lover.
It wasn’t really a situation she was eager to repeat.
Penelope shook her head. “Sorry, Ruby… I just can’t risk it. Mother or Father might catch us. Or someone from Third Class could turn us in or even try something untoward. And what if that steward comes looking for us? It was a nice party, but the sort of thing that should be experienced just once in a life.”
The Breath Between Waves Page 8
