The White Empress (17 page)

‘So that’s a short précis of my life, so far.’

She leaned back in her chair, replete. She had never met anyone like him before. With a background like that she felt she
had made the right decision. Had he been aware that she was nothing more than a ‘jumped-up Irish slummy’ (as Shelagh had viciously
described her before she left) she was certain now that the smile on his face would have been replaced by shock and horror.

He refilled her glass.

‘David, do you mind if I ask you a very direct question?’

‘What?’

‘I really don’t know how to put this, I don’t want to offend you, but . . .’

‘But you are wondering what I want as, shall we say, payment for all my assistance and today’s entertainment? I hope you didn’t
take offence earlier when I said something about having my way? It wasn’t meant as innuendo, Cat, really it wasn’t.’

Thankful that she hadn’t had to voice the question herself, she nodded and took another sip of champagne.

He leaned across the table. ‘You have a very suspicious and devious mind, Miss Catherine Cleary!’

She blushed. ‘I have a very good reason for that.’

‘Would you like to tell me about it?’

‘No. I’m sorry, David, I don’t want to talk about it.’

‘Obviously someone, and obviously a man, has hurt you in the past. Hurt you deeply, am I right?’

She must think carefully, she was walking on thin ice. What if he had been in contact with Stephen Hartley? She didn’t answer.

‘And you swore you’d never trust another man?’

‘Yes, something like that.’ She was feeling very tense, wishing she had never brought the subject up.

‘Then set your mind at rest. I have absolutely nothing devious in mind. I want nothing except the pleasure of your company.
No strings attached. That kind of thing is little more than moral blackmail and I don’t stoop to blackmail of any kind!’

She breathed out very slowly and began to relax. She should have known. He was too much of a gentleman, but then she’d never
experienced the attentions of a real gentleman before.

He opened a cigarette case and offered her one.

She shook her head. ‘I don’t smoke, thank you.’

‘Do you mind if I do?’

‘No, I’m sorry, David. I know it was wrong of me to judge every man by . . . It’s just that this job meant so much to me!
Drudgery, seasickness, exhaustion – everything!’ She gave a mirthless little laugh.

He reached out and covered her hand with his. ‘There’s no need to apologise, Cat. Let’s just enjoy ourselves. After all isn’t
that what time ashore is for? Damn it, we work hard enough at sea!’

She wanted to believe him, but experience wouldn’t allow her to drop her guard entirely. But she did smile as they finished
the last of the champagne.

Despite the sub-zero temperatures they walked to the top of St Lawrence Main and both were in a happier mood than when they
had left the ship. She felt elated, partly due to the wine and partly due to the fact that she had won ten dollars in the
Casino, where David had cajoled her into playing roulette. She had never gambled in her life, she had never had money to throw
away, but she felt a little reckless, although caution tempered her delight and he could not persuade her to risk another
chance. She’d never come by so much money quite so easily. But as they walked briskly in the crisp air, she admitted that
most of her elation stemmed from the fact that she felt more at ease with David Barratt.

They called in for a late supper at Joe the Greek’s.

‘Oh, someone’s slumming it!’ came the cheerful greeting as they sat down in the small, spotlessly clean restaurant with its
chequered tablecloths and Ionic brica-brac. It was Anne and two other girls accompanied by three of the stewards.

‘I’ve had the most wonderful day and I’ve won ten dollars!’ she laughingly called back.

‘At first she looked on the casino as the Pit of Satan. In the end I had to drag her away!’ David teased, laughing at her
indignant protests.

He bought drinks for everyone, which endeared him to all concerned, and after that supper was a very convivial affair. At
the end of it, David agreed to accompany all the girls back to the ship for the men were going on to the Liverpool House Tavern
and etiquette was strict. No women were allowed in any tavern.

When they reached the top of the gangway Anne and the others quickly disappeared, leaving them alone. David pulled the collar
of her coat high up around her ears.

‘Has it been a day to remember, Cat?’

‘Oh, you know it has! It’s been wonderful, I love Montreal!’

‘What will you do tomorrow?’

‘Oh, after inspection I’ll go to Mass, then write some letters. I promised faithfully to write home.’

‘I’m afraid I’m on watch tomorrow afternoon.’

‘I have lots of things to catch up on. Things I didn’t get time to do while we were at sea, or rather I was too tired to do.’
She knew she was just passing the minutes in small talk, wondering if he would attempt to kiss her, in spite of all his reassurances.
‘I have to stand watch tomorrow night.’

‘And then on Monday, it’s back to work. Back on the merry-go-round.’

‘At least I won’t be seasick!’

‘We don’t get much time off do we? At least not at the same time.’

Now apprehension was building. She had had a wonderful day and he’d been so generous and such pleasant company. She didn’t
want anything to ruin it.

He bent forward and kissed her gently on the cheek. ‘Never mind, things should improve next trip. The St Lawrence will be
frozen over so we’re cruising. Then I’ll be able to show you some really sensational places!’

She hadn’t even thought about next trip. ‘Cruising?’

‘Yes. New York, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Cuba,
Barbados, Haiti, Curaçao, the Virgin Islands and back to New York.’

She was stunned. She had only just got used to the fact that she was really in Canada. ‘But . . . but they won’t be taking
emigrants surely?’

‘No. You’ll be promoted, temporarily, to first class. All the girls are.’

Her eyes widened. ‘You’re joking?’

‘No. Ask my aunt!’

‘Oh, David! It’s a dream come true! This isn’t happening to me, it can’t be!’

‘It is and you won’t consider it much of a dream when you’re sweltering and exhausted.’

‘I don’t think I’ll care!’

‘Don’t bet on it.’

‘I’d better be getting below.’ She wanted time to digest this piece of news, to ask Anne if it were really true.

‘I can’t come with you.’ He sounded a little resentful.

‘I know, but thank you! Oh, thank you, David, for a wonderful day!’

‘We’ll do it again, in New York, that’s a promise! Good night, Cat.’ He kissed her cheek.

Impulsively she hugged him quickly. ‘Good night, David.’

They were due to sail into Liverpool for a refit and when Cat found this out her excitement knew no bounds. At last she had
realised part of her dream. She would sail up river to see the familiar landmarks from the deck of the White Empress. At last
she would be looking down on
the Princes landing stage, instead of looking up as she had done that day that now seemed part of another age. Another life.

There were few passengers on the return trip but the work went on as usual, following the tradition of never taking a dirty
ship into port. They had all been mustered by Miss Sabell and given their instructions. She listened intently, but with her
heart racing as the quiet, precise tones of the chief stewardess carried clearly in the huge, empty dining room. All tourist-class
girls were to be promoted, temporarily, to first-class for the duration of the cruises. Of which there would be four. They
would be away from home for over four months. She read out all the regulations appertaining to the working procedures and
informed them that tropical white uniform would be worn two days after leaving New York, and that those of them to whom it
applied should have their vaccinations before they sailed.

Cat stood on the boat deck as they entered the Mersey. A cold wind tore at her hair and her hands were thrust deep inside
the pockets of her coat. The landmarks slipped slowly by and she remembered how Joe had pointed them out to her from the deck
of the
Leinster
. On this cold December day, through a mist of needle-fine drizzle, the buildings of the Liverpool waterfront looked grim
and dirty, but she didn’t notice their drabness. She was coming home. Already the tugs were coming alongside, fussily tooting
their sirens, a sound taken up by the dredgers, the ferries, a Blue Star ship and the
City of Adelaide
standing out in the river. At the landing stage the black hull and red funnels of the
Mauretania
were becoming clearer and she thought, detachedly, that the Cunarder didn’t seem much bigger than the
City of Adelaide
.

The deep-throated blast of the
Mauretania
added to the cacophany. The White Empress was coming home and Cat hugged herself. Everywhere this magnificent Empress went,
her entry was greeted by a reception such as this. She was different. She was special. And she was coming into her home port.
She wished that Mrs Travis could have been among the crowds waiting and a tinge of sadness momentarily marred her exhilaration.

She went below to finish her packing, keeping the gifts she had bought in a separate bag. The few passengers had disembarked
and in an hour’s time they would berth in Gladstone Dock and the crew would be signed off. She counted the notes before tucking
them safely into her purse. There would be more next trip for they were to be paid a ten-pound bonus for sailing out of New
York. A few trips and she would be able to find a nice little house she could rent and furnish for her mother. For them all,
if necessary. At least Eamon and her Ma and Pa, if her mother wouldn’t leave them. Shelagh could fend for herself. Maybe in
a decent house, perhaps with a garden, Pa might find something to interest him, she thought. He’d liked gardens. When she
had been very small he had often taken her to Phoenix Park and she remembered that he wasn’t a Dubliner by birth. He’d come
from County Waterford as a young man, looking for work and the excitement offered by a big city. Maybe a garden of his own
could wean him away from the bottle.

She could provide all the little luxuries they had never had. She would open a bank account and save hard. This was the advice
she had been given by Miss Sabell, with whom she had discussed the matter of her earnings. Her needs were small. She was clothed
and fed, she needed only a little spending money for trips ashore, so most of her wages could be saved. Miss Sabell had even
given her advice on what kind of account she should open and at which bank. She had worked out that after the four months’
cruising she could move her mother to a comfortable house and she could increase the allotment so that the rent and bills
could be paid with money left over.

‘Hurry up, Cat!’ Anne’s voice broke into her thoughts.

‘Nearly finished.’

‘I’ve coaxed Jacko into carrying our cases and he’s waiting.’

She snapped the locks shut, then pulled on her beret. ‘Ready!’

‘Anyone meeting you?’ Anne asked, as they struggled along the companionway to the foot of the stairs, where the burly figure
of the stoker stood waiting.

‘Only my friend.’

She craned her neck as she reached the top of the gangway, trying to peer over the shoulders of the other members of the crew,
all of whom were going ashore and were shouting and waving to relatives below. Some brandishing the ‘docking bottle’ as an
indication of the good, old-fashioned ‘do’ to celebrate their homecoming, parties to which all relations, friends, acquaintances,
and
usually most of the street as well, were invited. Even the dockers were shouting up to them, knowing there would be the usual
bartering and rich pickings if they could get such illicit items past the Paddy Kelly
^*
on the dock gate.

‘I can’t see her!’

‘Oh, don’t worry, she’ll be there. Somewhere among that crowd of wives and mothers and kids, all waiting to get their hands
on the wages before they get spent in the Caradock. See you in two weeks, Cat!’ Anne called.

She smiled, then scanned the sea of faces below as she descended, hoping no one had come to welcome her home in case David
or someone else should see them. Then she caught sight of Marie, waving madly.

The two girls hugged each other and over Marie’s shoulder she saw Joe. As soon as Marie released her she hugged him. ‘Oh,
it’s grand to see you! I’ve missed you both!’

He clasped her tightly then held her at arm’s length. ‘You look worn out! Enjoy it, then?’

‘Oh, yes! I was seasick, homesick, run off my feet, but I loved it!’

An uneasy glance passed between Joe and Marie when she asked how everyone was.

‘We’ll get a taxi, we can’t lug that case on and off the tram!’ Marie was already making her way along the side of the cargo
shed.

Her heart beat slowed. Something was wrong.

‘Joe, what’s the matter?’ She clutched the bag of gifts tightly.

‘It’s your Ma, Cat . . .’

‘Oh, not pleurisy again?’

He shook his head.

‘Then what?’ A nameless fear began to loom up.

‘Pneumonia. I’m sorry, Cat, I didn’t want to be the one—’

‘Where is she?’ She grabbed his arm and began to shake him, without realising what she was doing.

‘They don’t think she’s strong enough . . . she’s in the Royal Infirmary.’

‘Oh, Dear God! Why didn’t they get the doctor . . .?’

‘Cat, I was away myself and you know what Maisey’s like about doctors, if I’d been at home—’

‘But she could afford the doctor, she had the allotment!’

‘She didn’t . . . well, you know how your Ma is with your Pa, she never could refuse him anything.’

All thoughts of houses and gardens, of the hopes of reforming him, the memories of childhood, vanished as though they had
never even existed. ‘So while I’ve been working like a dog, thinking it would help her, she’s been giving most of it to .
. . to—’