Titanic: The Long Night (15 page)

Making a sound like that of someone punched in the stomach, Paddy stretched his arms up and out, his handsome face scarlet with exertion. Bridey landed in his arms, upside down.

Her sudden weight caused him to lose his balance, and they both toppled forward onto the floor.

But he was careful to swing the child sideways as he fell, so that she landed beside him rather than beneath his weight.

Bridey wailed in rage. Katie rushed over to check her thoroughly. Aside from the humiliation of looking foolish in front of so many people, which Bridey seemed to feel keenly, she was uninjured.

Also unhurt, Paddy scrambled to his feet amid congratulations. Rather than accepting them, he whirled on Eileen, who had abandoned her companion to see what all the fuss was about. “And where, might I ask,” he demanded, his face flushed with anger, “was you when this wee one here decided to go climbin’? Is she not in your care? Are you not bein’ paid to look after her during this voyage?” He seemed to notice then the blond gentleman standing behind Eileen, and his face flushed a deeper scarlet. “Carryin’ on, was you, then? ’Tis a fine thing, an engaged woman like yourself!” He shook his head, adding in disgust, “Is everyone on this grand ship a faithless fool?” Then he turned and stomped out of the room, his boots making a heavy thudding sound as he went.

Eileen’s round cheeks flared in anger, but she did stoop then to comfort Bridey, whose wailing had created a runny nose and swollen eyes.

Katie stared after Paddy’s departing back in confusion. She didn’t blame him for being upset with Eileen. The girl would win no prizes as a governess. But Paddy’s last remark had surprised her. Who else on the ship was a “faithless fool”?

It dawned on her then, in a sudden flash of knowing, that Paddy was referring to his brother. And the person Paddy thought Brian was being “faithless” to was herself, Katie Hanrahan. How dense she had been! Those things Paddy had said about her and Brian going to Wisconsin together, his anger when she told him she was staying in New York, his taking that to mean she’d be only visiting with Malachy and Lottie until Brian sent for her, his angry remarks about faithlessness….Why had it taken so long for the truth
to sink in? Did Brian already know what Paddy was thinkin’? If he did, why hadn’t he told
her
?

Where
were
Brian and Marta, anyways? She hadn’t seen them since supper.

Perhaps she’d best go find them and let Brian know that his brother was pitching a fit.

But she found Paddy before she found his brother and Marta. He was sitting up on the poop deck, chin in his hands, glaring out at the unruffled black canvas that was the sea. She hesitated, thinking that this was a matter between the two brothers. But that wasn’t exactly the truth of it. It had to do with her, too. The notion of Paddy thinking she was pining away of a shattered heart was an unpleasant one to her. Best to set him straight now. It was good that she had come upon him sitting by himself.

“Gettin’ colder,” he said when he looked up and saw her standing behind him. “There’s talk of bergs. Though I guess we needn’t fret. It’d take more than an iceberg to stop this great ship, I’m guessin’.”

Katie didn’t want to talk about icebergs. “What’s ailin’ you, anyways?” she asked him, plopping down beside him, tucking her brown wool skirt in around her ankles to keep out the cold. “People was wantin’ to thank you for savin’ Bridey, and next thing we know, you’re bitin’ our heads off and boltin’ from the room like you’re goin’ off to war. You can’t be that mad at Eileen. She’s just not very bright, Paddy.”

“ ’Twasn’t her,” he muttered.

The noise from the general room directly below them was loud, and he hadn’t spoken very clearly. Katie leaned closer. “Pardon? What did you say?”

“I said it wasn’t
her
.”

“Then what was it?” But of course she knew now. Still, she wanted him to say it.

He was still muttering. “Bri. Him and that Swedish girl. Caught them kissin.’ ”

Katie heard that and laughed. “You caught them kissin’? You make it sound like a crime. ’Tisn’t a crime to kiss, Paddy.”

“’Tis if you’re supposed to be faithful to someone else.”

The sky above them was clear, the stars guttering like jewels. Though they were surrounded by an empty, endless darkness, here on the ship there was ample light. She found herself wishing their conversing were about something nicer, something sweeter. But first, she had to clear his mind of his foolish notions about her and Bri. “Your brother is my friend, Paddy. I couldn’ta come on this trip was it not for Brian.” She glanced sideways at Paddy, with a hint of a smile on her face. “Me da likes you, but I’m thinkin’ he wouldn’ta trusted me into your care like he did Bri’s. You have yourself a reputation in Ballyford, y’know.”

Paddy didn’t smile.

“We are no more than friends, Bri and me. Never have been. I don’t know why ’tis that you think otherwise, but you’d best stop fancifyin’ about that and be nice to Marta. You don’t want to be partin’ from your brother when we dock in New York with bad blood between you. You might not never see him again, and that’s the truth of it.”

“I’d expect nothin’ less from you,” he said then. He stood up, looking down at her. “’Tis like you to be brave, Katie. And if it’s important to your pride to pretend you’re not carin’ about his faithlessness, I’ll keep me mouth shut.”

He wasn’t
listening.
Dolt! Katie struggled to hold her temper in check. “I’m not pretending! Are you not hearin’ me? Open your ears. I love Brian like a brother, just as you do, and I’m thankful that he helped me get to New York, but that’s the limit of my feelin’ for him. I never had plans to go to Wisconsin, and I never had plans to marry up with your brother. That was all in your writer’s fanciful imagination.”

His expression, illuminated for her by the ship’s bright lights, was one of doubt. Then his face cleared. “I’m sayin’ no more about it. But my thinkin’ is, you’re protectin’ your wounded pride, that’s what you’re doin’.”

Katie jumped to her feet. “Well, even if that were true,” she said heatedly, “and it isn’t, ’twouldn’t be very gentlemanly of you to point that out for me, now, would it?” She wanted fiercely to add, “ ’Tisn’t Brian in my heart, ’tis you, fool that you are,” but then she remembered all those other young girls gathered around Paddy in the general room, and bit her tongue.

“Acourse,” he said, nodding, “you’re right. Wasn’t thinkin’, was I?” He sat back down. “It’s good that you’re not pinin’ for him. You wouldn’t want to give him the satisfaction.” He sounded unconvinced.

“Anyways,” he went on doggedly, “I’d bet this is just one of those shipboard things. I’ve heard it happens. Soon as we’ve landed in New York, Bri will come to his senses. You’ll see.”

Katie gave up. He must have stuffed fat wads of cotton into his ears, for all that he heard what she was saying.

“If he don’t come to his senses,” he went on maddeningly, “you’re sure to meet someone better in a city as big as New York. Someone who’ll treat you fair.”

“That I am.” But she didn’t want someone from the city of New York. She wanted someone from Ballyford, Ireland, someone named Kelleher.

Elizabeth and Lily didn’t return to the restaurant. Instead, Max and Arthur joined them on deck. They strolled in the night air for an hour or so, along with many other couples enjoying the crisp, fresh air and star-studded night sky. It was close to eleven o’clock when Elizabeth stated regretfully that she needed to return to her cabin. She was hoping to see her parents before they called it a night. Time was passing quickly, and while the
Titanic
was making great progress, she was not.

Max knew why she was anxious to return to the stateroom, and wished her good luck at her door. “Staying calm might help,” he added matter-of-factly.

“If things get rough in there, just remember this, okay?” and he bent his head and kissed her, a long, slow kiss, warm and tender. She lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck, completely forgetting that her parents might come along at any moment. Even if she’d remembered, being that close to Max made her feel she could handle anything.

As the kiss ended and they eased apart, he smiled at her and said, “Remember, count to ten.”

“I’ll try.” She watched as he turned and went away down the corridor, a tall, rangy figure so important to her, it was impossible to believe she hadn’t even known him when she boarded the
Titanic
on Wednesday.

Sunday, April 14, 1912

Elizabeth fell asleep Saturday night waiting for her parents to return to their stateroom. She was terribly disappointed when she awoke sometime during the night to find herself lying on her bed fully clothed, icy air streaming in through her open porthole, and realized that she had never talked to her parents as she’d planned. The evening had accomplished nothing.

She buried her face in her hands, willing herself not to cry. Buoyed by Max’s loving kiss, she had been so prepared for the confrontation with her mother and father. But they were out when she entered their stateroom, and she’d tired of waiting on the chaise lounge. She’d gone into her room thinking only to change into a robe before returning to wait for them, for hours if necessary. But she had made the mistake of sitting down on her bed to slip her aching ankle out of its shoe. Fatigue had overtaken her and she’d sunk back into the comforting pillows, telling herself she would rest just for a few minutes.

And now it was the middle of the night. Her parents would be sound asleep by now.

When she awoke Sunday morning, the air entering through the porthole seemed much colder than on other mornings. Elizabeth remembered yesterday’s comments about icebergs in the area. Was it possible? It seemed cold enough. But Captain Smith was an experienced seaman. He would be an expert at steering around any large objects in the sea.

Closing the porthole, Elizabeth dressed hurriedly in a navy blue skirt and jacket, suitable for Sunday services. The service was held at ten-thirty in the first-class dining room. Elizabeth was surprised to see the red-haired girl from third-class there, the girl named Katie, along with a tall, blond girl. Both were gazing around in wide-eyed awe at the furnishings and decor in the salon.

Nola Farr said, “I suppose with Captain Smith conducting the service they felt it was only right to let third- and second-class passengers attend. Makes it rather crowded, doesn’t it?” Her tone of voice hinted that she found it more than just crowded, she found it distasteful.

Elizabeth glanced around for Max, found him standing off to her left. He smiled at her and waved, then faced front as the captain began to read from the shipping line’s company prayer book.

Her stomach felt queasy. She had no idea what she was going to say to her parents after breakfast. Perhaps they could compromise. She might be willing to endure the debut, if her mother would let her out of the marriage. That seemed fair. But then there was college, too. She wanted that as much as she wanted her engagement broken.

If only Max would face them with her. He could keep her calm, help her count to ten.

But this was her problem, not his. He had his own parents to deal with when he returned to New York. She would have to handle this one alone. And this time, they would
have
to listen.

If she could ever get her family together in one room
to
listen. Throughout the day, Elizabeth was repeatedly thwarted in her efforts to accomplish this.

Max found her in the writing room shortly before dinner. “Where have you been all day? I’ve been looking all over the ship for you. Lily said she hadn’t seen you. There’s ice about,” he said as he took a seat opposite her. “I was sending my grandmother a Marconigram and saw a few messages warning about ice fields ahead. That probably means icebergs, as well. One of the crewmen said bergs in this area are often as big as houses.”

“Big as houses? Who were the messages from?”

“From other ships in the area.” Max frowned. “Have you been out on deck? The temperature is diving considerably. So the idea of ice ahead makes a lot of sense.”

Elizabeth thought about that for a minute or two. If there really was ice ahead, wouldn’t the captain have to slow the ship? Perhaps even stop for a while until morning? It couldn’t be sensible to travel through ice at night, could it? If the
Titanic
stopped for the night, she would have more time.

“Have dinner with me,” he urged as they got up and prepared to leave the writing room.

Elizabeth shook her head. “I need to eat with my parents. I haven’t seen them alone at all. I’ve already made sure they have no dinner plans with other people. And I can spirit them straight back to the stateroom afterward. I won’t let them go into the lounge, and I won’t let them out of my sight.”

“So you’re going to kidnap your own parents?” Max was smiling. “I’d like to see that.”

Elizabeth smiled. “I have no choice.”

Dinner was a quiet, tense affair, and Elizabeth knew it was her fault. Her parents were both in good spirits, but she was so anxious about confronting them, she barely ate a morsel of food. Which her mother commented upon, which made Elizabeth even more tense. Count to ten, she kept repeating silently, count to ten. One…two…three…four…

Max was right. It did help.

She almost did have to kidnap her parents to get them back to the stateroom. On the way out of the dining salon, her mother stopped to chat briefly with Madeleine Astor, who was expecting a child, and then her father had to say hello to Mrs. Brown, who clapped him on the back and shouted an invitation to a card game. Elizabeth held her breath until he expressed his regrets and moved on. In the reception room, her parents stopped repeatedly to speak to friends. To Elizabeth, the trip from the table in the dining salon to their stateroom on C deck seemed to take hours.

When the door finally closed behind the three of them, she gave them just time enough to sit before announcing, “I would like to talk to both of you, please.”

Her father frowned, and her mother sighed, but they made no move to leave.