Chapter 5: Dinner and the Note

                                    

                                          
I dressed in a way that I thought would impress Jack; I knew I had to impress him because I was developing feelings for him. This is not good because my life is already planned. I have a suitor and will most likely be married soon. But what if that's exactly what I wanted now? Hell! I KNOW that's not what I'm looking for. I want to be free to run around and not worry about etiquette or how other people perceive me. I was thinking about how tonight could go as I walked down the winding halls of the 1st class deck, my long dress trailing behind me. What if they (Mother or Caledon) said something to upset him or to not want to know me anymore. I was pulled out of my deep thought when Rose tugged my arm forward. I must have stopped walking while talking to myself.
Mother walked down first and greeted her 'friends' as we approached the door to the Fancy dinner hall. Rose and Caledon walked down with their arms linked and small smiles on their faces. I felt sorry for Rose because we all knew Caledon loved to flaunt her as if she were an object, his object, and we also knew that was how she felt. My eyes landed on him after creasing my brows together while looking for Jack; he was already staring. My cheeks turned a light pink at the thought of it. My! He looked fantastic! He was dressed to the nines and had his hair slicked back with gel. What store did he get that suit from? Was the only thought that came to mind.
I approached him and he took my hand in his. He gave it a kiss. No man had ever kissed my hand before; it was always a curt bow and a head nod. I just laughed as he mumbled something about the Nickelodeon.
I just rolled my eyes, but a small smile formed on my lips when I noticed Rose smirking and looking at the two of us. I joined my strong arm with Jack's and we walked into the dining hall.
"Caledon, Rose, and Mother. You recall Mr. Dawson "Caledon had to ruin the moment by saying something rude after I got their attention, I said.
"Look at you, you could almost pass for a gentleman," he annoyingly laughed.
As we walked, I pointed out everyone he needed to know in order to get along tonight; he was a great listener. He kept making me laugh by sticking his nose in the air and mocking the men walking by with their wives on their arms, as if they were pawns in a chess game.
"And that, uh, is John Jacob Aster. The ship's wealthiest passenger. "His little wifey there is only a year older than me and is in delicate condition," I said, referring to Madeline's noticeable growing belly, which indicated she was pregnant "With a smirk and a wave, that's all I said next. I pointed out a few more of the ship's merchants, including Benjamin Gugeiggenhime and his mistress, as well as Sir Cosmo and Lady Lucy Lucille, who designs naughty lingerie that is very popular among royals, and the whole time Jack kept laughing and nodding while his beautiful sea green eyes bore into me.
We sat at the table with the captain of this magnificent ship; I could tell he was nervous, but he never faltered. He was flawless.
"Tell us about the accommodations in voyage, Mr. Dawson," Mother said with a small smile and a smug look, because she couldn't just let it go.
"Best I've seen so far Ma'am, hardly any rats," Jack replied in his smooth, silky voice; of course, everyone laughed, and I laughed along with them. Then Caledon went on about how Jack was third class and how he had saved me from my 'accident'. That's when I decided enough was enough.
"Jack is a wonderful artist, and he was gracious enough to show me some of his work today." I was pleased with myself for intervening and drawing attention to the fact that he was less fortunate.
"So, Mr Dawson, where do you live?" Rose asked, and I smiled. She appears to be genuinely curious about the mysterious man who rescued me.
"Right now, my address is the RMS Titanic; after that, I'm in God's good graces," he says.
"And how come you have the means to travel?" Mother wondered.
"Rose, Amelia, and I have different tastes in art, not to defame your work Sir," Caledon said as he took a bread roll from a waiter who was passing a tray around. Jack just waved it off.
"Do you find that kind of ruthless existence appealing?" Mother said, her words tinged with disgust and shock,
"I move from one location to another. You know about tramp steamers and such, but I won my ticket to the Titanic here in a lucky poker hand. A very fortunate hand." He said that while looking at me at the end, and I smiled and blushed a little.
"Do you find that kind of ruthless existence appealing?" Mother said, her words tinged with disgust and shock,
"Well, ma'am, yes, I do... I mean, I've got everything I need right here. I had some blank sheets of paper and some air in my lungs. I mean, I enjoy waking up in the morning not knowing what will happen or who I will meet or where I will end up. I was sleeping under a bridge just the other night, and now I'm on the grandest ship in the world, drinking champagne with you fine people. I believe that life is a gift that should not be wasted. You have no idea what hand will be dealt to you next. You learn to take each day as it comes... to make each day count."
"To making it count," I toasted while raising my glass of wine in response to his words. After a few amusing stories and a few good laughs. We had finished the savory dinner and the sweet dessert, and it was time for me to depart.
"The smoking room will then be treated to a brandy. They go into a cloud of smoke and congratulate each other on being universe masters "I finished with a rushed voice and a laugh, and then one of the men stood up.
"Would you like to join me for a brandy, gentlemen?" I just smiled at Jack with a toothy grin. Rose had gone, but Mother and I stayed because I wanted to say goodbye to Jack. "Do you have to go?" As he approached my seat at the dinner table, I asked him urgently,
"It's time for me to row with the slaves," he joked, and I managed a small smile. I just said a soft 'goodnight' and watched as he bent down to kiss my hand, then stood back up, and I felt something in my hand. Paper? Paper! I turned around just in time to see him wink and walk away. I opened the note quietly and read it.
Make it count. Meet me at the clock at 9 a.m.
-Jack
I laughed and excused myself to meet him at the clock, which showed 8:55. I don't know much, but one thing is certain. I was head over heels in love with Jack Dawson.
CHAPTER 6 COMING SOON