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Dinner
“Why if it isn’t Mr. Charles Ashton. Whatever are you doing here, darlin’? I thought you was planning on sticking around in Southampton for a while,” an older, well-dressed woman asked as Charlie entered the First Class Dining Hall. He recognized her, of course, as millionaire Molly Brown from Colorado. He wasn’t too surprised that she would find a way to make a prying question sound innocent enough.
“Mrs. Brown,” he replied, “it’s nice to see you. It seems I had a change of plans and am now available to join all of you on what is sure to be an historic maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic.”
“Well, it sure is nice to see you as well,” she gushed, not letting him get by so easily. “Where is your lovely betrothed, Miss Westmoreland? I would love to meet the young lady in person.”
Charlie hesitated, staring into her eyes for a moment to ascertain whether or not she already knew
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Ghosts of Southampton Molly
By the time he reached his cabin, the peculiar thought had almost left him completely. He knew Jonathan wouldn’t expect him back for several hours, assuming he would not be able to escape the lounge. He poured himself a brandy and made his way out to the private deck. The evening was chilly, but the air felt good, and he was hoping it would clear his mind. While visions of little Ruth and her intriguing aunt were welcome thoughts, his mind kept returning to the events of the last few days that had led him to his current position. It all seemed a bit surreal, but then so had his entire engagement, quite honestly, and only now that it seemed to be over did he feel he could finally get on with his life at long last.He had arrived in London to attend to a few business matters, both on behalf of his father’s steel company as well as the new celluloid manufacturing company he was starting on his own. His father had made a name for himself in the steel industry early on
Ghosts of Southampton Shady
Charlie nodded. He had heard that before, but considering Mary Margaret was engaged to be his wife, and she was Bertram’s family, he never thought she was at any risk. The uncle had lived with Mary Margaret’s parents even before she was born. The older brother of Henry by a considerable margin, he had wasted away his portion of the family inheritance before Henry even graduated from university, and by the time the younger brother began his textile company, Bertram was eagerly awaiting any opportunity to profit from his brother’s hard work. Charlie had met him a few times when he had come to New York on business, and though he had been frightening as a young child, he seemed like a harmless old man now. Molly seemed to think otherwise. “Do you think something shady was going on?”“I’m not sure,” Molly replied, finishing her drink. “I know one of the girls was saying Bertram wouldn’t take no for an answer once several
Ghosts of Southampton Memories
Her bedroom was always dark. She wanted the shades open, at least partially, so some of the light from the street, or better still, the stars, could shine in. But no matter how many times she opened them, even if it was just a crack, her mother’s lady, Ms. Julia, would always come in just as she was about to drift off and close them. Even when she had asked nicely, even when she had begged her mother, she was told they needed to be closed. Closed tight.It was the same nearly every night. She’d beg to stay up, to read another book, to sit by the fire, even to clean her room. Eventually, her mother would have enough and send her up. She’d linger with the toiletries, sometimes insisting on putting on several of her nightshirts all at the same time. In the summer it was unbearable to do so, but then, so was the alternative. Of course, it didn’t make a difference. Regardless of what she wore, it never made a difference.Eventually, she’d give
Ghosts of Southampton Lucky
When she returned to the cabin, she slipped in as quietly as possible, disrobed, and climbed back into bed, hoping she had not disturbed anyone. However, a few moments later, Kelly unwound herself from Baby Lizzy and slid in beside her, wrapping her arm beneath her shoulders. “Everythin’ okay, darlin’?” she whispered.“Yes,” Meg replied as quietly as possible. “I just had another bad dream, that’s all.”“I’m so sorry,” her friend replied, kissing her gently on the forehead. “It’ll get better, the farther away from England we go. You’ll see.”Meg nodded. “I hope so. I just… I keep thinking about Charlie, too, and how lucky he is that, despite the ridicule he may be suffering now, how things are so much better now that I am out of his life forever. He didn’t deserve to be married to someone like me… someone who’s capable of the things I&r
Ghosts of Southampton Guggenheim
Jonathan Lane was a wiz at gaining information, in any situation, in any location, and being aboard the Titanic had not limited his resourcefulness. Though they had just encountered little Ruth and her Aunty Meg the day before, he had already ascertained a room number, the names of Ruth’s parents—Daniel and Kelly O’Connell—and the fact that the other woman sharing their room was registered on the ship’s roster as Meg Sister, which he thought was rather odd and perhaps a clerical mistake. Early on the morning of April 12, he ran into a steward for Steerage passengers who mentioned the peculiar sight of a very attractive, fair-haired passenger leaving Third Class accommodations dressed in a pink robe in the middle of the night, spending several minutes peering into the Atlantic before returning to her cabin. He said the only thing truly unusual about it was the fact that the robe did not match the class. It seemed rather expensive, he noted.
Ghosts of Southampton Dolphins
Ruth had all but refused to eat a bite of her breakfast, insisting that they make their way to the deck as soon as possible so that she could continue her pursuit of finding “dawfins.” However, the longer she fussed the more waiting she had to endure, and by the time they had finished at last, they had one cranky, persnickety little girl on their hands.Meg followed behind the family, Ruth’s small hands grasping her parents’ as she led them to her favorite spot for dawfin watching, about where she had run into Charlie only the day before. Meg was holding a sleeping Lizzy, rocking her gently, and cooing at her softly. Even though Lizzy was not her own, she couldn’t help but treat her as such in these small moments when she had the baby in her arms.As Ruth turned around to tell Meg something, her face broke into a wide smile, and she immediately burst free from her parents’ grasps, shouting, “Uncle Charlie!” as she shot pa
Ghosts of Southampton Questions
It seemed Jonathan didn’t like the lack of conversation either. Eventually, he asked, “What are your plans once you reach America, Miss Meg?”“Oh, I’m not sure yet,” she admitted. They had made their way to the stairwell, and she was ever so cautious to watch her footing above the sleeping babe’s head as she made her descent. Jonathan seemed ready, lest she slip or fall, but she made it safely down, heading toward the corridor.Once she reached level ground, he asked, “What was your trade in England?”“Actually,” she dodged, “America is all about fresh starts. I think I may try my hand at something entirely different than what I am used to.” She could see their room just at the end of the hall, and though she didn’t mind Jonathan’s questions, they were becoming more personal and more pointed.“That sounds like an exciting venture,” he replied. “And
Ghosts of Southampton Broke
Kelly and Daniel could not see their daughter anywhere either. “Ruth?” Kelly yelled, her voice becoming shrill with panic. “Ruth Ann O’Connell!” she screamed at the top of her lungs.Just then, Charlie spotted her. She was climbing on the railing a few hundred yards down the deck, just about to throw one chubby little leg over the side. Daniel was pointing and yelling, an indicator that he saw her, too, and he was slightly closer. All three took off running, pushing their way through the crowd. She was smiling, and her sweet baby voice echoed, “Horsey!” as if she were simply going to ride on the railing. However, just as she was about to put her bottom down on the handrail, she slipped. It was as if it was happening in slow motion. Charlie could see her expression change from delight to terror as she began to tumble over the side. As her father and newly-found uncle made a dive for her, the men careened into each other. Charlie heard
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