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Truth
“Everything okay?” Charlie asked as he stepped over to where Meg was still standing, her eyes cast down to the floor in contemplation.
After a moment, Meg nodded. She finally pulled her eyes away from the floor, and as she leaned in, she whispered into Charlie’s ear, “Can we go somewhere quieter, where we can talk? The promenade perhaps?”
“Of course,” Charlie replied, raising his eyebrows in surprise. Taking her by the hand, he carefully led her over to the stairs, ignoring the jealous eyes that followed them as he did so.
Meg knew the change in location meant Jonathan wouldn’t find them directly, but her conversation with Kelly had sobered her up a bit, and she concluded she had some important things to say to Charlie, things she could hardly say while gallivanting around the dance floor.
Once they reached the deck, Meg began to shiver. At first, she thought it might be because of the conversation she was a
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Meg’s forehead furrowed in confusion. “What? No. I’m not sure I understand what could possibly be so humorous,” she insisted, seeing the amusement playing in the corners of his eyes. “Charlie, I’m serious. There are so many things that you don’t understand—important things.”Charlie did his best to stifle his laughter, and with both of her hands in his, he pulled her closer, saying, “I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at you. I promise. Just listen, Meg, whatever it is that makes you think you’re not good enough for me, it doesn’t matter. You’re wrong.”She shifted her position again, pulling back a bit and turning to face him even more. “No, Charlie. That’s just it. Don’t you wonder why I won’t tell you my last name? Or who I was before I got on this boat? Doesn’t it bother you at all that I won’t answer any of your questions about my family or
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When they reached her door, Meg realized Charlie was going to kiss her again, and she was going to let him, because this was likely the last time it would ever happen. She would stand there in her borrowed dress, outside a Steerage cabin aboard the grandest ship in the world, and let her fiancé of three years kiss her for only the second time, while he still had no idea that she was a lying, cheating, corrupted whore. Because that’s what people like Mary Margaret Westmoreland did.When she finally returned her attention to the gentleman before her, he was standing very close to her, his green eyes smiling at her, despite the terror she was only barely managing to hold back. “Thank you for asking me to dance,” he said quietly, smiling down at her as he brushed her hair behind her shoulders and then wrapped his hands around her waist.She placed her hands on his chest and managed to return his smile. “Thank you for… everything else,&
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Meg had slept in the morning of April 13 well past the last call for breakfast. Kelly had also slumbered on for quite some time, though hungry children were able to poke and prod enough to finally get her out of bed in time for a morning meal. While Daniel was still in obvious pain, he had managed to leave the small cabin with the boisterous little lass, her sister, and their overly tired mother, leaving Meg to roll back over and continue what could no doubt be considered the best sleep of her life.There had been no nightmares, despite the fact that she knew she’d be walking in to a real live one later that evening, and she had dreamt only of Charlie and the life they would have had together had she only done the right thing in the first place. When she finally pulled herself from bed and dressed just before noon, she did so with an air of solemnity. Regardless of how she handled herself this evening—walking into the hornet’s nest without giving him fair wa
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“Do you think he’ll send someone to fetch you?” Kelly asked as she and Meg made their way along the Boat Deck. Ruth was walking between them, carrying Dolly New Eyes, her father having returned to the cabin with Lizzy after lunch.“I suppose so,” Meg replied. “Dinner starts at six, so I should probably head back down around three or so, just to be sure I’m there when I’m called on.”Kelly nodded. “I’m sure Jonathan will get that job. He’s a bit… odd, don’t you think?”Meg considered the statement for a moment. “Odd? How so? I hadn’t really noticed.”Kelly glanced down at her daughter for a moment to see if she were listening before she continued. “I don’t know. He just seems like a bit of a confirmed bachelor to me, that’s all.”“How’s that?” Meg asked, not sure she followed.Kelly sighed, abs
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It was promptly four o’clock when a knock on the door brought Meg to her feet, the butterflies in her stomach mimicking Josephine on her flying machine. She pulled the door open to find Jonathan, just as she had expected. “Good afternoon,” she said, managing a smile.“Miss Meg,” he said, tipping his bowler hat. “I’ve come to escort you to Mrs. Molly Brown’s stateroom, if you’re ready.”“Mr. Jonaffin!” Ruth said, tumbling down from the top bunk where she had been playing and bounding across the room, flinging herself at his knees. “I missed you! Where’s Uncle Charlie?”Scooping her up, he replied, “He’s getting ready for dinner with Aunty Meg.”“Oh!” She leaned over and whispered sharply into his ear, “She doesn’t remember she’s a princess. Will you help her remember?”“Yes, sweetheart, I’ll help
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“Turn around and let me have a look atcha,” Molly insisted.Meg felt rather odd but complied. “Mrs. Brown,” she said as she turned back to face the woman who was studying her as if she were about to paint her portrait, “I need to speak to you before we get started. It’s a matter with quite a bit of urgency.”“I’m sure one of them dresses Lucy gave me oughtta do nicely,” Molly muttered as if she hadn’t heard Meg’s comment. “Maybe the black one… or the red…”“Lucy?” Meg repeated. “As in Lady Duff Gordon?”“Oh, yes,” Molly replied. “How handy is it to have a famous dress designer on board when you have a fashion emergency?”Meg swallowed hard. If Lucy knew she were borrowing her dress, she’d definitely want to see her in it. And then she’d certainly let everyone know who she was, which could be q
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Meg took a deep breath and steadied herself to say a phrase she had only repeated to those the very closest to her over the last several years. “My Uncle Bertram began molesting me when I was seven years old.” Molly gasped, but Meg didn’t wait. She needed to power on or else she would lose her courage to speak. “I thought it was my fault, that I’d done something wrong. I tried to tell my mother, but she punished me severely for saying such things about my uncle. Anytime I tried to reach out to anyone, that person would end up hurt… or worse. I even contemplated telling Charlie, but my mother read everything I wrote to him. I had no one to turn to, and despite the fact that marrying him would provide a means of escape, all my mother ever talked about was marrying into the Ashton family so we could live by their means. My mother is a greedy, vindictive woman. I have no idea how someone as kindhearted and loving as my father could have ever seen her
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They were late. Not as late as Meg had anticipated considering they hadn’t even begun dressing until almost five o’clock, but slightly late nonetheless. Dressed in a velvet and silk Chantilly lace gown in black, with a small train, square neckline, and netted sleeves, featuring red floral embroidered tulle at the waistline and splendid bead work, her hair in a low chignon with matching beads interlaced, a diamond necklace she had borrowed from Molly featuring a flor de lis and matching diamond earrings, and red, satin, beaded slippers, Meg was finally beginning to feel like herself again.She had briefed Molly on precisely who she felt she needed to avoid, as best she could tell, and they had come up with a plan for what to do should her cover be blown. Arriving a bit late actually helped in some ways, as most of the diners were already seated before she entered, giving less of an opportunity for them to linger at the bottom of the grand staircase. In fac
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