Do you want to dance?

Eliza

April 11th, 1912

It has already been one day on the Titanic and I have a bad feeling about something though I am not sure what. As I walk back to my room (E-25) I feel another surge of nausea, and I hurry into my room, opening the window in case I end up puking. 

I have horrible seasickness, which was not helped by the biscuits I just had at tea with my Mum and brother. I hear the door open and I turn to see Lucy, my lady's maid.

"Is there anything I can get for you, Miss? Eliza?" She asks me politely

"No, thank you, Lucy, you can go do what you want," I say, taking my gloves off. 

"Yes, thank you miss." Lucy, curtsies and leaves, the room. My brother John enters the doorframe and leans against it, as Lucy scuttles out.

"Eliza if you just find someone to love, then me and mother won't make your court with someone." He says, starting up this well-worn conversation once again. "I thought that that young man was very nice, and you were quite rude to him. You need to look for a husband sometime soon-" He takes a swig of his wine. 

"God!" I sigh, knowing this conversation in and out. "And what if I don't find love? Are you still going to make my court? John, love is a hard thing to find! It needs time, you can't force love" I say getting frustrated.

"Don't speak back to me young lady," John says pointing a finger at my chest. I cross my arms rolling my eyes "I am your older brother; it is my job to make sure you have somebody to take care of you. And don't roll your eyes at me."

"Brother!" I scoff "I can take care of myself. And I am only 16, I have plenty of time to find someone." I say sitting down on my bed, as another wave of sickness hits me again.

"Don't yell at me Eliza, this is a vacation we are on and I would rather not be yelled at by anyone especially not you. I am your older brother and I can tell you what to do and when to do it."

"I didn't yell, I was just explaining something to you, and frankly we are in the 18th century anymore so no, you can't tell me what to do," I say, throwing my hands up in the air. John walks over to me and tries to sit down on the bed but before he can sit down or say anything I intervene "John, can you please just get out of my room?" I say.

"Fine." He sighs, "But I am telling mother about your little attitude." John stalks out of the room. I sigh and clench my fists then release, clench release, clench, and release. It makes me calmer somehow, though not very lady-like. My mum walks into my room, I look at her stand up and walk out the door.

"Eliza! Come back here." My mom says with her dramatic British accent, I've always been jealous of her accent. She pokes her head out the door and looks at me with a grilling look. I am probably giving her hot flashes. I giggle and turn around to say.

"I am just going to go outside, to get some fresh air!"I walk away, holding my stomach to exaggerate my point. Though I cannot see her face I can tell she is getting very, very angry.When I get outside I go over to the railing. I look down at the water, waves are splashing against the ship causing the water to become white and fizz and foam. I look up from the water and I am blinded by the sun so I cover my eyes with my hand. I hear the horn blow and I shriek the horn is louder though luckily, so no one can hear me. I look around the ship deck and I notice a boy with black wavy hair and a hat on with a white shirt, and brown overalls on. He takes off his hat and flips his hair... It feels like his hair flip is in slow motion. He catches me staring at him. I dart my eyes to something else but then I dart them back to him. I look into his eyes. They are ocean blue and brown. We keep looking into each other's eyes for a few seconds before Lucy's voice distracts me. I can't quite hear what she is saying because I am so mesmerized by how handsome the boy is.

"Excuse me, miss! Are you listening to me?" I look at her. "Your mother told me to come to get you. She says you have to get dressed for dinner." Lucy says panting. I look at her again when I look back at the boy who is now smiling at me, his hand grabbing the back of his neck.

"Ok, I will be inside in a minute."

"I would come now miss, your mother doesn't look too happy." I walk inside, feeling the warmth take control of my body, I rush to my room. When I get to my room my mother is standing in the doorway. She pulls me into my room.

"Where were you? Elizabeth?" She says... I hate it when she uses my full name.

"I told you I was going to get some air." She slaps my cheek. "What did you do that for?" I ask, my voice raising an octave.

"You are to respect me and your brother." I wish she knew that I do respect them... and they are mostly always the ones to start the fight not me! "John told me about your little outburst, I don't know why you act like this whenever you have a bad feeling about something! If you don't find love with a man, then you are going to have to court a man. Are you listening to me, Eliza?" I bob my head up and down, not looking at her. I feel the tenseness in my mother. She huffs, lifting my chin, "Now pick out one of your dresses!" She says through clenched teeth. "So I can tie your corset."I go over to my closet, dragging my feet; and pick out a Lacey green dress with a long train. Rummaging in my trunk I grab the long white gloves to go with the dress and set the ensemble on my bed. I walk over to the mirror and my mum ties my corset, each pull gets tighter and tighter squeezing the living spirit out of me. I pull my dress on, shaking out the pleated skirt. My mum leaves the room to get herself ready. I pull the gloves up my hands and over my arms, John enters as the door closes behind mother, he gives me his arm and I take it. A lady should never go to dinner without an escort.

BY THE TIME THE FIFTH COURSE of the lavish dinner has come and gone I am filled to bursting my corset. Trying to breathe against the stiff corset, I push my chair back and say politely;

"Excuse me for interrupting, your meals everyone," I stand up, my brother and mum looking at me and indicating that I better sit back down, "but I think I need to go catch some fresh air." I primly set my napkin down on the table. The chatter at the table starts back up again. Some people give me glares, probably thinking how rude it is that I did interrupt their dinner... I hear a chair screech across the floor.I start to walk away faster, I hear footsteps behind me. The doormen open the door that leads to the grand staircase. The chandelier's diamonds make the room shiny and elegant. Holding in an eye roll, I walk away making my way to the door that leads outside. I look back, to see John. I hurry along faster, John's face is bright red and I can tell I'll be scolded. Before he can say something I trip over my skirt... luckily someone catches me. 

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going." I apologize quickly, feeling my face heat with shame. I look up to see the same boy I saw on the deck, my darned cheeks burn hotter.

"No, it's quite alright Miss." The boy smiles. "I'm Leonardo Celano. But you can call me Leo." He offers me his hand and I take it.

"I'm Eliza. Eliza Burdock." I feel his hand squeezed tightly around my small hand. Through my silk glove, I can feel his hand is strong, yet he holds mine gently.

"Are you British?" He asks, smiling his dazzling smile. We release each other's hands and he puts his hands in his coat pockets. I nod my head. Noticing how much taller he is, then me. 

"And I am assuming you are Italian?" I ask. He chuckles.

"Oh, did my accent give it away? Or was it my hair?" He laughs running his fingers through his curls. Bobbing his head up and down so his hair bounces. I giggle covering my mouth, blushing even harder. I hear my brother's voice in the background.

"Elizabeth Burdock!" I freeze, swearing under my breath.

"I should probably go," I say pointing behind me. I look down, then back up at Leo to see him smiling. "I'm guessing I'll see you again then Leo," I say, he nods. 

"It was lovely to make your acquaintance." He says and we shake again.

"It was lovely to make your acquaintance as well Mr. Celano," I say, my hand slips out of his, and I do a little curtsy, feeling awkward about doing so... but I do not want to come off as rude. I turn around, walking away with confidence and a smile on my face. And butterflies in my stomach. I feel Leo looking at the back of my neck, and heat prickles up my spine as I walk into the dining room.