My Clarity

Chapter ten

Rose was never quite certain how she returned to the parlour the evening before without getting lost. She moved as if through the layers of a dream. The dreams where a man kissed her, compromised her and then left her in the darkened corner of a library. It was a dream and yet an absolute nightmare. Perhaps even a reality if she had allowed it.

Reaching the settee where her mother sat, Rose accepted another cup of tea and smiled at little Mary, the daughter of Mrs. Annie Butler, an old friend of her mothers, who was fishing around in her own cup for a chunk of dropped sugar biscuit, and responded noncommittally to her mother's suggestion to join them for lunch, even though she was sure her mother had promised to sit with the Wideners. The child was wildly curious and stomped about the floor with such a temper that Ruth winced several times. Cal had left some time before in a curiously good mood, with a promise to meet at the Palm Court Cafe for lunch. Good gracious, breakfast was barely through, and the next meal was curtly planned. It was as though one had to be ruled by the clock and to be placed at some varying event at each hour.

Rose was dressed in pale, nude tones of beige and gold. Her hair was in a chignon but not so tightly as usual.

Ruth had taken Cal's arm as they entered Palm Court Café at precisely midday. Reminiscent of an outdoor sidewalk café, its rooms were brightly lit by large windows and double sliding doors that opened onto the aft end of the First-Class Promenade Deck. The café was elegantly furnished with wicker tables and chairs, spread out across a checkerboard tiled floor in black and beige. Various outdoor plants filled the rooms, including potted Kentia palms and ivy-covered trellises. It offered commanding views of the ocean but was fully enclosed so that it could be enjoyed in all types of weather, unlike the open-air cafés on the Lusitania and Mauretania.

The rooms were light and airy, with beautiful, trellised decor and had wicker cane furniture, and large floor to ceiling windows looking out to sea. The rooms shared a pantry with the smoking room forward allowing for light refreshments. Both rooms had sliding doors leading onto the aft promenade, and the doors had the same "Edwardian Manor" design as the windows. The Veranda Café had both smoking and non-smoking sections. The smoking section, located on the port side, was accessible from the first-class smoking room. The non-smoking section, located on the starboard side, was closed to traffic from the smoking room and on occasion used as a play area by mothers and children. To note, no such official area existed on board.

They were seated with George Widener, Eleanor Elkins Widener and their son Harry. The family were from Pennsylvania and Ruth was acquainted with the family and had been since adolescence. She was thrilled to have found someone on board who she had known for a long time. The fact that her name was associated with theirs would also be good for tomorrow mornings chatter. Her mother's outward appearance mattered greatly, and Rose smiled as though there wasn't a care in the world until George and Eleanor's son Harry quickly stood from the plush dining chair and excused himself quickly to speak with a friend.

''Do excuse our son, he is a touch excited.''

''Oh, no, not at all.'' Ruth smiled, whilst examining the light and airy feel of the café. It was said that only lunch and light refreshments were served in this particular part.

Eleanor craned her neck to examine where her son could have possibly gone when he was pushing through the throngs of waiters, with none other than Jack Dawson at his side.

Pausing with such a bated breath, Rose glanced at her linen napkin and focused on the sugar lumps currently drowning within her cup of tea. How she wished to switch places.

''Oh, lord,'' her mother muttered beneath her breath and glanced to Rose with a very sharp eye. Cal, stood, as society deemed right to do so and nodded one gentleman to another. "Why does he get where water doesn't?"