The Iceberg

[3] Alexandria's Point of View

Chapter 3: Alexandria’s Point of View

“Which dress?” Alexandria thought panicked. Red or black? She couldn’t decide. ‘Black is classier.’ She thought to herself. ‘But red gives a bit of zing.’ She thought. ‘Red it is.’

She changed into the red dress. It was off the shoulder, and scarlet coloured. The back was low and frilly, and the dress was long. The skirt was straight enough to be slimming and full enough to be feminine, so it was a good pick.

The shoes she picked were her ‘Harlem’ shoes that she had picked up in France. Her mother hated them, but Alexandria really liked them. They were black and strappy with a bit of a heel, and a red fluffy feather attached to the back.

She brushed her hair and her make-up was done delicately, as to accent her best features. By dinner time she was at her best. Long hair shining, eyes gleaming and teeth perfectly white. She had never put this much effort into her dinner appearance before.

Alexandria stared out the window, dreamily. She hadn’t bothered to unpack at all, she hadn’t had time. Her suit case was sitting by the door where William had set it, and she had a couple of trunks propped against the wall, where a porter must have dropped them off when she was lost.

A loud knock on the door interrupted her day-dreaming. She stood up with a start, from where she had been perched on the edge of her bed and headed to the door. She pulled it open and glanced outside. First Commanding Officer William Cramer stood on the other side.

He tipped his hat to her and offered his elbow. He was still wearing his uniform, but it looked crisper, and he was freshly shaved. “Am I too early?” He asked, taking in her appearance.

She shook her head, “No, you’re right on time.” She smiled shyly and took his elbow.

“You look stunning.” He complimented her and she blushed. “You look pretty charming yourself,” She said and he chuckled deep in his throat. She didn’t know what had come over her, flirting like that, her mother would slap her upside the head if she heard.

“Are you joining my family and I?” She asked politely.

He nodded, “If you do not mind, I would hate to impose.”

Her heart did a double flip but she managed to keep her composure, “Not in the least.”

-----

When they arrived at the dinner table Alexandria introduced Will. “This is First Commanding Officer William Cramer, he was nice enough to escort me to dinner.”

Alexandria’s father looked thrilled, he had never been one for the prissy, rich boys that her mother so often tried to set her up with, and he stood up and stuck out his hand to Will.

Alexandria’s father was Charles Malone, an Italian of some sort of lord-like descent, but he didn’t care about it.

He was rich - yes, but he didn’t flaunt it. He had dark hair and eyes, and olive skin. Even though he shaved constantly there was always a dark stubble around his chin and cheeks, it never went away. His eyes were a cheerful chocolate brown, and when he smiled they lit up, and laugh lines crinkled around his eyes and mouth.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Charles Malone. Please join us for dinner.” He shook Will’s hand, and talked to him cheerfully about the ship and where he had come from, and all sorts of things. Laughing deeply most of the evening.

Dinner was delicious - most of the dinners on these top of the line ships were. The steak was juicy and tender, and the gold cutlery that they ate with glided through the meat like butter.

They drank champagne out of crystal goblets - well, Alexandria, Evangeline, Charles and William did, along with assorted other adults that Evangeline had captured and set at the table. Lillete and Charlotte, Alexandria’s younger sisters didn’t drink champagne, and Charlotte stared at Alexandria, eyes flashing angrily most of the evening.

Alexandria’s mother looked livid through the entire meal. She tried to hide it by faking politeness and charm throughout the entire meal. When they were finished the men stood up, stating that they were off for brandy in the other room. They asked Will if he wanted to go with them.

He shook his head, “I’m afraid I must decline - I have to do my rounds of the ship now.” He glanced at his pocket-watch, “I start my rounds in three-quarters of an hour.” He stood from the table, pushing his chair in.  “Thank you for your hospitality at your table.”

Charles Malone laughed, “It wasn’t a thing. Do certainly join us again.” He looked sincere, giving William a hearty pat on the back as Charles headed into the other room for brandy.

“Yes. Do.” Her mother said forced, teeth straining to smile, her eyes flashing fury at Alexandria. If looks could kill, Alexandria would be dead.

Alexandria remembered the time her mother had invited some spoiled British Lord to dine with them on some sort of other ship. The lord and her mother talked about her, being Alexandria, the entire meal, neither trying to add her into the conversation, or even acknowledge that she was even there.

 In the end Alexandria got so fed up that she ‘accidentally’ tipped over a bottle of red wine onto the Lord, and he left. Finally. Charles had laughed when the Lord went away, but Evangeline had made Alexandria stay in her room until they docked three days later.

Alexandria ignored her mother and rose at the table. “Would you mind escorting me to my room?” She asked William.

William offered his uniformed elbow and tipped his hat, “Not in the least.”

Alexandria stepped back from the table gracefully and her mother mouthed the words, “We’re going to talk about this later.” A demonic look flashing in her eye. Alexandria’s father just grinned widely at her, showing his support.

Sometimes she wondered how her parents had ever gotten together. And stayed together! There personality’s were polar opposites, and they didn’t like anything in common.

Her father often joked about it, saying that they were cursed to be together, or that a fairy had done them both a favor and then put them together with the worst possible match. Her mother never appreciated those jokes.

Alexandria swept from the table, supported on William’s arm.