Ice & Iron (Titanic)

Chapter 3

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a nice orange shine over the water. It was a beautiful sight. I stood on the deck, just ocean gazing. It was peaceful.

This morning, we had boarded the new ocean liner, the world's most famous ship. We had left Southampton and then a made a stop to pick up more passengers. Even though I hadn't stepped off the ship, it had been amazing to see a new country. Being in two different countries in one day had been the best travel experience so far of my life, as well as the first day of the greatest new adventure of a lifetime. And tomorrow the adventure would continue, with another stop in another country. By the time I voyage ended, I would have seen four countries, three I had never been to before.

Now in the night time and I was already wearing my pink satin dress and the gold locket containing the photo of Father and I. I also had long white gloves on and cream coloured shoes. I had somehow styled my strawberry blonde hair into an up style, the same style I did whenever I went out for dinner. Although I had never been this formally dressed before. The last time I had been this dressed up was at the wedding. But since dinner was at the captain's table, we had to look our absolute best. And no doubt that everyone else around the table, especially with our company, and also the at the other tables would be dressed to their best.

"Stacey!" Mother called. "You ready for dinner?"

"Definitely, Mother," I called back. "Where are we meeting for dinner?"

"The dining saloon," replied Mother. "It's just off the Grand Staircase. Like our suite."

"We're on C Deck?" asked Stacey. "Where's the dining saloon?"

"D Deck," Mother said. "Not a far walk. You look lovely."

"Thank you Mother. So do you."

Mother looked gorgeous wearing navy blue silk dress, it also happened to be the finest dress she owned, we both were wearing our best. The sleeves were puffed and finished with white lace which matched the pattern around the collar of the dress. She had also paired white gloves and shoes and her best pearl earrings, which she only wore for special occasions.

We walked out of the suite and locked the door behind us. Only Mother carried her key. We walked a short way to the Grand Staircase and descended down the brown wooden furnished stairs to D Deck where the massive dining saloon was. "This room can fit over five hundred passengers in it."

"You're going to get tired of hearing me say this, but this ship is huge!" I exclaimed.

"Yes Stacey, you've said several times today and we're only on the first day of the trip!"

I laughed. "Imagine what I'm going to say when we make dock in New York."

"You'll probably say that everything is too small!" Mother joked.

"But it's New York," I pointed out. "It's a big city. But that will probably be true when we go back home to Southampton."

We looked around the room, over all the people. "Where's the Captain's table?"

"Over there," Mother said, pointing to a corner of the room that was light and spacious. "Look, William's already there!"

We wandered across the room to the captain's table where six men and one woman was already sitting down. They included the captain, two men in officers' uniforms, including my stepfather, three other men in suits and a lady dressed in her finest. The table was large and round and set with the most exquisite silverware, crystal glasses and china plates. Arrays of red roses sat in lovely vases across the table. There were cloth napkins folded neatly. I had never seen a table set like this before!