My Story: R.M.S Titanic [Completed]

36: Practice

As we left Cherbourg at 8:10 that night, Scott and I walked next to each other as we went to the dining hall for the first official dinner on the Titanic. Scott was wearing an evening suit and I was wearing a royal blue evening gown with my white gloves. I knew that Mr. Ismay would be watching Scott and myself closely as to make sure that we were the proper first class members that he wanted us to be. I am certain that we reeked like new money but as long as we acted like we didn't get our money from Mr. Ismay, no one would care.

"We are going to have a slightly larger group than what we are use to," I told him and he looked at me.

"We will be fine. I won't leave you the whole time," he said and we stood at the bottom of the first flight of the grand staircase that led into the dining hall.

"I know... Until it is time for brandy and smokes," I said and he smiled.

"I am well aware and you can deal with the ladies correct?" he asked. I smiled.

"I have before when I was a third class girl," I told him. He unhooked our arms and walked to stand in front of me.

"May I remind you that you cried last time I left you with Molly and Maddie in London?" he asked. I looked at the ground.

"I wasn't ready and now I am ready for the gossip," I told him. He touched my face and I smiled.

"I am so lucky to have you," he said and I took his arm again.

"Scott, Mae, it is a pleasure to see you again," Elisabeth said as she walked down the grand staircase with Mrs Robert and Georgette. I smiled at the trio and they stood next to us.

"Elisabeth, Georgette, Mrs. Robert, how are you this evening?" Scott asked. I smiled at Scott and he smiled at the trio.

"We are doing great this evening. Are we waiting for anyone else this evening?' Mrs Robert asked.

"The Astors and Mrs Molly Brown will be joining us this evening for dinner," I informed them as Mr. Ismay and Thomas walked over to our small group that was forming.

"Mr. Ismay, Thomas," Scott said as he nodded towards the two gentlemen, "May I introduce Miss Elisabeth Walton Allen, Mrs. Elisabeth Walton Robert, and Miss Georgette Walton Madill?" Scott used his free hand to gesture towards the three women that were joining us for dinner.

"It is a pleasure to meet you all. Certainly, you don't mind if we join you for dinner tonight," Mr. Ismay stated. He wasn't asking, but stating.

"Of course, however we are waiting for three more people to join us," Scott said. I was standing between Mr. Ismay and Scott and I could feel the dominance rolling off of the two of them as they stared at each other. I bit my lip in the silence until I saw Molly and the Astors.

"Molly! Maddie! John! How are you? How are your suites?" I asked. Maddie smiled and looked over me.

"They are beautiful. But, darling, how are you? Scott told us that you are having a tough time," she said. I looked at Scott.

"I have just been struggling leaving Europe so Scott offered for us to get off at Queenstown," I said which earned a look from Mr. Ismay, "but, I have decided that we will stay on the Titanic and go to America with you fine people."

"Of course, who wouldn't want to stay on this magnificent ship?" Mr. Ismay asked, trying to boost himself up.

"Magnificent yet flawed ship," I stated. Mr. Ismay shot me a look while Thomas laughed at my comment.

"That is why I am on the ship to see what the problems are on the Titanic and then fix them when we arrive in New York," Thomas said and I looked at Mr. Ismay.

"May I venture into asking when we will have a life jacket practice and a life boat practice?" Scott asked as our group walked to the dining area and we were in the center of the group. I smiled and waited for an answer.

"That is something that you need to ask an officer, not us," Mr. Ismay said. I looked at Scott and he stared at Mr. Ismay's head.

"I have, I was just making sure that you knew when the ship was having the practices," Scott stated as he pulled out my chair for me. I sat and Scott took the seat next to me as everyone else sat down.

"Well, I assume since you know, Scott, that you should share with us all," Mr. Ismay said. I stared at the man that was trying to make sure that we were the 'perfect' first class people that would keep his reputation.

"So all the lovely people that are aboard your ship that are joining us for dinner and do not know yet, there is a life jacket practice and test tomorrow before we land in Queenstown, I believe at 10 that morning and a lifeboat practice on the 14th," Scott said, keeping his eyes on Mr. Ismay.

"Are there more people joining us at Queenstown?" I asked.

"There is," Scott stated. I looked at Mr. Ismay.

"Shouldn't we be doing the life jacket practice after Queenstown?" I asked. Mr. Ismay made his lips go into a fine line.

"Majority of the passengers are already aboard the ship and the first class is the only ones that are really getting a walk through but the second and third class will be told where their life jackets are," Mr. Ismay said.

"Why will they never be taught?" Scott asked. I was taken aback as well. They were only going to teach the first class how to put on the life jackets and if something was to happen that would cause the need for the life jackets.

"There is no need for a life jacket test either way. The Titanic is unsinkable," Mrs Robert said. I held Scott's hand to tell him that he shouldn't say anything that would go against that in front of Mr. Ismay.

"Scott and Mae did some math and decided that the Titanic could sink and less than half of the souls aboard the ship will survive," Maddie said. I looked at my lap as Mr. Ismay looked at Scott and me.

"Is that so?" Mr. Ismay asked. Scott looked at the director and smirked.

"You know it is true, Mr. Ismay," Scott said and I looked at Mr. Ismay.

"But the life boats are nothing to be concerned about, Scott. I have built your fiancée a safe and strong ship that she will be safe and comfortable on until we get to America," Thomas told us, stepping into the conversation, "All the women." I looked at the table as John made the conversation turn into something else but Mr. Ismay's eyes stayed on us.