A New Beginning

Chapter 8: Choices

Chapter 8: Choices

Rose wakes up the next morning with a dreadful feeling in her stomach. She has a slight headache from the beer last night, but the dread she knew would come from talking to Cal. She gets up and dresses. She walks out to breakfast and sees that Cal is waiting for her. She folds a napkin in her lap and tries to avoid his gaze. They are halfway through breakfast when Cal speaks to her.

"I had hoped you would come to me last night," Cal says, eerily in a gentle voice.

"I was tired," Rose mumbles

"Yes. Your exertions below decks were no doubted exhausting." Cal growls.

"I see you had that undertaker of a manservant follow me," Rose mutters

"You will never behave like that again! Do you understand?" Cal warns her.

Rose's stomach drops out and she can feel Cal's temper rising. "I'm not some foreman in your mills than you can command! I am your fiancée"

It is then that Cal explodes, sweeping the breakfast china off the table with a deafening crash. He moves to her in one shocking moment, glowering over her and gripping the sides of her chair, so she is trapped between his arms. Rose's heart is in her throat as she is forced to look Cal in the eyes.

"Yes! You are! And my wife... in practice, if not yet by law. So, you will honour me as a wife is required to honour her husband! I will not be made out a fool! Is this in any way unclear?" He barks angrily.

Rose's tears are frozen in her eyes and she breathes heavily, scared to say anything. Cal then gets up and leaves the room as if nothing happened. Trudy, her mother's maid comes in. Rose swallows hard and looks at the maid.

"We... had a little accident. I'm sorry, Trudy," she says pathetically.

...

She then goes to dress for church. Her mind is still reeling from the shock of Cal's outburst as she laces up her mother's corset.

"You are not to see that boy again, do you understand me, Rose? I forbid it!" her mother says.

"Oh, stop it, Mother. You'll give yourself a nosebleed." Rose snaps, angry over everyone having control over her life. She turns to walk away from her mother.

Ruth pulls away from her, and crosses to the door, locking it and preventing Rose's escape. Ruth grabs her daughter to face her.

"Rose, this is not a game! Our situation is precarious. You know the money's gone!"

"Of course, I know it's gone. You remind me every day!" Rose moans.

"Your father left us nothing, but a legacy of bad debts hidden by a good name. And that name is the only card we have to play. I don't understand you? It is a fine match with Hockley, and it will ensure our survival."

"How can you put this on my shoulders?"

"Do you want to see me working as a seamstress? Is that what you want? Do you want to see our fine things sold at an auction, our memories scattered to the winds? My God, Rose, how can you be so selfish?"

"It's so unfair," Rose growls under her breath.

"Of course, it's unfair! We're women. Our choices are never easy." Her mother says, signalling to Rose to finish up the corset.

...

Meanwhile, down a few decks, Emma and Peter wake up cuddling in each other's arms, still in the same clothes from the night before.

Emma rolls over to look at Peter.

"Good morning my handsome husband to be..." she smiles.

"Good morning my lovely future wife," Peter says.