Titanic

{Chapter Thirteen}

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A few minutes later, Jack was being detained by the burly Master-at-Arms; the closest thing to a cop on board. He handcuffed Jack. Cal was right in front of the steerage boy, and furious. He had just rushed out with Lovejoy and another man, none of whom had coats over their black-tied evening suits. The other man was Colonel Archibald Gracie, a mustachioed blowhard who still had his brandy snifter. He offered it to Rose, who was hunched over crying on a bench nearby, but she waved it away. Cal paid no attention to Rose, he was more concerned with Jack. He grabbed him by the lapels.

"This is completely unacceptable! What made you think you could put your hands on my fiance?"

Jack glanced over to Rose. His fiance?

"Look at me, you filth! What did you think you were doing?"

Rose rushed over to intervene. "Cal, stop! It was an accident."

"An accident?"

"It was...quite stupid really. I was leaning over and I slipped." Rose looked at Jack, getting eye contact. "I was leaning far over to see the...ah...the...ah...ah..."

"Propellers?" Cal offered.

"Yes, propellers. And I slipped...and I would have gone overboard...but Mr. Dawson, here, saved me...and almost went over himself."

"You wanted to see the propellers?" Cal chuckled.

Gracie shook his head. "Women and machinery do not mix."

The Master-at-Arms spoke to Jack. "Was that the way of it?"

Rose was begging him with her eyes not to say what really happened.

"Uh-huh. That was pretty much it."

He looked at Rose a moment longer. Now they had a secret together.

Colonel Gracie spoke up. "Well, the boy's a hero, then! Good for you, son. Well done!" He turned to Cal. "So it's all's well and back to our brandy, eh?"

Jack was uncuffed. Cal got Rose to her feet and moving.

He rubbed her arms. "Let's get you inside. You're freezing!"

Cal was leaving without a second thought of Jack.

Gracie spoke to him in a low voice. "Ah...perhaps a little something for the boy?"

"Oh, right. Mr. Lovejoy, I think a twenty should do it."

Rose was shocked. "Is that the going rate for saving the woman you love?"

"Rose is displeased. Mmm...what to do?" Cal turned to Jack. He appraised him condescendingly...a steerage ruffian, unwashed and ill-mannered. "I know." He spoke to Jack. "Perhaps you'd like to join us for dinner tomorrow evening...to regale our group with your heroic tale?"

Jack looked straight at Rose. "Sure. Count me in."

"Good. It's settled, then." Cal turned to go, putting a protective arm around Rose. He leaned in close to Gracie as they walked away. "This should be amusing."

Jack whistled to Lovejoy, signaling him as he walked past. "Can I bum a cigarette?"

Lovejoy smoothly drew out a silver case from his jacket and snapped it open. Jack took one cigarette, then another, popping it behind his ear for later. Lovejoy lit Jack's cigarette.

"You'll want to tie those." Jack looked down at his unlaced shoes. "It's interesting that the young lady slipped so suddenly yet you still had time to remove your jacket and your shoes. Mmm?"

Lovejoy's expression was bland, but his eyes were cold. He turned away to join his group.

Jack stared after them. Stared after the redheaded beauty that had lit up the curiosity in him like a flame.

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