Dammit, he had never put himself in this sort of situation before.
Thankfully, the train car steward chose precisely that moment to come back with the cream. Cassian smiled a tight-lipped smile as the man set the carafe next to the coffee. He then took the opportunity to end the (potentially flirtatious) conversation with the boat steward by keeping his eyes fixed on the cup in front of him while he stirred in the cream.
Over the next fifteen minutes, Cassian sat there and enjoyed his beverage. His headache began to fade. Once he was finished, he stood, rebuttoned his jacket, and started back toward the passenger car.
But not before taking one last look at the first-class steward with the pinchable cheeks.
Chapter Two
Cassian
On White Star Dock, Cassian stared up at the RMSTitanicin wonderment, his eyes wide and mouth agape as he took in her splendor. Her façade looked immaculate—the picture of elegance—and her size alone communicated such strength and resilience. Cassian could hardly believe how much larger she seemed than every other ship on which he had ever traveled. Next to him, Ethel and her mother, Helena, looked equally as impressed. Cassian’s chest swelled with pride as he watched Ethel’s eyes sparkle, her brown irises shimmering in the late morning sunlight like little rounds of mahogany obsidian. She seemed excited. Honestly and truly excited. And he wondered whether this might be the thing to help them finally become close—some time together on the most illustrious ship in the world. Clearly Ethel was capable of being moved by the ship’s magnificence. Perhaps, soon, she could be moved by his magnificence, too.
“How fortunate we are to have secured our tickets,” he mused aloud.
“Yes, we certainly are, thanks to you,” Helena said happily.
Cassian preened as he continued to stare up at the incredible ship. “Isn’t she a sight to behold, Ethel? I have a feeling that the rest of her is equally as spectacular, too.”
“Itismore majestic than I thought it would be,” Ethel replied.
“She,” Cassian corrected with a small smirk. “When you talk about a boat or a ship, sweetheart, she is always a she.”
“Right.” Ethel squinted up at the ship. “Why is that?”
Helena chuckled. “Don’t bother trying to make sense of such things, dear. In fact, I once asked your father the same question.”
“And what was his answer?” Ethel asked.
“That boats were ‘she’ because that was simply the way it was.”
Cassian nodded approvingly. Yes, that was the perfect explanation. And it could be applied to a great many other things, too. Some things justwere. It was merely the way of the world.
Cassian’s valet, John Quinn, came up beside them carrying a single suitcase, one that Cassian wasn’t comfortable letting the White Star Line employees handle since it contained more money than most of them might make in even twenty years’ time.
“All of your other bags are now on their way to your room, sir.” Mr. Quinn leaned forward to catch Ethel’s eye. “Yours as well, miss.”
Ethel smiled sweetly. “Thank you, Mr. Quinn.”
Cassian lifted his chin, gesturing toward the ship. “Let’s board, then, shall we? I’m eager to find out if our accommodations are as luxurious as has been said.”
Everyone started over to the gangway. Ethel’s mother stumbled forward a little as she stepped up onto it, and Cassian hurried ahead to offer her his arm. Behind him, Mr. Quinn offered Ethel the same support. Looking back over his shoulder halfway up the ramp, Cassian smiled to himself upon seeing Ethel’s clearly happy expression, the lingering sparkle in her eyes reassuring him that maybe there was hope for their future together after all.
Crossing through the vestibule, the four travelers stepped into an entrance hall. In the center, there was a beautiful oak staircase whose posts were topped with pineapple finials, and from the ceiling hung several beaded glass electroliers that illuminated the room. Cassian swiveled his head slowly as he took everything in. It was a lovely enough space but lacking a bit of the personality that Cassian had expected. Other than the staircase, which was plenty ornate, the room was mostly plain, though the lounge chairs and sofas lining most of the wall space looked comfortable. He hoped that the staterooms themselves were more exciting.
After untangling himself from Helena’s grasp, Cassian took one more look back at Ethel before entering the corridor that would lead them to their rooms. Accompanied by Mr. Quinn, Ethel continued to smile as she followed. She somehow seemed pleased enough with the slightly lackluster entrance room. Hopefully that boded well for her enjoyment of the rest of the ship, like the parlors and lounges and writing room, provided that the illustrations Cassian had seen of them hadn’t been embellished.
One-third of the way down the corridor, a man who would likely be their cabin steward was there to greet them. For the next few minutes, Cassian and the others waited while their luggage was brought into their four rooms by the cabin steward plus several other crew members.
During that time, Cassian checked his pocket watch twice, his impatience intensifying more with each passing minute. Really, the crew ought to have been practiced enough to sort their things more swiftly than this.
After what felt like a long while, their rooms were finally ready. Cassian took a fast peek inside his to make sure that it was sufficient. Decorated in Modern Dutch style, the room had a maroon-, brown-, and beige-colored carpet, and its wall panels were made of sycamore. It felt warm and cozy, while still having a sense ofelegance to it. It was, in a word, perfect. Cassian let out a small sigh of relief. Money well spent.
Afterward, Cassian left to see that Ethel was happy with her room. Although it was Old Dutch style instead, it, too, was lovely, with wood paneling on the lower half of the walls and a beautiful blue fabric that covered the rest.
Ethel was sitting on the edge of the larger of the room’s two beds. Cassian promised himself that he’d take a look at the other rooms later. Right now, he wanted to spend a bit of time with his fiancée.
Hooking his hands behind his back, Cassian cleared his throat and said, “Do you like it?”
