Chapter 12
There were people everywhere I turned. Many of them are first-class passengers who refuse to put on their lifejackets or wait out on deck where it’s cold. I want to grab them by the shoulders and shake some severity into them. Couldn’t they understand that this was a tragedy? I wanted to tell everyone the truth, but it would only cause a panic. Besides, I had to find Henry.
Henry’s cabin was empty. I already figured he probably wouldn’t be there, but it was the most rational place to begin my search. Knowing that I didn’t have much time, I weaved my way back on deck, carefully avoiding the place where I had left Mother and Stanley waiting for me.
People crowded around me uncomfortably. In the distance, I heard a woman wailing and the soft melody of the band, who were trying fruitlessly to liven up the mood. All around me I saw strangers. Many of them were first-class passengers, busy being fastidious about one thing or another. Finally, I spotted a familiar face. A few meters away from me stood Penelope, clutching on to her father’s arm. I pushed my way to her and placed a hand on her arm before she could she disappear into the group of people.
“Penelope, I need your help.” I gasped, trying to catch my breath. “Have you seen Henry?” She opened her mouth to reply but faltered.
“Please,” I begged. “This might be the last time I ever get to see him. I beg you.”
She expelled a loud breath as we were jostled back and forth. “I think...I think he mentioned something about third class.” There might’ve been a flash of pity in her eyes, but I didn’t care.
I thanked her quickly as she got lost in the crowd and started elbowing my way back out to third-class.
It took a while of pushing to make it to the third-class deck, at the very end of the ship. It was surprisingly desolate. Only a few people here and there, waiting their turn for a lifeboat. Henry was sitting on one of the benches, clutching on to a bottle of whiskey and staring off into the distance. I wondered why he would spend time here of all places, then it hit me: this was the same place where we met the first night. Pausing before approaching him to catch my breath, I weaved my way through the people in my way and sat down next to him silently.
It took him a while to realize I was standing there. His green eyes widened in surprise and then narrowed. “What are you doing here?”
I met his look steadily. “I could ask you the same thing.” He shook his head, like he was trying to clear it, or disagree with my response.
“No. You’re supposed to be on a lifeboat, floating for your life.” Something about that image made me want to laugh, but I refrained from doing so.
“That’s true. But you are supposed to be by my side.” He snapped to look at me, and I could tell he was at a loss.
“Ophelia...the lifeboats are for the women and children. I’m sure you’ve heard them.” Henry protested. So he was planning on sinking with the ship, was he?
Not going to happen.
“I won’t let you die.” The stubborn sound was out of my mouth before I could even finish the thought.
Henry laughed humorlessly. “I don’t think there’s a choice in the matter, Ophelia.”
“Join me in one of the lifeboats.” I pleaded.
“They said women and—”
“I know what they said, and if you were listening correctly, they said ‘women and children first’. Please, just come with me.” My voice, which started out strong, had somehow morphed into a tiny plea.
He shook his head decisively. “I can’t.”
“Very well then.” I said quietly, “I suppose I’ll just have to join you.”
Henry took a sharp breath as he glared at me. “Absolutely not. You are going to get into one of those lifeboats even if I have to put you there myself.”
“I think year’s separation from you almost ruined me. How am I going to fare for the rest of my life without you? I’ll tell you how: I won’t.”
Something about my tone assured him that I was utterly serious. He gazed into my eyes, searching for the sincerity in my words.
“Very well,” He announced softly. “I’ll try to join you. I’m not making any promises, especially when a woman or child can survive in my stead.” Even this much of a compromise must have been difficult for him. Most men were resigned to die an honorable death, but I couldn’t fathom a world in which he would not exist.
He discarded the bottle of whiskey and stood somberly. “I need to fetch something from my cabin. It won’t take long.” I nodded silently and followed him closely back to first class.
By the time we arrived to his cabin Henry and I were clutching hands, trying to fight against the waves of people rushing around us. In the distance rang the wails of women, shouts of men, and cries of children. The corridor leading up to his cabin was now void of passengers, most of them trying to obtain a seat in a lifeboat.
“Wait here,” He said over his shoulder breathlessly. I tried not to pull at the sleeves of my coat as I stood next to the door of his open cabin. It was only a few doors down from my own cabin, where I went back to retrieve mother’s ring not forty minutes earlier.
I wondered what they would think of my disappearance. Stanley would be furious, as would Uncle Carlton. But mother...she would be worried. I tried to chase away the wave of guilt and longing as I thought about her. If I survived this, I’ll find her and explain everything, and endure anything she might lash out at me.
As if summoned by thought, Stanley appeared at the far end of the hallway. Before I could flee he was already beside me.
“Ophelia, where the hell have you been?!” He placed one hand at the top of my shoulder and shook me roughly. I pried the offending hand from me angrily and glared at him.
“Your mother has been worried sick.” The twinge of guilt that followed was inevitable. He mistook my silence for acceptance and started dragging me away in the direction he had come from. I started protesting and tried to free my arm from him.
“No, stop. Stanley, you have to let me go-” In a second, I was ripped away from him and pulled backwards. With a sigh of relief I looked up and met Henry’s worried look.
Stanley, who was now standing in front of us, looked absolutely bewildered. It was clear that he hadn’t expected Henry to be here, let alone intervene. He seemed to catch on rather quickly, however, when he saw our interlaced hands.
His eyes darkened as his gaze turned on me loathingly. “What have you done?” He hissed darkly, like he was trying to restrain himself. But I wasn’t worried to speak my mind anymore, not when Henry was standing beside me.
So I straightened my spine, met his eyes squarely, and said: “I have found someone who gives me my place, and I love him.” Henry looked proud, but it wasn’t nearly enough for what Stanley put me through. So I continued. “I loved him before I even met you. And I wouldn’t think twice before agreeing to marry him.” I said snidely, throwing Stanley’s angry words from before back in his face.
“Why, you little-”
“Watch your tongue.” Henry bit out, speaking up for the first time. He wasn’t looking at me anymore, instead giving Stanley a harsh look that I couldn’t quite understand.
“This is ridiculous!” Stanley bellowed. “I’ve had enough of this. You are going to be my wife!” He said impatiently, reaching out for me.
I dodged his attempts and held on tighter to Henry’s hand. His hold was firm, but reassuring. Stanley growled, annoyed with evasion and lifted a hand to strike me.
It looked like Henry had enough.