Boarding

May 1, 1915

A cool breeze blew in off the ocean as Charlie Ashton found a place to park his motorcoach near where the Lusitania would be disembarking in just a couple of hours. Carrie took a deep breath as she opened the door, letting the salt air cleanse her lungs. Most of New York City was congested and smelled of smoke from the autos and dung from the horses that were still in service, but here, the air was crisp. It smelled like adventure.
“I’ll get your bag, Carrie,” Charlie said. “I’ll carry it aboard for you.”
“Oh, Mr. Ashton, there’s no need for you to do that,” she said, following him around the car. “I can manage.”
“I know you can, but I want to inspect your quarters and make sure everything is in order before I leave you,” he explained. He took the bag out of the car and waited for Jonathan, who was speaking in hushed tones to his significant other, Edward, to grab his luggage as well.
“I’m sure Jonathan and I can fend for ourselves.” As much as Carrie appreciated working for such an attentive boss, she did worry about Mr. Ashton climbing aboard the passenger liner. She knew he wasn’t fond of them.
“Nonsense.” Charlie gave her a tight smile and began to walk toward the docks. It was easy to see Lusitania. While there were several vessels in the port, it was by far the grandest of them all.
Carrie paused to take it in, noting how the sunlight glistened off the bow. Her heartbeat quickened as she walked light on her feet behind her employer, so thankful to have this opportunity.
Behind her, she heard Jonathan and Edward talking. To anyone who didn’t know better, they’d sound like good friends talking about how they would miss one another for the time that they’d be separated. Of course, Carrie knew otherwise. While she didn’t envy them the judgment they would most certainly receive if anyone ever became the wiser to their arrangement, she definitely wished she had someone like that—someone to miss her when she was gone. Ms. Meg, little Henry, and the rest of the staff would miss her, but not in the same way Edward and Jonathan would miss one another.
A sea of passengers and their guests crowded around the deck. Many of them appeared to be other-than First Class passengers waiting their turn to load the boat. Charles Ashton waited for no one, and when the crew members took note of his presence, they immediately hopped into service.
“Mr. Ashton!” a man dressed in a uniform of the Cunard Line said in a friendly tone as Charlie led them past the others to the First Class Passenger entrance. “We didn’t know you’d be sailing with us, sir.”
“I won’t be,” Charlie replied, clapping the fellow on the arm like they were old friends. “A couple of my closest friends will be, and I’m here to see them off.” Charlie drew the tickets he’d purchased only the day before from his pocket and showed them to the fellow.
He didn’t even glance at them. “Yes, sir. Please head straight in. One of my associates will direct you toward your accommodations.”
Carrie smiled at the older gentleman and thanked him. She’d always wondered what it would be like to be rich like Mr. Ashton. Perhaps while she was on the ship, a First Class Passenger, not in service to anyone for a few days, she’d find out. The bag Charlie carried was stuffed full of gowns, jewelry, and other luxury items she wouldn’t typically have the opportunity to wear. But Ms. Meg had insisted she must look nice and enjoy herself, so they’d made a hasty shopping trip, and now, here she was—a lady boarding the vessel that would carry her across the ocean in style.
Another worker with just as jovial of an attitude led them to their accommodations. “Here we are!” He made a grand deal of opening the door. “One of your suites, sir. The other is here.” He gestured to the next door. “There is an interior door that joins them which can be locked.” He gave Carrie a nod, as if to say she wouldn’t have to worry about Jonathan slipping into her bedroom at night, and Carrie almost laughed.
“Thank you kindly.” Charlie slipped the man a few bills and then went inside, Carrie right behind him. Jonathan and Edward went to the next door, but once Carrie was inside her room, she could no longer pay anyone else any mind.
The sitting room was exquisite, with dark wooden furniture so polished it shone. The floral printed cushions looked inviting, and the view out the large window, just beyond her own private deck, was mesmerizing. Here, the ocean was a blue-gray with glints of sunlight sparkling off the small whitecaps, but she could only imagine the color would become more vibrant as they made it out to sea.
Charlie stepped into the adjoining room. Carrie could hardly pull her eyes away from the scene out the window but managed. In the bedroom, she had a large four-poster bed in the same wood finish as the furniture in the living room. The room wasn’t as large as she remembered Ms. Meg’s bedroom being on the Mauritania, but it would certainly do. Her room at the Ashton mansion was lovely, but somehow, this space seemed more luxurious. Perhaps because, at least for now, it was her own.
“What do you think?” Mr. Ashton asked, putting her bag away for her. “Is it satisfactory?”
“It’s wonderful, Mr. Ashton. Thank you so much.” She wanted to hug him but kept her hands folded in front of her instead.
“Of course. We are so grateful that you and Jonathan are willing to make this journey on Meg’s behalf, we want to make sure you are more than comfortable.” His grateful smile confirmed how much he meant every word.
“I’m honored that Ms. Meg has entrusted me with such a responsibility.” While the idea of facing Ms. Meg’s mother at the end of the journey wasn’t all that appealing, Carrie couldn’t think about that at the moment. She was too caught up in the notion that she was about to set sail on an enchanting voyage that held all the promise of adventure she’d been seeking. Adventure—and romance.
“You have the money I gave you?” Charlie asked.
Carrie nodded, patting the handbag she had slung over her shoulder. “I do.”
“Good. Be sure to lock most of it in the safe. You don’t want to be carrying it all on you. But you’ll need some for tipping and the like.”
“Yes, of course.” While she’d never been the one responsible for such activities before, she’d observed Mr. Ashton and Ms. Meg in action hundreds of times and knew when to tip and how generous to be. “It was very kind of you to pay for everything.”
“You’re only here because my wife requires it,” he reminded her. “That makes it my responsibility, and my pleasure.” He smiled and patted her arm.
The door behind them in the sitting area opened, and Jonathan and Edward came through. “You’d better keep this locked,” Edward joked. “You don’t want this one coming into your bedchambers in the middle of the night.” He gave Jonathan a playful jab.
Laughing, Carrie said, “For some reason, I’m not the least bit concerned.”
“What do you think of your rooms?” Charlie asked Jonathan.
“Well, they’re not quite as grand as Titanic,” the liegeman began, shoving his hands in his pockets and rocking slightly, “but then, these rooms are on top of the ocean, so I prefer them.”
For now.
The thought caught Carrie off-guard. Where had that come from? Perhaps it was the silly comments Ruth had made that had her thinking such morbid thoughts. She shook her head slightly, trying to clear her mind of such ugliness. Of course, they would be fine and make it safely to Liverpool to catch a train to Southampton. Then, they’d do it all in reverse. Easy as pie.
“I suppose Edward and I should get off the boat before it sets sail.” Charlie’s tone seemed easy-going, but Carrie didn’t miss the way he turned to look out the window at the ocean, a stormy look in his eyes. He’d almost died when Titanic sank. Did those memories still haunt him? She didn’t know how they couldn’t.
And yet, Jonathan, who’d also survived the sinking, would be setting sail with her. It seemed odd how the same experience could affect two people in different ways. But then, Charlie had practically died in the cold Atlantic water, and Jonathan had been aboard a lifeboat, thanks to Meg.
Cold Atlantic water.
“Carrie?” Mr. Ashton said her name in a manner that made her suppose it wasn’t the first time he’d spoken. “Are you all right?”
“Fine.” She forced a smile. She really needed to get those silly thoughts out of her head and enjoy this trip. After all, she’d done this before aboard the Mauretania , and she’d been fine. There hadn’t been the threat of U-boats in the water then, but she had to trust that they’d be safe. Otherwise, why would anyone set sail at a time like this?
“I’ll walk you up,” Jonathan told Edward.
“I think I’ll stay here, if you don’t mind,” Carrie added as the gentlemen moved toward the door.
“Of course. But don’t miss the disembarking. It’s the best part,” Charlie told her. He leaned over to give her a quick hug. “Take care, Carrie.”
She hugged him back, waved at Edward, and watched the three of them disappear.
With a deep breath, Carrie turned around slowly, taking in her room. It was a lovely place, and for the next few days, it was hers—and hers alone.
Exhaling, she sank down on the couch and stared out at the sea. The furniture was just as comfortable as it looked, and as she gazed around her accommodations, she was certain she could get used to this.
Once she’d let it sink in that she was a First Class passenger, that she would be the lady of the manor for almost a week, she pulled herself up off the couch with a satisfied smile and set about making herself at home, putting her items in drawers and hanging her gowns. She was finished and perched on the edge of her bed when Jonathan knocked on the door that separated their quarters.
“We’re about to set sail,” he announced with a warm smile. “Do you want to come up to the promenade and wave goodbye to everyone?”
“Are Mr. Ashton and Edward still here?” she asked, standing and walking toward him.
“No, they left, but that doesn’t mean we can’t pretend we know someone in the crowd.” He grinned at her, and Carrie laughed.
“That sounds like a fabulous idea.”
Jonathan offered his arm, and the two of them went up to the First Class promenade where a crowd of finely dressed people pressed against the railings, hands raised as they said goodbye to friends and family or perfect strangers.
A giggle of glee escaped Carrie’s lips as she waved at the people on shore. “Goodbye!” she shouted. “We’ll see you in a few weeks!”
The passenger liner began to move beneath her as the ocean currents laid claim to Lusitania, taking her out to see. As New York Harbor grew smaller and smaller, Carrie’s excitement bubbled over.
This was going to be the adventure of a lifetime.