Falling

Carrie practically floated around her room once she finished the adjustments to Jonathan’s suit. It hadn’t taken her as long as she thought it might, even with the rudimentary sewing kit she’d brought with her on this trip. If she’d been accompanying a lady such as Mrs. Ashton, whose gowns might require a higher level of attention, she would’ve brought something more substantial, but she’d figured the basic kit would be enough for anything one of her gowns might require should she get a snag or tear.
She’d never dreamed she’d be adjusting one of Jonathan’s suits so that another gentleman could accompany her to her first concert.
The smile on her face simply wouldn’t falter, no matter how many times Carrie warned herself she was getting ahead of the situation. “Just breathe,” she told herself. But every time she thought of Robert, her lungs restricted, making it hard to do just that.
With the suit altered in a way she was quite sure would fit the bill, she rapped on the door between the two rooms. Jonathan answered, an amused expression on his face.
Carrie looked past him but didn’t see Robert anywhere. Disappointment settled over her. “Is he here?”
“Just stepped out for a bit.” The smirk didn’t change. “Is it done?”
“I think so.” She handed the suit over for him to inspect.
He nodded. “This should do nicely. I’ll tell him to pick you up at seven.”
“What about dinner?” Thoughts of the night they’d shared together the evening before came to mind. She desperately wanted to dine with him again.
Chuckling, Jonathan said, “Fine. I’ll send for you at six.”
With a satisfied smile, Carrie went into her bedroom to select a gown for her first concert date.
Later that evening, after another jovial dinner in Jonathan’s quarters, Carrie and Robert strolled arm in arm toward the large room where the concert would be held. Carrie wasn’t certain what the name of the room was aboard the Lusitania, but she’d heard it called a reception room or an events parlor on some of the other ships.
As they approached, she felt Robert’s arm flex slightly. Looking up into his face, she could tell he was concerned. “Don’t worry,” she assured him. “If I am welcome considering my position, I’m sure you are, too.”
“It’s not that,” Robert said, though she didn’t quite believe him. “I’m afraid we’ll run into trouble.”
Understanding what he was getting at, Carrie scanned the crowd for any signs that Victor was also there. She didn’t see him, though. “Let’s find a spot near the back?” She assumed someone like Victor would want to be in the front row, should he show up.
Robert nodded. “Preferably near a door–just in case.”
“That sounds like a good idea to me.” Carrie took a seat in the back near an exit, and Robert sat next to her. Around them, the other passengers buzzed with excitement as they discussed how lovely the concert might be. Carrie wanted to pick up the easy conversation she’d shared with Robert over dinner, but the thrill of getting to see Gretchen Flynn in concert made her unable to form a coherent sentence.
Or maybe it was the presence of the handsome man next to her that left her unable to speak.
At any rate, the music began pretty quickly after they’d taken their seats, so there was really no opportunity to talk anyway. Carrie folded her hands in her lap, intertwining her fingers, and twisting them in excitement as Ms. Flynn took the stage.
A beautiful, clear soprano voice filled the room. Carrie gasped, unable to believe just how beautiful Gretchen’s voice was. The redhead was petite, but her voice was huge. With the accompaniment of a five piece orchestra, she began to sing one of the more popular songs that Carrie was familiar with. Tears filled her eyes as she listened to the incredible sound.
After a few moments, she turned her head to look at Robert and saw that he was just as moved as she was. Despite herself, she reached over and slid her hand into his. His fingers wrapped around hers in a slight squeeze. A smile formed on her lips as she turned back toward the stage.
Gretchen sang three more songs, two ballads, and one up-tempo number, before a couple bustled in and took the seats a couple of rows ahead of Carrie and Robert. She might not have even noticed if they weren’t incredibly noisy and rude to the other people sitting nearby. The woman giggled loudly, almost like she was inebriated. When the man leaned over and whispered something to her, she laughed again, and this time, so did he.
That was when Carrie realized who he was.
Her eyes shifted to Robert to see if he’d noticed, too. Of course, he had. With a scowl on his face, he looked back in the direction of the stage, but Carrie could tell he wasn’t happy. Neither was she. Why did Victor always have to show up and ruin everything?
When the woman he was with began to whisper loudly, the woman directly in front of Carrie raised one finger to her lips and said, “Shhh!”
Victor and his date turned around, an irritated scowl on his face. He looked the woman in the eyes and began to give her what-for. But instead of chewing her out, he looked past her, and his expression shifted again. While still irritated, he now looked a bit surprised–and then amused.
“Damn,” Robert muttered as Victor began to laugh. “He’s probably drunk.”
“Should we just leave?” Carrie asked in a low voice. She wanted to stay and enjoy the concert, but it would be easy for them to duck out the door next to them. “I bet we can hear from outside.”
Solemnly, Robert nodded. He stood, and Carrie followed him out the door. They were careful to close it quietly. It was a little rude for them to leave in the middle of the concert, but the last thing Carrie wanted was to sit there and listen to Victor spew his hatred at them.
Outside on the deck, a few people were walking by, enjoying the evening air, but for the most part, it was secluded. Sound filtered through the door well enough that she could make out the words to the song Gretchen was singing, something about a man she once loved that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, but now he was gone. It was a beautiful, melancholy song, and when she met Robert’s eyes, Carrie knew in her heart that she felt the same way about him as the woman in the song.
His dark eyes caressed her face as he reached for her hand, pulling him over to her. Carrie placed her palm on his strong shoulder and leaned into him as his other arm came around her waist. In perfect time, they moved together to the rhythm of the song, which seemed to match the beat of the ocean far beneath their feet. Her gaze never wavered from his handsome face.
“You’re so beautiful, Carrie,” Robert murmured, his voice a deep whisper. “I feel like I’ve known you forever. Whenever we are together, nothing else in the world matters to me.”
Her breath staggered as she fought to force out an exhale. “I feel the same way about you.” A smile slipped into place as she inclined her head toward his. He moved in her direction, and there beneath a blanket of stars, Robert Crawford kissed her, sending Carrie’s head spinning and her heart thrumming against her chest.
“Well, well, what do we have here? Lovebirds sucking face.”
Victor’s voice cut between them like a knife. Carrie took a step back, turning to face the millionaire who swayed on his feet as he approached them. She was sure it had nothing to do with the movement of the ship as the scent of whisky hit her nostrils.
“Mr. Anderson, we came out here to get away from you,” Robert told him bluntly. “You’ve had too much to drink. You should go to bed.”
“Go to bed?” The drunkard took a few more steps toward them. Carrie grabbed Robert’s arm and stepped behind him. “Since when does a nobody like you tell me what to do? You’re out here kissing my girl, and I’m gonna put an end to it.”
“I’m not your girl.” Carrie glared at him. “Go away and leave us alone.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” He took another step forward but lost his balance and took a few steps back before catching it again. “If I say you’re my girl, you’re my girl. I’m Victor Anderson, goddammit.”
“All right, Mr. Anderson. That’s enough.” Robert stepped toward him, clearly trying to help, but Victor didn’t want his help. Instead, he swung a clumsy fist in Robert’s direction, catching him in the lip.
Carrie squealed and covered her mouth with both hands. Hastily, she looked around for help.
It wasn’t needed, though. As soon as Victor connected with the first punch, Robert clearly decided he wasn’t going to be the man’s punching bag anymore. He cocked back a right hook and let it fly, connecting with Victor’s nose. Then, he threw a left jab and hit him in the eye.
Victor tipped backward and couldn’t recover this time, landing on his bottom on the deck. Blood from his nose spurted between his fingers as he tried to cover it. “You bastard!” he shouted at Robert, trying to get up. “You’re going to regret that! You just wait and see!”
Carrie had seen enough. Taking Robert by the arm, she pulled him away before Victor could manage to get off the ground. “Come on,” she insisted. “Let’s get away from him before he does something else.”
At first, Robert wouldn’t budge, his feet planted firmly on the deck, but after she yanked on him a few times, he reluctantly turned and went with her. Carrie rushed him along, not paying much attention to where they were going until they were far enough away that Victor couldn’t easily catch up to them.
Robert must have realized they were lost. He said, “It’s this way,” and took her hand, pulling her down a hallway. Within a few minutes, they arrived back at their rooms. Carrie was glad he was good with directions because she would’ve been totally lost and had to find a steward.
She rushed him into her room to the bathroom where she wet a cloth and held it to his split lip. “What in the world is the matter with that man?” she murmured, pressing the washcloth to Robert’s bloody mouth. “He’s lost his mind.”
“He’s always been that way.” It was difficult for Robert to talk while she was pressing against his mouth, but she understood him. “He’s a rich prick who thinks he is better than everyone else.” As soon as the sentence was out of his mouth, he apologized. “I shouldn’t use language like that in front of a lady.”
With a giggle, Carrie said, “I’m not exactly a lady.”
“You are to me. You’re the only lady that matters.”
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Carrie lowered the bloody cloth away from his lip. The bleeding had stopped, but even if it hadn’t, she didn’t care. When Robert pressed his lips against hers again, she leaned into him, parting her lips and tasting him for the first time. His mouth was warm and soft, just like she’d always dreamed it would be.
After a moment, he pulled away from her. “I’m falling for you, Carrie Boxhall.” He ran his thumb along her cheek. “Falling like a star from the heavens, and I don’t care where I land or how bad it hurts.”
With a smile, Carrie said, “I’ll be your soft place to fall.”