Information

Jonathan Lane made his way through the crowds to find a porter or an officer who looked like he might know what was going on. There was one in particular who had been a constant force of good information, and he knew if he was able to find Briggins he’d know precisely why Carpathia had passed the Cunard piers.
He found the officer where he expected to, over near where the lifeboats from Titanic were being stored. He was giving directions as the lifeboats were being shifted about on the deck. The man saw Jonathan coming and offered a small smile of recognition. Jonathan was a master at finding out what he needed without troubling anyone or making his existence exhausting. “Briggins,” he called out as he approached. “Do you happen to know where we are headed?”
“New York Harbor,” the older man said with a chuckle. He looked tired and the laugh was forced. The entire crew of Carpathia had been worked to the bone these past three days, and Jonathan hoped White Star would find a way to compensate them for their work.
“I know that,” Jonathan replied. “Where about?”
He shouted a direction to one of the crewmen before he turned back to Jonathan. “We’re going to drop these lifeboats at White Star first, pier 59. Then, we’ll go back to 54.”
Jonathan’s forehead crinkled. “Really?” he asked, as if he might have misunderstood. “Seems peculiar.”
“Not sure the thinking,” Briggins replied. “But we’re getting them ready to unload as quickly as possible. We know there are a lot of people ready for this voyage to be over.”
The phrase made Jonathan’s gut tighten. It had ended abruptly for two-thirds of Titanic’s passengers. He knew Briggins hadn’t meant it that way. “Thanks for letting me know,” he said. “Your crew has been nothing but accommodating.”
“It’s the least we could do,” Briggins said, his smile morphing from good-natured to sympathetic. “How’s Charlie?”
Briggins knew that Jonathan had a friend who was ill; he didn’t know it was the millionaire Charles Ashton and that Jonathan was actually his liegeman. There seemed no reason for an elaborate explanation when all Jonathan needed at the time was information. “He’s doing better,” Jonathan said. “They’re taking him straight to the hospital once we arrive.”
“I believe they intend to get the Carpathia passengers off first,” Briggins explained. “The captain thinks it will be less of a spectacle that way. Not sure what the plan is for transporting the sick and injured after that.”
Jonathan had already heard that the original Carpathia passengers would be getting off first, but he was glad for the confirmation. “I’m sure they’ll take care of them. So far, the doctors and nurses have done an excellent job of caring for Charlie and the others.”
Briggins nodded in agreement. “Well, if I don’t see you again, Jonathan ol’ boy, it was nice to meet you,” the officer said, offering his hand.
Jonathan shook it. “It was nice to meet you as well. Thanks again for your help.” Briggins nodded, and Jonathan turned to get out of the way as they neared the pier. Why they thought the lifeboats needed to be removed first was beyond him, but he knew there must be a reason. He made his way back toward the hospital room, hoping Meg would be there. She’d been acting peculiar the last two days, and he was beginning to grow suspicious of her again. There was more going on with Miss Westmoreland than met the eye.
She was standing about where he expected her to be. Her hair looked more like a contained bird’s nest than the beautiful blonde tresses she’d worn the other night when she’d accompanied Charlie to dinner in the First Class dining hall—a million years ago, five days ago. The outfit she had on fit her even more poorly than the clothes she’d been wearing that belonged to Kelly, who was taller and a bit shapelier. She stood wringing her hands, crossing and uncrossing her arms, taking two steps one way and then two steps the other way, leaning against the wall, standing. Clearly, the young girl had a lot on her mind.
Jonathan did as well, but he continued to push it aside and compartmentalize it, as he had always done. He knew eventually he would have to face his own fear and regret, the realization that he had lived while others had died, that he had occupied a seat one of those frozen women or children could have sat in. The rationalization that there hadn’t been anyone else around to take that spot was neither here nor there. Now wasn’t the time to ponder such possibilities, however. He had a job to do—the same one he’d been doing for years. Charlie needed him, and even though at that particular moment it meant leaving him, he’d still do his best to facilitate a safe transition for Charlie back to solid ground.
“Meg?” he said, waiting for her to acknowledge his presence. It took her a moment as her back was to him, as it had been earlier. Eventually she turned, and he could see recognition in her eyes, though they were having trouble focusing on his face. She reminded him a bit of a skittish rabbit, and he wondered if she was about to bound off in the opposite direction in an attempt to flee for her life. “Are you all right?”
“Yes,” she said. “They haven’t opened the door. You said to wait here, didn’t you?”
“I did,” he assured her. “I found out we’re going to unload the lifeboats from Titanic first, and then we’ll return to the Cunard pier.”
She nodded, that distant look in her eyes starting to narrow so that she appeared to be with him again. “That seems… peculiar.”
“I agree. But that is what we are doing. And then, you’ll get off with Charlie, and I’ll get off and go find Mr. and Mrs. Ashton.”
Another nod, this one more forceful. “And Kelly and Daniel will take the little girls and go to the address you gave them?”
“Precisely.”
“Have they any money? Do you know?”
“I gave Daniel a few bills. He said he had managed to grab a little of what they had before he got off of the boat.”
Meg nodded again. “I don’t suppose I’ll need anything.”
The thought hadn’t crossed his mind. He assumed Charlie had his wallet with the rest of the few belongings that had come out of the water with him, which would mean he had money, but there was a chance Meg might need something, and she had absolutely nothing of her own with her. Not a thing. Reaching for his own wallet, he said, “Here, let me give you a few dollars, just in case.”
“Oh, no, that’s all right,” she said gesturing with her hands as if to push the money he held out away from her. “I don’t think I’ll need it for anything.”
“It’s only twenty. I don’t have much more than that on me. Take it, Meg.”
She looked at the money and up at his face before taking a step back. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Jonathan,” she said.
His eyebrows arched. “Why ever not? You might need to buy something to eat or pay for a cab.”
She shook her head again. “No. If I do, I’ll just… I don’t know what I’ll do, but I don’t want to take it.”
“Meg, it’s not anything to worry about. This is less than pocket change to Charlie.”
“I know,” she said. “It’s not that.”
“What is it, then?”
She looked at the money, at him, and then off in the distance before returning her blue eyes to his face. “I’m afraid… if I take it… I might… run away.”
He was shocked. He had no idea what to say. It made sense, though. She truly was a frightened rabbit. He managed a weak smile. “Meg, you’re not going to run away. You’ve already done that.” He winked at her, but she didn’t seem to think it was a joking matter. Pressing the money into her hand, he said, “Take it in case you need it, Meg. You’re not going to abandon Charlie. You are a brave and industrious soul. You would never leave Charlie while he’s in the hospital. I know it’s frightening. You’re in a new place surrounded by strangers with nothing of your own. But I’ll be there as quickly as I can.”
She took the money and shoved it into her pocket, as if she wanted to forget it was there. “What do you think Charlie’s parents will say when they meet me? Do they know… what I did?”
“No, they don’t know anything, as far as I know. Frankly, they won’t even know you’re you, unless you tell them. I have no idea what Charlie’s plan is as far as letting them know the pair of you have chosen to stay together. For that matter, I don’t even know if you are planning to stay Mary Margaret Westmoreland once you reach New York City. Or will you be Meg West?”
Her eyes were darting around again, and it took her a moment to answer. Finally, with a gulp, she said, “I guess that makes two of us. Jonathan, I have no idea who I am either.”
Taking a step forward, he pulled her against his chest and patted her back. “It will be all right, Meg. The important thing is that we are all alive and together. We will help each other figure out what comes next. For now, we’ll see if Charlie is up to explaining things to them. If not, I’ll just tell them you’re Meg and leave it at that. If you decide you want to explain, you can, and if not, be Meg West for as long as you need to be.”
She pulled away, nodding. “I don’t want my mother to know. I already reminded Kelly. If anyone should happen to ask her about me, she’s to tell them she doesn’t know if I was on Titanic or not, and that for all she knows, I’m somewhere in Southampton. I don’t think anyone will realize she was my lady in waiting, but should they ask, she won’t give away any clues to my mother that I’m alive.”
Jonathan nodded. “That makes sense to me, Meg.” The boat wasn’t moving anymore, and he realized they’d reached the first port, pier 59. He tried not to think about the alternate reality where Titanic was pulling into port instead of Carpathia, or that John Jacob Astor, Ben Guggenheim, and so many others should be finishing up their brandies preparing to escort their wives and lovers off of the ship. It would do no good to dwell on those thoughts.
Meg seemed to notice the stop as well. Her eyes widened. “We’ve arrived.”
“I hope so,” Jonathan muttered. “I hope so.”