Titanic Affair by Amanda P Grange Page A

realized just how long she had been at sea.
    The weather had been beautiful, and this morning was no exception. Having finished her writing, she decided to take a turn on the deck. She donned her coat, gloves and hat, then went out into the fresh air.
    A number of early risers were already there, admiring the ocean. It stretched out in an unbroken vista in every direction, looking calm and placid beneath the clear sky.
    Further along the deck, a game of quoits was going on, and past that a couple were playing deck golf. In sheltered nooks and crannies out of the wind, people were sitting in deckchairs supplied for their enjoyment, and stewards were carrying trays of refreshments to and fro.
    As she stood there, watching the ocean, two crew members walked past her, talking.
    ‘I still don’t like this ship,’ said one. ‘I have a queer feeling about it.’
    ‘Come on, Wilde,’ said his companion. ‘She’s a wonderful ship.’
    ‘I don’t know so much. I’m not the only one to have a queer feeling about her. Arthur Lewis, one of the stewards, is anxious as well. His wife put his White Star in his cap the night before we sailed, and it fell to pieces in her hands. "I don’t like this", she said, and I’m not surprised. Arthur didn’t like it above half, either.’
    ‘Superstition,’ said the other crewman, but all the same he sounded a little less sure of himself.
    ‘John Stewart’s not happy,’ continued Wilde.
    ‘The verandah café steward?’
    ‘Yes. His wife saw him off at Southampton . It’s unlucky. Wives should never see their husbands off. He’s convinced something’s going to happen.’
    ‘To him, maybe, but not the whole ship. Perhaps he’s going to trip over his own feet!’
    But despite his nervous attempt at a joke, the mood did not lighten.
    ‘And then there’s Joseph Scarrott. He said "Goodbye" to his sister, and not, "So long, see you again soon" as he always does. And did you hear about one of the passengers. A hard-headed man, a New York lawyer, Isaac Frauenthal. He had a dream before we set sail. He was on a ship. It crashed into something and started to go down. He could hear the shouts of people drowning.’
    ‘Better stop this. You’re starting to make me worry now,’ said the other crewman. ‘In fact, you’re starting to make me wish I’d followed Coffy’s example and jumped ship. He was one of the boiler stokers. He hid under the mail sacks going ashore and got off at Queenstown. Never got back on again.’ He gave a nervous laugh. ‘You don’t suppose he’d had a premonition, too, do you?’
    ‘Who knows?’
    They passed out of hearing.
    It was only idle superstition, Emilia reassured herself as she looked out over the calm blue waters. It seemed impossible to think of any disaster befalling Titani c , with the spring sunshine glimmering on the quiet sea. Even so, she felt less comfortable than she had done ten minutes before.
    ‘Is something worrying you?’
    She heard the familiar voice at her elbow and turned to see Carl approaching her. He was dressed in an overcoat and gloves, with a bowler hat, but not even the superb cut of his clothes could hide the fact that he was a vibrant man with a ruthless streak, rather than the sophisticated gentleman he appeared.
    She felt her heart start to beat more quickly as he gave her a brilliant smile. It was all very well for her to tell herself that she must not find him attractive. Unfortunately, she did. His face was strong, giving evidence of his character, and she could not help remembering how it had felt to be held in his arms. She had better not think of it. If she did, she would give herself away.
    ‘Mr Latimer,’ she said, as coolly as she could.
    ‘Miss Cavendish. I’m glad to see you again.’ He came to a stop a few feet in front of her, and rested the tip of his cane on the deck, then folded his hands on its top. ‘You left the dining-room very quickly on Thursday night. I was sorry to miss saying