Ice & Iron (Titanic)

Chapter 5

The walk on the bow was lovely. It was a large area, people still walked about, but it didn't feel like you were trapped. The openness was welcoming. I lingered out on the bow, trying to figure out my next move. I wanted to say good morning to Father, but I didn't want to do it with Joe standing right next to me.

I kept tossing looks at both of them over my shoulder. Joe seemed content up on the bow and wasn't showing any signs of wanting to leave soon. It was killing me. Murdoch was standing right behind me and I wanted to talk, but I couldn't because Joe was with me. I contemplated saying to Joe that I was going back to our suite. I could walk away and then when he wasn't looking, walk to the bridge and see my stepfather. The plan had formed in my mind and it was a good one.

"I'm going to go back to my room," I said. "I need to find my mother and see if she has anything planned for the day."

Mother! That was another person I had to keep Joe away from. He knew what she looked like. If he saw her and Murdoch together, he could possibly get the wrong idea, that an officer was flirting with a passenger. They did meet on a ship back in 1903. I had been staying with an aunt at the time. But it wouldn't be good and I didn't want to explain that now. The timing had to be right and I had to make sure that Joe wasn't just going to leave. Trust was crucial. I had only just met him and I wasn't sure if the friendship was going to last yet.

"Okay," said Joe. "I'm going to stay out here for a bit longer. The view's so nice at this time of morning. See you again soon, Miss Stacey."

"I'll see you later," I said to him.

I left Joe leaning on the railing staring out at the water. As I walked away from him, I could feel his gaze on my back. But I didn't want to turn around and catch him staring at me. Was he sensing that I was acting odd? When I had walked far enough away, I looked over my shoulder. Just in time to see Joe's head swinging back out to face the water. Just like I was, maybe he was hiding secrets as well. Maybe he already knew. But how? I made sure he stayed looking out at the water for long enough before I climbed the stairs to the bridge.

"Good morning, Miss Stacey," Chief Officer Wilde greeted. He was walking with another officer whom I didn't recognise.

"Good morning Chief Officer Wilde," I said.

"Please, you can call me Mr Wilde," he said. "But only you. Other passengers still have to refer to us by titles." He turned to the officer beside him. "This is Fourth Officer Joseph Boxhall. Mr Boxhall, this is Mr Murdoch's stepdaughter, Miss Stacey."

"Pleasure to meet you," Boxhall said.

"Is he around?" I asked the two men politely.

"Yes, he's just inside the wheelhouse," said Wilde. "If he's not talking to the captain or other officers, you may talk to him."

"Thank you," I said. While I walked across the bridge, I could still see Joe on the bow. I hoped that he wouldn't turn around for a few moments more. At least Murdoch was inside the wheelhouse, I could see him now. If I went in, Joe wouldn't be able to see me.

Luckily, Murdoch wasn't talking so I was able to duck just inside the door, just as Joe's head turned around again. Did that boy have eyes in the back of his head?

"Good morning Stacey," Murdoch said, walking over towards me and giving me a hug. "Did you and your mother sleep well?"

"We both did, thanks," I said. "Have you not seen Mother this morning?"

"Not yet," he replied. "I'm about to go on my rounds and was hoping to see her then. Do you know where she is?"

"She went to meet with new people at breakfast," I told him. "I haven't seen her since."