Page 72 of Haunting the Deep

“Aye. I hate that feelin’. Makes me all itchy. But besides meetin’ yer aunty Myra in the lounge, there is nothin’ that I know of that needs doin’ or rememberin’.”

Aunty Myra.Her name is like a bell in my mind, but I’m not sure why. “What’s the date, Mollie?”

Mollie hesitates. “The thirteenth of April. Ya know, I almost wasn’t sure.” She laughs. “Maybe yer not rememberin’ things is rubbin’ off on me.”

I smile. April feels right.

“All finished,” she says, and I stand up.

My corset squeezes me, and the bottom of my dress is so narrow that I can only take small steps. “Will you come with me to meet my aunt?”

Mollie nods and opens the door for me.

She leads me through the hallways and onto an elevator that takes us to an upper deck. We pass men and women in top hats and gowns, talking excitedly about their evening activities, and step into the first-class lounge.

“This way,” Mollie says, and I follow her to a table where Aunt Myra and her friend are drinking tea.

“Aunty Myra, sorry I’m late.” I stare at her a moment longer than I should. What is it I’m not remembering?

Aunt Myra brightens. “It is perfectly all right. You know Mrs. Brown.”

I curtsy to the other woman. Yes, of course I know Margaret Brown. “It’s wonderful to see you.”

Mrs. Brown pats the cushion next to her on the velvet couch and I sit down. Mollie has taken a seat at a nearby table with a couple of other ladies’ maids.

“Mrs. Brown was just telling me how she has been working with a judge to set up a juvenile court to help destitute children. It will be the first in America,” Aunt Myra says, and pours me a cup of tea. “Is that not something?”

I feel like I was just studying her. Wait, no, that can’t be right. Maybe I was reading a newspaper article about her? “Yes, I believe I read about it somewhere. And about all the amazing work you’ve done for women.”

Mrs. Brown tilts her head slightly and looks surprised. “It seems I have a young fan here, Myra.”

I smile and take the cup of tea from my aunt. “You should have a whole group of them, not just me.” I pause. “Do you mind if I ask you something?”

Mrs. Brown grins at my compliments. “Ask whatever you like.”

“How did you know you were in love?” Even as I say the words, they feel foreign in my mouth. Why am I asking this question?

Mrs. Brown laughs. “Well now, that is certainly not what I was expecting. A great question, though. I have always thought that love is not all feelings and instinct, but is instead a generosity of time. That if you truly love someone or something, you will give them all your hours without a second thought. Ideal moments are exactly what they sound like, ideal and hard not to enjoy. But love has never been about ideal moments for me, but rather everyday ones that are brightened because the other person is there.”

“Beautifully put, Margaret,” Aunt Myra says. “So you are wondering about love, Samantha? May I ask, is this a philosophical question or a practical one?”

My cheeks redden. “Well, I—”

“Ladies,” says a tall man with dark hair, an expensive suit, and a mustache that curls upward at the ends. He bows. “Are you enjoying this fine evening? I hope the refreshments are up to your standards.”

“Yes, Mr. Ismay. Everything is just as lovely as it could be,” says Mrs. Brown.

Ismay looks at Aunt Myra. “And you, Mrs. Harper? I know you do quite a bit of traveling. I do hope our accommodations are making it easy for you to adjust to sea travel.”

What’s this guy doing, fishing for compliments? I remember Alexander said Ismay was one of the owners.

“You have really outdone yourself with this ship. She is fit for royalty,” Aunt Myra says.

Ismay laughs. “Oh, you are too kind. Too kind. Also, I don’t know if you have heard, but I am happy to announce that we are making great time.”

“I do hope it’s safe to travel this fast,” I say, though I’m not sure why. I don’t have any fears about sea travel, do I? And I’m verging on impolite. “There is usually ice at this time of year, is there not?” Definitely impolite. What’s wrong with me?

He wiggles his nose and looks down at me. “This ship is practically unsinkable, Miss Mather. You have absolutely nothing to worry about.”