An Unsinkable Love(24)

Bree felt the tilt of the ship, and saw the lifeboats were beginning to swing away from the railing. Crewmen with ropes pulled the heavy wooden boats close as women and 82

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

children climbed in. Four boats away several male passengers tried to climb into a boat and were driven back by the officers in a frightful melee, but not before one climbed the rail and jumped into the boat. Bree was shocked at the man's shameful behavior.

The steward managed to get them places in the nearest boat. Elizabeth, mouth clamped tight, bore her pain in silence as she was manhandled into the arms of two uniformed men who waited in the boat.

Elizabeth balked. "Malcolm! What about Malcolm? Can you see him?" she cried.

"To the front, ladies," the older man in dress whites commanded, not giving the older woman a chance to turn back.

"I'm sure he's in one of the other boats, ma'am. We'll find him soon, I'm sure," Bree said as she guided Elizabeth to a narrow slat seat at the bow and sat beside her. A chorus of screams rang out as, with a sudden jolt, the boat started a jerky trip down to the dead calm water below. She peered up through the fog of her breath and saw a sea of faces staring down as she scanned the side of the ship. Only a few boats still hung in their davits. They'd never get them all in. She searched the railing for Malcolm's tall figure. He was in another boat. He had to be, for Elizabeth's sake. And her own.

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An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson





Chapter 8


Malcolm searched high and low, but Eldon couldn't be found anywhere. A few of the men he'd spoken to remembered seeing his stepfather playing cards, but that had been hours ago. It was nearing midnight now. Malcolm chaffed, admitting to himself his mind wasn't really on the task. His thoughts were distracted by memories of the auburn-haired seamstress currently occupying his mother's suite. More than once in the past few hours he'd considered returning to spend more time with the delectable Miss Barry instead of hunting for Eldon, who clearly didn't want to be found.

He was crossing the thick carpet in the paneled library on his way to the card room as the ship seemed to lurch. It threw him off half a stride and his hip connected painfully with the corner of a heavily carved rococo table. He rubbed the bruised muscle, frowning, and continued on his way. A moment later, he stopped abruptly to avoid colliding with a frightened young man in heavy pea coat who ran by. Within minutes he noticed crew scattering in every direction, all very much in a hurry. Just then, Malcolm spotted Robert Chisholm, whom he'd spent time with on occasion since the voyage started.

"Excuse me, Robert. Have you seen Eldon?"

Mr. Chisholm didn't seem to be aware of him. His eyes were blank and he mumbled something over and over.

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An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

Malcolm touched his shoulder. He heard the words the man kept repeating, "It can't. It can't. It just can't."

"Robert?"

The man jumped and looked at Malcolm in surprise. He shook off his daze and frowned. "What are you doing here?

Get to your lifeboat station, man. There isn't much time."

It was Malcolm's turn to be perplexed. "Lifeboat? What on earth are you talking about?"

"We've struck a berg, you see. She's going down. She shouldn't. We built her to be unsinkable, you know. But she is. There's no doubt." He nearly stuttered in an effort to get the words out.

Malcolm remembered Mr. Chisholm was the chief draughtsman on the Titanic and, along with several White Star executives, attended the ship's maiden voyage to observe how she handled. "You're sure it will sink? When?"

"Hours. Minutes. I can't say. There's too much flooding to do a proper inspection." He stood tall and took a deep breath.

"Please, Mr. DuMont. Get your life vest and report to the boat deck. If your family is still in their cabin, get them out as well." He turned and strode down the corridor toward the bridge.

Malcolm reversed direction and raced toward their suite.

The closer he got, the harder it became to move forward in the face of the advancing tide of bodies going the other direction. Many passengers appeared annoyed or curious, moving in groups, talking animatedly.

"Well, I never! A boat drill in the middle of the night is most uncalled for!" a portly matron grumbled, as her much-85