The voyage

6–Dinner with the captain

"You do realise that for us to look happily married, you're going to need to talk to me". Kate stated quietly, having spent some time sat in silence at the table with James.

Of course, prying eyes were on them, many people also coming to say hello to the captain and them playing along perfectly, but aside from that, James had not spoken a word to her.

"Sorry". He sighed, "just thinking, and I'm tired".

"Do you miss home?" Kate asked, wondering whether asking a few questions would help. So far she knew nothing about this man, other than he had a woman waiting for him in New York, and she couldn't let on about that.

"Sometimes, this voyage has been difficult to say the least".

"I'm sorry". She felt bad, knowing it was probably because of the situation with her.

He brushed this off. "It's not you, just some are harder than others". His mind went to Peggy again and now his hand felt for the compass in his pocket. "Have you ever travelled this way before, with a ticket?" There was a playful smile bow on his features.

She shook her head. "No, this is my maiden voyage and not one I'd planned obviously". Sipping her wine as the waiters now brought them their food, "and here was me thinking you never smiled Captain?"

"What makes you say that?"

"Just that since my discovery you've not exactly been in the best of spirits, which is understandable, I just wondered whether you were miserable all the time being at sea". Now it was her turn to smirk.

James sighed. "I'm sorry Kate, I do smile when I want to - unfortunately this job comes with trials and tribulations".

"Also known as, people like me". She began to cut into her chicken. "Then again, I can see why you'd fall into the category of 'grumpy old sea captain'".

"Now that was cold", there was a smile on his face. Kate didn't seem to be scared of telling him what she thought about him.

"Colder than you?"

"Ok, I think you've made your point" He now chuckled.

She feigned her surprise. "Oh, and a laugh as well. This truly is my lucky day, or evening, technically", now popping a potato into her mouth and eyeing him mischievously.

He shook his head, still smiling to himself and continued eating. "And for the record, 'home'? It's Brooklyn". He confirmed, sensing that they'd need to continue the conversation in order to seem like a normal married couple.

"Do you like it there?"

"I was born there, so I guess", he stated, "thankfully my job's allowed me to take care of my mother, make a better life for her".

Kate smiled. "What's she like?"

James finished chewing. "After my father died, she had to raise me by herself, scrape together what she could. She worked two jobs before I could actually go into one and earn a wage to help, then as I rose up and became a Captain, she no longer needed to".

"I'm sorry". She smiled weakly. "It must be wonderful to have someone care for you like she has and does".

He now realised that perhaps with Kate's upbringing, her relationship with her mother wasn't as close and caring as his had been. "Did yours not?"

"I was brought up in the care of nurse maids and my governess. I have older and younger siblings to, so I was a little forgotten about, being a middle child. The only thing my parents have ever cared about is marrying their daughters off, ensuring that my brothers make good marriages as well. In fact, it's only now I've realised that my mother has never really spent any time with each one of us, unless it was at a dinner party that we were old enough to attend..."

She'd never had the experience of being read a bedtime story, being comforted when she felt and hurt her knees while playing. There was never really any real 'family' time, or any time spent with her parents alone.

"If and whenever I have the chance to become a mother, I want very much not to be like mine..." Now she realised she was rambling. "It appears I've dampened the mood. I'm sorry - you should ignore me".

"You're hard to ignore Catherine, and I think every passenger in this room would agree with me". Steve admitted. "I think just by saying that? By doing what you have? You're not your mother - if you were you'd be back in England marrying a man you don't love because you have to".

"Laura told me I was brave...that she could never do that. I don't think I'm that at all - I think that I'm rather a coward".

James shook his head. "Others who stand by your parents views will call you that, but if they knew the real situation then they'd probably think very differently".

She had no idea what was currently going through her parents' minds. Part of her hoped for turmoil and despair, but the other half hoped that they didn't care enough to even look for her. "But your mother sounds wonderful. If I ever have chance to meet with her, or even write. I will thank her for raising a considerate man".

The last course was served to them, and they ate in silence, James dabbing his mouth with his napkin and then looking to Kate. "Come with me..." he now said, and to keep up appearances, took her by the arm and led her out.

Darkness had fallen across the ocean and the only sound to be heard was the waves, Steve leading her up some steps to a higher deck above the promenade and now showing her. "I know it's dark, but sometimes it's nice to come up here of an evening just to feel the wind and reflect".

"You are most certainly a thinker".

"I have to be".

"It makes sense". She shrugged and looked out into the darkness. "Doesn't it scare you of what may lie ahead?"

"Are we still talking about the sea? Or life?" He enquired.

Kate's eyes were still locked, staring out. "Both?"

He shifted slightly. "I'm in a position to know where I want to be in life and what I want, but the sea? I'm not scared of that either. It's a risk taken every day, but with the technology we're discovering or have, things are changing".

"It's rather remarkable, that something like this can take us from one place to another...now we have auto mobiles...whatever next".

James saw her shudder slightly from the wind. "We should get inside, can't have you catching a cold".

He led her back down the steps and to the deck that their cabin was on, feeling a little more less awkward than he'd felt, now that they had both opened up to one another more.

Still, he couldn't wait for the respite that awaited him back on dry land.