Love Throughout Time

Chapter 19

*Will*

Millie looks so lovely in her light blue dress, it takes my breath away for a moment. Though expected, I’m disappointed that my sister is with Millie as I have so much to say to her privately.

“Will,” Agatha says, startling me out of my thoughts. “I’m afraid we’re almost finished with breakfast.”

“That’s quite all right.” My gaze turns to my sister. “I’ll take an early lunch instead.”

“Nonsense,” she argues. “You need your breakfast. Millie and I will be leaving soon for the morning activities, so you can have the table.”

“Oh?” Millie looks surprised as she turns to her.

Agatha smiles at her. “There are quite a few new ladies’ activities, and Mrs. Hippach asked if we’d like to participate. Under the circumstances, I understand if you don’t want to….”

“No, that sounds cool. We may as well take the time to enjoy what we can.” Millie looks at me. “Did you want to talk to me about something, Will?”

I do wish to speak with her, but I don’t want to interrupt any cordial interactions between her and my sister. “No, please go on and enjoy yourselves. I can escort you to the activities.”

“We’ll be going to the reading and writing room,” Agatha explains. She gazes at Millie. “Are you ready?”

Millie nods. “Sure.”

I assist with their chairs and offer both arms, noticing my brother across the room with Mr. Brandeis. “I’m escorting the ladies to their morning activities,” I explain to him as we walk by, heading for the grand staircase since the room is on A Deck. He nods as we pass.

It feels wonderful having Millie on my arm again, even though I’m not able to speak with her alone just yet. I doubt Agatha believes she’s from another time, let alone that the ship will sink, so I don’t want to worry her about my plans for ensuring the gates are unlocked during the disaster. Undoubtedly, she will find the idea dangerous, if not foolish.

We arrive at the room, and I open the door, Agatha stepping in first to greet the many ladies already gathered there.

Millie turns to me. “We’ll talk later.”

“Indeed.” I nod. “We have much to discuss.” I give her a smile to reassure her, wondering if she’s been second-guessing her decision to kiss me. I hope she has not. It confirmed the growing feelings I’ve been having for her and let me know that she is feeling the same way. “Enjoy your morning.”

“I will.” She gives me a smile that reaches her eyes as she steps inside and is immediately greeted by the ladies. For a woman from the future, she has fit into the social circles in my time very well. It’s not surprising with her charm, grace, and kindness.

I turn from the door and step away. It will feel like a long day without Millie by my side.

***

I adjust my hat as we wait for the ladies to step through our communal door that evening. Their activities lasted well through the lunch hour, so I haven’t been able to speak with Millie alone all day. And tonight, it seems our calendar will be full once again, with a party being held by Mr. Isme in the lounge this evening.

“You look splendid.” I chuckle at my brother for fussing with his suit more than usual. “I’m sure that young lady you’ve been visiting with will say the same.”

I see the blush rising in his cheeks. He can never hide that from me. “Do you think so?”

“Of course,” I insist. “That’s one of your finest suits.”

I’m just about to add another teasing remark when the door opens and stops me. My heart flutters as Millie walks into the room wearing a lovely royal blue dress, her green eyes sparkling like jewels. “You look stunning, Millie.”

She smiles, and it reaches her beautiful eyes. “What, in this old thing?” She laughs, and I quickly understand her meaning.

The sentiment is charming, and it makes me chuckle. I offer my elbow. “Shall we?”

“Yes, we shall.” Her warm hand wraps around my arm as she smiles up at me, and for a moment, I can’t remember where I am.

Dinner is pleasant, if not a bit hurried as everyone is anxious for the gathering. “I hope you’ll allow me to escort you to the party,” I tell Millie.

“For sure!” she agrees. “There’s nobody else I’d rather go with.” There’s a flash of pink in her cheeks, and memories of our kiss flood my mind again. Thankfully, Mr. Brandeis asks me a question that takes me out of such distracting yet pleasant thoughts, and I’m able to control my emotions again.

After we’ve finished dessert, I help Millie with her chair and offer my arm. “Are you ready for the party?”

“Yes,” she says. “It’s going to be very fun to go to a party on the Titanic.”

“I suppose it will be.” I watch my brother fetch Miss Evans from her parents’ table and wait for them so we can walk together.

“Miss Baker, may I introduce Miss Evans,” Edward says when they approach.

“Please call me Millie,” Millie insists.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Millie. I’m Edith.” The young woman smiles warmly at Millie, and they begin to chat as we stroll down the hallway.

We reach the lounge on A Deck, and staff members at the double doors open them for us.

“Wow.” Millie looks around, taking in the surroundings. A quartet is playing softly on the side of the room. Several couples are already ballroom dancing, and others sit off to the side, mostly separated in groups of men and women, though a few conversations are mixed.

“This is a bit different than the festivities below,” I whisper in her ear.

She chuckles. “A lot different, but it’s really awesome to be here. It’s kind of the first-class version of it, I think.”

I nod. “A fair assessment. Would you care to dance?”

“I’d love to.” She seems to be uncomfortable with the dance at first but easily follows my lead. I look into her laughing eyes, hoping it can stay like this forever. I don’t know what will happen when this ship sinks, but I feel the urgent need to stay near this woman, no matter what happens.

The song ends far too quickly, and we’re swept by the crowd to a table occupied by some of the people we’ve mingled with throughout the voyage. Mr. Lindquist, a man I’ve met in the smoking room, draws us into his conversation. “Will, what do you think of these wireless communications onboard?” he asks.

“I’m afraid I don’t know much about it, but it seems rather miraculous technology,” I say.

“Geoffrey, I’m sure the ladies here would prefer a different topic so we can all converse,” another man says.

“The wireless technology on this ship is quite advanced.” All eyes turn to Millie. “The Marconi system is the best in the world in this time… now, that is. Its range is a thousand miles, and the antenna runs from bow to stern.”

The men in the group are stunned into silence, and I smile wide. She even sounds like she belongs here–for the most part.

“That’s… fascinating,” Geoffrey says. “How do you know so much about wireless, Miss….”

“May I present Miss Millie Baker,” I say in introduction.

“Miss Baker,” he repeats.

She shrugs. “I’m just interested in that sort of thing. Wireless tech will be huge.”

“Will it, now?” another man asks.

“Yes.” She turns to him. “There are a lot of advancements right now. Even using SOS is new.”

“SOS?” a woman asks.

“It’s an emergency signal,” Millie explains.

“I thought that was CQD,” Geoffrey muses.

Millie shakes her head. “SOS is faster and more efficient, so that’s the newest standard.”

“How fascinating.” Soon, the conversation shifts, and we have a moment with others engaged elsewhere.

“Millie, would you like to sit?” I ask her, offering a chair at a nearby table.

“Yes, thank you.”

Pushing her chair in, I sit beside her. “You’re making quite a splash,” I whisper.

“I hope I didn’t say too much.”

I shake my head. “I wouldn’t worry. They’ll likely forget soon given the upcoming events.”

She gazes at me and tilts her head slightly. “You believe me?”

I nod. “Yes, I do, and I have a plan. We can discuss it more later.”

“Okay.” We turn toward the quartet, which is beginning another lovely song. Millie watches them play, and her eyes sparkle from the moisture that begins to pool in them.

I wave over the waiter, who pours us some champagne. “We should enjoy this night.”

She nods. “We should.” We toast each other and take a sip then turn back to the conversation at the table.

But not long after, I realize that I want to take advantage of every moment we have left by spending it alone with her. I cannot forget the way I felt this morning when I thought she had possibly disappeared from my time. “Would you like to take a walk?” I ask her.

“I’d love to.”

We say goodnight and take our leave from the party, strolling slowly down the hallway. We reach the exterior door, and I lead her out on the promenade. The night is somewhat cool, but there’s not much wind.

I walk her over by the railing where fewer people are standing nearby. “I need to tell you something, Millie,” I begin. “I don’t know what the future might bring… I mean, even though I know the Titanic will falter, I don’t know what will happen to us.”

“Neither do I,” she says sadly. “I know a lot of survivors’ names, and yours… isn’t familiar.”

I nod. “It may be that I perish, and that is why I want to spend as much time as I can with you now. I’m falling for you, Millie Baker. I suppose I’ve known it from the start, but the more days I spend with you, the stronger those feelings become.”

She exhales deeply before speaking. “Will, I’m catching feelings for you, too. But we can’t think like that. I don’t know what will happen to you or me… and I still want to go back to my family in 2025.”

I take both her hands in mine. “Then, we must enjoy every second we have together for now.” I look into her eyes as I move closer, leaning in to press my lips against hers. She hesitates for a moment then relaxes as I deepen the kiss.

After a moment, she pulls back, gazing into my eyes silently before she seems to work out a decision. “Come with me,” she says, pulling me gently by the hand.

Of course, I follow, quite willingly.