There was a strange anxiousness that was surrounding Stas and it wasn't something that Charlotte found she could put her finger on. This was natural of course. It had been years since they had seen each other. It was years since she had known him. The time that stretched between them separated the young budding lover from the friendly acquaintances that now sat across from one another. He relaxed quite suddenly as the trilling notes drifted up from the skill piano player's fingers and into the air. She was surprised as his hand covered hers. She was even more startled to discover how familiar his touch still felt.
"No, perhaps it wasn't my fault, but it was all still because of my mother." There were very old feelings starting to surface that she had forgotten and Charlotte had a great deal to think over when she had some private time to herself. She had buried Stas in her past. She had buried the foolish and naive girl who had believe she was sneaking behind her very controlling mother. Charlotte knew that she had been a fool. So why was she entertaining herself with the very man her mother had banished her from ever seeing again?
If Sylvia only knew who covered Charlotte's hand, she would very likely have a stroke from the shock of it all.
"That sounds like an adventure. I wish I had a reason as exciting as accepting a new job." Her words were serious. "My aunt has invited me to come stay with her for the year." She sipped at her own coffee and felt the hot liquid travel down the familiar and warm path in her throat. "I don't expect it will be that easy though. My mother has kept me under tight lock and key for the past six years. I can't imagine she'd let me go so easily, especially by myself despite this being the Titanic. You never know what can happen on a ship at sea." There was a spark in her eye that hinted at mischief.
"I never got a direct answer, but I think my Aunt Margaret has lined up a husband for me in America." Her nose scrunched up ever so slightly and there was a hint of disdain in her voice. "If she has, I think I might run away to Africa then," she managed to bring a bit of a smile back to her face, "then neither my mother or aunt can interfere with my life any longer." Charlotte had no idea how close to the truth she was.
She also didn't understand what had caused her to open up so quickly to Stas. She was usually more reserved than this and preferred to stay quiet in social situations. She supposed that it was because Stas was from the part of her past where she had believed she could break from the golden chains that bound her to the high society. She liked to believe she was still that girl; the one willing to rebel against her mother and create her own life how she saw fit.