Titanic: The Long Night by Diane Hoh Read Free Book Online

grilled ham and tomato omelet her father ordered for her. She slid down in her chair, arms folded across her chest, and watched as he cheerfully relished every bite of his grilled mutton kidneys and bacon. Last night’s argument was never mentioned. Instead, her mother asked about Max.
    “Your father tells me you were deep in conversation with the Whittaker boy last night. Whatever did you find to talk about for so long?”
    Elizabeth seized this opportunity. “He was telling me how hard it was for him, living in Paris with no money, since his parents refused to send him any. It’s surprising that he didn’t fall ill, living under such desperate conditions. I find it hard to believe his parents really love him,” she added pointedly, “if they could let him suffer like that.”
    “He chose to suffer like that,” her mother said, and her father added, “He didn’t look to me like he’d been suffering unduly. Seems like quite a happy chap, if you ask me. Could use a bit more meat on his bones, that’s clear. Probably hasn’t been eating sensibly.”
    “He didn’t have enough money for food!” Elizabeth responded.
    Her father shrugged. “As your mother pointed out, that was his choice. At any rate, he’s seen the light now and is on his way home. I’m sure Jules and Enid will be quite happy to see him.”
    “Maybe he won’t go home,” Elizabeth said. How could they be so insensitive? “Maybe he’ll live on his own in New York, in a garret, just as he did in Paris. And become a world-famous artist with no help from anyone. Then his parents will be sorry for the way they treated him!”
    Her father laughed as he lifted a scone to his mouth. “Elizabeth, you’re not fooling anyone. Your mother and I are not quite as dense as you like to think. It hasn’t escaped us that you are not actually talking about the Whittaker boy at all, but yourself.” His eyes twinkling with amusement, he added, “I wasn’t aware that you aspired to live in a garret and become a world-famous artist.”
    Elizabeth blinked back tears of frustration. The tables around them were crowded. She couldn’t bear it if someone saw her crying. “Please don’t laugh at me. I don’t want to be an artist.” Her voice lowered to an insistent whisper. “I just…want…to go…to college! Why do you want me to be stupid?”
    Her mother daintily forked a bite of baked apple. “What would be stupid,” she said calmly, “would be letting a fine, secure gentleman like Alan Reed slip out of your fingers and into someone else’s. It’s not as though you aren’t already educated, Elizabeth. We’ve spared no expense sending you to the finest schools.”
    “But there is still so much to learn,” Elizabeth cried. Curious glances from people sitting at the tables around them turned her cheeks pink. She lowered her voice again, but the intensity in her words didn’t lessen. “I’ve learned how to do needlepoint, how to entertain forty guests at a time, how to calculate well enough to pay the servants. I know how to write a lovely thank-you note and how to judge the finest fabrics, jewelry, and furniture. I can play the piano adequately, I’m not atrocious at tennis, and I can swim and ride horseback.” She stared at her mother, her eyes begging. “Is that it ? That’s all you want me to know throughout my entire lifetime?”
    “It seems adequate to me.” Nola Farr lifted a coffee cup to her lips. Before sipping, she added, “If you insist upon learning more, you can always take up reading. As long as you employ adequate lighting, and don’t overdo. Eyestrain causes forehead wrinkles, dear.” She sipped, then added, “But as the wife of a prominent businessman like Alan, I daresay you won’t have much time for reading.”
    Jumping to her feet and leaving, which was what Elizabeth wanted to do, would have created a stir in the dining room. She forced herself to stay in her chair. She couldn’t bear the thought of over four