Titanic "Ship of Lost Dreams"  First Class Writing Room   Final Crossing Pt One. Rules Topic Search RSS        Register Username: Password: Lights Deck Officer Location: Anyplace on Water Posts: 637 Rivets: 17 (+17/-0)  |  Final Crossing Pt One. I thought I would put the first parts of my TITANIC novel, FINAL CROSSING here for the enjoyment of TITANIC buffs. Final Crossing ｩ2002 by Sheila Seiferlein            PROLOGUE        Joseph Bruce Ismay was very happy as he settled into the back seat of the limousine next to his wife, Florence. The two of them had just attended a dinner party-a very exclusive dinner party-at the home of Lord and Lady Pirrie.        After an exquisite dinner, while Florence and Lady Pirrie had taken their after-dinner coffee in the drawing room, Lord Pirrie and he had retired to his Lordship’s study, where, over brandy and cigars, the two men had developed a strategy to counter the Cunard Line’s latest fusillade. Lusitania and Mauretania were beautiful, sleek and above all fast. To put it a bit crudely, White Star had been caught out with its corporate trousers down. They had to get going if they wanted to win the latest battle in the war between shipping-lines.         In the course of a couple of hours, based on a sketch which Ismay had made of the sort of ship he thought would do the job, the two men had come to an agreement. There would be three ships, each the biggest and most luxurious yet built. With no government subsidy such as that enjoyed by Cunard, Ismay and Lord Pirrie had decided that the combination of turbine and conventional engines installed in an earlier ship, Laurentic, would be fitted on all three of the new liners as well. Long before, White Star had settled on luxury, comfort and size over speed where its ships were concerned, and this policy would continue with the next three ships as well.        “Bruce, did it go well?” Florence nudged him gently, breaking his reverie.        “Oh my yes, dear. There will be three ships - superships - each the largest yet built.” he smiled at his wife.        “Have you thought of names for them?”        “I want people to know that when they book passage on one of these ladies, they have booked passage on the largest, most luxurious-and the safest-ships which money can buy. I have it! Olympic, Gigantic, and-and Titanic!!            ____________________________________         May 31st, 1911 had dawned clear and warm. J. Bruce, as family and friends knew him, was in an excellent mood as he checked his image in the full-length mirror of their cabin’s dressing room. Yes, very nice.         Now nearly fifty, the managing director had begun to go grey at the temples and in his dark, nearly black curly hair, his eye detected a few strands of silver. Still, his head of hair was still as thick as it had been when he’d married Florence on that cold December day in 1888.         The choice of the grey suit had been a good one, its subtle elegance only enhanced by the silver and blue tie, secured with a small platinum tie tack, the French cuffs of his white-on-white shirt fastened with matching platinum cufflinks.   Last edited by Lights, Jul/7/2006, 11:57 pm Jul/7/2006, 11:53 pm    Link to us   -  Blogs   -  Hall of Honour   -  Chat      TSOLD's time is: Nov/28/2009, 7:51 am

-=- Select a Forum ------Welcome------ First Class Reception Room Marconi Room Engine Room ------RMS Titanic---- First Class Dining Room First Class Smoking Room Officer's Quarters Vestiblues Verandah Café Boat Deck Parlour Suites First Class Library Writing Room -----Edwardian Age--- A La Carte Resturaunt The Dock Grand Staircase Gymnasium -----Off Topic--- Turkish Baths First Class Lounge Promenade Deck Café Parisien Aft Grand Staircase {Restricted}