DANGEROUS GAMES
Chapter Four

Savannah was dressing for dinner that night when there was a knock on her bedroom door.

"Come in!" she called as Jane fastened her diamond bracelet into place.

The door slowly creaked open and Bruce stepped in, dismissing Jane with a small wave of his hand. Savannah’s shoulders fell as he approached her. His face showed no emotion. Savannah quickly sprayed a bit of her perfume over her chest as he knelt down beside her.

"Savannah, I have something for you," Bruce said as he pulled a small velvet box from the inside of his tuxedo.

Savannah rested her hands in her lap as he pulled back the lid of the delicate box, revealing a beautiful ruby pendant adorned with a diamond rose.

"It’s beautiful," Savannah breathed as her fingers glided over the shining stone.

Bruce smiled at her and stood to fasten the large gem around her neck.

"I bought it in Paris, thinking I would give it to you as a birthday gift, but after what happened earlier…"

Savannah smiled at the gift.

"Bruce," she said, turning now to face him. "I forgave you this morning. It is a beautiful gift, but there really is no need."

Bruce took her hand and helped Savannah up from her vanity seat.

Leading her into the sitting room, Bruce said, "I know there is no need, Savannah, but I was hoping this would remind you of how I feel about you and maybe…entice you to tell me who my competition is?"

Savannah dropped Bruce’s arm in disgust.

"You’re bribing me?" she shouted.

Bruce gestured for her to lower her voice before saying, "Why won’t you tell me?"

Savannah had had enough of this.

"Bruce, I will not tell you who it was I was seeing, but I will tell you this," she said, her voice rising once again. "He is a better man than you!"

She turned to walk away from him, but was stopped when he shouted, "What does that mean?"

Savannah smiled smugly and said, "That means he is smarter, more articulate, more charming, and more of a gentleman than you will ever be!"

Savannah smiled triumphantly as Bruce stood in shock at her outburst.

The clock on the mantle struck six o’clock and Bruce said, "Come. Let’s head off to dinner."

He brushed past her and stood by the door, waiting for her to join him. She took his arm and walked beside him like the obedient wife she pretended to be.

"Did you really mean all of that?" Bruce asked as he and Savannah descended the staircase into the D-Deck reception area.

Savannah rolled her eyes and asked him, "Why are you so sensitive? We’ve spoken about this already, Bruce. You know I care for you, and you know I have ended my relationship with him. Now, can we please put this behind us and enjoy the rest of our crossing?"

Bruce exhaled deeply and nodded.

"Of course, darling. You are right. I’m sorry," he said as they approached their dinner companions.

Savannah smiled and nodded to Rose, who was standing with Cal and her mother, Ruth. Not far away was the Countess of Rothes, chatting with Colonel Gracie and Sir Cosmo and Lady Lucille Duff-Gordon. Margaret Brown was also present, as were the Astors. She stood silently beside Bruce as he conversed with them all.

"Mrs. Ismay," she heard from behind her.

Savannah turned and saw Cal and Rose standing behind her.

Savannah dropped Bruce’s arm and extended her hand to Cal. She smiled as he greeted her with a kiss on the hand and a warm smile.

"Cal, Rose, so nice to see you again."

Rose smiled at her, but did not say a word.

Cal smiled also, but said, "Lovely to see you again, as well, Mrs. Ismay, but tell me, where is your husband?"

Savannah gestured over her shoulder and said, in a bored tone, "Over there, talking with the colonel and JJ."

Cal nodded and bid them good-bye before moving over to converse with the gentlemen before dinner.

"Are you and Bruce on better terms?" Rose asked as they milled around the reception room.

Savannah nodded and said, "We’ve discussed it. I think I may finally have persuaded him to just forget about it."

Just as Savannah had finished her sentence, Bruce came over and retrieved her for dinner.

The talk around the table was mind-numbing that evening. As the others conversed together, Savannah and Rose talked to each other.

"So, Bruce doesn’t know about…?"

Savannah shook her head and said, "Goodness, no. He wants me to tell him who I was seeing, but…"

Savannah stopped her sentence when she heard Bruce address Thomas.

"So, Thomas, tell me, how have you been amusing yourself thus far?" Bruce asked before taking a sip of his champagne.

Thomas stole a quick glance at Savannah before answering, "Oh, well, this and that."

Savannah and Rose both had to stifle laughter at hearing his response. Bruce cocked an eyebrow at her before returning to his conversation.

As soon as no one was looking, Thomas leaned behind Rose and whispered to Savannah, "He knows, doesn’t he?"

Savannah shook her head slightly in disagreement.

"Savannah, can I escort you back?"

Savannah looked back at Bruce, who was now standing behind her chair.

Savannah smiled and said, "No. I think I’ll stay here, darling."

Bruce nodded and kissed her cheek before heading off to the smoking room.

He was almost to the door before he turned back and asked, "Joining us, Thomas?"

Thomas shook his head and said, "Thank you, Bruce, but I have some notes to take care of," holding up his old leather journal.

Bruce nodded with a smile and continued on his way with the other gentlemen.

Savannah looked over at Thomas, who was scribbling something on a small square of paper. She watched him carefully as he stood and came over to her.

"Good evening, Savannah," he said softly, taking her hand and giving it a lingering kiss.

As he straightened to leave, he dropped the little square into her lap. Savannah waited until he was gone before retrieving it. Rose looked excitedly at the little scrap as Savannah unfolded it. Gazing over her shoulder, Rose read the note silently to herself.

Can I see you tonight?

Rose smiled brightly at Savannah.

"Are you going?"

A mischievous smirk came over Savannah’s lips as she thought of her options.

"What are you thinking?" Rose asked, feeling equally mischievous.

Savannah rose from her seat and crossed to the other end of the table, taking the empty seat next to Lucile, Lady Duff Gordon.

"Savannah Ismay, my dear, how are you?" Lucile asked warmly as she greeted Savannah with a kiss on each cheek.

Savannah smiled and said, "I’m lovely, Lucile."

Lucile smiled and asked, "And to what do I owe this pleasure?"

Savannah leaned in, hoping to keep the conversation between herself, Lucile, and Rose.

"Lucile, I was wondering if you had any of your designs with you," Savannah asked in a low voice.

Lucile nodded and said, "Of course, dear. I have many of my new dresses with me. What were you thinking of?"

Savannah shook her head and said, "I was thinking more of your other designs."

Rose cracked a smile when she realized what Savannah was up to. Lucile smiled as well.

"Well, my dear, come to my stateroom with me. I’m sure we can find something Bruce will like."

Savannah and Rose stood simultaneously and began following Lucile out of the dining saloon.

"Bruce, indeed," Savannah whispered to Rose, causing her to giggle as the three ladies boarded the lift.

Rose sat on the sofa in Lucile’s sitting room as Lucile and Savannah searched through a wardrobe trunk full of naughty lingerie. They pulled out several silky ensembles, each time asking for Rose’s opinion. After an hour of searching, they found the perfect one. It was a knee-length pink silk teddy with a gathered bust. The hem was covered with white chiffon.

"Oh, Lucile, it’s perfect!" Savannah called from the bedroom, where she had retreated to try on the gown.

After redressing herself, Savannah came from the bedroom and handed the gown back to Lucile, who placed it in an ornate gift bag and handed it back again. At the front door, Savannah tried to compensate Lucile for the gown, but was turned away.

"Consider this a wedding gift from Cosmo and myself," she said with a smile and a wink before sending the young ladies on their way.

"Savannah, you’re horrible!" Rose exclaimed as they walked back down the white hallway towards the grand staircase.

"Rose, it would be horribly suspicious if I returned to my stateroom, fetched some of my own lingerie, and then left again. And besides, I would not feel right wearing something Bruce gave me when I saw Thomas."

"Thomas Andrews?"

Savannah jumped at the sound of Bruce’s voice behind her. She spun around quickly, a slight flush rising in her cheeks.

"Darling, you startled me," Savannah said, her breath still quick.

Bruce came closer and kissed her cheek.

"I’m sorry, my dear. I didn’t mean to frighten you. But why are you going to see Thomas Andrews?"

Savannah looked quickly at Rose, who stood by her side in silence. After what seemed like an eternity, she came up with a lie.

"Mr. Andrews lent me his handkerchief earlier this afternoon. I was going to return it to him before I retired for the evening."

Bruce nodded and said, "Allow me to accompany you, then," offering his arm to her.

Savannah stuttered for a moment and said, "If you would like, but I must stop back at our stateroom first and retrieve it."

Rose began to back away and said, "Savannah, I’ll see you at breakfast in the morning. Good evening, Bruce, Savannah."

Savannah waved good-bye and took Bruce’s arm. As they walked down the hall, he noticed the distinct bag in her hand.

"What did you get from Lady Duff Gordon?" Bruce asked with a hint of mischief in his tone.

Savannah glanced down at the bag and said, "Oh, nothing. Just some essentials."

Bruce cocked an eyebrow at her and snatched the bag from her hand. Savannah pleaded with him to leave it in the bag, but he ignored her and pulled the silky teddy out into the open.

He ran the soft fabric between his fingers and then eyed her seductively. He gently slid the lingerie back into the bag and inched closer to her.

"Why don’t we return the handkerchief to Thomas in the morning, hmm?" he said as he stroked her arm.

Savannah managed a meek nod before allowing him to lead her back to their room.

Once inside, Bruce’s lips began an assault on her neck. Savannah dropped her purse on the floor and tried to push him off.

"Bruce, please, stop…" she begged as he continued, his kisses now reaching her collarbone.

He backed away from her and picked up the small Lucile bag.

He handed the bag to her and said softly, "Why don’t you go get changed and I’ll meet you in there," finishing with a gesture to the bedroom.

What could she do? Savannah nodded and made her way to the water closet.

Struggling with her dress and corset, she finally freed herself. She pulled the sharp little pins from her hair and allowed it to lie loosely over her shoulders. Removing her stockings, she pushed her dinner clothes aside and stepped into her new nightgown. Savannah glanced at herself one last time in the mirror before stepping out into the bedroom.

Bruce was reclined on the bed, his dinner jacket and tie cast aside, as were his shoes. His arms were crossed comfortably behind his head as he waited for his beautiful bride. When she came out to him, he was mesmerized. He beckoned for her to join him, which she did after a small hesitation. As he pulled her down to the mattress, Savannah thought about what she was doing. By now, Bruce had already slid one of the thin straps away from her shoulder and was making his way to the other. Savannah twisted a bit to evade his affection, but he caught her every time.

"Bruce," she begged, "I don’t want to do this right now. Please, stop it."

Bruce ignored her pleas until she violently pushed him off of her. She shot up and pulled her straps back into place.

"What? What could possibly be wrong?" he shouted at her as he pulled himself off the floor.

Savannah slid back further onto the bed and croaked, "I said no."

Bruce shook his head and asked, "Why?"

His eyes bore into her as she turned hers to the floor, trying to find a way out of this. All of a sudden, Bruce put everything together.

"It’s him, isn’t it? Your mystery man, hmm?"

Savannah looked him in the eye, but did not say a word.

"You spend the night with another man and suddenly your husband can’t touch you anymore? Is that it?"

His voice was getting dangerously loud. Savannah was terrified. She had never seen him this angry before.

"Well, I have news for you, darling. You’re still my wife! And do you know what wives do?"

Savannah knew the question was rhetorical as he stalked towards her, pinning her against the bedroom wall. She pulled her legs up to her chest to protect herself, but he was too strong. He ripped her legs away and pinned her down. As he kissed her forcefully, he clawed away at her nightgown, reducing it to shreds of silk in his hands. Savannah whimpered as he carried on, almost as if he enjoyed her pain. Before she knew it, he was finished with her. Bruce climbed off the bed and exited to his bedroom, leaving her alone with her shame.

Savannah waited until she was sure he had retired before she climbed off the bed and wrapped her robe around her. She stopped at her mirror and took a look at herself. Her once-beautiful nightgown was now scraps of silk clinging to her aching body. He had left her there in that room bruised and broken. She gently wrapped her robe around her shoulders and began to sob hysterically. Like lightning, she left her room and ran down the hallway, still in tears, to the only place she knew to be safe.

She stood before the white door and pounded on it with all her strength. Thomas answered the door and grew wide-eyed at what he saw before him. Savannah clutched her robe tightly to her body as she continued to cry before finally collapsing against Thomas’ chest out of pure exhaustion. He wrapped his arms around her and helped her inside before anyone saw her in this condition.

He held her as she cried against him. Every now and then she would mumble some inaudible sentence, but besides that, the only sound in the room was Savannah’s sobs. When she had begun to calm herself, Thomas poured her a drink and covered her with a blanket.

"Savannah, sweetheart, what happened?" he asked tenderly, running his hand through her messy hair.

Savannah shook her head and began speaking in fragments.

"It was for you…Bruce found it…he wouldn’t listen to me…I said no to him…"

Thomas listened and began to piece together the puzzle.

"Savannah, did he…did he force you to…"

Savannah nodded in confirmation before Thomas could even say the word.

Savannah put down her glass and said softly, "It’s because of you."

Thomas raised an eyebrow at her and asked, "What?"

Savannah stood and shouted, "Goddamn it, Thomas! He did this to me because I was seeing you!"

Thomas stood and placed his hands on her shoulders.

Savannah ripped away from him and screeched, "Don’t touch me!"

Thomas took her hands and tried to calm her. It was then that he noticed the bruises around her wrists, not surprisingly in the shape of Bruce’s hands. Savannah threw the blanket he had given her to the floor and stomped off to the door. Thomas followed behind her and begged her to stay.

"Please, Savannah. Just stay until morning."

Savannah turned to face him and in a low, grim voice said, "Leave me alone, Thomas. I have enough problems because of you."

Chapter Five
Stories