Chapter 2 – The other woman

The next day, Elizabeth looked in the mirror one last time before heading downstairs. Jack had promised to stop by for a little while after the day's training classes, and before he had be to back for a mandatory dinner. He had been so busy with training that they hadn't had a lot of time together, and she was looking forward to seeing him, even if just for thirty minutes.

As she went down the staircase, she was surprised to see Charles and Viola coming into the foyer.

"Charles, I didn't know you were here," Elizabeth said formally. She hadn't spoken to him since their last heated meeting in Hope Valley, and she preferred to keep it that way.

"Elizabeth", Charles greeted her with nervous anticipation.

"Elizabeth, we need to talk. Charles and I have some distressing news. . . . . . Jack's been stepping out on you", Viola said without the least bit of remorse after she had ushered Elizabeth into the drawing room.

"What?" asked Elizabeth thinking she must have heard wrong.

"It appears that Jack has been seeing another woman. It's a good thing we found out now before things got too serious between you two." Viola explained.

"Before things got too serious? Viola, I'm engaged to the man! Things are serious between me and Jack. Please stop trying to cause trouble." Elizabeth turned to walk away.

"Elizabeth, I am not trying to cause trouble. I am trying to stop you from having your heart broken."

"Viola, you don't know what you're talking about. Jack would never betray me. Stop this nonsense."

"It's not nonsense, Elizabeth", Charles looked at Elizabeth with a mixture of sympathy and something else; Elizabeth thought it looked like hope.

"Yesterday, I was shopping at Right House Department Store when I saw Jack. He was at the counter purchasing a ladies handkerchief. I overheard him ordering it to be monogramed", Charles informed Elizabeth.

Elizabeth looked confused. "So what? Maybe he was getting me a gift."

"It's not your birthday, Elizabeth", Viola was quick to point out.

"For goodness sakes, it doesn't have to be my birthday for Jack to get me a gift".

"They weren't your initials," Charles said emphatically.

"I cannot believe you were spying on Jack!" Elizabeth said incredulously.

Charles ignored her comment. "I heard him tell the salesclerk that the handkerchief was a gift for a very special lady. From the way he said it, the lady was obviously someone Jack was romantically interested in. . . . It was an expensive handkerchief, Elizabeth . . .meant for a woman other than you."

"How do you know they weren't my initials?"

"I told you that I heard Jack ordering the monogram."

"Don't you want to know whose initials they were?" Viola questioned Elizabeth.

"No, I don't. I'm sure Jack has a perfectly good explanation for whatever he was doing. It's really none of your business. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think you should forget what you think you saw and stay out of my relationship with Jack", Elizabeth said coldly.

"Ahem". Charles cleared his throat as he noticed Jack and Mr. Thatcher standing in the doorway.

"Did I miss something? What's going on?" Jack asked with a frown.

"It's nothing, Jack. Viola and Charles were just trying to cause trouble. They were obviously mistaken about some things."

Elizabeth moved towards Jack, anxious to escort him away from Charles and Viola before things got ugly.

"Come on, Jack. Let's go for a walk in the gardens", she suggested.

"Elizabeth, I cannot let this deceit continue. I care about you too much", Charles said before turning to Jack.

"Jack, I have informed Elizabeth that I saw you yesterday purchasing a handkerchief for another woman. Viola and I think it's only right that she knows what kind of man she's involved with."

"You what?!" Jack shook his head in disbelief. "This is unbelievable. You two just don't stop, do you?"

"Not when my sister's happiness and reputation are at stake", Viola declared.

"Viola, stop. Just stop!" Elizabeth said angrily.

"They weren't your initials, Elizabeth!", Viola reminded her. "Jack was obviously buying a gift for another woman. Why can't you understand that he's not good enough for you?"

"He is good enough for me! He's the best thing that ever happened to me!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"Elizabeth, we only have our best interests in mind", Charles spoke affectionately to Elizabeth.

"I highly doubt that. More likely you have your best interests in mind." Jack said forcefully, his jaw clenched.

"W.D. . . . Do those initials ring a bell, Jack?" Viola scathingly asked, turning on Jack.

Thank goodness, Viola didn't say Faith's initials, Elizabeth thought with relief, and then quickly chided herself for even considering that Jack would betray her.

"Those were the initials that he was having embroidered. . . W.D. . . Perhaps you even know the woman, Elizabeth. . . . It could be Wilimenia, or Winnifred, or Wallis? ", she suggested.

"W.D.?" Elizabeth looked puzzled at Jack.

Jack turned his angry face from Viola to Elizabeth. When he saw her confusion, he raised his eyebrows at her.

"We should be grateful that Charles came upon the incident when he did. Surely you must see that this type of behavior cannot continue ", Viola declared as she watched Elizabeth.

Mr. Thatcher, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "I agree. This is very disconcerting. Jack, do you have an explanation?", he asked, looking at Jack sternly.

Jack remained silent, but glared at Mr. Thatcher.

"Father, Jack doesn't need to give you an explanation. I am the one in the relationship with him. Now would you all please leave so Jack and I can discuss this privately?"

Elizabeth ushered Charles, Viola, and her father out of the room, and locked the door behind them. She leaned her forehead against the wood, and sighed before turning to face an angry Jack. As far as she was concerned, her family never needed to know about W.D.; that was between herself and Jack.