Chapter 7
Jack awoke very early the next morning. He doubted that he had slept more than four or five hours, but still he felt
wonderfully refreshed. His head was resting on Irina's back and they were lying softly entangled in front of the
fireplace. She was still sleeping soundly, her hand tenderly holding his arm to her body.
He looked at her for a long time, not wanting to get up yet for that would mean the loss of her warmth. Finally, when
he could hear the church bells announce eight o'clock, he decided to get up. Carefully, he pulled his arm away from
her, softly kissing the silk skin of her shoulder. He covered her with the blanket to prevent her from getting cold,
then he took his robe and pulled it on while walking to the door. He left the room without making any sound and
closed the door behind him.
When he walked to his room, he saw Maggie coming up the stairs, as she did every morning. She was carrying some
pieces of wood to light the fire in the study anew. When Maggie realized, that he was already awake, she stopped
and smiled.
"Good morning! I didn't know you were already awake," she announced in her usual voice and Jack nodded.
"Yes, I have some business to do today," he replied leveled. "Do you want to clean the study now?"
"Yes..." she replied. "As every morning."
"Don't. You can start with my room today." Jack ordered and Maggie turned around in confusion.
"But your sleeping room doesn't need to be heated. Your study does and if I don't light the fire now, it might take a
long time until it's warm!" she contradicted and was about to open the door when Jack held her back.
"Irina is still asleep, so I suggest, you take care of my room first... if the study is cold later, that's my problem."
"Yes, but if you catch a cold, that's my problem since I have to take care of you! How do you know she's in there by
the way? Usually you don't enter your study that early in the morning!" She scanned Jack's appearance and
suddenly it dawned on her. "Oh my god..." she murmured and shook her head in bewilderment. "How could you..."
Then she stood up straight. "I'll take care of your room and then prepare your breakfast."
Having said the words she went away. Jack followed her with his eyes, slightly confused at the sudden change of her
mind, then he went into his room.
Half an hour later he was sitting in the dining room, enjoying his breakfast and the newspaper. Maggie served him
his tea and fresh baked bread – not without showing her disapproval by smashing the cups and plates so harshly to
the table that he expected them to break every moment.
"Okay, Maggie, what is it..." he finally asked, dropping the newspaper to the table.
"Nothing..." The woman replied coolly and Jack chuckled amused.
"A blind person would know you're angry at me."
"Angry? Oh, yes Sir, I am!" she finally burst out, slamming a spoon to the table. "How could you... you know? Miss
Irina is an honorable lady! How could you compromise her in that way? I know that might have been her job once,
but I also know that she hates it, and as long as I am living here, you will treat her like every other woman from your
class for goddamned's sake! Understood?"
"You advise me to avoid her company and flee whenever she enters the room?" he said, more joking than serious for
that was how he usually treated the brainless women from upper class.
"Given the fact what you did last night I'd say: Yes, that would be a really good idea!" Maggie said even more
angry since she had of course noticed the hint of humor in Jack's voice. Jack shut the paper abruptly, his eyes
focused at the old maid.
"Listen, it is not at all how you think!"
"Really? Are you engaged?"
"No..."
"Are you married?"
"No, but..."
"Then it is just as I think!" Maggie interrupted him and shook her head. "Miss Derevko doesn't deserve to be
compromised like that."
"Maggie, I did not compromise her! Nobody knows what happened, and nobody will – provided that you keep your
mouth shut! The people are gossiping anyway, but I will deny any rumor that she's my whore or mistress! I have no
interest in humiliating her, on the contrary. But at the moment I have no other choice. She just escaped fifteen years
of hell, I'm sure she told you about it. So what do you think, which answer could I expect if I asked her to marry
me?" His voice was sharp and Maggie was lost for words at his revelation. Finally Jack turned his interest back to
his paper. "If you could hand me the bread now, please?"
When Maggie entered the study about one hour later, her mood was the best. Jack Bristow's words proved that he
was thinking about a serious relationship with this woman and for certain reasons she was happy about that. First of
all his choice of woman of course, for she really liked Irina. She was different from the other upper class women and
didn't care for rules or reputation. That made her honest in what she said. Secondly of course, because she had
always been of the opinion that Jack Bristow needed a wife by his side, for he was too often lonely. And now, in her
old days, that wish was about to come true.
She went to the windows and opened the curtains to let the bright sunlight in, then she turned to the woman in front
of the fireplace.
"Wake up, Miss..." she chirped and Irina moaned, covering her face with her hand. It took her some moments to
realize where she was – and with that realization came the memories of last night. Within seconds she was wide
awake, trying to hide her nakedness from Maggie for she knew what she and Jack had done was scandalous and not
at all how a woman was supposed to behave. There would be no way to explain why she had been sleeping naked...
The old maid didn't even pay attention to her, but put the books from the desk, which Jack had worked with
yesterday, back to the bookshelf. Irina looked around for her robe and finally saw it at the wall. She was desperately
thinking of a possibility to reach the robe and pull it on without Maggie noticing, when the old woman turned
around.
"So, what do you want for breakfast, my dear? Chocolate?" She bent down and grabbed the robe from the wall,
handing it to Irina with a reassuring smile.
"Yes, chocolate would be fine." Irina replied and returned the smile.
"I have prepared a tub with hot water in your room!" The woman turned around collecting the books from the
ground in front of the fireplace. "I thought, you might want to take a hot bath this morning."
"Thank you..." Irina murmured, tying her robe in the front, then she got up and collected the blanket from the
ground. "Maggie... what you've seen here..."
"What did I see?" Maggie asked. "I came in here to clean the study, as every morning. And – as usually – I found
you sleeping in front of the fireplace with a book in your hand." Her eyes sparkled friendly, then she turned away.
"And as I do every morning, I told you how unhealthy it is to read at night."
Irina laughed heartily; the uneasiness was immediately gone. "I'll be in my room..."
When she sank into the hot water of her tub a few minutes later, she closed her eyes, enjoying the relaxing
temperature. Her mind went back to last night – to Jack. He had made her feel unbelievable and for the first time she
was actually happy for having slept with a man – even more, she longed for doing it again with him. That feeling
was so new for her that it scared her.
After all she was just his mistress, so someday he would have enough of her, and then she would have to go – being
replaced by another woman. The thought almost tore her heart apart. She dunked her head under water to get rid of
the unpleasant thoughts. At the moment he still wanted her, and she would treasure every single second with him.
At once another thought occurred to her as she let her mind be carried away by the warmth of the water. She had
slept with Jack last night without thinking about her prevention. She surfaced abruptly, wiping the water out of her
face. She had to talk to Phillis today, for the woman knew a lot about medicines and herbs due to her African roots.
Phillis had always supplied her with an herb mixture, that was traditionally used by African women to prevent
pregnancy.
Irina hadn't even considered that problem until now. Some weeks ago, she had stopped to take a little bit of the
mixture every morning with her breakfast, as she had usually been doing for some years. She would have to go back
to her usual dose now. Hopefully that wouldn't be a problem.
Some time later she was sitting in front of the mirror, having her hair done by Maggie. Neither of them spoke, for
Maggie felt, that Irina wasn't willing to talk right now. Finally she stepped back, giving Irina a reassuring smile.
"Perfect."
"Thank you."
Maggie rearranged the combs, hairpins and other utensils on the commode, then she went to the window and opened
it.
Irina got up and went to the door. Maggie smiled softly at her.
"He's in the dining room..." she whispered and Irina's eyes lightened up. "I will serve your breakfast there when I'm
done here."
"Thank you." Irina replied and left the room. She went down the stairs and wondered why she felt so unsure and
nervous. How would Jack react, when he saw her this morning? How would he treat her? She had never worried
about questions like that before. Why was it so different this time?
She took a deep breath before entering the dining room. Jack was sitting in an armchair at a smaller table at the
window, reading the newspaper. When he noticed someone entering the room from the corner of his eye, he looked
up, his eyes lightening up when he saw her appearance. He could be wrong, but to him she seemed to be even more
beautiful each time he saw her.
He got up and went towards her, his eyes locked with hers. When he had reached her, his lips met hers in a deep
kiss, before he greeted her.
"Good morning."
"Morning." She returned his smile happily, grateful for his reaction since it had broken the tension inside her. "How
long have you been awake?"
"Not that long... Two hours or so. You want to join me at the table?"
"Yes, I'd love that." She smiled and they went to the small table, their hands still connected. She sat down in the
armchair opposite to Jack and pulled her feet up. He watched her amused and noticed that she was still walking
barefoot.
"Are you cold?"
"No, I like it that way. I've never worn shoes in a house. I don't see a point in that... it's warm anyway." Her
response was spontaneous and caused him to laugh.
"You're amazing, do you know that?" For a long time they just looked at each other until Maggie entered the room,
drawing their attention from each other to her.
"So, here's breakfast for the lady..." She shot the two people in the armchairs a strict look. "Would you please eat at
the regular table? I don't want to clean the whole place later! The same goes for you!" she added in Jack's direction
and the man shook his head.
"Sometimes I really wonder why I don't just fire you..." he stated amused and Maggie didn't even bother to look at
him when she answered.
"That's because you know that you won't get another maid that's as truthful as I am... sugar with your chocolate?"
she asked Irina and the addressed nodded.
"Yes, please." Irina had gotten up and joined Maggie at the table, helping her to arrange the bread, cups and plates.
The old maid accepted her help for she knew that discussing with Irina was futile. Jack watched them bemused
before he got up, taking his newspaper with him.
Breakfast passed by in silence since Maggie was always running around them, taking care of bread and hot coffee,
chatting in her usual non-stoppable voice.
When they had finished and Maggie was busy with cleaning the room, Jack and Irina finally had some privacy. They
retired to the living room, where Jack pulled the woman with him into one of the armchairs. Irina laughed surprised
as she landed on Jack's lap. When she wanted to get up, he wouldn't let her but pulled her closer instead, her head
resting on his shoulder and her legs falling over the armrest.
"What are you doing?" Irina asked amused and touched his cheeks with her hand while her eyes were drowning in
his.
"I just wanted some time with you." He stroked some hair out of her face. "You look incredibly beautiful. I don't
know how to get through the day without touching you..." He merged his lips with hers and she closed her eyes,
moaning at the familiar warmth that started to build up inside her. Their lips explored, caressed and seduced, Jack as
well as Irina soon lost in the touches. Suddenly Maggie cleared her throat from the door.
Against their will, they broke the contact and looked at the maid.
"Excuse me!" Maggie said in a leveled voice. "But Mr. Tippin and Miss Wheatley are here."
Within the split of a second Irina had jumped up, smoothing out her dress and rearranging her hair. Jack did the
same until they were looking as if they had only been chatting. Not one second too early, for Will and Phillis now
entered the room. Will smiled at Irina and took her hand to kiss it.
"It's nice to see you again, Miss Derevko." His eyes sparkled friendly, then he turned to Jack. "You too, of course."
"You know each other?" Jack asked interested and Irina nodded, then realizing the expression in his face. Obviously
he was thinking that Will was a former customer of Irina.
"Oh! It's not what you think! I did not... we..." She cut herself off for she didn't want to embarrass Will in front of
his friend – or herself. She didn't even know why she was trying to defend herself. Will noticed her uneasiness and
jumped in for her.
"We met in the harbor two days ago. Miss Irina was sitting there at the water and due to her clothing I knew that she
was a rich lady. I didn't want to leave her alone for I know the guys who are working down there, and they're not
the kind of men, a woman should be alone with. So I accompanied her back and learned that she was living here."
He explained. "Although she refused my company."
"The harbor?" Jack asked and his eyes met Irina's.
"Yes. I needed to be alone..." The woman simply explained and turned to greet Phillis. The two women shared a
deep hug for since Phillis was working, they didn't find time to meet often.
"How are you doing?" Irina asked and Phillis's eyes gleamed.
"Great!" She smiled happily.
"I have some news for you, you'll certainly not like." Will opened up to Jack. "Do you remember the Drake party
you're invited to?"
"Do I remember? Of course. I'm still trying to find an excuse for not going."
"Well, you better don't make an excuse, for I've heard rumors that Lincoln wants to be there, and he wants to see
you!" Will smiled, expecting Jack to be happy for it was an honor if the president wanted to see somebody, but Jack
frowned his forehead.
"Why is that? I don't want to go there."
"But Jack... Abraham Lincoln himself wants to talk to you. Your strategy has been the most successful ever. Maybe
he offers you a job as his counselor."
"Yes, I'm afraid so..." Jack shook his head. "I hate those kind of parties, you know that! You know my opinion of
the people who are there and I know that I'm expected to fake my friendship to dozens of people I hate! Is Lady
Katya going to be there?"
"Um..." Will kept silent for a moment, enough sign for Jack to know that he was right, she was going to be there.
"But Jack, it's just one evening."
"No, and that's the final answer. You know how it will be! I won't get rid of her the whole evening..." They were
speaking leveled now, since their conversation was certainly not one of those kind a woman should be forced to
listen to.
"Just tell her that you're not interested!" Will suggested and Jack shot him one of the looks, that made Will feel like
a stupid boy.
"Do you think I didn't do that? I tried that more than once and every time it seemed to attract her even more. If I
only see her I feel the urge to emigrate to the moon."
"But Jack... there might be a solution this time." Will thought and his eyes went to Irina, who was involved into a
lively conversation with Phillis and Maggie. "And she's standing right here in the same room as we are."
Jack followed his eyes and shook his head. "No way. I won't use Irina to get rid of some women!"
"But maybe she'd like to go to a party like that. You should ask her."
"What do you think they will do if I suddenly appear with a woman nobody knows? I don't want Irina to be
humiliated in front of the whole upper class of Boston." Jack hissed and Will looked at him.
"Why should she be humiliated? She behaves like a lady, she speaks like one and she's twice as intelligent as most
of the men who'll be there. Besides she's charming and nobody knows about her past." Will explained and Jack
nodded.
"Yes, maybe you are right. But if she refuses to go, I won't go either. There won't be any discussions, nor are you
going to convince her, are we clear?"
"Of course!" Will grinned.
"Fine... I will ask her in an appropriate situation."
Irina's eyes met his and she smiled softly. He smiled back, wishing for a moment that they were alone.
"Come on, let's go to my room and leave the men some privacy." Irina finally said to Phillis and the women left the
room, followed by Maggie, who promised to serve tea in Irina's room in five minutes. As they had shut the door
behind them, Irina turned to Phillis, who smiled at her with a strange look in her eyes.
"What's with you?"
"What is with me? Nothing is with me. Why?"
"Well... you're different. You've got... I don't know... some kind of a glow." Phillis folded her arms in front of her
chest.
"What are you talking about?" Irina shook her head, then she pulled Phillis to the bed, sitting down. "Phil, I need
something of you. Could you get me some of that herbal mixture you used to mix for me?"
Phillis looked at her friend, her face getting serious. "No, please don't tell me, you're getting back to... that job."
"No... no."
"Oh my god! It's Jack..." Phillis burst out and noticed that Irina blushed slightly. "I'm right!"
"Yes, but would you stop talking so loud. It's not a big deal and I don't want you to gossip about it. We're just
sleeping together, that's it."
"I see..." Phillis nodded. "But you didn't use the herbs."
"It was just last night. So, can you get me some more?"
"I'll see what I can do. I won't be able to get it until tomorrow." Phillis announced and Irina nodded.
"Tomorrow is fine."
"You shouldn't sleep with a man without preventive measures unless you want to get pregnant. What were you
thinking?" Phillis shook her head, looking worried at Irina. "You've never been careless about that and you
shouldn't start to be now."
"I am not! Otherwise I wouldn't have asked you now!"
The two women spent the rest of the day chatting and amusing themselves by games or by helping Maggie in the
kitchen. Both enjoyed the company of the old maid and the three women always had fun when they were together.
Jack and Will were talking about business until Will left. Soon after that Jack left as well since he had some
appointments today. Although Irina was with Phillis and Maggie, she missed him. And the fact that she wouldn't be
allowed to sleep with Jack tonight bothered her. She didn't know why, nor did she know if he even wanted to sleep
with her again.
She decided to go to bed early this evening. When Maggie served the dinner in the evening, it was already getting
dark, but Jack hadn't returned yet. The old maid brought everything they had prepared over the day, even the fresh
red tomatoes they had picked from the garden behind the house.
As always, Irina invited her to eat with her in the dining room. She just couldn't let the old maid sit in the cold, dark
kitchen, eating on her own. When they had finished dinner, Jack still hadn't returned.
She didn't know why she was so desperately waiting for him to return, but somehow, Irina didn't want to go to sleep
without seeing him once more. The time passed by and finally Maggie sympathetically handed Irina a cup of tea.
"Here, Miss. You should go to bed." She murmured softly and Irina gave her a smile.
"I'm not tired," she lied, although she was almost falling asleep right where she was. It was only eleven, and usually
she couldn't sleep before three o'clock in the morning. But tonight she had a really hard time keeping her eyes open.
"You know what? I will go to read upstairs..." She got up, the hot cup in her hand. "Why don't you go to sleep?"
"Because I have to take care that you go to bed." Maggie announced strictly and Irina laughed.
"I will.. I promise. I just want to get a little distraction by reading."
It still took her some time to convince Maggie to go to bed. Finally Irina let herself fall into the armchair in front of
the fireplace in Jack's study. She hugged her knees to her body and opened her book, although she couldn't
concentrate on the words she was reading. How could she feel so sad about not seeing him this evening?
She turned the pages without paying attention to the pictures or written words, since she was lost in her own
thoughts. Finally her need for sleep overwhelmed her without her even noticing.
When Jack Bristow entered the room an hour later, he found her curled up in the armchair, the book pressed to her
chest. He got to his knees and stroked one strand of hair out of her face, then he pulled the book out of her arms and
laid it to the ground. Without much effort he lifted her onto his arms.
She moaned in her sleep, but didn't wake up. He carried her into her bedroom and laid her softly down on the sheets.
He didn't bother to undress her, but pulled the thin blanket over her body to shield her from the coldness of the
night.
"Jack..." Irina's voice was weak as she awoke slightly. "How was your day?" she murmured still half-asleep and he
doubted that she would understand an answer at all, therefore he just stroked one strand of hair out of her face in the
sweetest gesture.
"Shh... go back to sleep." He whispered and she snuggled into her cushion.
"I missed you..." She wasn't even aware that she had said the words out loud. He touched her lips with his in a light
kiss and smiled.
"I missed you too."
But she had already drifted back to her sound sleep. He sighed and finally left the room, looking at her longingly
when he turned around once more at the door.