Author's Note: There has been a discussion on the message board, about writing dialects in a story. I agree with one poster who made the comment on how difficult it was to do. In this chapter we hear Soo Lin talk, and while I will use a few words an oriental servant of the time would use, it is beyond my ability to write the whole dialogue in his dialect.

Chapter Forty-Six

Soo Lin had been very perturbed about what his cousin had told him last night, and had planned on telling Mr. Jarrod the following morning. However, his boss was running late for court, and Soo Lin decided to wait until later, when he could have the man's total attention. Unfortunately, that didn't happen until early evening, when Mr. Jarrod was dressing to take Missy Madeline out to dinner. Soo didn't want to ruin his boss' happy smile, but knew that he had to pass on the information from his cousin.

"Mr. Jarrod, I need several moments of your time, before you go out." Soo finished helping Mr. Jarrod into his evening jacket, as he made his request. Jarrod looked away from his reflection in the mirror, as he turned toward Soo, indicating that he was listening.

"My cousin Foo is waiter at the Union Bay Club; you've met him." Soo paused, and Jarrod replied that he had. "Yesterday late afternoon two men from the government agency Secret Service were in the club. Foo waited on them."

Jarrod had noticed earlier that Soo had been more serious than usual; leading him to wonder what was bothering the man. When he had asked to talk with him, Jarrod was glad that he was going to find out what was going on. Now, hearing about Foo Lin, and the Secret Service, Jarrod's face took on a wary expression. He knew all about the government agency, and had found them to be heavy handed and self-important.

"Is your cousin having problems with the government?" Jarrod asked, trying to keep the surprise out of his voice. Soo Lin and his cousin were two of the hardest working, upright men Jarrod knew. He couldn't imagine them doing anything to draw the Secret Service's attention to them.

"No Mr. Jarrod, he isn't. Foo overheard them talking about Mr. Nick and Missy Edwina." Soo liked them both, and hated having to drag them into the conversation. He remembered how much Mr. Jarrod had liked Missy Edwina, and how hurt his boss had been with the outcome. Jarrod for his part felt like his heart had dropped to his knees, as he heard Nick and Edwina's names. Swallowing hard several times, he indicated for Soo to go on.

"It seems that Mr. Nick and Missy Edwina were in town yesterday, visiting some nobleman that the Secret Service is investigating." Soo tilted his head, as he thought about that fact. "Mr. Jarrod why would the American government be investigating a European nobleman?" He knew that Americans did not have titles, so the man must be European.

"They were in town yesterday? They didn't come by to see me?" Jarrod frowned, as his suspicions of Edwina came to the forefront again. He had tried, on several occasions over the last couple of months, to bring James McKinley, and Carson City into the conversation with her, but with no success. "And what do you mean a nobleman?" He snapped the question, as a cold dread came over him.

"Foo said that this man was not just a knight, but a grand knight. It sounded like the government had been following him for quite a while." Soo didn't understand why his boss was suddenly so upset, but the anger was clear in the brilliant blue eyes, and the voice he used.

Jarrod was furious with himself, for not calling Edwina out on her actions, at the governor's ball. He saw now that he'd been right, about why James McKinley had been in town. It also explained why they had met up the public way they had; the Knights of the Golden Circle had known they were being watched. Jarrod was sure that they probably had someone in the Secret Service Organization on their payroll. One of the things he had disliked about Washington D.C. was all the intrigue that went on among the various government agencies.

"A grand knight? Is that what your cousin heard?" Jarrod didn't know about the hierarchies of the white organizations, but figured that if its members were knights, the leader would probably be addressed as the grand knight. He was struggling to control his panic, at the thought of Edwina – and his brother – meeting such a man. There were ramifications not just for his family, but for Madeline's too, which made his anger and fear rise high.

"Soo, I need you to book passage for me on the first train to Stockton tomorrow! I don't care if it is a freight train; I need to get home right away." Jarrod used all of his professional training to damp down the rage he was feeling, and instead focused on what he needed to do to protect his family, as well as Madeline's. "I would like you to stay here, and stay in touch with your cousin. If he hears anything else, please telegraph me, using the cipher I taught you."

The oriental nodded his head in understanding at the instructions. Mister Jarrod had taught him the cipher several years ago, so private messages could be sent. His boss had explained that certain people hung around telegraph offices, and would go throw the trash at night, looking for information. Soo had not been surprised to hear that, because back in China every village had people who wanted to know what they shouldn't.

Jarrod spent the drive over to the Hamilton's alternating between anger and worry about the situation. He had been looking forward to the evening, and Madeline's company; they were going to spend some time with Alexandra before they went out, reading her a bedtime story. The young girl already referred to him as papa, which always made his heart burst when she said it.

He was afraid of what would happen to his relationship with Madeline, once she knew that his sister-in-law's actions could derail Senator Hamilton's vice-presidential bid. Jarrod, as he worked to try to calm his inner rage wished, not for the first time, that he had never met Edwina in Carson City.

By the time he arrived at the Hamilton's, Jarrod had his plan of action thought out, for the evening. Deciding that he would wait to have the dreaded conversation with Madeline until after their meal, he turned his attention back to the present. He and Madeline spent some time in the nursery, where he read a story to Alexandra in English, before Madeline read on in French. She had already told Jarrod that she wanted Alexandra to know the language; because of her relatives in Montreal all spoke French. Jarrod was touched when Alexandra gave him a hug, her soft dark gold curls tickling his nose. In his mind, she was already his daughter, the first of a large family.

Dinner was at a seafood restaurant overlooking the bay, that Madeline and Jarrod both liked. Even as he tried to think about the delicious food in front of him, the specter of what he'd heard earlier hung over him. Madeline was doing most of the talking, about a potential house she'd seen that day, which she was excited about.

The house was another issue that was troubling Jarrod, with no progress having been made even though their wedding was less than a month away. The real estate market, for the type of house they wanted, was tight; oftentimes properties were sold even before they came to market. The slightest hint that a house might be coming available, either due to death, or misfortune caused people to make offers, usually way above market value.

He didn't want to profit off of someone else's misfortune, and neither did he want to overpay. As Jarrod listened to the details of the house Madeline had seen, he realized that the property had both of the clauses he didn't want, along with another complication too. Madeline had heard about the house from the Stanford's, who had told her that no one else knew the owner was in financial trouble, due to over speculation.

Leland Stanford was not someone Jarrod particularly cared for, but had been forced to put up, because of Madeline's father. Jarrod had to give Leland credit for being perceptive enough to cultivate James Hamilton, but that didn't mean he had to like him. He also hated the idea of being indebted to Leland, for finding them a house.

"No Madeline, I think we should keep on looking." Jarrod quickly shot down the idea, as he thought about the circumstances surrounding it. He looked over at her and saw how hurt she was, and realized that he had sounded much curter than he meant to. It was because of the situation with Edwina, he knew, but Jarrod still felt bad.

"Well maybe we should just move in with mama and papa!" Madeline's annoyance was plain, because she was frustrated and scared. All she wanted was somewhere that was theirs, where they would be safe. Jarrod had explained his scruples to her, but she was starting to think that he was being over idealistic about the matter.

"Madeline, I'm sorry honey! That came out wrong! I received some unsettling news earlier this evening, before I came to pick you up." Jarrod wanted to kick himself, as he now realized that he would not be able to wait until after dinner, over brandy, to tell Madeline the situation. Her mood was not going to be good because of the house issue, and Jarrod mentally ground his teeth at the thought of both Edwina and Leland.

"Jarrod, is it bad? Is it your family?" Madeline's voice took on a note of distress, wondering what bad news had been told. "Is it Edwina; and her condition? Or Melissa?" She knew that both women were with child, and had sent them notes of good wishes when she'd found out. Their conditions had reminded her of what it was like, when she carried Alexandra, and how happy and scared she'd been all at the same time.

"Actually, it is because of Edwina, but not her condition." Jarrod took a large swallow of the wine in his glass, as the thought about what he'd just said. Both his brothers were due to become fathers; Nick in June and Heath in July. It had amused him, on his last visit to Stockton on how his brothers' approach to fatherhood echoed their personalities.

Nick had thrown a huge barbecue for the ranch hands, and anyone else who wanted to come, to celebrate the news. At the barbecue, which was a command performance for all the family, he had presented Teddy with a delicate pair of diamond earrings for her. Jarrod and Heath had been shown the matching choker necklace and bracelets, on black velvet ribbon, which had been purchased at the same time. Nick's plan was to present them after the birth, but in the meantime, he was acting like the only man to sire a child.

Heath on the other hand had taken a much more low key approach to fatherhood, other than sporting an even larger than usual smile. He had gone and picked out the best quality wood, and was building a cradle for the baby. Jarrod for his part had been happy for his brothers, but sad for himself. They had wives, homes, and budding families, while he had a small apartment and a rather far off wedding date.

Looking over at Madeline now, he knew that if they had married at Christmas time, which was what they had both wanted, he would probably be looking at fatherhood too. It suddenly struck him as so unfair, he who'd only striven to do the right thing, was the man alone. Edwina had been an illusion for him, but one with a very high cost, both personally and professionally.

"Has Edwina told you about her background? And growing up?" Jarrod knew that the two women had become close, over the last couple of months. He didn't want to be gossiping, but Madeline had to be made aware of the threat to her father's nomination that Edwina posed.

"I'm not sure what you mean Jarrod? Would you please explain it all to me? And why you have been distracted all during dinner." Madeline was puzzled because he loved her and Alexandra; on several occasions he had made it clear that he would have preferred the Christmas wedding date.

The next ten minutes was spent with Jarrod telling Madeline everything about Edwina, her father, the war, and the gold. He touched upon the Knights, and how he had met her in Carson City, and the job offer. Jarrod got everything off of his chest, including the Secret Service, and the luncheon engagement Nick and Edwina had partaken of that the government agency had spied on. Once he was done he looked over at the woman he loved and wondered what her reaction would be.

"Jarrod, I am touched that in spite of this family trouble, you are concerned about papa!" Madeline declared, as she reached over to take his hand. She felt bad for him, at how serious and upset he had looked, as he described the dysordre his family seemed to be in. Thinking back to her earlier thought about him and the house, with how idealistic he was being, Madeline had no problems seeing how he was probably doing the same thing with the current situation.

"Just so you know papa won't be concerned about Edwina's father! He was obviously an intelligent, honored man to hold such a high position, which he gave up for his beliefs. You did say he was pardoned, right?" Madeline squeezed his hand, as she smiled reassuringly. "Now I won't feel bad telling you about mama's cousin." She had been looking for an opportunity to tell him before the wedding, in case her relative's brought it up when they came from Canada.

"Your mother's cousin?" Jarrod was partially relieved that she'd taken the information about Edwina's father so well. However, he didn't think she really understood the implications of his – and Edwina's – association with the Knights. The mention of this cousin was a distraction, but he was now curious since she'd brought it up.

"Mama's family is from Montreal, which is in the Quebec province of Canada. At one time most of eastern Canada was under French control, but now the entire country is part of the British Empire. The government and rules are all English, which is the language that most be spoken." She didn't want to get too bogged down in a history lesson, but wanted Jarrod to understand the background of the country. Seeing him nod his head, she went on with story.

"Quebec is still very French, in spite of British dominion, and there are a number of people who resent the English government. My mama's cousin belonged to a group of young men who called themselves revolutionaries; they wanted to overthrow the government." Madeline shook her head ruefully. "The governor-general, an important English Earl, came to visit Montreal, and to make a long story short, mama's cousin threw a bomb at the carriage." Her grey-blue eyes went even wider, as she made the statement.

"That is horrible! Was anyone killed?" Jarrod had heard of such things happening before, but it shook him.

"No, luckily; but the horses pulling the carriage were killed, and the governor-general has sworn to hang our cousin, if they ever catch him. He has a bounty of thousands of pounds – what they use for money – on his head." Madeline tilted her own pretty head. "You can imagine how uncomfortable it is for papa, having to do business with the British, when they have a reward out for mama's cousin. Whatever this group of knights has done, Jarrod, I don't think it is as bad as throwing a bomb." She finished her story, hoping it would make him feel better.

"I'm sorry about that Madeline, and I see what you are trying to do, which I appreciate it." Jarrod was touched that she had shared the story with him, and that she was trying to reassure him. She was a treasure, he saw, and told her that, as he interlaced his fingers with hers. He wanted to drop the whole subject, but knew that he couldn't.

"The thing is though Madeline the Knights hold a set of beliefs that this country fought a war to get rid of. They have also used ill-gotten gold to thwart reforms that the government has tried to make in the south. Their methods, while not throwing bombs, have not been gentle." Jarrod didn't want to go into some of the atrocities he'd heard about. "That is why the Secret Service is investigating the group, and following their leader; who Edwina and Nick had lunch with!" It was that fact that blew his mind, and he wondered what Edwina had told his brother.

"Jarrod, is it possible that you are reading too much into these situations with Edwina?" Madeline asked her question carefully, as she reviewed what he had told her, and what she knew about him. "Edwina told me how you followed her home in Carson City, Jarrod." She didn't like bringing it up, but it had been at the back of her mind since Edwina had told her about it. The startled look on Jarrod's face let her know that he was taken aback that she knew what he'd done.

"Why did you follow her, Jarrod? It was because you were sure that something bad was going on with her father and the sale of the mine, right?" She laid out the questions, and watched as he nodded his head. "What did you find when you went to her house? A senile old man and a daughter trying to protect him; but nothing illegal, correct?" Madeline remembered what Edwina had told her about the situation.

"Not one of my better days, which I would like to forget, but it somehow keeps on coming back to bite me." Jarrod sighed, as he thought back to that long ago day. He saw that Madeline was right in what she was saying, about his motives for what he had done. No, there had been nothing illegal per se, other than Edwina doing some legal work that at the end of the day would barely be a slap on the wrist. Giving it more thought though, what the Knights had done was criminal, and Edwina could be charged as an accessory. Jarrod tried to tell Madeline that, but she shook her head at him.

"Jarrod, Edwina's father has been dead for what two, three years?" She queried and when he replied about two and a half years, Madeline shrugged her shoulders. "I am sure that he was probably senile for several months before his death, so that could be three to four years since he'd been able to do any kind of legal work. While I don't know anything about this knight group, I do know that most men would not trust a woman to do business or legal transactions. What I'm trying to say is that Edwina's knowledge would be considered heresy at best, and couldn't be admitted in a courtroom. Don't you remember the day I went to court and watched you, and later you explained about why the witnesses' testimony was thrown out?"

He thought back to that day, when he'd taken her to see him try one of his cases. Jarrod had been impressed with the questions she'd asked afterward, about the proceedings. Thinking about what she was saying, and the timeline she presented, he conceded that it made sense. There was one flaw in her reasoning though, which he needed to point out to her.

"Madeline, the Secret Service has special investigative powers, and federal crimes i.e. crimes against the government, are treated differently than the civil cases that I handle." Jarrod went on to explain the differences between the two.

"Is it possible that the luncheon was just an innocent visit?" Madeline saw what Jarrod was saying, but still thought he was reading too much into the whole affair. It privately disturbed her too at how easily Jarrod was willing to assume the worst with Edwina, because of guilt by association. She knew all about that factor, because of her husband's involvement with Custer and the massacre.

Her father tried to keep it from her, but she'd found out anyway that the Inspector General's office had wanted to question her on what her husband might have told her, about Custer's activities. Only because of her father and a good lawyer was she spared the inquisition, and she saw the situation with Edwina the same way.

"Madeline, they didn't tell me they were coming up, and they didn't stop by my office! If it was innocent, why did they not say anything to me?" He was annoyed that he'd had to learn about the visit third hand, so to speak.

"Look, you said that Edwina's father handled the legal matters for the organization this man that the Secret Service is following was the head of, right?" Madeline wanted to make sure that she understood who all the players were. "More than likely her father was very close to this man, and Edwina probably knew him too. The fact that she took Nick, and met him in broad daylight, so to speak, does not sound like a clandestine meeting." In her opinion it sounded like a luncheon with a family friend, and she peered inquisitively at Jarrod, as she had her thought.

"That still doesn't excuse why they came up to the city and didn't say anything to me. And what about her with James McKinley at the governor's ball?" Jarrod wasn't ready to lose his suspicions that easily, even as Madeline's remarks about his behavior in Carson City were at the forefront of his mind.

"Jarrod, the woman is enceinte! They might have planned on looking you up, after the luncheon, but then Edwina was too tired. Let me tell you, I know what that feels like." Madeline exclaimed, starting to get frustrated with him. They needed to be talking about houses for themselves, not Edwina's family history. Jarrod was all set to say something else, but she forestalled him.

"I don't see what the issue is, with the fact Edwina was talking to an old friend in a crowded ballroom. I get it that it is odd that Nick wasn't around, but you saw how many people were there. It doesn't seem very practical for them to be exchanging confidential information in that kind of situation." Madeline tried to keep her voice from sounding snappish as she made her comment. She had thought that Jarrod was more than over his infatuation with Edwina, but she now wondered if something else had not been resolved between the two.

"Madeline, you think I am obsessed with this, don't you?" Jarrod was having no trouble hearing the tinge of annoyance in her voice. He had to admit that everything she said made perfect sense, if you were on the outside looking in. She was also, in his opinion, not really aware of the trouble a Secret Service investigation could cause for her father.

"I think you are the most high minded, honorable man I know Jarrod! In this case though I think your thoughts are colored by your past dealings with Edwina, and her father's history." Madeline spoke slowly, wanting to tread carefully with what she said next. "You have worked up a whole scenario in your mind, based on your perceptions, and other people's impressions. None of it is fair to Edwina, in my opinion." She had no problems relating to the position Edwina had found herself in, because of her father. At the end of the day, Alexander had done the same thing to his wife, which Edwina's father had done to her.

"What am I supposed to do then Madeline? Edwina's past history could tie my family – and yours – up in a very public investigation of the white supremacist organization and Confederate gold!" Jarrod didn't understand why Madeline had withdrawn her hand from his so quickly, or why she was suddenly sitting very upright, with a great deal of distance between them.

It came to him that during the whole evening he had been so wrapped up in suspicions – or was it a vendetta? – with Edwina that he had not paid a lot of attention to Madeline. She had been kind and patient with him, even telling him about her black sheep of a cousin. Jarrod inwardly admitted that he could be a stickler for matters that most people wouldn't think twice on.

It was something he struggled with, as he looked down the road at running for public office. Several European pundits had made comments regarding how ugly it was to look at laws being made. Jarrod could understand that sometimes an individual had to sacrifice for the greater good, and that the end could justify the means.

"Madeline, I need to apologize to you for this evening! I have handled it badly, and been so wrapped up in my feelings that I ignored yours." Jarrod leaned across the table, as he reached out his hand to her, hoping she would take it. She could see the sorrow in his eyes, and knew that he meant what he was saying. Madeline took his hand in hers, and brought it up to her lips to kiss it; he was well meaning she thought.

"Thank you for that Jarrod, it means a lot." Madeline told him, as she continued to hold his hand. The situation with Edwina had to be resolved, she knew, even if it meant the house issue had to be put on hold. "Jarrod, you need to go to Stockton, as soon as possible. However." She let the word hang out there, to get his attention.

"However, what darling?" He inquired, curious to hear what she was going to say. Jarrod could admit that she had been the voice of reason all night.

"You need to go there with an open mind, and listen to what Edwina has to say. Jarrod, if you go there with your suspicions at the forefront you will get nowhere." Madeline stated determinedly, wanting him to understand. "We both know how protective Nick is with Edwina and you don't want him to get worked up." She was sure that Jarrod didn't want that to happen, because it would prevent him from getting the answers he wanted.

"You are telling me that I need to have my lawyer's jacket on, and rise above my personal feelings." Jarrod smiled, his eyes twinkling as he looked at her. She was right, he saw, and was now glad that he'd talked to her about the matter. If not, he would have gone racing off to Stockton, to confront Edwina in anger, and the ramifications would not have been good.

"Yes, I am Jarrod. It will be for the best." Madeline was glad that he was calmed down, and in a better mood. She decided to take advantage of his good humor. "Would you be willing to do something else for me?" When he acquiesced she asked "Please consider the house I was telling you about; we can look at it when you get back. I know it isn't how you would want to buy it, but the market here is so difficult. Every house bought and sold is always done behind doors, Jarrod, you've seen that. Our wedding is close and we need somewhere to live."

"I will take a look at the house when I return." Jarrod had heard the pleading in her voice, and could see the validity of her argument, about market conditions. He still didn't like the circumstances surrounding this house, and he privately hoped that it would be off the market by the time he returned. His plan was only to be gone for several days, but it could be enough for someone else to snap up the house.

Madeline reached across the table and hugged him, not caring that they were in the middle of the restaurant. The rest of the evening passed pleasantly, with no mention of Edwina or houses. Jarrod kissed her good night extra fervently, counting the days in his mind until their wedding. His next couple of days would not be good, but at least tonight had ended well.