Jack had taken Rose to his work place. He was showing her around the store now. Rose was in awe at all she saw there.
"I'm so happy for you Jack. You surely deserve this job more than anyone else."
"And I'm happy to have you back", he said kissing her on the cheek.
Rose smiled at him. She did completely trust him. Jack however was concerned about how she'd really react in front of other man. He occasionally eyed her. She seemed nervous, although she was trying not to show it. Rose sensed that Jack was worried about something.
"Why are you starring at me? Is something wrong?" she asked.
"I don't know. Is there? You got to tell me."
"Jack, if this is again about me needing to see a doctor, I already told you, everything is fine with me. You don't need to worry about me. I'm fine, really."
Jack eyed her suspiciously. He knew that she wasn't right at all. He remembered how weak she had been just a day ago and how shocked, when he had saved her. He was sure that she had had to endure more than she had told him. What was it that Caledon Hockley had all done to her? More than anything else, Jack would've loved to just go over to him and kill this low life, but he knew that this wouldn't make anything better. He'd just end up in prison and Rose would be alone again. His eyes had become dark again.
"Jack, I know what you're thinking about. But what's done is done. It can't be reserved anymore."
"Yes, I know...I just wish that however I would've been there for you..."
"I already told you that it wasn't your fault. Can we please talk about something else?"
"Of course my love", Jack said taking her into his arms.
If only he could make her understand the importance of talking about her experiences.
...
Mr. Lansdowne had chosen to look again how Jack was doing and maybe buy another present for his wife. He knew of course that nothing could undo the fact that Alfred would never be coming back. He too missed his son, but he needed to be strong for his wife.
He didn't know exactly why, but he had come to like Jack very much. He somehow always knew how to make him feel better. He was surprised however, when he entered the store and saw Mrs. Hockley standing there before a shelf.
"Mrs. Hockley?" he asked from behind startling her.
Jack had gone in the back, arranging and packing out some new things. Rose was getting nervous without him. What if something happened? Jack had asked her if it was okay for her, if he left her alone for a few minutes and Rose had told him that it was of course. She tried to reassure him that everything would be fine with her.
Rose slowly returned around to see, who was talking to her.
"Mr. Lansdowne", she gasped. She hadn't seen him since the party so many months ago, when she had met Alfred. She wondered, if Alfred had ever told his father about his feelings of her or about them meeting. Rose didn't know much about Mr. Lansdowne, just that he had been the lawyer of the Hockley Steel Company for decades and the friend of Cal's father Nathan. She didn't know his attitude toward Cal himself however. And she wondered especially what he was doing here in this store.
"Sorry you scared me a little bit", she added.
"I'm sorry, I didn't intend to", he apologized.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I just wanted to look around a bit. I really like this store actually" he answered.
Rose of course had no idea that this was mainly, because of Jack.
"Are you looking for something for your husband?" he suddenly asked her.
Rose realized that he knew nothing about what happend. But after all how could he? She herself still couldn't believe it somehow.
Before Rose could answer, Jack returned from behind. Mr. Lansdowne had moved up a little bit to Rose, making her nervous, which Jack instantly knew that Mr. Lansdowne didn't have any bad intentions, but he still wanted to protect Rose. He stepped forward.
"Mr. Lansdowne, hello nice to see you again. What can I do for you?"
Rose was startled. They knew each other?
"Mr. Dawson, no thank you. I just wanted to look again at all the wonderful things that you've got here. I believe however that Mrs. Hockley here could need help. She's looking for something for her husband."
Jack knew of course that this wasn't true. However he decided to go with it.
"Of course, Mrs. Hockley. What can I do for you?" he asked pretending that he didn't know her.
Rose looked at him, not being able to answer. So Jack decided to start the initiative again.
"You're looking for a present for your husband?"
Rose nodded.
Jack would've loved to just take her in his arms and tell her that everything would be alright, but he feared the reaction of Mr. Lansdowne. After all he was friends with the Hockley family.
"I think Mrs. Hockley is in good hands. I really need to go now, but I hope we'll meet soon again Mr. Dawson. And you really have to bring your girlfriend with you the next time. I'm very curious to meet her", he said "It was a pleasure to see you here Mrs. Hockley", he added.
...
Once he had left, Rose turned to Jack. Without even asking Jack knew what she'd liked to know.
"He was the one, who gave me those opera tickets. Don't worry he doesn't know anything", Jack said taking her into his arms.
"He seems to like you."
"Probably, but he's still friends with the Hockley family."
Rose just let Jack held her. She wondered if Mr. Lansdowne would be on their side, if they told him that she was actually Jack's ominoes girlfriend.
