A continuation of the Bermuda saga.
Chapter One. Mid-January 1878
Jarrod Barkley checked his paperwork and tickets one more time in his hand-tooled leather valise, a Christmas present from JoElizabeth Beaufort. The one-of-a-kind Gladstone crocodile leather bag, a luxury item she had bought for him and had wrapped under the family tree. Her other gift for him was for his eyes only. It was packed carefully in his bag and tied with cord and felt. He kept the gift with him as they traveled between cities since December and January.
They had formal portraits taken of them at Heath's and Isabella's wedding. Jarrod had asked for one to be framed for his office and Victoria had asked for one for her home. Jo had the photographer give her additional prints.
She had found a young portrait artist to paint a portrait of her and Jarrod for their new home for an eventual wedding present. He would be so pleased with the sentiment.
She also asked for a small portrait miniature in oils of her for Jarrod. She took a pink peignoir by his studio for him to paint as her gown. It was a private token of Christmas love from her. No one had seen the portrait beside him. It brought him so much joy.
Jo was still fussing over the twins at the station when Jarrod reminded her it was time to leave. The decision had been made to leave the children at the ranch while they traveled to France to solve their annulment problem. Jo had never left the twins for more than a night but she agreed the trip would be too taxing for the energetic pair. She was nervous and regretting the decision but the family was all in agreement.
Victoria was relishing the role of Grandmere. Victoria, Isabella, Audra, and Adrienne would all be at the ranch. Nick and BlackJack wanted to take Jay hunting in the mountains. Heath was enjoying turning both of the twins into excellent horsemen. The ladies had lots of plans for Rose. Adrienne and Audra were helping at the orphanage and beginning music lessons for all of the children. Rose loved helping and continuing reading lessons for Little Allen. There was plenty to keep the children busy for the month and a half. Nick wasn't leaving the ranch for Alaska until mid-March and was looking forward to spending time with BlackJack and Jay at the ranch.
The family waved at them as Jarrod's private car left for their cross-country trip. Jo was teary but Jarrod held her tight in their private car. "We will look back on this as a brief trial on our way to becoming a family."
Jo suffered from homesickness for the first two days. Jarrod did his best to cheer her up. He realized by having the twins at 15 years old, Jo had basically grown up with the children. She really had never experienced life without them. He resolved to use this trip to woo her properly. He thought about the theatre, the opera, the art galleries, the dances that she had missed out on. Even during their time living in San Francisco, they had been the epitome of discretion to protect her reputation as a married woman. Their meals had been taken in the hotel suite or as a family in the ethnic middle-class neighborhoods of San Francisco where they would go unnoticed. The dinner at the consulate had been their only social event and it was as an attorney and client. They had taken the children to the ballet and the theatre but the children sat between them and took all their attention.
She had read for the law at the Sorbonne while other young ladies were filling their dance cards… She ran an international shipping company while debutantes packed their social calendar...She raised her sisters as others were being raised. This is Jo's time.
They got off the train and traveled to the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Its Italianate-designed facade provided the finest luxury in the city, offering private bathrooms and passenger elevators. Jarrod left instructions for reservations with the concierge for Delmonico's, theatre, and opera tickets. He would make the next three days memorable before they boarded the steamship to France.
The next morning, they met in the dining room for a light breakfast and to prepare for several appointments. A meeting with Junius and John Pierpoint Morgan was scheduled for lunch. Their relationship with the Beauforts was profitable for both parties. They were financing part of the new San Francisco harbor that would expand commerce exponentially in the entire western US.
Elizabeth had been working with their representatives for several years to the chagrin of Junius. "It's unnatural for a woman to run a business. She should be at home and I shall be glad when a man beds her and sends her into the nursery." But he was always ready to accept the profits she had negotiated into his coffers.
JP was much more pragmatic. "I will deal with the devil myself for this kind of return." when his father groused. He privately enjoyed how uncomfortable his Father was around Elizabeth. A woman who read international law at the Sorbonne disrupted Junius's opinions on how the world should run. Out of earshot, of course...
JP and Elizabeth actually had developed mutual respect; they had been the fodder for rumors several times. "Surely she's his mistress. No woman could be in a man's world anyway else."
They both shared a deep love of art. She had direct connections to The Salon in France and helped him purchase some new works that were bound to gain in value and popularity. He had heard she had recently acquired two Corots. Maybe she would want to deal today on them. His art acquisitions and original manuscripts also annoyed his Father as a frivolity.
JP saw her uncanny ability to run both shipping companies for a significant profit and she found a man that would back her decisions financially and commercially.
Jo was firmly out of the Knickerbocker society as the Beauforts and Jacksons were unsavory "new money". She was fine with that slight. Lina Astor could run New York society straight to hell as far as Jo cared. Families with better pedigree and wealth than herself were excluded like the Cornelius Vanderbilts. Victorian and European society was miserable for the daughter of a pirate and a courtesan. Jo preferred the American West already and its freedom from the class system.
Junius and JP were looking forward to meeting Jarrod Barkley, her attorney, and rumored paramour. Their sources were very impressed with his business and legal acumen. His diversification of the Barkley empire was known in their circles. He had solidified their family for generations to come with his wise decisions and his Harvard law degree was definitely respected. His family's difficulties with the Western Coastal RR appeared to be his only Achilles heel. He might speak to Cornelius about that if this relationship deems profitable.
But it was the first meeting of the day that had Jo and Jarrod fraught with nerves. The Holy See Envoy
"Welcome Mrs. Beaufort, Attorney Barkley" a young priest greeted them in a heavy Italian accent. He led them into a dark-paneled room with bookcases to the ceiling and overstuffed heavy chairs before a massive antique desk. He stayed at a clerk's desk with a pen in hand as a notary. The elderly, frocked Monsignor walked in through a door behind the desk.
I feel like I am in court, thought Jarrod. The couple stood up in propriety. He motioned them to sit.
"I have reviewed this case several times. You two are very persistent, to say the least," as he peered over his glasses at them. They awkwardly nodded.
" Are you engaged in an adulterous relationship?" He wasted no time. They vehemently shook their heads. Jo thought not by my choice. I would not be able to lie to a priest.
Whoever looks upon a woman with lust crossed Jarrod's mind.
He continued to stare across the desk at them as to read their minds for any sign of deception or sin.
"I have been in contact with the Church in France and the annulment was filed in the home country. The attorney for Jean de Beaufort was adamant that it was the last wishes of the Admiral. I cannot do anything else here until I receive the original signed documents. I believe it existed myself but that is the Church law."
"Your husband has relinquished his worldly ties and joined an order. He is incommunicado for nine more months. I suggest you wait in penance for that time to pass and have him at that point re-sign the documents to file in this country if you still want the annulment "
"Penance?" Jo asked.
"Yes for the sins you have obviously committed to breaking the holy bonds of matrimony" and he turned his head staring fiercely at Jarrod. Jarrod stared back unflinchingly. He did not trust his words or his temper at this moment. This man could hold his future in his hands.
"Do you understand that I was 15 years old and had been violated by three evil men? My father entered my consent into this marriage with our good cousin. Marital rights were never taken."
She stared right back at the man. Jarrod was trying to make eye contact with Jo to stop an outright confrontation. His courtroom training was taking over.
"That's something a church court will decide. I am only concerned with God's holy ordinances and you are breaking your marriage vows. I shall pray for you."
"And I shall pray for you. I know God but I do not recognize him in you. The Lord KNOWS the truth." She spat back at him.
She abruptly stood up, took Jarrod's arm, and walked out leaving the priest speechless. The young clerk nodded and walked out quickly. He came through another passage before they would exit the building. He looked around, "I am sorry, Madame. Please know not all representatives of God feel that way. I am sorry for how you were treated." And he quickly disappeared back into the corridor.
"Well, I guess it's up to us" as she looked at Jarrod. And she burst into tears in the cab.
She composed herself before the meeting with the Morgans. Junius was his pompous self and JP was more interested in the harbor negotiations. Jarrod was very articulate and appeased Junius. This is who should be in charge, a man.
He reminded Jarrod of Rufus Morton.
Lunch was pleasant and Jarrod definitely passed the Morgan test of competence. They were looking forward to working with him. As they finished up, JP mentioned the Corots. How does JP know everything that goes on...they had only arrived in San Francisco a month or so ago.
"They are not for sale but I will bring you something superior." He grinned and his father grunted "such a waste" under his breath. JP trusted Jo and knew he would get a better masterpiece from France. The woman knew her art… and how to make money.
They headed back quietly to the hotel. The harbor deal was set to make them hundreds of thousands of dollars and they should have been celebrating. The meeting with the envoy was weighing on their minds. It technically did not change their situation since they could always appeal to a Papal court if they couldn't track down the original papers in France. But they had hoped to find an ally.
"I am sorry Jarrod. I shouldn't have lost my temper." He reached for her and held her close. She excused herself to her room for the night and Jarrod canceled the first night of reservations. He took out the portrait and poured a small scotch and stretched out for a long, lonely night.
The Men Who Built America on the History Channel inspired me to make Jarrod one of these barons who built America. The strong independent men made America an industrial power after the Civil War. The four episodes were very informative about this period of time. And I think our blue-eyed lawyer would have fit in perfectly.