Thanks so much for all of your encouragement and support for the story of Lis and Jarrod, part one. There will be a vignette tomorrow posted for fun. It's a long chapter so HOLD ON!
Chapter Thirty One Epilogue
ONE MONTH LATER, JANUARY 1880
Sacramento Daily Record Union January 10, 1880. US Grant Visits Sacramento
The Governor's Mansion and the Statehouse were the locations today of several ceremonies honoring one of California premier families. Former President Grant came by private rail to present the Medal of Honor to Jarrod Thomas Barkley and posthumously to John Joseph Jackson of Bermuda. Both served in the fledgling intelligence community. Jackson, a British citizen, is eligible for the medal under US law by serving under American command. The medal is given to men who risk their own life beyond and above the call of duty against an enemy of the United States.
According to George Sharpe, current New York Assemblyman and former head of military intelligence during the War Between the States,
"These two men provided invaluable intelligence to my organization that saved countless lives with great risk to their person. I am proud to be able to open their sealed files for a brief moment and assure the country of their heroic deeds. This commendation is long overdue. "
Mr. Barkley was on hand to accept his medal with a group of his family and friends. Mr. Jackson's medal was accepted by his niece, Mary Margaret Jackson. Miss Jackson awed the crowd with a recitation of an excerpt of Lincoln's second ingaugral address, "with malice towards none with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan—to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.….
A Private Dinner followed at the Governor's Mansion
The guest list was elite for the banquet: several senators, the Governor and his wife, military men who served with Grant, and the Barkley/Beaufort families. Only one reporter, Ambrose Bierce had been given a front-row seat to history. He would write this story for posterity.
Jarrod held Lis's hand tightly under the table. Jarrod had done an unspeakable breach of societal protocol in the Victorian world; he asked the majordomo to change the place cards so he sat with Lis on one side and Heath on the other. She was terrified of a seizure so he wanted her to feel safe with them beside her, just in case. Dr. Travers had cleared her to travel last week and see him every three months as long as she journaled her symptoms for him.
The five men, friends of Jack Jackson, had stood in solidarity with each other in this event. They had the unmistakable military bond of facing death square in the eye many times and surviving by the actions of their comrades. They were standing together today for Jack.
Allen Pinkerton spoke to the group first, "Jack Jackson and Marie Beaufort were not honored today with a medal. They saved more lives and endured personal loss to fight slavery and the cause of the Union than many. Their intelligence network was the lifeblood of our cause. They set up an intricate web that will be studied for years in the intelligence community, from Savannah to New York. I dare say the war would have been extended for several years if not for their tireless work. They did not qualify for a medal under our laws; they were not under American command. Hell, pardon my language, Jack never was under anyone's command." The crowd laughed and applauded.
Edgar Burrow, an elderly man in his 70's spoke next. He was the British intelligence liaison and a friend of Jack's for years. Lis recognized him from her childhood in Bermuda. "Jack and Marie loved each other fiercely. Yes, they defied convention but who is to judge one's private lives aside from God. John loved his father and was willing to look past his sins. He went to live with him and Marie and those beautiful daughters. John was a great man and was taken from us way too soon. I believe the spirit of Marie, John, and even old Jack, will live through those daughters and grandchildren." Lis had tears in her eyes as did her sisters.
James Brookes, head of the Secret Service went next. "The six of us made a vow to take care of each other's families if the unthinkable happened. We would have never guessed that Jack would go first. We thought he would outlive all of us." And he paused to gain his composure.
"So when someone started making trouble for Jack's family, we decided the truth needed to come out. Not only about Jack and Marie, but the work of Jarrod Barkley and John Jackson-'Jack, if you are listening?' I am not telling all of your stories. I give you my word." The crowd laughed again.
"I considered it providence for Jarrod to be marrying Elizabeth. Jack would be proud. Just remember all of us in this room will be watching to make sure you treat her right-And all these bloodlines will make for some cunning, intelligent children. Be wary. VERY WARY..." Chortling sprung up around the room. Jarrod grinned his signature smile and Lis proudly grinned.
"Jarrod and John did heroic work during the war and because of its nature, it was sealed. It is still sealed of course but we want to honor you." He had privately told Jarrod of the value of some of the information he and John had risked his life for and how it saved lives." Jarrod was humbled.
The applause went around the room and the military men began standing, Jarrod was humbled and awed by this standing ovation. Lis was beaming in pride along with both their families.
The dinner continued with the principals telling Jack Jackson stories until late. Jarrod escorted Lis back to her hotel room. She took his hand silently and pulled him into the room. For the past month, the busy household had left little time for privacy. Jarrod was thrilled for Lis to initiate this physical interlude.
They breathlessly kissed and fell back on the settee. "Oh, my love…" as Jarrod continued to caress her and take her hair down. Lis with her hair down was almost his most erotic vision. He took it down pin by pin tonight enjoying every moment and kissing her earlobes and neck as he unbraided the tresses. He couldn't wait to do this every night.
He had resolved since the day in his cell not to ever take Lis for granted or give her any reason not to trust him completely. He helped Ruthie leave Big Annie's and gave her money, a train ticket, and the names of four businesses that were willing to hire her immediately. Harris had agreed to meet her at the train and make sure she got settled safely into her new life. She was thankful and yet, he was more thankful...
There was a private brunch the next morning between Lis, the five friends of her father, and Jarrod. She was nervous, to say the least. She prayed hard for no seizure. Her feelings toward her father had thawed considerably. Would she be able to forgive completely?
There comes a time in adulthood where you recognize your parents as flawed humans and begin to love them the way they loved you unconditionally despite yourself. She was close to that point. The only thing still stuck in her craw was how life changed after Lily's death and her attack.
She had thought a lot since Jarrod told her about her parents' life last month. She had no idea how sheltered she and her sisters really were. Phillip had shared everything with him from his meetings after they rode home from the jail that night.
If Daisy had been raped and tortured on that beach, would she have changed? Of course… but she would never push Daisy away. She still had a few questions that she assumed could never be answered.
In the reserved private dining room, they all sat down to a scrumptious feast. The hotel outdid itself. The small talk surrounded last night and all of the stories. The men had that unique military bond in their tales. They recognized their own mortality painfully with Jack gone.
A few more new stories surfaced from her Father's pirating days and they shared some genuine laughs. Jarrod added in Lis's hurricane adventures and they were all quite impressed. He even included Daisy's snake stories. That made more for more companionable laughter.
President Grant took the next moment to draw the conversation to Lis. "Elizabeth, we are all proud of you for keeping the family together after Jack went to Tahiti." He had struck a nerve and knew it but she deserved the truth. The hack in his cough and tightness in his throat reminded him of his own impermanence. He hoped someone would clear up the past for his children if he left anything undone.
He reached over and took her hand as kindly as he would have his own daughter. "Elizabeth, we all know about Lily's death and what happened to you. It literally destroyed your father. He was never the same. Those men….were operatives that your Father caught playing both sides. He put a bounty on their heads for capture. They lashed out at your father in the only way that could destroy him, his daughters. I hope that explains the torture you went through." She let out an unexpected soft gasp. Jarrod watched her carefully for a seizure.
He kept squeezing her hand as her tears fell unabashed. Jarrod put his arm around her. He had not been told this part of the Beaufort story. All of the men looked on in unadulterated compassion. The hard military man shell was cracked for all of them looking at Elizabeth.
Grant continued in a shaky voice, "When Marie and little Natalie succumbed to influenza the next year...God rest their souls...he was broken. He couldn't face life and look at you and your sisters. His guilt and pain were too much. He died of a broken heart on a forsaken island. I know how abandoned you all must have felt...but I don't think he felt he could do anything else. It wasn't right….it just was."
He reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a medal with a frayed ribbon. "I received this for valor on the battlefield. I want you to have it. You have that kind of courage."
Lis just silently cried and took the handkerchiefs from every man at the table. The men were unmanned by a crying woman and it was the best they could do.
They refilled their coffees and shifted positions. George Sharpe went next, "Jarrod, there is one more secret to be laid bare at this table. We all know about Daisy's parentage and we are not judges. Jack told us after John died two years ago. In fact, we want to commend you and Elizabeth on how carefully and discreetly handled the guardianship. I speak for everyone at the table that we are thankful it brought you two together and she will grow up in a fine home. A scandal like that could have destroyed the agency. Congress would have shut us down. Those sanctimonious twits have never left their safe offices to fight a real war. We also need to tell you one more thing, Matt Parker was guilty. You did a fine job at his court-martial. You are quite the attorney but he did give up secret troop locations to Julia. We let his secrets die with him too. She was a menace to the war effort."
Jarrod took a deep breath digesting this news. Lis took her notice and grabbed his hand and squeezed. Turnabout is fair play.
Brunch broke up quickly with each party left with plenty to digest. There would be a full-dress military ball at 8 pm to complete the weekend.
Jarrod and Lis took a long walk before retiring to get ready for the ball. "So much makes sense now. I wish I could let my Papa know I understand it all."
"I think he knows Lis. He sent his friends to tell you"
The Beauforts and Barkleys were guests of honor sitting at the head tables in the ballroom lit by candelabras and polished silver. White tablecloths filled with champagne flutes and china ordained by exquisite floral arrangements. It was a night to remember.
The Barkley men all cut a dashing figure in their white tails and evening coats. Harris Kirk even purchased one for the event, "I have never spent this much money on suit clothes in my life but Julienne is worth it. Good thing, the men on the wharf will never see this." He good-naturedly laughed. Julienne took his breath away with her bottle green off-the-shoulder gown. He stammered for a moment until he got out, "you are beautiful." The money spent on white ties and tails was quickly forgotten.
Katarina and Nick cut a handsome couple in her turquoise ball gown elegantly draped at the waist. Her caramel-colored hair was secured with tortoiseshell pins and a tiny peridot tiara brought from Russia. Nick was in heaven waltzing her around the room. She was his princess.
Adrienne chose a cerulean blue gown with a lace bodice insert. Eugene definitely noticed and appreciated it. They would tell the family soon that he would stay on the west coast for another year for medical school when he graduated in animal science in May. He loved research and knew he wanted to go to the east coast or Europe but the youngest Beaufort sister had a hold on his heart. He wanted to stay near a year and hopefully take a bride with him back to school next year.
Audra slipped into her role as the belle of the ball easily in Sacramento .. her yellow low cut gown as the height of fashion. Every man in the room appreciated her blonde beauty. Her brothers had to stay in protective mode all night. Harris even shooed away an ardent suitor. He was fitting in well.
Heath had a hitch in his breath and his heart when his 'Bella came down next. She had chosen an off-the-shoulder navy irradescent fabric that Audra found in Chinatown on a shopping trip earlier. She was happy to give it to her future sister-in-law and knew Heath would love it. Her bodice was fastened with the opal brooch. Heath's eyes smiled in appreciation of the brooch and the bodice. He was a man after all and only ten days away from his wedding.
Victoria was introduced on the arm of a widowed California Supreme court justice; Judge Winters had served under Grant during the war. The deep purple satin gown was indicative of royalty in every mind in the room.
She was California's definition of royalty. The kind of woman that built their state.
Her silver hair and sparkling eyes were glowing in pride for her family. "Oh, how I wish Tom were here" crossed her mind tens of times in the last two days.
Jarrod and Lis were the last to enter and the last to leave. Her sapphire gown matched his eyes perfectly and accentuated the large ring on her finger. The diamonds caught the light in the room and sparkled. They danced to their heart's content and she shared dances with her Father's old friends. They felt like family already.
There was an interlude for the string quartet and the men went outside on this warm night for cigars. The ladies went to the necessary and upstairs to freshen up. Lis promptly sat down in a chair and took a deep breath. "My feet hurt, my mind is racing with all these new revelations about our family, I am exhausted and… I haven't had a seizure. I don't want to jinx it but maybe life can be normal for me...not that tonight is normal in any realm." Her sisters crowded around her chatting in love and happiness.
Jarrod found himself listening to a conversation with Jack's friends and Judge Winters. He felt like he was in a moment of history and wanted to remember every minute to tell his children one day. The conversation eventually turned towards him.
Grant asked, "Well, when is this wedding?" Jarrod explained the difficulty in setting a date.
Sharpe interjected, "Does she want some big wedding?"
Jarrod answered "No" She was adamant about worrying about a seizure during a big church ceremony.
Brookes who was deep in his cups said, "Can you talk her into a wedding tomorrow or the next day? We will all be in town two more days and we probably won't be together again until one of our funerals."
Pinkerton agreed, "It may be all that whisky we have been sneaking out of Edgar's flask but I think it's a hell of an idea...if she really doesn't want a big church wedding."
Judge Winters added, "And I will marry you. My clerk can get a license by midnight over here."
Jarrod was overwhelmed but he liked the idea. "Are you men serious?" They all did a rounding yes.
"She won't go for a midnight wedding but I will ask her."
Edgar took another drink from his flask and passed it around to his old friends. Jarrod was included this time.
"For Jack" they toasted.
Jarrod and Lis were married in the Chapel of the Governor's mansion two days later. The governor's wife scurried around and had rose bouquets made for her and all of her sisters. She wore her sapphire blue dress again and Jarrod his military dress uniform. Jarrod had given her a strand of pearls late last night. The mansion staff made a wedding cake and punch for a simple reception as they signed their license.
Victoria was adamant that they would have a large reception at the ranch sometime after Heath's nuptials and Jarrod's case was settled.
The official state photographer did the honors and took pictures of the wedding party. He did a special one for five grizzled old men who were proud of their coup with the young couple.
All five of Jack's friends were happy and satisfied with their idea, "We are regular old Yiddish matchmakers." They passed the flask around again before the ceremony.
President Grant walked her down the aisle to her delight. When asked who gives this bride, there were five assents heard from the front pew.
As they signed their marriage license at the reception, Jarrod called Daisy to his side with Lis. "And young lady, I have something for you." He placed a delicate pearl necklace on her neck to match the one he had hurriedly bought Lis yesterday as a wedding gift. He had scrambled to get a message to McColl to get the wedding band out of the safe. He, the Merars, Silas, and Rosa was able to make it just in time on the morning train.
"Your Mamere has already signed our marriage license and I have something for you to sign."
Daisy was beaming as she and Jarrod discussed it over supper the night before. She took the pen and signed her adoption papers as Mary-Margaret Jackson Barkley. The family and friends applauded loudly and she curtsied to them. Jack's friends nodded in approval and passed the flask again.
To be continued...