Chapter 19

''I think pearls. They are understated yet elegant.'' Ruth circled a pair of pearls around a model's neck in a bridal book. Rose nodded. They were pretty but seemed to be nothing like what she would wear at all.

''Yes, they are.'' She agreed, quietly.

Janet, the wedding planner took note. She was around her mother's age with a strict face, glasses and blonde hair pulled back tightly into a bun. She wore a formal jacket and tailored skirt with small court heels. Her presence was like a headteacher. Rose avoided eye contact with her frequently.

''Excellent choice.''

''Rose, what type of pearls were you thinking?'' Ruth asked her daughter.

Rose glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece. It was almost midday. She was tired, bored and trying so very hard to focus on the minor details of this damned wedding just to forget about her night with Jack until she saw him once more. She had hoped to see him this afternoon. She needed to see him. Her heart was pounding just thinking of him. ''Um-'' She was about to answer when thankfully Trudy entered the sitting room.

''Oh, Miss Rose, Mrs. Dewitt Bukater, forgive my intrusion but Mr. Ethan Hockley is requesting your attention.''

''Oh, what a busy day.'' Ruth stood from the arm chair and folded away her glasses. She smoothed out her dress before turning to the wedding planner.

''I do hope we can pick up where we left off, perhaps tomorrow afternoon?''

Janet stood from the chair and picked up her thick red book of details. ''Of course.'' She did appear slightly annoyed at the intrusion but could only respond politely. ''Is 2pm all right?''

''Quite all right.''

''Thank you for the tea.''

She shook hands with both Rose and Ruth before proceeding to the door. Trudy was about to show her out before she was thrown another command by Ruth, who stood with one hand on her left hip.

''More fresh tea, Trudy, and clear these cups away.''

''Of course.'' She nodded before smiling at Janet, showing her to the door.

Ethan allowed himself into the sitting room. His face was paler than usual but his black suit was still worn, his sunglasses attached to his white shirt. He nodded hello.

''No tea, thanks.'' He told Trudy. ''It is a quick stop by.''

Ruth ushered him into the sitting room. ''Please, sit.''

''No, thank you.'' He glanced at Rose. She fiddled with her engagement ring as his stare seemed so intense. The resemblance between Ethan and brother was undeniable and no matter how hard she tried to distinguish between the two, she never could quite manage to. The fact that everything had changed since she had seen him last spiralled about her head.

''My brother is to return Saturday morning. He sends his apologies but the meeting is also being postponed.''

''What a shame.'' Rose spoke clearly and confidently. ''We were expecting his arrival this evening but as these things happen.'' Inside, she was giddy. She knew that would be extra time which could be spent with Jack. She glanced at the clock again. She needed to see him. She ached with a deep need.

''These things happen, right?'' Ethan cocked his head to one side.

''Of course. Are you sure we cannot offer you a cup of something?'' Ruth offered once more.

Ethan put his hand up. ''Not right now. I also come on another matter.''

''Yes, the house-'' Ruth started but Ethan cut her off.

''Not right now.'' He stated, more firmly this time.

He glanced straight at Rose. She stood as straight as she could, refusing to be intimidated by his stare. She tried to find any evidence on his face of the fight he and Tommy had engaged in, there was none but it would have now healed just leaving probably a bruised ego. A dint in his reputation.

''Rose, you remember the party at the ballroom for my brother's birthday?''

''Yes.''

He came closer. ''You remember a guy there, an Irish guy, names Tommy Ryan.''

Rose felt her stomach flip but outwardly she didn't falter. Yes, she knew Tommy. But that not well. She could almost forget him, she told herself. She was more intrigued by what this was about. ''I'm afraid I didn't leave Cal's side all night, until he left mine and then I left with Lovejoy.''

Ethan narrowed his eyes at Rose as she stood beside her mother. She seemed sure. ''Ask both your brother and the butler.'' Rose told him. That much was the truth.

Ruth stepped forward. ''Could I ask what this has to do with my daughter?''

''Mrs. Dewitt Bukater, there was a girl at the party that night, a girl I care a lot about, her name is Cara.'' Ethan began. Rose wanted to laugh so harshly. Ethan didn't 'care' at all about Cara. She was an easy girl to get into bed and a guaranteed way to get relief. ''This Tommy Ryan was after my girl, wanting her. But now it has come to my attention that night she went home with another guy, who Tommy is friends with.''

Rose felt her stomach tighten. Jack! She so badly wanted to run to the door and find him but she now needed more information. Her head throbbed. The last thing she wanted was more reminders of him and Cara together but now, they seemed to be all over her head. She felt dizzy, weak and was thrust back to the night when she witnessed them together but now, it was all gone. It had to be. Gaining her steadiness, Rose turned to face him, directly.

''Ethan, I don't know who these people are.'' Rose told him, firmly. ''Perhaps a description may help.''

Ethan shrugged. ''I don't have one. But Cara told me that you know this guy. This Jack.'' He emphasized the name as though it would jog Rose's memory but still she remained nonchalant, with an expressionless face.

Ruth turned to Rose, her eyes silently questioning. ''And do you have a surname?''

''No.''

Rose didn't lose her calm. ''Well, I am afraid your trip here is in vein, Ethan. I do not know anybody. I certainly don't know Cara, except that she was the woman who I caught dallying with my fiancé. Which, you know as well as I, that is correct. Other than that, I told you what I know. My fiancé will tell you I never left his sight, Lovejoy will tell you when I left and my mother can confirm what time I arrived home.''

Ruth was silent as she glanced at Ethan. She seemed to have bought Rose's lie. ''Rose did arrive home very early.'' She confirmed. There was her backup. That was the truth about the whole night. ''And, she told me the same account of the evening then, as she tells you now.''

Ethan watched Rose but he was certain there was more to it than what she had said but without proof, what could one do? His sigh was full of frustration but he would not show it to the ladies in front of him.

''Forgive me, Mother. I am late for my appointment at a boutique.'' Rose smiled to her Mother. ''Ethan, good afternoon.'' She left them in silence. As she went into the hallway she found Trudy.

''Call the chauffeur, I am to go shopping.''

''Yes ma'am.'' She curtseyed as she went to find the correct staff for Rose to take her out.

Rose wiped her face with her hands as she grasped her bag and it was then she realised that she was shaking. But why, she did not know. She needed to tell Jack that Ethan knew more. Cara had told Ethan about Jack for a reason; to cause trouble. She just knew it. She bit her lips, feeling how dry they were. She could still hear Ethan's voice chattering with her mother and she squeezed her eyes closed. She needed Jack to hold her and take her mind away from the cloud of confusion which was theatening to consume her slowly.

Cara hadn't been to the Grill since the day Jack had asked her to leave and he couldn't have been more thrilled.

He had fifteen minutes left of his shift but Rose had not come to see him all day. It was almost seven and the customers had died down a long time ago. Mostly it was the older ones, taking tea after walking their dogs along the promenade, some having a late dinner after work and others just married couples having a bite to eat. It was those which kept him smiling as they had sat with joined hands across the table and gazing longinging into the others eyes as though it was a first date.

Jack rolled the pencil which he kept behind his ear along the counter between his fingers. The noise annoyed him, but it was better than silence. That was the enemy. He sighed once more. A car pulled up outside, a cab by the looks of it. He sat back on his stool as he saw someone get out of the back-passenger side, a hand full of boutique bags. She ran to the front and offered the driver cash before looking both ways across the road and running into the Grill. It was Rose. He stood from the stool and came around the front of the counter. She had just opened the door. He wanted to hold her so badly, yet something told him not to. Her face was flushed, her hair had gone limp. Her eyes were lighter than usual and her lips that lovely red they had been painted the first night he had met her.

''Rose?''

She put her bags on the floor. ''Can we talk, please?'' Her eyes begged him.

''Yes.'' He glanced about. ''My shift ends in fifteen minutes.'' He put his hands inside his pants pocket and pulled out his car keys. ''Go, sit in the car and put those bags in the trunk.''

She took the keys, grateful. She could have some time to sit down and gather her thoughts before she did. ''Thank you.''

Jack watched as the left in the same hurrying manner which she had entered the Grill. His mind raced of what could be the matter. The last fifteen minutes of the shift seemed to go slower than it had before. He kept glancing about to see Rose in his car, she had kept herself looking downward for most of the time and fiddling about with something to probably calm her nerves.

It was five to seven when Carlo turned up. He would work until midnight that evening. Jack practically jumped as he removed his apron and left the keys to the Grill on the counter.

As Jack approached the car, he noticed Rose seemed to perk up a little. He got into the car and felt as though he wasn't close enough. He heard her sigh and reached his hand out to her and she grasped it tightly with both hands, finally happy to just be with him, alone and not just in her thoughts.

''Take me somewhere, Jack. out of here.'' She asked him quietly.

He started the car.

''All right, we'll go.''

Jack's hand didn't leave hers at he drove. He didn't know where they were going but he kept half an eye on the road. Rose was quiet. He wasn't used to this and he was wondering just what was on her mind.

''Are you all right?''

''Yes.''

She squeezed his hand.

''I apologise for the bags in the trunk. I had to tell my mother that I had gone wedding shopping and bought half of the shop to make it appear that I ha.''

Jack felt his stomach sinking. Was she still going ahead with the wedding or was it simply an excuse?

''It's fine.'' He smiled. ''Tell me.''

She turned to face him. ''It's Ethan. He came to the house this afternoon.'' She hesitated. ''He knows more about you and Cara. She has told him what happened between the two of you. She knows of Tommy's friend named Jack. Cara has told Ethan that I know you. I, of course, told him that was ludicrous and that I didn't. He also has a different version of events from the night in question but Lovejoy took me home. I'm all right, I am covered. I just-I was worried about you.'' She lowered her lashes.

If he wasn't angry before with the Hockley's and Cara. He was now. ''That stupid-''He was about to swear when he realised that she wasn't even worth getting stressed over. He turned to Rose; his priority. ''I am sorry that you got caught up in this.'' He hung his head. ''I will talk to her. Sort this out.''

Rose's heart sank. ''I-I don't like that.'' She told him timidly. She knew that she had no right to determine who Jack spoke to or not but Cara was one person who she despised for more than one reason. ''I know that I have no right to ask that of you, but, just this afternoon and hearing of all the details seemed to fetch the thoughts of you two screaming back to me.'' Rose bowed her head, as though she was ashamed.

Jack knew why. He sighed. He was stupid to even suggest he did such a thing. ''I won't go near her. I will ask Tommy to. We just need to sort this now. Then I need to take you away from here.''

Rose held his hand tighter. She watched the road for just a second. She realised that they were near to the beach but it was a part of the area which she didn't recognise.

''Where are we?'' She asked, looking out of the window.

''You'll see.'' He told her, grinning. They needed to be free for just one more day.

Nerves bubbled in the pit of her stomach. These were the days which she lived for.