Chapter Eleven
The newspapers carried the story but thanks to Liz, the salacious details were omitted. Nick's release and Amy's impassioned plea for new legislation carried the stories.
Jarrod's vigorous negotiations brought Liz and the children a comfortable amount of money and property for income. An added surprise was the return of Madame Marie de Beaufort's jewelry from her father-in-law's safety deposit boxes and several valuable Beaufort family portraits, one large one of Marie on her wedding day and one of Isabella's mother pilfered from the French estates. Most of the other valuables had been sold off during the years. The jewels had been kept intact as surety for loans over the years.
A week later, all of the remaining Barkleys along with Liz and her children boarded the private rail car for the trip back to Stockton. Liz wanted to spend her last months of confinement with people she loved. Victoria had modified the new guest house enclosing the small dining area into another bedroom. Liz had plenty of time to make decisions.
Eire and Fiona were hired to go back to help with all the Jackson children and Katarina's three children. Bettina and Lucinda went back to San Diego to close up the home and see their families again.
Jarrod boarded the train for Sacramento after seeing them off. He had been gone a month in San Francisco and his staff had taken a load off of him but there was much work to be done. He still had to face the Senator and Governor along with Amy.
His family had taken the news of the broken engagement with surprise; only Victoria was relieved knowing what she knew about Amy seeing someone else.
Liz took it the hardest, blaming herself for the fractured finger and relationship. Jarrod leaned back and recalled last night's conversation at a private dinner in her room:
"Jarrod, I feel so guilty for all of this. I really liked Amy, I did."
"Liz, I have to tell you something that only Mother stumbled on. She told me yesterday that Amy is seeing an old beau. She saw them together at the hotel. Amy told me herself when she left. They reunited here during the wedding week. I took her to him myself when she left."
Liz was shocked, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, and I am completely at peace with this. I only wish her well—-Liz, I have to go back to Sacramento and will likely be there until the baby is born. I may have to resign but I would like to finish out my term, with a year left. I have some important projects that will benefit the state for years to come. I have tarnished the office but I hope to stay. Amy wants a few months to announce the engagement is off publicly and I will let her do that. I may even have to attend some social events—"
"Oh Jarrod, I understand completely"
"But this makes what I must say next all the harder or maybe easier— I have loved you for years and I want to make a life with you and the children. I hate waiting a year but I want to do everything the right way—-you and the children deserve it. I want to court you, build a house with you, grow old with you, Lord willing, have more children with you in time—- I would rather not deliver this baby with you this time but since I did such a good job with Violet, I could if I had too."
They burst out laughing.
"Yes, Jarrod, yes"
He helped her to her feet. He spun her around the room in several dance steps without music. He tipped her chin up and touched some wisps of auburn hair from her face. He pulled her close and kissed her, at first gently and then more soundly. He kissed every one of her bruises gently, accepting each one as a part of her. He parted her lips and deepened the kiss. He kissed down her neck, the bruises had started to yellow and nibbled lightly on her ear lobe. She made soft sounds of passion. It was better even than their first and only kiss years ago. His hands went down her back and stayed on her posterior. He attempted to pull her closer but thump, the baby kicked him soundly. They broke apart laughing.
"Ok, ok, I will stop for now but you will have to learn to share Mamere with me."
"I love you, Jarrod"
"I love you, Liz-I always have."
—&—
Dearest Liz,
I promised I would write and tell you all about my return to Sacramento. We had pretty much planned for all of the reactions. Some were stand-offish waiting to see how the wind would blow; more were judgmental and disdainful. The majority were supportive in private and reserved in public.
First, as you likely knew, I have escorted Amy to a ball, a banquet, and the theatre. We have presented ourselves as a happy couple. We have publicly quarreled over her not wanting to move to Stockton after my term is over. Her new interest has arrived at the hotel and I have left her with him twice. I feel like I have reverted to my old days in intelligence for the military with all of this subterfuge.
The plan still is for her to break off the engagement in a month or so pleading not wanting to move to the ranch.
She sends her regards to you and the family.
My heart is with you but my intellect knows this must be done. Amy is adamant and she is putting pressure on every legislator she can find to change the laws on women and inheritance and abuse.
My signature work in the office should be done by mid-year—-an agreement to limit the power of the railroad while increasing individual freight companies and shipping to provide access to transportation and goods to all of California. Hannibal Jordan is fighting me on every front still but the younger men on his Board seem to recognize that the unbridled power of the railroads is being squelched across the country. They know it's better to have a beneficial agreement than the United States government mandates that have happened in other states have done.
I have pushed through the initiatives for the canal dredging of the San Joaquin River and the new Channel for San Francisco harbor. Both are imperative for the economy of California. Tell Nick, the two dams for the Sierra Nevada mountain lakes have made it out of committee.
The initial cabinet meeting was chaotic. Half of the room wanted me to resign; half wanting the transportation agreement to pass. My political career is effectively over and I have no regrets. I do not plan to spend the rest of my life compromising.
Tell Nicholas to look for some new stocks I have purchased. They will arrive from Nate's office. They are for Barkley Sierra and the whole trust.
Amanda Jackson came to see me. She and her attorney brought the last of your property deeds all signed over and your Mother's jewels. I have taken them to the bank until I return to Stockton. She is lending me support on the transportation bill, of course.
The real reason became evident for her visit though. Your cousin Charles Beaufort has accomplished a coup d'etat in LeHavre. His rival company has shut down the LeHavre business of your father's now known as Jackson shipping. The French, it seems, do not like Americans taking one of their enterprises. CBeaufort Shipping is taking business right and left. Amanda wanted your help to bring them back in line. I took the liberty of declining for you. Your health and all. I want our newest child to be safe and sound. The way I see it, she wants the company and she can have it. Also, the San Diego port is failing now without your influence.
Seems you were the heart of the Admiral's men along with mine—-
I am enclosing a private letter for your eyes only. I know our families are as anxious for news as you.
I send my love to all of you and appreciation for taking care of my girls until I can permanently return. I take great security knowing they are safe and well looked after.
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Enough news and business—- I want to spend the next few lines telling you how much I love and miss you—- a year seems like an eternity but the kiss you left me with has warmed me many nights in my lonely room. I long to wake up to you every morning and sleep beside you every night.
The four-poster bed I ordered should arrive in the coming months for the new home we are making. My desk is being crafted especially for the office. I also am enclosing an advertisement for a twelve-foot dining table with leaves I found when I ordered our bedroom furniture. I can see us all around it. Please decide if you like it. It is a special order also.
I ache for you, Liz. I have known you since 1865 and watched you grow into a beautiful alluring woman. I wish I could take all of the heartaches away but I promise to make the rest of your life everything it was meant to be—-I want to grow old with you and die in your arms with silver hair in our own home. I believe I have been in love with you since that night on the Potomac. I see our children and our grandchildren coming home to us- at the home, we are building.
I feel as if my grammar teacher would rebuke me for as many times as I have used the word, home in this missive. But it is what I feel-you are home, Liz to me.
1881 will be the beginning of the second half of our lives—- the best is yet to come, you will see. Five daughters will be the light of our life—-the new baby will only know a happy home, boy or girl.
I long to show you happiness and the true ways of a woman and a man. I read Song of Solomon the other night with you in my mind's eye.
All of my love—J