-The disclaimer is in chapter 1 if you really must read it.
- To everyone who at least read my story, thank you so much.
-Dr. William Hornsby is again my creation.
Chapter 3
"You wished to see me?" George asked nervously, stepping into the office. In the short time he had been in his class, this was the first time Dr. Kingsbridge asked to speak with him privately.
"Yes, I had hoped to talk to you".
"Is it my paper, I can revise it" George panicked.
"No, your work is excellent. I wanted to ask you about Jessie".
"What about Jessie?".
"I don't understand my daughter. Robert proposed to her again and she has one again refused him. Robert is successful, well connected and wealthy, yet she again has turned him down. Tell me George, maybe you understand young women these days better than I do. What would you do?".
"If I were you, sir, I would let Jessie make up her own mind. Perhaps she would choose Robert, if she felt that he was courting her properly because he truly loved her rather than because he was her father's protégé and saw her as an extension of her father" George chose his words carefully.
"Or perhaps a little competition might help?" An idea popped into the older man's head.
"Sir?" George asked.
"If I would give you permission and funds to court my daughter, I believe this would spur Robert to make a serious commitment to Jessie and her to him. Would you be willing to help me?".
"But, Dr. Kingsbridge, what about my schoolwork?".
"Think of this as a personal project. If everything works out planned, I promise you will not go unrewarded".
George resisted, keeping his grades up and managing his growing relationship with Jessie out from her father's shadow weighed equally on his mind.
"I know of several journal editors who would be interested in some of your papers. I would be happy to pass on your work…" he offered.
"But, Dr Kingsbridge, I…" he stammered.
"Think of this way, George. You help me and I will pass on the news of my newest and brightest student to Dr. Hornsby".
George stood shocked; Dr. William Hornsby was the greatest scientist is not only England, but all over the continent. Getting tickets to any of his lectures was nearly impossible. His essays on the latest scientific discoveries were printed in a dozen languages and treated as if they were handed from God to Moses on Mt Sinai. Any scientist whose name was even remotely his was guaranteed fame and fortune. Perhaps this way to see Jessie publicly, he would just have to hide the fact that he had been bribed by her father with the intention of not being her eventual groom.
"Well, George?".
"I accept".
"Good evening sir" the next night, George was let in to the Kingsbridge home.
"Good evening, is Miss Kingsbridge home?".
Jessie's presence was indicated was the screeching from her room.
"Miss Jessie, I am only thinking of you" Helga offered her mistress another garment.
"I am no longer six years old, Helga. The sooner you and my father realize it, the better" Jessie flew down the stairs.
"Jessie, you look lovely".
"See, Helga, even George knows that I outgrew that garment a long time ago".
Muttering a curse in her native Prussian, Helga closed the door behind her.
"Have a good evening, miss" George led Jessie to the carriage.
"George, this is beautiful, how did you afford this?" the gold that encrusted the outside of the carriage.
"Your father paid".
"George, did you ask my father for permission?" Jessie started to frown.
"Well, in a way, yes. He felt that if I wanted to court you, I should do it in the manner you are accustomed to" George easily lied. He hoped she would believe him.
"George, thank you, its beautiful" he helped her into the carriage as the butterflies in his stomach disappeared. She believed him, for now, that was the important thing. She wouldn't be so happy with him when the truth came out, but for now, he wasn't going to worry.
End of chapter 3. I know its short, but I had to move the story along. Please send a review, I promise you chapter four.