Again, I don't own any of the original characters, I'm just borrowing them.
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Chapter 8
"May I help you, sir?" Gregory asked as a breathless George stopped to catch his breath at the front desk.
"I'm looking for Jessie Kingsbridge. I know I saw her come in" George insisted.
"Sir, there is no Jessie Kingsbridge on the register" he was informed.
"I saw her enter. She has light brown hair, about this tall. Her eyes are the prettiest green eyes you've ever seen. Please, if she is here, I only wish a moment of her time" George pleaded.
"Sir, as I told you, there is no one here under that name. If you wish to call, we have times available for visitors. I will ask you one last time to please leave" Gregory signaled to Harold and another guard.
Inside the dining room, the ladies of the house were eating dinner when George's voice echoed throughout the house as Jessie's face paled.
"Gregory, what is going on here? Harold, let him go" Martina ordered.
"I beg, your pardon ma'am. My name is George Challenger. I saw Jessie Kingsbridge enter. I only wish to speak to her for a moment...".
"Young man, the residents of this establishment may not have the money of some of the young ladies you are used to escorting, but it still improper to enter one's home during dinner time without a previous invitation".
"I understand that ma'am, and I again apologize for the intrusion, but, Jessie!" out of the corner of his eye he saw her huddling with the other young women.
"Young man, I do not know where you learned your manners, but it seems that you need to relearn them" George was pushed out.
"All right, girls, back to dinner" Martina tried to usher the girls back to the table, but Jessie seemed frozen.
"Jane, are you coming?" Theresa asked.
"I believe Jane and I have something to discuss. Go finish your dinner" Martina directed the rest of the girls back to the dinner room.
"Was that your young man?" Martina asked gently.
"Yes".
"Do you want to marry him?".
"If only…".
"The men of this world may think they know everything, but we women know better don't we?" Jessie started to smile.
"Whatever you choose, my dear, in the end you will know that in your heart, you made the right decision".
Over the next few days, Jessie received flowers from both George and Robert. She refused them all.
"May I come in?" Martina knocked gently on Jessie's door.
"There is a Robert Alderman wishing to see you. He insists on seeing you and will not leave until you speak to him".
"No".
"He deserves an explanation, as you would if you were in his shoes. Your life is your choice, no matter what" Martina escorted Jessie down to the solarium.
"Jessie" Robert greeted her politely.
"Robert".
"Your father showed me these".
"How did he know?" No one, not even Helga knew about the papers she had submitted to The Scientific Review.
"No one could locate James Ryland, they looked everywhere. Yet his work was the best they'd read in years"
"I just read them, they are not mine" Jessie paled.
"Ryland was your mother's maiden name".
"They wouldn't take my work under my own name because I am a woman. My own father refuses to acknowledge my presence, other than the times when he feels it's appropriate for a woman. Do you honestly think I would have printed my own name?" Jessie fumed.
"You're brilliant" he said quietly.
"You're just saying that".
"I mean it, you're amazing. You should be in the university".
"My father would rather give up his job than introduce me to the dean".
"I would".
"Would you, Robert? Would you in front of your colleagues and mentors including my father, tell the world how brilliant I am and demand that I be allowed in? Would you damage your spotless reputation and your fortune for me?" she demanded.
"Yes I would".
"I would have to marry you, after all, you would be compromising your blemish free reputation just to accommodate me," she asserted.
"I want to marry you because I love you and I know deep down, you love me".
"I never loved you" she started to walk out.
"Goodbye Robert" she walked upstairs.
"Sir" Harold opened the door for him.
Robert walked out of the house knowing that Jessie would never agree to marry him, no matter what he said or did. He would find someone else and give her the life he would have given Jessie. But no matter what, Jessie Kingsbridge would forever hold a place in his heart.
The next week, the house was buzzing. Martina's cousin, Genevieve Frenhard, the headmistress of St. Basil School For Young Ladies in New York had an opening for a teacher and was inquiring of her cousin knew of any qualified candidates.
"Jessie?" Martina gently knocked on the door.
"I believe that you would do well as a teacher. But before I send you to New York, I insist that you write to your father. He deserves to know where you are going".
Jessie looked down, knowing that Martina was right.
"Sometimes to start a new life, we must finish the old life".
Hesitantly, Jessie sat down to write the letters.
Inside the Kingsbridge home, Alfred lay in his bed, attempting to sleep. In the weeks that Jessie left, his health had declined. Unable to teach, he resigned his teaching to be done by another, sending messengers each with lessons plans and assignments to and from the university. Robert had left London, accepting a teaching assignment in Paris. Ironically, George was his constant companion, some nights sleeping in the guest bedroom.
"How are you?" George walked in carrying the tray with the coffee.
"I'm learning to deal"
"Pardon me, Dr. this letter came" Adrian knocked.
"I have always felt that there was something more out there for me than you had planned for me. As you read this, I am on my way to New York, where I have found employment at the St. Basil's School For Young Ladies. Do not worry about me; I have my inheritance from mother. I will send word occasionally as to my whereabouts. Your daughter, Jessie".
"She did it" Alfred never fully expected to leave.
George pulled out the engagement ring he bought for her.
"Bring her back, George".
"What if?" he pointed to the ring.
"You don't need my blessing, not anymore".
Duh, duh, duh. What do you think? Will he be able to find her and more importantly, will she forgive him and her father? How about a review or two?