Days passed by…days, which Jack and Irina spent together, living the illusion of a happily married couple. Although both were aware of the problems they soon had to face and talk about, they decided to ignore it for the time being. Every additional day they spent together, both of them fell more for the other. The romance between them was too powerful to allow them to give in to the shadows that reality threw upon them.
Days soon turned into weeks, during which neither Jack nor Irina mentioned anything concerning the royal court or how their future should look. Although Jack had sent his most trusted soldier to the queen to deliver his letter, he had not received an answer, and therefore did not know the queen's opinion. If she was outraged or planned to pursue his behavior in front of a court, she had not yet given any sign of her disapproval.
Neither had Irina's family. Her sister Elena and Maggie had not replied to the letter, which had been signed by both of them, Jack as well as Irina. They had given no sign that they accepted the invitation to visit Bristow manor. Jack knew the knowledge that her sister might never forgive her for giving her hand to an enemy was lying heavily on Irina's heart, but she didn't show it to anybody. She had proven to be a perfect mistress of his household, organizing the daily tasks with unsurpassed logic. Although she treated the servants always kindly, never raising her voice, the employees respected her as their mistress, and if she ordered them to do something, it was done as quickly and as well as possible.
Mrs. Tribbiani was, of course, not so fond of accepting a woman which she didn't feel the slightest respect for as her new mistress. But she also knew that if she tried to harm Irina or disregarded her wishes, Lord Bristow would fire her. He had made his position rather clear, and she knew better than to tempt his rage. It was wiser to make him think that she had accepted his so-called wife. So she followed the schedule Irina gave her every day, waiting patiently, for she was sure that the woman would not be in the manor for a long time. She would take care of that...
Almost three weeks had passed, until one morning they were awakened early. The dawn had only just begun, and the room was bathed in the dim light of the rising morning. It was barely enough to see all the details in the room. Irina only woke up by the coldness that suddenly hit her.
Her eyelids fluttered open while she reached for Jack's body next to her, longing for his warmth. When she didn't find him, she lifted up, shivering at a cold breeze that brushed over her skin. The air was cold, announcing the coming winter. December was only a week away. She found Jack standing half-naked at the open window, leaning outside looking down into the court where James was busy. Irina recognized his voice.
"Jack?" she murmured sleepily. "What is going on?"
"A carriage. It just arrived." He replied, and Irina fell back into the cushions.
"Come back here..." she murmured, when suddenly, down in the court, James' calm voice was outdone by another, female voice. Within an instant, Irina was sitting upright in bed. "ELENA!"
Her exclamation made Jack turn and close the window. He hurried to pull on a shirt. Irina crawled out of the bed, not caring for dressing properly. So she just tied her bathrobe in the front and put her hair to order in front of the mirror. After she had pulled on her house shoes, she hurried out of the room, closely followed by Jack.
In the meantime, James had permitted the unexpected visitors entrance. When Irina reached the entrance hall, Elena was already looking around, a large hat case in her hand.
"Elena..." Irina exclaimed and almost ran to her sister to hug her closely. "I missed you so much..."
"I missed you too," Elena whispered, her voice almost breaking.
She looked from her sister to the old maid. "Maggie..." When she hugged her maid, Elena finally discovered Jack, who had stayed at the staircase for another minute to give his wife the chance to exchange a few private words with her family.
"Look, there he is!" she said bitterly, with a certain sharpness in her voice. Maggie loosened from Irina, giving the youngest sister a warning look.
"Miss Elena, we talked about that."
"Surprise, isn't it? I'm sure you would have rather wanted us to not follow your invitation." The sister went on, ignoring Maggie's remark, and handed her cape to James while she approached Jack slowly.
"Elly!" Irina tried to calm her down. "I know you are angry, but..."
"Oh yes, I am! I am outraged that this English bastard thinks he can blackmail my sister into a marriage right after he killed my other sister."
"Elena Derevko, you will shut your mouth at once!" Maggie exclaimed, and for the first time Irina could hear real fury in the voice of her maid. "Milord, I have to apologize for her behavior. She is..."
"... obviously exhausted from the long journey." Jack finished her sentence diplomatically with a smile. "It must have been a torture to come all the way during the night, especially since it's already quite cold. James, would you have the servants prepare a small breakfast and hot tea for the ladies, please?"
Maggie exhaled in relief, and Irina pressed her hand, smiling at Jack thankfully. They had talked about this situation so many times, both aware that her sister Elena would most likely not just accept their marriage. Jack had assured her that he understood and that he would treat Elena Derevko with the greatest respect and consideration for their difficult situation.
"Come, I will show you to our living room, where you can rest a moment, while I have the maids prepare your rooms," Irina offered, going to the door to the living room.
Elena looked at Maggie who followed Irina, not without passing her another warning glance.
"This is not over yet," Elena hissed at Jack, then turned and followed the women.
"I didn't expect it to be over." Jack replied and turned to order James to carry the luggage out of the carriage as soon as the rooms were prepared.
In the large living room, Irina rang for a servant while Elena and Maggie took a seat on the large sofa, scanning the room in honest admiration. When a young servant appeared, obviously still a little sleepy due to the early hour, Irina ordered her to prepare two rooms for their guests as quickly as possible. She gave detailed orders, then when the maid had left, she turned to her family.
Maggie smiled at her, clapping her hands in happiness when Irina approached the table.
"My dear, you look so wonderful, Irina." Elena scoffed ironically at this comment of Maggie's, but the maid ignored it. "I knew that you two were meant for each other. I could see it in your eyes, and I saw it in his."
"Oh please..." Elena interrupted her. "Maggie, Irina was forced into this marriage. Didn't you listen to what Katya reported to us after she had met Irina with that bastard? He blackmailed them... he forced Irina to stay with him, and Katya clearly told us how much Irina hated Jack Bristow."
Irina sighed and sat down on the sofa. "It's true... back then I hated him – or at least I thought I did. But that has changed. I love him, Elena. I truly love him, and I have never been as happy as I am right now."
"Irina, don't be a fool. That man is no different from the other English bastards. He doesn't have honor, and he doesn't have morals…a man like the ones who raided our house. Do you think he would act differently if in the same situation? How could you of all people fall for someone like him?"
Irina jumped up, anger standing in her eyes. Maggie rose as well and held Irina back. "Don't listen to her. She is tired and aggressive. We had a horrible trip."
Irina sat back on the sofa, only half listening to the detailed report Maggie now started, telling their adventures on every little station of the journey. Her sister looked at her, and she returned her look, understanding the reasons her sister had. The questions Elena had brought up were questions she had already asked herself, never knowing an answer for sure.
Of course, Jack had done everything to help her, but that was only because he had fallen for her. How would he have reacted if she had just been a random woman. Wouldn't she be sitting in prison then by now? She always answered to her own questions that Jack was different, that he would never act inhumanely against an innocent person. Yet, a little doubt always remained in her heart.
When James served the tea and a small breakfast a few moments later, he reported that the rooms of the ladies were now prepared.
Irina smiled again at her guests. "I am so glad to see you two. How long are you going to stay here with me?"
"As long as..." Maggie started, but Elena didn't let her finish.
"In order to prevent misunderstandings, this is not a leisure visit. We are here for a purpose. We are going to take you back home."
"Well, actually we are here to make sure that you are happy, and if that's not the case, we plan take you home." Maggie corrected, and Elena looked at her enraged.
"Maggie, the fact that Irina isn't happy is out of the question."
"Well, to me she looks really happy..."
"Who knows what that English scoundrel has threatened her with. Maybe he drugged her. I've heard of drugs from the orient which can make a woman weak-willed."
"Elena, I can hear you, I'm sitting opposite you," Irina pointed out aggressively, as Elena spoke as if she weren't present in the room. The woman didn't react.
"Whatever he has done, I am sure he plans something, and I am not going to let him use our family. It is his fault that I lost one sister, I am not going lose my other sister to him."
The door shut with a loud sound and all turned their heads to Jack, who had entered the room and was obviously following the conversation with great interest.
"And what, my dear Lady Derevko, am I planning?" he asked without hiding his amusement.
"I don't know... maybe you want to infiltrate our group, maybe you just want a cheap whore..."
"LADY ELENA..." Maggie gasped for air, but the youngest sister didn't stop her tirade.
"... or maybe you just want to gain Irina's trust for some reason to finally play her out. Why don't YOU answer that question? Why would a British member of the royal court marry a rebel woman, a criminal?"
Jack approached the sofa, and his hand ran slightly and unnoticed through Irina's hair when he passed her by. Then he sat down next to her, taking her hand into his. Irina smiled faintly at him.
"That question is quite simple to answer." Jack replied and smiled back warmly at his wife. "Because I love her. That might be hard to believe for you, Milady, but I fell in love with your sister." He kissed Irina's hand, then turned to Elena. "I understand that this is a difficult situation, given our background and the circumstances in which we met, but it is the truth."
"Tell that to somebody who believes you..." Elena murmured and looked at Irina. "I am going to watch you, and if I have just the slightest doubt about your honesty concerning your feelings for my sister, I will take a very painful revenge, is that clear?"
"Of course," Jack nodded, taking all his control to sound serious and calm. Maggie saved the moment by starting to chat leisurely, asking Irina about the land and the household, giving compliments to Jack about the furnishing and the beauty of his country. When they had finished breakfast, Maggie and Elena retired to rest and sleep for a few hours.
Irina watched them leave the room and follow James who showed them around. Then she turned to her husband and leaned against Jacks shoulder.
"I am sorry for what she said... she's just worried..."
"I know." Jack replied, stroking her cheek. "I have to admit though, that I don't really feel comfortable making one of your family my enemy. I don't doubt that she's capable of doing just what she said."
Irina laughed and kissed him softly. "We are not as bad as we may seem at the first impression. Neither of us. Elena may seem rather rude and unmannered, but she's really a kind and warm-hearted woman, just as Katya was." A shadow clouded her eyes. "Elena just doesn't show her pain. She has lost two sisters at once..."
"She didn't lose you..." Jack argued, but Irina laid her finger to his lips.
"Of course she didn't, but she feels that way. Now that Katya is dead, I am the only one that is still left. Between the three of us, Katya, her and me, there has never been a secret. We've told each other everything. I think she is a little jealous – which will soon fade away if she gets to know you better and sees what a charming and gracious husband you are. Give her a few days. She has to get used to the situation... Please."
"I will," Jack assured, kissing Irina's fingers while he looked deeply into her eyes. "Now... do you want to join me? I will retire to bed for another one or two hours."
"I will be glad to do so," Irina laughed, and Jack held his hand out to her gallantly, then they left the room, their fingers tenderly entwined.
O O O O
Two days went by, and soon Maggie felt completely home. She had taken the maid Sarah under her protection, teaching her all the things a maid had to know. She showed her tricks in making beds and cleaning rooms that saved time. Impressed by how clever the girl was, Maggie soon had the highest opinion of her and defeated her against the harsh attacks of Mrs. Tribbiani or the older maids.
Sarah liked the elderly woman. She never yelled at her, but showed her patiently how to do things, and if she didn't make it right the first time, she showed her a second and a third time, until she understood.
Elena, on the other hand, was not so satisfied with the situation. She examined the house as if it were a crime scene, investigating every room. Whenever she met Jack, she turned around and went away, even when he talked to her – or tried to do so – she preferred to just leave him standing and go. Despite her rude and absolutely insulting behavior, Jack behaved friendly and gracious towards her, since he had promised it to Irina.
One afternoon, Irina witnessed by chance one of those scenes in the garden, where Elena was sitting on a blanket in the grass, reading a book. When Jack passed by, he greeted her friendly, but Elena simply ignored him as if he were not there.
Enraged, Irina left the room she had been in and hurried out into the garden. Jack had gone away, and Irina put her hands to her hips, staring down at her little sister – a very unladylike gesture.
"Elena Marina Derevko, why are you doing this?" she burst out, and Elena looked up in confusion.
"What?" she asked innocently, as if she weren't aware of any kind of guilt.
"You are insulting my husband on purpose, you don't even give him a chance! Why are you doing that?"
"Because..." she started emphatically and slammed her book shut. "...he is our enemy, Irina. Even if you forgot that! I don't recognize you! What is the matter with you?"
"With me? The question would rather be, what is the matter with you! You don't even know him!" Irina yelled back infuriated, not caring that their discussion could be heard in the whole garden.
"And I am glad not to! Unlike other people, I don't collaborate with my enemy." Elena said coldly and turned her eyes back down on her book. Irina fell to her knees and took it out of her hand forcefully. Elena turned to look at her, fury sparkling in her eyes. "If you had acted more reasonable and done what our father has taught us, Katya would still be alive!"
It felt like a knife being pushed into her heart. Irina stared at her sister, whose eyes were filled with rage, hatred and pain. "Elena, you can't really mean that!" she whispered, feeling her eyes burning with tears for deep inside she knew, that there was an awful truth in Elena's words.
"Ask yourself, Irina, what would father do if he saw you here, giving yourself to one of the bastards who raped and killed our mother. What would mother say? I can't understand you."
A tear fell silently down Irina's cheek, and Elena's eyes also started to burn. "We couldn't go on like that forever, Elly. We can't spend our life hating people and seeking revenge - a goal for which we collaborate with even more dangerous criminals. Jack offered to start an investigation about the raid on our house twenty-five years ago, since he is convinced that it was not sanctioned by the queen. I didn't want him to do so in the first place, but the more I think about it, I have to admit that it is a possibility. Don't you see what the years of hatred have made out of us? Katya is dead, and the two of us start to turn against each other. That is not just my fault, Elly. And now for the first time, I feel really happy and safe, and you want to take that away from me." Her voice broke and when she looked up, she found tears running down Elena's cheeks as well. Almost shyly, Elena touched her sister's hand, then suddenly hugged her tightly.
"Oh, Rina, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry... I don't know what came over me to say those mean things." She cried. "Please forgive me. You're all I have left now, and I don't want to lose you as well."
"You won't lose me." Irina whispered. "How could you think that you would lose me? No matter how much I love Jack, you are my little sister and it will always stay that way. We just... we have to find a way for this to work. I don't want the two people I love the most to constantly fight each other."
"Do you really love him?" Elena asked, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand while she scanned Irina's face. Irina simply nodded.
"Yes, I love him. And if you give yourself the chance to get to know him, you will find that he is honest and an honorable man. He does everything for me, and he wants to help our family, if you just let him." Irina smiled and touched her sister's hair softly.
"Fine." Elena murmured, pouting slightly. "But don't expect me to become one of those weak-willed, always friendly creatures from court. I will argue with him if I don't like what he says."
Irina laughed and hugged Elena. "He wouldn't expect differently from a member of our family." Then she handed the book back to her sister and got up. "Why don't you join us for tea inside?"
"I have to wash my face first..." Elena smiled, and Irina returned her warm expression.
"Fine... we'll be waiting for you." With those words, she left to go back inside. Elena looked after her, then stared at the book in her hands. She hated the thought of having to be nice to Jack Bristow, but what wouldn't she do for her sister?
Although she herself couldn't understand why Irina had fallen in love with that man – except for his looks, she expected him to be rude and unmannered – but if he was the man Irina had chosen, she would give him a chance.
"But only one chance," she murmured to herself and finally lifted from the grass with a deep sigh.
And she fulfilled her promise. She attended tea, just as she had told Irina. Maggie was astounded when Elena entered the room with a smile, wearing a lovely dress, and appearing like a young lady. Jack stared at her as if she were a ghost, then at his wife, who simply smiled.
"Miss Elena," he then said courteously and got up, as it was custom if a lady came to the table. He waited until the woman sat down, then he sat back himself. The first few minutes passed in a silence that was only interrupted by James serving tea and cake.
After a moment, Elena cleared her throat.
"You have a really lovely garden, Lord Bristow." She complimented, and Jack smiled, fighting to hide his surprise. He wondered whether Lady Elena might be drugged – another reason for her sudden friendliness didn't come to his mind. "I especially appreciate the beauty of your roses. How many gardeners do you need to take care of them?"
"Only two..." Jack replied. "My chief gardener Steward and his son. If you want, you can talk to them if you're interested in gardening."
"Oh, that would be great." Elena replied.
Again silence.
"Has Irina already shown you around in the library? I have a lot of books about flowers and gardening there as well." Jack mentioned and took a sip of his tea. "Feel free to borrow them if they interest you."
"Thank you..."
Soon the conversation became more leisurely and the initial surprise and uneasiness disappeared.
Two hours later, Elena had to admit to herself that Jack Bristow was not that bad, but of course she would have never admitted that out loud. Although her suspicion was not fully conquered, she decided to at least respect Jack as Irina's husband ...if he proved trustworthy.
O O O O
It was in the same week that Jack received the letter from the queen he had so long been waiting for. A soldier of the royal infantry delivered it personally and to Jack, who knew about the customs, that was not a good sign.
He waited until Irina and Elena had left the house for their picnic at the coast, accompanied by James and Maggie who seemed to get along perfectly. In Maggie, the old butler had found a companion in his fight against Mrs. Tribbiani and her authority.
The way Maggie simply ignored the mistresses' orders had deeply impressed James and during the five days that Maggie and Elena resided in his manor, his butler had built up a deep friendship with Maggie.
Therefore, Jack had agreed to grant him a free day, so he could join the women on their picnic. Jack himself had to work over his finance books and work, otherwise he would have joined them as well. On the other hand, he had also wanted to give them a little privacy.
As soon as he was alone in his study, he opened the letter and read over its first words. Slowly and thoroughly he read the whole letter, the meaning of the words he was reading seeming so abstract and impossible to him that he felt as if he were in a dream when he had finished.
After having read the letter a second and a third time, he jumped up from his chair.
"That's impossible!" he raged and slammed his hands to the table. "That just cannot be true. Not now..."
Then he hurried out of the room, slamming the door soundly, which caused a young maid, who was dust-cleaning the pictures on the wall, to give a startled shriek. Jack ignored her, but went straight to his library. Frantically, he searched the bookshelves for the book he hadn't looked into since his father had died fifteen years ago. When he had found it, he pulled it out and blew the dust off its cover. Then he went through the pages as fast as he could. Soon, he had found the chapter he was looking for, reading it while his eyes widened in disbelief. Suddenly it made sense, the words written in the book confirming the awful truth he would have never expected.
If there had been only a little bit of hope left that he and Irina could have a future together, this hope was now gone.
He leaned onto the heavy oak desk, staring at the words written in front of his eyes, knowing that this was the end - that Irina was going to hate him forever.