Author's Note: Reviews are appreciated and encourage me to write faster. Also this now makes over 100,000 words I've uploaded here!
Chapter 19
Jack and Samantha stared longingly at each other across the parlor. The wedding was scheduled to take place in two days and her father was insistent that they be chaperoned the entire time. Since their kiss upstairs this morning after they had been interrupted by her father and Phillippe, they had not been allowed a moment alone together. Not having physical contact was bad enough, but with a constant audience, the couple had to guard every word carefully. Eyeing Samantha's father, Jack imagined the immense joy slitting his throat would be. However, after waiting nearly a decade, he would wait for a couple days rather than risk angering her.
Noticing the irritation on his Master's face, Phillippe suggested, "Perhaps you and the Mademoiselle might enjoy a game of chess?"
The pair settled down to a game, playing slowly and contemplatively. After more than an hour and the game showing no signs of a winner, Samantha's father went on a ride. The couple now only had Phillippe and Sam's maid to watch them. As the maid dozed and the couple's conversation became more intimate, Phillippe felt awkward observing them. He was keenly aware they had their own world and that intruders weren't welcome in it.
"Viscomte?"
"What is it Phillippe?" Jack asked minorly irritated to have to deal with the intrusion.
"As the Mademoiselle's maid is sound asleep, this might be a good time for the two of you to go on a walk through the garden. It will be at least an hour before the Mademoiselle's father returns."
Jack favored his valet with a smile and stood up. In a rare display of affection for anyone but his Samantha, he laid a hand on Phillippe's arm, "Thank you Phillippe."
Thrilled to have a bit of time alone with Jack, Samantha could have kissed the valet, but knew Jack wouldn't take it well. Instead, she took Jack's arm and thanked her fiancé's servant, "An excellent idea. Thank you."
The couple exited the room arm in arm, thrilled to be alone with each other once again. A careful dash past the servants in the hallway and they were on the porch. With one hand Samantha grabbed her voluminous skirts and let Jack take her other hand. Together they ran from the manor towards the rose garden, away from prying eyes. As soon as they found a well concealed bench under an arbor of roses, they sat and kissed. Jack drew Sam as tightly into his embrace as her hoopskirt allowed.
"The next two days are going to be agony," Samantha sighed.
"Oh I think agony is rather a conservative estimate. I was thinking more like excruciating hideously painful torment that will make me long for an orange electrical cord."
Samantha laughed and then looked slightly uneasy at the reminder of Jack's murderous career back in Atlanta. While the murder didn't give her pause, the thought of Atlanta did. What would happen if they ever went back? She knew she wanted Jack at any cost, her friends and daughter seemed very distant and unimportant. But how could she get out from under the watchful eyes of the VCTF so she could be with Jack? Although he had kept his identity concealed for many years, being so close to her would put him under a microscope and she could scarcely join him in killing if their was an entourage of agents present.
"What's wrong?" Jack asked gently. "You're not having second thoughts about us or about getting married are you?"
Shaking her head, she responded, "Heavens no. I'm looking forward to being able to talk to you unchaperoned again." Laying a hand on Jack's chest Samantha looked into his eyes and added sincerely, "I think I've always been yours, even when I couldn't admit it. Destiny and fate always were a joke to me, but since coming here, I'm beginning to believe some things are simply meant to be. You're my destiny Jack."
A rapturous expression crossed Jack's face and he took her hand from his chest and pressed a kiss into her palm. Seeing his pleasure in such a small crumb of affection from her, made Samantha's heart turn over. In all the years of their game, she'd never really considered what his feelings were beyond his obsession for her. Ignoring his feelings had been simple when their game was played at a distance. Now looking into his dark eyes that had tears of gratitude swimming in them, Samantha wondered if she was worthy of his love and devotion. Once she got past the violence of his devotion, the tenderness underneath was very profound.
"Oui," Jack replied. Emotion made his French accent thick as he pressed his lips to hers and vowed, "I will love you beyond time itself."
After several kisses, Sam inquired, "Jack, what will we do if we ever go back?"
"Do you wish to go back?"
"Not especially." Samantha confessed, "I'm just worried about what would happen. If we go back, how will we handle the VCTF?"
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Right now I'm more concerned about finding my lovely fiancé a ring that isn't the size of a paper weight and how I'm going to find any time alone with her before the wedding."
"Maybe we can think of some way to get rid of my father and maid, Phillippe seems to be willing to help us." Then blushing slightly, she asked, "Did he say anything about the other night? I really would hate for you to kill him, he helped me when you were wounded and I appreciated his help."
"My valet was shocked but he seems to be coming around," Jack told her. He refrained from mentioning that he imagined the raise in pay helped soothe his conscience. If at all possible, he would allow Phillippe to live. So far, the man was the only ally they seemed to have in this time.
"I suppose we have to head back to the house."
Reluctantly, Jack agreed. As they walked back he inquired, "Do you need anything for the wedding a gown or anything?"
Samantha smiled and answered, "No, my maid showed me the dress you apparently had made for me before my arrival. I like it better than any of the other things I've found in my wardrobe. Either my father or whomever's body I'm occupying has lousy taste in clothing. Do you remember what ladies clothing was supposed to be like at this time?"
"I shall arrange for a couturier to come from Paris and make anything your heart desires," Jack laughed. After a moment he said, "I do wish I'd paid more attention to my family history. I only remember bits and pieces but I'm quite certain that I'm occupying an ancestor of mine. As for clothing, wear what you like, there's only one woman I have eyes for."
The couple returned to the house only moments before Samantha's father returned to watch the couple warily. After returning to their game of chess they played for two more hours before Jack finally triumphed over Samantha. Watching him play, Sam began to get a sense of how Jack had eluded capture for so long. Every move was carried out with great precision and seemed to allow for every possibility from his opponent. Supper followed their game and was a dreary display of manners, with five different forks alone. Sam got lost after the third fork and just managed the best she could. With amusement, she noted Jack was in his element, easily navigating through the archaic table manners and entirely unaware he was doing so.
Following dinner, the couple returned to the parlor under the gaze of the two servants and Samantha's father. When he suggested Samantha play for them, her eyes grew wide with panic. Jack smoothly suggested that he play and Samantha turn the pages for him. A few moments later Jack was seated at the harpsichord, his fingers flying over the keys, as Samantha watched in amazement. Vainly she tried to turn the pages, but she had no idea where he was at in the song.
Continuing to play, Jack assured her, "I'm playing from memory anyway. Just periodically turn the page so your father leaves us alone."
"All right," Samantha said and leaned over to turn the page on the music Jack wasn't even looking at.
Being treated to an eyeful of cleavage, Jack groaned slightly and broke into another piece to try and distract himself.
"Jack!" Samantha hissed. "You can't play that it won't be written for nearly a hundred years."
"Not like anyone knows that."
"Jack!"
Looking wickedly at his outraged fiancé, Jack launched into an antiquated arrangement of Past the Point of No Return from Phantom of the Opera. Samantha tried to muster and angry look but instead burst out laughing. Instantly Jack stopped and looked at her, savoring the moment. When her father began to clear his throat loudly, Jack began to play again, this time sticking to things that were familiar to the time. But as he played he began to consider what to give Samantha for a wedding present...