The next day found Rose and Emilie returned to Tommy's pub. Emilie had insisted on returning, not satisfied by the short introduction she had with the handsome Irishman. She knew it could be deemed improper for two unchaperoned ladies of high standing to be visiting the pub, but since Jack had agreed to attend meetings with his father for that day, there was no other choice. Hopefully, Rose's presence would suffice.

"We should have asked for Fabrizio to join us," Rose followed Emilie into the pub, not sure if this was wise or not. She didn't want Jack's father to deem her a bad influence, even though she doubted anyone could stop Emilie from doing what she wanted. It was one of the things Rose liked best about her soon-to-be in-law.

"It's too late now...there he is," Emilie's face lit up a the sight of Tommy, who was too busy wiping down his countertop to notice them just yet. "He certainly is handsome."

"Makes you wonder, doesn't it? Do handsome men hang together in packs? Like wolves?" Rose pursed her lips, thinking over the possibility. Of course, Jack was stunning and so was Fabrizio and Tommy was definitely a looker and with that accent...Rose couldn't blame Emilie for wanting to see him again.

"Perhaps. I mean...why not?" Emilie chuckled, giving Rose's arm a playful nudge.

Done with his chore, Tommy looked up and was startled to see Rose and Emilie there whispering to one another. He knew that Jack would probably return, but he had doubted that he would see the two lasses again, especially without Jack in attendance. "Lassies, what are you doing here? And without boy-o?"

Emilie smiled as she approached the counter. She had been looking forward to getting to know this guy better and now was her chance. Rose followed a couple of paces behind, playing the part of the chaperone, just like Emilie had done for her and Jack.

"My cousin had to attend a meeting with my uncle, which left me and Rose to our own devices. I thought it'd be a good idea to pay you a visit since yesterday's visit was a little shorter than I would have liked," Emilie took a seat on one of the bar stools.

"Ah, so what is your name again, lassie?" Tommy asked, trying not to think of how pretty this girl was. She was Jack's cousin and out of his league. Unlike some of his friends, he was more logical when it came to matters of the heart. He knew that a man of his social standing would probably not stand a chance with a girl like her...but then again, this was Jack's cousin. His family didn't seem to be like the other upper-crust families.

"Emilie. Emilie Dawson and you are Tommy Ryan. My cousin has been gushing about what a great guy you are. He made me want to come and get to know you myself. Even though, yesterday I've been having doubts on whether Jack was mistaken in his high opinion of you."

Tommy frowned, a bit taken aback. "What do you mean, lassie?"

"You were awfully hard on Jack and you made it seem as if you believed that all rich people are alike. Let me assure you, we're not. Jack may not know what it's like to be born in poverty, but he doesn't believe that money is everything or even makes a person! He's kind, considerate, and down to earth, nothing like that awful Caledon Hockley. To be honest...Jack always had a hard time fitting into the role of the Dawson heir. It's just not the kind of world he fits into."

"So he fits in here, with us peasants?"

"Yes!" Emilie eagerly exclaimed, thinking that finally, Tommy was getting it.

"Look, I'm not mad at him anymore, alright? I'm letting it go. I was just hurt, that's all. So is that why you're here? To tell me off about boy-o?"

Emilie rolled her eyes and laughed. "No. As I said, I'm here to get to know my cousin's friend better. You must be awesome, not only does Jack like you but Fabri likes you too."

"And Fabri's opinion matters to you?"

"Fabri is like another cousin to me. Of course, it does," Emilie winked. "So do you have the time for a chat?"

"I suppose I do," Tommy put down the rag he was wiping the counter with and gave his full attention to the interesting blonde that was determined to get to know him better.

….

Rose had no idea how long she sat there, nursing a bottle of beer as Tommy and Emilie chatted. Not wanting to eavesdrop on the conversation, Rose allowed her mind to wander. Where was Jack? She bet he was bored to death. He should be here with her, perhaps with his portfolio in hand, sketching his cousin flirt with his friend while he shared a beer with her. She blushed as she thought about drinking from the same glass as him, her lips touching the same glass that his had touched...or better yet...losing herself in another spine-tingling kiss as they found a more private space where they could be alone. Closing her eyes, she could imagine his artist fingers curling around hers or stroking her face so gently. She could almost hear the sound of his voice, so soft and loving. She could even smell his scent, soap, and a hint of charcoal from his drawings…

She heard a bell announce someone coming in, but she didn't look up, too involved in her daydream of Jack kissing her once again and whispering her name. She could almost feel his presence, she was in so deep.

"Rose, there you are," Jack was saying, his breath tickling her face.

"Draw me like one of your french girls, Jack," Rose's smile was dreamy as she spoke the words as her mind went further than mere kissing.

"I don't think it'd be very appropriate to do that here, but maybe later," Jack chuckled, kissing her cheek, bringing her out of the daydream and back into reality.

Rose's face reddened as the daydream dissipated, leaving her staring into a pair of amused blue eyes. "Oh my god...Jack...I…I thought you had meetings all day."

"I was only needed at one. Father said that I could have the rest of the day off. Trudy said that you guys went on an outing so I decided to come here to visit with Tommy, just to find my cousin flirting away while you're here daydreaming about being a french girl. Must mean something naughty, judging by how you're blushing," Jack grinned, folding his arms across his chest, his eyes teasing.

"Well...don't french girls pose nude when you draw them?"

"Sometimes. But I've always been about the hands. There's so much expression by looking at the hands," Jack took Rose's hand and kissed the back of it.

"You are such a flirt, Jack," Rose rolled her eyes, her daydream gone. "I should be annoyed with you."

"As should we all," Emilie snorted, approaching the couple with Tommy by her side.

Jack just rolled his eyes and shook his head. "It looks like flirting is a family gene. I hope my cousin wasn't too much of a nuisance for you Tommy. I apologize."

"The lass is the best part of my day, honestly," Tommy chuckled, not minding Emilie's company at all. In fact, he wouldn't have minded spending more time with her. "She rather protective of you, though."

"Don't mess with the Dawson cousins," Emilie winked at her cousin who laughed. "So, Uncle Ralph let you skip meetings for the rest of the day?"

"Um...yeah. He thought since this was our last day in Philadelphia, I'd rather spend it with Rose," Jack rubbed the back of his neck, knowing that this news would more than likely upset Rose, who was not looking forward to Jack's departure. Once they left, it would be another two weeks until the engagement gala, where everything will be announced to society.

"So soon?" Rose frowned, feeling her heart drop to the pits of her stomach.

"We knew it was coming," Jack sighed, taking a seat next to his fiancee, keeping her hand in his. He hated giving this bad news, but it couldn't be helped.

"Are you really needed in Boston? Can't you stay here with me? At least until the gala?"

"I'm sorry. I have no choice. Thanks to my foray away from my real life, my father wants to start grooming me to work in the business as soon as possible. I think he's afraid that I'll change my mind and disappear again if given the chance," Jack sighed, feeling guilty.

"Like that's not a real worry," Emilie snorted. "Uncle Ralph loves you and wants you to be happy, but he also wants the family business to keep flourishing. It can't do that if you're off doing whatever you want. Besides, you're lucky. Rose and I would never be able to even take a step out of high society, thanks to our gender."

"As you keep reminding me," Jack sighed, feeling both guilty and annoyed with the situation.

Rose frowned, looking at Jack she could see the shackles of his position clamping down on him, locking him in place. Again she was struck by just how much Jack had sacrificed for her and how much he was facing now, just to rescue her from Cal. "Jack, I'm so sorry. I never wanted this. I never wanted you to be so...trapped…"

"Hey, don't do that," Jack gave her hand a squeeze. "I went back because I wanted to. It was my decision. You didn't ask me for help, I decided to do what I had to do all on my own and I can never regret that. I may have to learn to run the family business, but I gain the most beautiful, fascinating woman in the world, so it's all worth it."

"But you don't belong in an office, Jack. You belong in a park drawing in your portfolio or...here in Tommy's pub with friends. It just seems wrong to put you in a suit and stuck in an office building," Rose sighed. "It's like I'm putting you in prison."

"No, Rose. It's not prison. In fact, I'm going to have to do this anyway and it's not forever. It's just until I get the ins and outs of the business then it's back to doing whatever I want until father is ready to step down and retire…"

"Then it's back to prison?"

"No. I have the option of getting someone to do all the business stuff for me if I like...or maybe by that time, I'll be ready to settle in one place anyway. Who knows what the future holds. The only certain thing we can do is make each day we have count."

"Oh...so that really is something you believe," Tommy snorted, rubbing the back of his head, feeling amused.

"What are you on about?" Emilie asked looking at Tommy and then back at Jack.

"The make each day count motto. I was thinking it might have been part of his act…"

"Nope. That's actually all Jack. I told you that the guy you knew before the money is actually the real guy," Emilie laughed, shaking her head. "Honestly."

"Anyway, enough about all of that," Jack turned his attention back to Rose, who was looking more and more unhappy by the second. "I was hoping that maybe you'd want to spend the day at the park. It's really pretty outside and it'd be like it was when we first met. You know, sitting together, talking about art and our lives and...maybe we can even start planning our wedding if you like...or our honeymoon?"

"Our honeymoon? Hopefully not a tour of Europe. Cal wanted to do that and I really rather not," Rose leaned back in the chair, trying to push aside the unhappiness she felt about Jack's imminent departure.

"Ok, no tour of Europe. Got it," Jack chuckled. "Come, we'll discuss it all at the park."

Rose smiled and allowed Jack to pull her up out of the chair when she realized something. "What about Emilie? She'll be bored to death and I do believe she must be tired of being a chaperone for us…"

"I can come along I suppose. Business is rather slow right now," Tommy found himself volunteering. He knew he was probably flying too close to the sun, but he wanted to know more about Jack's lovely cousin. Even if nothing could come of it.

"I think a day at the park would be lovely. Will Helga and Fabrizio be joining us too? I could use a day with friends before finally being swallowed by mother's schedule of tea parties and cotillions once again," Rose laughed, really wanting one last day of being a part of Jack's world, at least for the next two weeks.

"Sure. Fabri and Helga are outside talking to Cora right now."

Rose's eyes lit up happily. "Maybe Cora can come with us!"

"Cora definitely has herself another admirer," Tommy chuckled. "I don't know what Burt and Sarah are going to do. Child's only five and she already has a line of admirers at the doorstep."

"Well, a girl can never have too many admirers, Mr. Ryan. Especially at that age," Emilie smiled, inwardly happy to see her cousin so happy and in love. It gave her hope for herself.

"That I agree with," Tommy winked, enjoying the sight of Emilie's cheeks turning a pale shade of pink.