Chapter Two
Audra got up and saddled her horse each morning; she would feed Scotty and play with her until she was ready for her morning nap with Valeria. Each day she would take off in a new direction riding with the wind.
Most days she ended up at Scott's grave and talked to him for a while until the familiar ache in her breasts would begin and she would head home to feed Scotty.
Isabella had become a perfect companion for her. She had always wanted a younger sister and she had one. Just like Victoria and Jane. They would spend their afternoons together with the baby or chatting or helping Silas. Isabella faithfully practiced her music and continued her lessons in the mornings. They would often spend their afternoons with Katarina and her three children, Victoria and Jane.
When Liesel told her, "Jarrod wants to get to San Francisco sooner than we planned. Would you like to come with us? You are very welcome. We will be home in two to three weeks."
"Liesel, you and Jarrod need some time together just as a family. From the beginning, you have been taking care of me and Audra, and everyone else. I am perfectly content to stay at the ranch and get used to my new life. I will be fine, I promise."
Audra convinced Isabella to accept the dance invitation from young Jim Rivers at the confectionery and toy shop.
"Audra, I am not sure. He was very handsome and kind. I did like him but I should ask Liesel first"
"Oh, he's just what you need to get out into Stockton social life. I know the perfect dress for you and how you should wear your hair."
Liesel and Jarrod agreed so Isabella nervously agreed to the dance in town.
Nick, Heath, and Ed had taken to the mountains hunting for elk and bear. Ed planned to stay around the rest of the month.
"Katarina, if anything changes at all, please have McColl send a man to the lodge. I will come home immediately. We will arrange a signal fire and head back."
"Oh Nicholas, you need this time away to unwind. Dr. Merar says I am perfectly fine and I have plenty of people here to take care of me and the children. I will save my energy for welcoming you home, my love" winking at him.
Nick grinned, "What have I done to deserve you, princess?"
Heath just smirked at the conversation until Nick called his wife, princess. He knew logically that it was just his brother's term of endearment but—-it irked him. The snide comments in town and the saloon about the high and mighty Barkley's. He had even tossed a few punches that Nick didn't know about —-defending Katarina. He even let a man go when he overheard the talk in the bunkhouse. He never exactly told Nick why.
"And iff'n I am honest, it reminds me of Don Alfredo's Spanish nickname for his daughter, princesa. I don't need no more of those."
He loved his sister-in-law and believed she was perfect for Nick. She never tried to change him; she accepted him, the land, the ranch, and his larger-than-life outlook on life. They loved each other fiercely and it was obvious.
As Nick said once after a few too many whiskeys, "She talks to me. Not down to me, around me, or about me."
Nick's three children had a hold on their Uncle Heath, too. He couldn't imagine the ranch without them. The loss of that pony to the panther cut him to the core himself but he had to be strong for his brother.
Then Eugene went and married a foreigner then Jarrod, her sister. Royal blood was all the town talked about once Mrs. Travers got a hold of the story. He really liked Liesel. He hadn't seen Jarrod so content—-maybe even ever as he was with her and the children. She was regal, looked like a princess should look—-but she didn't put on airs. She helped Silas in the kitchen, took care of everyone else, and looked to Jarrod to make decisions— They were 'real good together.
"But the whole idea of royal blood didn't sit well with me, especially since that dang bull."
—-&—-
"Liesel, this breakfast is amazing! I shall have new trousers made if you keep feeding me this well." Jarrod kissed her hand at breakfast. "What was the name of this creation?"
"Croque Madame with ham, Pain Au Chocolat and des radis, eh, radishes with butter and salt, dear husband."
Charles grinned from the doorway, "Mr. Jarrod you have married a master chef if I do say so myself. I stayed around this morning just to sample." and he winked at the couple.
Lia put jackets on the children and took them for a play in the park upon Jarrod's request. "Come back in an hour. We shall all take a trip shopping downtown after I talk to Liesel and make plans for the next few weeks.
Jarrod had come last night tired from traveling and the office. He had decided to wait until morning to let Liesel know what had been in the mail. She had fed the children an early supper and put them down for bed with Lia. Charles headed home.
She served him a pork Tourtière (meat pie with potatoes and onions in a pie crust) vegetables and a simple cherry crepe for dinner. He placed her wedding ring on her finger.
"I was going to save it but I want it on your finger without delay."
"Oh Jarrod, it's beautiful and it goes perfectly with the edelweiss band. I have never seen anything like it: pearls and emeralds and amethysts."
Her eyes teared up as he told about the gold from his father's mine, Victoria's emeralds and pearls, and the way amethyst reminded him of her—-tranquility and calm according to Abraham.
"I love you, Liesel" and he took her into his arms.
Chilled wine and the fireplace made for an even more romantic first night in Jarrod's townhouse. They never even made it upstairs without consummating their passion in his study.
Lia left with the children and Liesel looked expectantly at Jarrod.
"Can you get out your lady's calendar?"
She went to the kitchen and brought out her embossed book and pen.
Jarrod started slowly, "On Thursday at lunch, we have an appointment with the architect at noon. Can you look at the plans before then, my love?"
"Yes of course," She wrote it down.
"The Springers have invited us for dinner a week from Friday with the Lightfoots. The children are welcome."
"I can't wait to meet your partners and friends."
"I have three meetings each morning this week and one tonight with Breckinridge agents. I have one meeting tomorrow afternoon with a Barkley trust manager."
"This morning, I would like to take the children to the toy shop and get some items for our home. A rocking horse, a couple of hobby horses, and a table with chairs for their room and whatever you think they need. The nursery at the ranch was well-stocked for Tab, Sophie, and May but as a confirmed bachelor, I am a bit short on toys. We will order a trundle for delivery too. Eat lunch somewhere the children will enjoy and then stop by Ghirardelli's for chocolates."
"Jarrod, you have to be the most considerate man I have ever met."
"I already made the Palace suite reservations for Will and Joey and their families in ten days. We will meet them at the train station and show them the sights of the city. I am still trying to figure out how to get a few nights alone in the city with you, my bride. Opera? Theatre? Ballet? You decide and I will get the tickets."
She had already scanned last night's newspaper with Charles to see where Ghislaine was featured. It was a sold-out burlesque show she was relieved to find out. Her stomach sank to see her billed as, The most beautiful woman in France".
She reassured herself that left many venues in San Francisco to visit with her husband as well as the arboretum during the day. She had no desire to run into Ghislaine.
"I will check the offerings in today's edition and let you know soon."
"And leave plenty of time for us to have some private moments" he grinned seductively.
"You managed that pretty well last night, my husband." They both laughed.
He kissed her hand again. He took a deeper breath and reached into his pocket; he pulled out the transatlantic cable and the French consulate invitation. He handed them to her.
She read them carefully and masked her expression. Jarrod was almost amazed at how quickly she hid her emotions from him. He tried his best to no avail to figure out what she was thinking.
He had asked her about it on this ship, "Years of being a Beaufort." was her answer.
She bit her bottom lip which he was starting to read as a tell.
"Liesel, this is up to you. I want you to know I will take care of you and anything your family throws at us. Tom is even drawing up the adoption papers for you to sign as we speak—when you are ready."
She read the papers again and finally spoke, "Will you go by Beaufort Shipping? I don't think I should."
He nodded affirmatively and was relieved. He didn't want her to become embroiled in another family dispute; he would take care of whatever Captain Beaufort planned.
"I think we should go to the French Consulate. I don't really want to but Mama Marie has been more than fair to us and I owe it to her."
He nodded again.
Charles cleared his throat and came in, "Mr. Jarrod, the roofing contractor is here. He wants to show you something he found in the repairs from the gale. He didn't want to fix it without talking to you first."
Jarrod frowned.
Liesel weakly smiled, "Go, Jarrod. I am fine—-just surprised and I need to gather my thoughts."
He kissed her on the forehead "I will be back in a few minutes. The morning paper is there—-unopened. See what tickets you would like to see in the next two weeks or with my cousins. We may be able to get those bought this morning. We will talk more about the other matter when I return."
"Oui"
She reached for the paper and started skimming for the entertainment section. It was across from the society columns. One name caught her eye and she deeply inhaled. Her stomach dropped as she read. She tore out the page and folded it up in her bag.
Miss Janet's San Francisco Fashionable Society's Column for Barbershop Millinery-parlor Mondaines (credit to Sinclair Lewis for the title)
One of San Francisco's most eligible bachelors is off the market. Jarrod Barkley of San Francisco and Stockton has brought a bride back from France, Madame Elizabeth Beaufort of Paris. Mr. Barkley, an esteemed attorney and head of Barkley holdings has been considered as a shoo-in for attorney general of our fair state. The French heiress is once-widowed and brings two children into the Barkley home. Mr. Barkley was previously linked with our fair city's queen of the theatre, Miss Ghislaine de Klim. No description of the new Mrs. Barkley is available but the writers of this column are anxious to see how the ladies compare.
And across town in a very prosperous part of San Francisco, a vase sailed across the room.
—&—
Liesel was pretty reserved during the morning shopping trip with the children. Jarrod chalked it up to the news he brought up earlier.
"I can't decide who had more fun in the toy shop, you or the children," Liesel told him as he was arranging for delivery of his purchases.
He kissed her on the cheek and squeezed her hand, "I vote myself. I am quite enjoying being your husband and a father to Jack and Rose."
She smiled down at the children. Jack holding two toy soldiers out of his new set and Rose squeezing her new stuffed cat. She wasn't letting go of her new kitty for anything. Lia held her hand tightly as the little girl chattered along talking to her new toy.
They walked two blocks down and bought a trundle. They also found a junior dining chair for Rose.
Jarrod saw Liesel looking at a beautifully carved rocking chair.
"We will take that too," he told the clerk.
They ate lunch in Chinatown and stopped for chocolates at Ghirardelli's. The children were getting tired so Jarrod had their purchases boxed up. He introduced his family to Domenico and his three sons.
"We have known each other since Stockton days and are friends of the family."
"Your parents, Tom and Victoria were very, very good to me in town. Good people. You have married a very pretty wife, too, Mr. Jarrod."
"Merci, Mr. Ghiradelli."
"Yes, you are a lucky man, Jarrod." as he kissed her hand. "Call me Domenico. Everyone does."
Jarrod squeezed Liesel's arm in pride and love.
After doing some prospecting at Sutter's Mill, Ghirardelli opened a general store in Stockton, offering supplies and confections to fellow miners. Ghirardelli's tent-based store was one of the first shops set up in the area. Several months later, Ghirardelli opened a second store on the corner of Broadway and Battery in San Francisco, which became, in 1850, his first establishment in that city. Both stores burned down in 1851 Ghirardelli opened a new store, named "Ghirardelli & Girard", on the corner of Washington and Kearny Streets in San Francisco in 1852.
They dropped the children off at home and went on another errand Liesel had asked.
"Jarrod, could you please take me by this address?" and handed a card to him.
He smiled, "Audra and Mother's favorite dressmaker. I have been there many times and there is a tobacconist across the street I shall avail myself of —- Take your time my love."
She walked into the beautiful store. Jarrod introduced her to the owner and left for his respite and smoke.
"I hadn't planned on shopping. I brought my best dresses from Paris but I may need something else for the consulate and our outings. I am feeling very ill at ease after this morning. I need an American opinion. I am so thankful Audra gave me the card before I left."
The owner herself took an interest in the newest Mrs. Barkley. Liesel told her she owned two Worth dresses and asked her opinions on where to wear them.
She smiled at the young bride and helped Liesel plan a very elegant and sophisticated wardrobe plan using what she brought from the ranch and what she could acquire from her store. The storekeeper would send her niece to Liesel's home for hairstyling practice.
"I am doing this not only for my store, for this young bride—-but for women all over town. I want her to have a fair chance at keeping her husband."
She did refuse any rouge or powders or lip tint. She would stick to her violet wash and lavender soaps. She did sell Liesel more toilet articles for her new home so she would not have to pack them between homes in Stockton and San Francisco.
Liesel left with four new dresses ordered, two hats, two pairs of shoes, new undergarments, and a peignoir. She paid the store in cash for her purse; she crossed the street and met Jarrod.
They stopped one more time on the way home before Jarrod's business meeting. He bought her a bouquet of flowers from a vendor on the street.
He kissed her goodbye. "I will be home late. Don't wait up. The Breckinridge agent has quite a bit of information to go over with me before my morning meetings with Nate."
She swallowed hard and said, "I will be glad to be woken up by my husband."
Jarrod gave her that disarming smile of his, "Your wish is my command,"