It did not take long for the news of the Dawson heir's return home to reach the gossiping ears of Philadelphia society. Rose was walking pass the sitting room where her mother was holding tea for her ladies group. Normally, she wouldn't stop to eavesdrop, afraid that Ruth would spot her and insist that she join them, but that morning, she needed the distraction. For the past several days, all she's been able to think about that one kiss that Jack had given her. It had been a kiss so full of longing and promise and it was almost impossible to not think about it. Especially when she had nothing else to do. So hearing voices from the sitting room, she decided to preoccupy her mind by listening to some gossip. Maybe she'll hear something so scandalous, so shocking,it'll push Jack and his amazing kiss right out of her mind.

"It has been the talk of the society page for days now! It's a wonder that it's not a full blown scandal! Who knows what the young man has been up to, wandering the streets like an urchin!"

"Rumor has it that he was residing right here in Philadelphia, with none of us the wiser! Can you imagine?!"

"I wonder what made him return home..."

"The hard life of the slums of course!"

The last part was declared by her mother, followed by the derisive laughter of the other ladies in the room.

Rose rolled her eyes. Leave it to her mother and her friends to make a mockery out of someone's adventure...an adventure that Rose wished that she could go on herself. Why were things so much harder for women? If she had done what the young man did...it really would have been a scandal. Her mother and her friends would be in a constant state of unconsciousness with how scandalized they would have been. She couldn't help but feel jealous. It made her sick to think of all the things that men could get away with and women couldn't.

"Pardon me, Miss," the maid that she shared with her mother walked pass her and on into the sitting room, a white envelope tightly held in her hand. She walked up to Ruth and handed the letter to her. "A letter from Boston, Mrs."

Ruth frowned, wondering if the letter was from yet another debt collector. How embarrassing it would be if that was the case. She would never be able to live down the embarrassment. She wanted to send Trudy away with the letter and wait, but then that may spark even more curiousity from her companions. It was best to just take the letter and open it now.

"Thank you, Trudy," Ruth cleared her throat, taking the envelope from the maid.

"Who is it from dear?" One of the companions asked as they watched Ruth open the envelope and then gasp as she read the white stationary inside.

"It is from the Boston Dawsons. Why, it turns out that my Rose had been a classmate of their niece back in finishing school. The girl has invited her to a gala that the family is holding in honor of the Dawson heir!"

For a few moments, silence fell. No one, especially Rose, knew what to think. Rose remembered the girl her mother was talking about, but they hadn't really been all that close. Why would she invite her to a gala? It didn't make any sense to her.

It was a woman not much older than Ruth that broke the silence. "Well, she can't possibly attend! The girl is betrothed to the Hockley heir, is she not? It would be inappropriate."

Her mind already working, Ruth frowned at the woman's words. Normally, she would agree, but this was not a normal invitation. Not just anyone got invited to a Boston gala! This opportunity may not come again! Surely the Hockley's would understand.

With a chuckle, Ruth refolded the letter. "Oh nothing has been written in stone just yet, ladies. The engagement is still new. Of course Rose can attend! Besides, it is always best to keep one's option open. After all, the Dawsons are more...established..."

Rose couldn't help but roll her eyes as she finally walked away from the room having heard enough. Heading to her room, she sighed, as Jack again came to her mind. It was funny. His last name was Dawson, yet because he was not part of the wealthy elite, he would never gain as much respect from her mother as these Boston Dawson's did.

Jack. Where was she now? The next day, and the day after that...and the day after that, she had returned to the park, but he hadn't been there. He was gone. She had thought about going to that side of town again to search him out, but something told her that if she couldn't find him at the park, he was gone for good. He was out of her life for good,which was a good thing,right? With him gone, she couldn't follow through with her urges to sneak out to see him again. There would be no danger of another earth shattering kiss. She could go on with her life now without looking back and pining for a man she could never have.

But his departure hadn't stopped her from thinking about him,wondering where he was, what he was doing. Was he thinking about her? Did he miss her? Did he regret that kiss, was that why he left? Or had he realized that leaving was for the best for everyone? Rose had no idea. She just knew that she'll never see him again...and even though she was relieved...she also regretted the fact. She had at least wanted on more kiss to remember him by...

"Rose!" Ruth interrupted her thoughts as she entered her room, the invitation to the Boston Gala in hand. "You will not believe who had invited you to a gala!"

Rose feigned interest, pretending that she had not just been eavesdropping. "Who? Surely not Cal. He had promised to hold off on the engagement gala until later."

"Emilie Dawson had just sent an invitation to a gala in Boston,welcoming her cousin home from his...trip. She remembered you from finishing school I suppose and thought of us. We should go. It'll be a chance to get out of Philadelphia for a few days and rub elbows with the Boston elite and for you to perhaps invite the girl to the wedding. Reignite what can be an advantageous friendship."

Rose couldn't help but think of Jack at the mention of the last name Dawson, but she quickly pushed the wondering thought away. There was no use thinking of him. He was gone and she'll never see him again. Thinking of him would just cause needless pain. '

"Emilie Dawson? Why I haven't heard of her in ages! I am surprised that she even remembered me. I suppose that you'll want Cal to attend..."

"Oh Caledon will be too busy with the business and it could be a nice short trip, just us two girls..."

A chance to get out of Philadelphia and some time away from Cal...that may be all she needed to pull herself together and put the time she had with Jack behind her and prepare for a life that she did not really want but had no choice to live. Besides, she was curious to see Emilie Dawson again. They had not been close, but Emilie had been one of the few girls that Rose had found interesting.

Rose sighed, really in no mood for another boring gala, but in need of a break from Philadelphia society. "I guess it would be nice to get away...and I do need few new gowns. This would be the prime time to visit the shops."

"Of course," Ruth grinned, elated that for once, she and Rose were on the same page about something. "I'll send our reply and then set up a shopping day for tomorrow...and dinner with the Hockley's. We shall let them know that we will not be available for a few days."

...

Emilie had just finished having tea with her aunt when she recieved Ruth's reply to her invitation. Squealing with excitement, she ran out back, beyond the garden, where Jack and his father were playing golf, with Fabrizio standing to the left, Jack's clubs held tightly in hand. She went up and stood beside the Italian, noticing his bored glare.

"You can yawn at anytime, you know," She nudged his arm.

"Jack insisted. He said if I was truly his friend, I'd suffer in boredom right along with him," Fabrizio snorted.

"Admit it. Jack can talk you into anything. You just cannot say no. One of these days, that is going to get you in trouble."

Fabrizio just laughed. "I can always say that he's my boss and he made me do it. I was just doing my job."

"Touche," Emilie chuckled.

"Why are you two laughing over there? Are you trying to help my dad by distracting me?" Jack turned to address his cousin and friend.

"I come bearing good news, cousin. News from Philadelphia," Emilie held up the acceptance letter. "Mrs. Dewitt Bukater has accepted the invitation. She and her lovely daughter, my former classmate, will be attending the gala to welcome you back to this side of the tracks."

Jack's eyes widened. "Really? She's...she's coming?"

"Who is coming?" Jack's father stood beside his son, their game forgotten.

"Rose Dewitt Bukater. The girl that Jack's in love with," Emilie winked.

"Jack? You haven't mentioned a girl," the older Dawson frowned, wondering what his son had been up to in the past year and if he should be worried. Unlike other gentlemen, he had no objections to his son marrying a girl from the lower class, just as long as she had manners and wouldn't embarrass the family name and it was about love on her part, as well as on Jack's. As long as she wasn't a girl of ill respute, he was fine.

Jack blushed. "Well...she's kind of complicated. I wanted to wait until you met her and she met you before I discussed any plans of courting her..."

"Do not worry, Uncle. She's a high society girl. I went to finishing school with her," Emilie interjected.

"It's not that I care if she's from high society, Emilie. I just don't want her to be a..."

"Whore?" Emilie asked, arching a brow.

"Emilie!" Jack exclaimed, outraged. "Rose is not a whore! Ask Fabrizio!"

"I know she's not. But that was one of Uncle Ralph's fears. That you'd come home, determined to marry a prostitute that you had found out there in the real world," Emilie snorted.

"Father!" Jack stared at his father and laughed. "I may have sketched plenty of naked prostitutes, but I have yet to find one that I'd even want to have a love affair with, much less marry."

The eldest Dawson just rolled his eyes as he handed his valet his golf club. "Well, I suppose the matter is mute, now that you've met this Dewitt Bukater girl that your cousin is talking about. Her name sounds familar..."

''She's of Philadelphia society...you may have heard of her family in passing...," Jack chewed on his bottom lip, not yet wanting to mention the fact that Rose was engaged to Caledon Hockley. His father may not be as supportive if he knew that Jack was hoping to steal someone else's fiancee. Even if he found the family distasteful.

"Perhaps. Well, I will leave you young people to your planning of this gala. I have to go into the office. Perhaps next week, my son can join me," Ralph Dawson gave his son a pointed look before heading back towards the house.

Jack grabbed the letter away from Emilie as soon as his father was in the house. "What did she say?"

"Just that she and her daughter look forward to attending the gala and that Rose looks forward to catching up with an old classmate."

Jack paused and looked at Emilie with wide, hesitant eyes. "What if Hockley attends?"

"That would be rude. I didn't invite him."

Jack handed the envelope back to her, feeling nervous and a little scared. There were so many factors that he hadn't even considered. "How angry do you think she'll be when she finds out who I really am?"

"Oh, she'll be pissed. Beyond angry. You lied to her. You had pretended to be someone you're not. You had her believe that you were a poor wanderer with not a cent to your name. You didn't even hint that you were from money, and you didn't do so until now. Shes going to think that you were trying to make a fool of her..."

"I wasn't..."

"But she will think that. But...I am sure that once you explain yourself and make it clear why you returned to your life here...she'll forgive you."

"What if she doesn't?"

"Oh she will. For some reason...it's impossible to stay angry with you for long. Both Fabrizio and myself can testify to that," Emilie giggled, pulling her cousin into a hug. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine. You'll see."

Jack hoped that his cousin was right and Rose could see that even though he may had omitted the truth about who he was, he only had the best of intentions and that now that he was back with a higher status than Caledon Hockley, he may be able to help her out of the trap that Hockley had her in. That the keys to her freedom was right at her fingertips. All she had to do was grab them and never let go.