Jack stood at his closed bedroom door for several moments considering if he should go after Elizabeth and decided against it, he needed more time to think about what he wanted to say to her. He went to the bathroom and began to fill the bathtub. He was glad to see a new bottle of Gardenia Surprise on the shelf, so he put some of the fragrant liquid into the bathtub water. He peeled off his wet clothes and enjoyed a nice warm soak, thinking about Elizabeth and how he could explain his feelings to her while not frightening her or worse, push her away. He shook his head and dunked under the suds. After his bath, he dressed and paced, thinking of what to say to her. Finally he decided to go to her room, but once in the hall he began to pace again feeling unsure. Several times he went to knock on her door but decided to return to his room.

Inside her room, Elizabeth talked with Julie about Jack's behavior. "It isn't like Jack to shoo me out of his room," Elizabeth said.

"Well, you must have scared him this morning when you tried to pull the sheet off him," Julie said, teasing her sister.

"Seriously Julie, I think Jack has had enough here and wants to go home." Elizabeth looked down at her ring.

"Honestly Elizabeth, don't you know what's happening? The poor man wants to get married…that's why he is shoo'ing you out of his room." Julie slapped her hands on her lap, not believing how naive her older sister was.

"I know that. I want to get married too," Elizabeth said, "and we will get married….in time. He told me he appreciates me being comfortable with him…"

"And that's the problem!" Julie stood up.

"No, that's not the problem…" Elizabeth said confidently. "Maybe he feels like I am smothering him."

Julie just looked at Elizabeth before she plopped onto the bed, "Smothering him? He wants you to smother him, but in a different way."

Elizabeth did a double take, "What? What does that mean?"

"Maybe you should read one of my romance novels for a little education, really Elizabeth, think about what happens between a man and a woman…" Julie rolled her hand trying to get Elizabeth to think.

Elizabeth looked at her sister and suddenly sat up straighter, "Oh…well…when they're married of course."

"Yes! And you two aren't married, so now do you see how Jack is feeling?" Julie touched her sister's knee.

Elizabeth thought back to their engagement party, their romantic moments behind the house when Jack was so passionate, his lips feeling like fire on her skin. She moved her shoulder remembering how Jack raised the sleeve of her gown, leaving his mark on her skin.

"Elizabeth, you need to be careful with Jack, or else something may happen …that the two of you…well, that shouldn't happen." Julie tilted her head, "unless you want to be part of a romance novel and get totally carried away!" she stood.

"Julie, don't be ridiculous," Elizabeth replied. "I can't let Jack get…that way…"

Julie smiled, "Then you better just kiss him …and only kiss him."

"I can do that, or just stay away as much as possible…" Elizabeth sighed.

"Good luck with that sister, good luck."

The next morning Jack entered the dining room to find only William and Kate having breakfast. "Good morning."

"Jack, ready for a trip into the city?" William drank his coffee.

"Certainly…" he tried to smile.

"The girls are upstairs, finishing getting ready…" Kate noted Jack's glance at Elizabeth's empty chair.

Jack nodded, "Yes Ma'm..."

Later, Jack waited out front at the carriage when the girls came out the door.

"Good morning," Jack said to Elizabeth as he extended his hand to assist her entry to the carriage.

Elizabeth nodded but bypassed his hand, reaching for the carriage door instead.

Jack closed his eyes for a moment, knowing this was not a good sign, before climbing in and sitting next to her. The ride was uncomfortable for Jack as Elizabeth remained silent while William did all the talking. When the carriage stopped in the city, Jack quickly jumped out, determined to fix the situation and when Elizabeth held the door to disembark from the coach, Jack covered her hand with his, "Allow me to assist you." He smiled up at her.

"Thank you," she said softly as she gripped his hand unable to resist his smile. When her foot slipped off the carriage step, Jack managed to hold onto her so they both didn't tumble onto the curb.

William shook his head, "How you managed this long without a broken limb is beyond me…"

Elizabeth stayed in Jack's embrace for a moment, looking up into his eyes, "Sorry…" she whispered.

Jack stared into her eyes, "Not a problem, ever." He caressed her cheek with his thumb causing her to blush.

Julie sighed, "Okay, let's get to the dress shop first." She pulled Elizabeth by the arm, "You men go do what you need to do and we'll meet you at Lissings at noon."

"Lissings? What's that?" Jack asked.

"A lovely little diner, we can have some lunch," Julie said.

Elizabeth looked over her shoulder at Jack as Julie continued to pull her along.

Jack gave her a wink, feeling a little better, but knowing he had to talk to her.

The girls shopped all morning, with Julie asking for most of their purchases to be delivered to the house, "So, how do you feel today, better?"

"Not really. I can't help remembering Jack shoo'ing me out last night….does he mean that I can't be alone with him?"

Julie laughed, "No silly, just be a little less…romantic."

"Oh," Elizabeth thought about their romantic times. The way Jack would tighten his grip on her when he caressed her back and when he ran his hands up her sides. His breath on her neck and his whispers in her ear. She shivered just thinking about it.

"No, I think I just need to be less comfortable with him. Have to remember propriety…" She emphasized the word.

"Well, one day you'll be married and won't have to worry about decorum anymore," Julie walked on ahead.

At noon they all met at Lissings as planned. Jack noticed Elizabeth carrying a package, "What did you buy?"

"Something for Abigail…" Elizabeth looked down.

"That's very thoughtful of you," Jack said, "you're always thinking of others."

She looked at him, "Yes, I try to…" She wanted to tell him she was thinking of him from now on, but she followed Julie to their table.

Jack sat next to Elizabeth, but William once again did most of the talking…telling the girls about the items he ordered, most of which Jack had no say in. Jack glanced at Elizabeth several times, but she didn't look at him and the few times he managed to say her name, she didn't look at him. When Jack finished his lunch, he excused himself, "I'll meet you at the carriage…"

Elizabeth finally looked up at him at that point and Jack just looked at her before turning and leaving the restaurant. She looked at Julie, who just raised her eyebrows and finished her meal.

Jack walked, not liking this turn of events, he now decided he had to talk to her when they returned to the Thatcher home. He had no intention of allowing this silence between them to continue.

Elizabeth needed to walk as well, she was annoyed that Jack left their lunch. She headed up the street and then saw it. The flower shop. She went in and purchased a bouquet of violets and headed back to the carriage. Jack was sitting in the carriage staring straight ahead. She climbed in, "Jack…" she sat close to him and presented the bouquet of violets to him.

Jack let a small laugh escape his lips, "Elizabeth…." He reached down and presented her with the same bouquet of violets. "I guess we were thinking the same thing."

Elizabeth laughed, "Jack…we could have met in the flower shop…hmmm" she said.

"Ahh, I'll never forget that first time…" he slid his hand around her back.

"Okay you two…" Julie climbed into the carriage, "where'd all the flowers come from?"

Elizabeth handed one bouquet to Julie, "Just for you sister…and educator…"

Jack looked at Elizabeth questionably as the girls giggled.

During the ride home, William told Elizabeth about things he ordered for Elizabeth and Jack's Coal Valley home and how he and Jack went to a jeweler.

"A jeweler?" She asked looking at Jack, who only raised an eyebrow and licked his lips.

Once back at the house, Jack took Elizabeth's hand, "Are you going to pack?"

"Yes…was there something you wanted to do?"

"I'd like to talk to you…when you can." He said.

"Okay, I'll come to your room when I'm done." She smiled and then looked at him, 'if that's okay."

Jack nodded.

When Jack was in his room, he reached in his pocket and opened the jewelry box, smiling at his purchase. The knock on the door distracted him, he slipped the box in a drawer.

"Elizabeth, I thought you were going to pack…" he said.

"Well it seems there a lot of people that are helping me do that. Besides, you said you wanted to talk to me…and that's more important than packing." She purposely stood in the hallway, hands behind her back.

Jack stared at her for a moment and then looked away, "Okay, would you like to take a walk?"

They were silent as they stepped off the patio, crossed the lawn and entered the gazebo. Jack cleared his throat, "Elizabeth…I wanted to talk to you…about…regarding…." His hands were out in front of him, "about our relationship…my feelings."

Elizabeth remained silent.

"Okay…you see, sometimes when you and I….when we're …," he looked at her, "well it's not really sometimes, it's almost all the time…," he took her hands in his, "it's all, well me…but you."

Elizabeth started to giggle, "Jack, what are you talking about?"

Jack stopped, "I don't really know."

She leaned closer, "Jack you've come so far with saying what's in your heart…"

He smiled, "This isn't about what's in my heart…"

"Oh," she felt a blush come over her face, "I see."

Jack's eyebrows shot up, "No, you don't….you definitely don't see." He shook his head.

"Jack, I don't want to smother you, if you need space or time for yourself, that's fine. I understand," she sighed.

He grasped her shoulders, "No, I don't need time for myself…" he laughed softly shaking his head.

Elizabeth stepped back, "Then what is it? Why can't you just say it."

"It's becoming more and more difficult to resist you…to control myself," Jack blurted out.

Elizabeth shook her head and turned and began running back to the house.

Jack ran after her and caught her arm, "Elizabeth wait….that isn't a bad thing…but I had to let you know."

She breathed hard, "Why now? What has changed? I thought I knew…I thought I understood…" she blinked back the tears building in her eyes.

"No, no…" Jack took her face in his hands, "It's…it's being here. Back in Coal Valley I have my work, the town…other things to occupy my thoughts," he took a deep breath, "but here, it's just you…you're all I'm focused on and being close to you, holding you, kissing you," he clenched his jaw, "and seeing you in that dress at our engagement party …" he laughed softly and bit his lip, "and being all wet from our fun in the water….well, it all just makes it harder to resist you."

Elizabeth's breathing became heavier as she looked at him and listened to him…."Jack….I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable…I never want to do that, but I have to confess, I feel that way too Jack. You're so handsome and sometimes when you look at me and give me that smile, you take my breath away…and I just want to jump into your arms and never leave. You make me feel so safe…so loved," she bit her bottom lip, "…what can we do about it?"

He looked at her, swallowed and said, "Get married…"

"Now?" she asked.