Next chapter here! I know this is up kind of late, but I was busy today. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Twenty
Jackson hollered. He thrashed about, tossing his pillows from the bed and entangling his limbs in the sheets. Panic clenched his chest. He was stuck. God, he couldn't move.
He froze.
It had been a dream.
He was fine.
His mind drifted back to the heat and the skin and the panting breaths that still swirled through the front of his mind. Fire coursed through his veins, flushing his body and sending every inch of skin on high alert. Panic seized his heart again as he worked to untangled himself from the sheets. He stumbled free and onto the floor. He sighed in relief and pressed himself closer to the cool ground.
His eyes stared unblinkingly at the convergence of the wall and floor. He didn't close his eyes. Every time he did flashes of green, of a mop of brown and of freckled skin pervaded his sight and senses.
Jackson groaned and flipped onto his back. He tucked an arm under his head and propped a knee up to the ceiling.
"I guess that makes some things clearer," he mumbled into the darkness.
The dinner party is this afternoon.
He jerked upright. His heart sped off into a solo race. He dragged a hand down his face. Rough stubble scratched the soft flesh of his palm.
It's going to be a mess. I can barely keep myself together without him here. I dread to think what will happen when I see him again.
He wanted to tell himself that there was no use worrying and that it would be best to put it behind him for the moment and sleep. But, he couldn't. Well, he could tell himself as many times as it tickled his fancy, but it had no effect. Telling himself to do so didn't actually make him do so.
Jackson crawled into bed and lay awake, staring at the ceiling, in what felt like a stilled moment of time until the sun crept up and stretched its sleep stiffened limbs. He tossed an arm over his eyes to block out the dull, orange rays. His muscles felt stiff and resilient; his head ached, pain crashing against his forehead in waves; his face was warm and his eyes burned.
A gentle rap on the door drew him from his misery.
"Jack, dear, breakfast is prepared."
He went to answer her, but his tongue felt fuzzy and filled his mouth. His words came out in a jumbled mess. "Iwifbe," he got out before he gave up.
"Is something wrong?"
His answer was silence as he stared at the thin curtains that draped in perfect stillness to the floor.
"I am coming in. I hope you are decent," she said.
The door creaked open. Light footsteps padded across the room. A cool hand pressed against his forehead.
"A bit warm," she murmured. "Are you ill, Jack? What a pity if so, Mr. Haddock's dinner party is tonight."
She moved away and came back with a glass of water filled from the pitcher on the nightstand.
Sitting up, he gratefully accepted it and swished the wonderful, lukewarm water around his mouth. "I simply did not sleep," he answered.
"Why?"
He shrugged.
"Shall I have someone put a blanket on the window so you can sleep?"
"No. I will be fine. I will be out for breakfast in a few minutes."
"You sure?" she questioned as she flitted around him, prodding his face and body in an impromptu and incorrect examination.
"Yes, yes," he assured her, politely pushing her hands away. "Now, would you please leave so I can change?"
She sighed. "Yes."
When the door shut behind her, Jackson leaned forward and cupped his head in his hands. He needed to get himself under control before tonight.
The young Mr. Overland was confident that he had finally managed to pull himself together and put last nights…dream…from his mind when he arrived at Berk. Yet, when he was greeted by Mr. Haddock it flashed in glimpses back into his mind. He fought back the heat that rose to his cheeks as he met smiling green eyes.
"Mr. Overland, I'm glad you could make it."
"I wouldn't miss the chance to see…" he let slip out.
Ms. Haddock bounced into view and quickly grasped ahold of him. She pulled him away from any other chance to embarrass himself.
"Are you warm?"
"Pardon?" He turned to see green eyes peering curiously at him.
She pointed to his cheeks. "You are flushed."
"Oh," he cleared his throat. "Yes, it is a bit warm in here," he mumbled in reply.
She hummed and led him into the drawing room.
He was greeted by a wave of warmth and chatter. He scanned the room. Most faces he didn't recognize, but there were a few that he did, especially one in particular.
Seeing Mr. Liely only brought up memories of his sister's anguish over the past several weeks. He wanted to pull the gentleman aside and sort things out; he wanted to know what Liely knew, what he felt, and what he would do upon learning what Jackson had to say to him. But, the dinner party wasn't apt to welcome such private and demanding conversation.
When his eyes alighted on him, the gentleman's smile grew. He excused himself, strode across the room and clasped Jackson's shoulders. "Mr. Overland, it is a pleasure to see you again. It has been too long. I fear I was not able to say my farewells before I was called away. You must tell me how everyone is. How are your sisters?"
How is Emma? he heard.
Jackson felt a smile curl his lips. It appeared that Mr. Liely was just as sweet and taken with his sister as he had been before. He recalled his original confusion and anger over his leaving. He was even more convinced now than then that this man could never do such a thing through his own means.
Of course he couldn't, he thought. Colonel Ingerman confirmed that. Mr. Haddock agreed to it as well.
At the thought of the gentleman who stood on the other side of the room and his involvement in everything, something flared to life in his chest. He couldn't bring himself to forgive the man for the hurt he caused his sister; no matter what he himself may feel.
"Quite well," he answered. "Especially Emma. She went to Corona to spend some time away from the household with my aunt and uncle last month."
Mr. Liely blinked. "She was in Corona?"
"Yes. I believe she informed your cousin that she would be in the city, but I do not know if they were able to visit," he said. As the words spilled from his mouth, he couldn't pin the reason for saying any of it. Maybe he just wanted to test the waters and be sure, completely, that Mr. Liely was a sincere man. Maybe he just wanted to prod at Ms. Vickson—and maybe Mr. Haddock, too—and force Mr. Liely to see that they weren't always looking out for his best interest.
The gentleman's eyes widened; he tilted his head to the side as if trying to process what he had just heard. He held up a hand to Jackson and turned to face his cousin who was speaking to Ms. Haddock.
"Abigail."
She looked over at him and arched an eyebrow.
"Were you aware that Ms. Overland had been in Corona?"
She pursed her lips. "Yes," she said tightly.
"Why didn't you inform me?"
She shrugged. "She visited one morning for a short while, but I informed her how busy you were. I did not hear from her after."
Jackson blinked at her words. Emma hadn't told him that.
Mr. Liely was bristling, but before he could say anything, Mr. Haddock stepped over. He rested a hand on his friends shoulder and said, "Calm down, bud. We knew you were overwhelmed with work; we didn't want to cause you any more stress."
"We?"
"Yes, I am sorry. Perhaps it was not the best decision in retrospect, but in the moment, we felt it was."
Mr. Liely calmed down and soon sat down to join his cousin in conversation with Ms. Haddock.
Green eyes landed on him, and the gentleman walked over. Jackson looked down and fiddled with straightening his already flawless waistcoat. He felt the warmth radiating off the gentleman's body when he stopped next to him.
"Did you mean that?" he asked, looking up and focusing on the small group talking across the room. "What you just said?"
"Yes."
The young Mr. Overland nodded and pressed his lips together. His roaming eyes glanced over a steal-eyed Ms. Vickson. His eyes froze on hers.
Her lips curled downwards in a disapproving scowl before turning away.
What?
His mind flashed back to the young woman clinging to Mr. Haddock the first time he had laid eyes on them, and the way she attached herself and pulled for his attention at Dreki Vollr. He glanced over at the freckled gentleman that stood silently at his side before flickering his eyes back to Ms. Vickson.
Is she jealous? He wondered. He felt his lips curling into a smirk at the thought. He found himself enjoying Mr. Haddock's attention now.
"Mr. Overland."
"Yes?" he asked, his gaze going back to Ms. Vickson.
"I heard that the militia had left Burgess. It must be a great loss to your sisters."
Jackson swallowed before he dared answer; he definitely shouldn't mention Mary's travels in this company. "Of course," he said, "The militia always brings a lively company to town, and it can be refreshing and informative. They bring stories to entertain the young and the old. I feel the whole of Burgess feels their loss, not just by sisters."
He decided it wasn't best to mention one person's company in particular in the presence of Mr. and Ms. Haddock. His mind hitched. Why am I worrying about them so much?
A warm hand rested on his shoulder as Mr. Haddock announced, "Let's move in to the dining room, shall we?"
A mumbling consent arose from the party; everyone who sat rose to their feet. They followed the gentleman of the house out of the room. Once they reached the dining room, everyone took their designated seat. Jackson found himself several seats down from and on the right of Mr. Haddock from where he sat at the head of the table.
Dinner proved delicious but rather dull. Jackson didn't know any of the guests who sat around him, and he forgot their names and occupations instantaneously. He found himself glancing up to watch Mr. Haddock as he ate and interacted with his guests. Occasionally, brown would meet green, and they'd duck away quickly to focus on his plate.
All too soon, dinner ended and the conversation in the drawing room after had fallen to a drone as those staying at Berk slowly but surely made their way to their rooms. When only Jackson, the Haddock's, Liely, Ms. Vickson and a few other stragglers remained, the young man decided it was time to bid the group farewell. Ms. Vickson and the strangers gave him impersonal and cold good-byes while Ms. Haddock and Mr. Liely were kind and enthusiastic about meeting again. Mr. Haddock led him to the front door where Mr. Edmund retrieved his coat and hat.
"It was a pleasure having you, Mr. Overland." The lopsided smile curled his lips.
Jackson throat constricted; he just nodded in response before walking out and waiting for his carriage.
He was surprised to see the door finally closing and Mr. Haddock leaving his sight once he had gotten settled and began his return journey.