One month later…
Excitement filled Jack as he stood on the doorstep of Rose's new home...at least it was her home until their wedding. It had been one long month since they had seen each other last and now that Rose had moved to Boston, Jack hoped that there would be no more long periods of separation. From now on, he'll be able to see Rose each and every day.
He shifted the bottle of champagne and bouquet of daisies into his other hand as he rang the bell, hoping that he wasn't disrupting the unpacking and settling in. It was the butler Giles that answered the door.
"Master Jack?" the butler nodded, recognizing the visitor.
"Are Rose and her mother in? I wanted to check on them and see that everything is going as planned."
"Oh yes. The young Ms. And her mother are indeed settling in nicely. The young lady has settled into your former quarters, as you had suggested."
"Splendid. Uh, can I see Rose? She's not busy is she?"
"She is in your...I mean her quarters, hanging up paintings I do believe," The butler explained. "Shall I go fetch her? I can have you wait in the setting room…?"
"How about I go fetch her myself? I remember the quarters having a sitting area of its own and...well Rose and I may want some privacy if you don't mind."
Giles hesitated, knowing that what Jack had requested was inappropriate. Then again, the young couple was now engaged. Certain freedoms were now deemed appropriate, such as time alone. Besides, the elder lady of the house was nearby. He saw no reason to insist that the young master stay in the sitting room. "As you wish, sir."
"You don't have to show me where it is, Giles. I can find it. Go on about your duties," Jack directed, not wanting to bother the butler any more than he already had.
"Yes sir," The butler nodded after allowing Jack inside and taking his coat.
Gripping the flowers and bottle of champagne in his hands, Jack made his way to what had once been his quarters. He had specifically given instructions for Rose to have the rooms. They were the most spacious and most comfortable and had a lot of light for artistic purposes, something he thought that Rose would appreciate. Not to mention, a magnificent view of the gardens outside.
Smiling happily, looking forward to seeing and spending some time alone with his fiancee, Jack knocked on the door. He didn't have to wait long for Rose to open the door, her green eyes widening in surprise.
"Jack? What are you doing here? I wasn't expecting you," Rose gasped, looking down at the green tea dress she was wearing. Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail and she barely had on any makeup.
"I know I'm unexpected. In fact, this whole visit was spur of the moment, but I wanted to see how you were settling in. If there was anything you needed to be done or gotten for you. Plus, it's been a month since we last saw each other. I couldn't wait any longer, knowing that you were nearby. If this isn't a good time, I can always come back…"
"It's a perfect time," Rose pulled him into the room, quietly closing the door behind her, knowing that her mother would not let her hear the end of it if she caught Rose and Jack alone in such a private setting, whether they were engaged or not.
"I was just about to take tea out in the garden, but I can just have him bring it here. That's just as good," Rose smiled, running her hands along the skirt of her dress as if smoothing out any wrinkles. "I do wish I had known you were coming. I would have worn something a lot prettier than this old thing…"
"Hey, you're gorgeous just as you are. The prettiest girl in Boston," Jack smiled, holding out the flowers and champagne. "Oh and this is for you. To celebrate your move."
"Oh thank you! Daisies!"
"I remember you telling me that they're your favorite."
"They are! Thank you," Rose took a deep sniff of the flowers, closing her eyes at the delicious scent. "They're definitely going to brighten up the room even more. This room has such good light, I can tell it must have been yours."
"Well, you wouldn't be wrong. I had Giles suggest it to you. I figured that it'd make you feel closer to me and perhaps feed your creativity as it had mine."
"You know me too well, Jack. Thank you."
Jack smiled and looked around the room, noting some of the more feminine touches that Rose had done. There were more white, pinks, and pale blues than there originally had been. More flowers and actual works of art. His eyes widened as he saw a Monet painting just above the fireplace.
"Monet!" He walked over and admired the painting, noting the use of colors in the painted landscape.
"I purchased it last year on a trip to Paris. I also have some from a something Picasso...but my mother had forbidden me to hang them up at the mansion. She said his works made no sense, but I love them. There's truth but no logic, you know? I have some hanging in my room if you want to check them out…"
Her cheeks grew red as she nonchalantly mentioned the bedroom, knowing that she was heading into dangerous territory inviting Jack inside there. But why was it dangerous? She and Jack would be married soon. She had been in bed with him once before...even though their clothes had remained on and no one knew...and who would know about a quick foray into her room to show off her Picasso paintings? No one but Jack, and he was her biggest secret keeper.
Jack's eyes widened almost comically, making Rose want to giggle. This man was so gorgeous, cute, adorable, handsome, beautiful...all the ways you can describe a stunningly good-looking person, Jack was it. All his facial expressions shock, surprise, disbelief...they all touched her in different ways.
"Well...dottism and cubism aren't really my thing...but I'd love to see what you have. Maybe you can tell me what you see in them."
"Okay," Rose took his hand and lead the way into her bedroom, which went from dark burgundy and navy blues to reds, and floral colors. Rose had really set about making this space her own. She pulled him over to the Picasso paintings that she and the maid had hung up the night before. "See, just look at them. See how everything is clearly taken apart and reassembled...and...well..it's hard to explain. It's just...truth but no logic. Fascinating…"
Jack smiled, his eyes never leaving the gorgeous redhead for a second. "Yeah. Fascinating."
"I get why you may not like it though. It can be cold when you're looking for a more...emotional meaning to the art."
"Right. I mean...that's what I usually look for in art. The emotion...the heart...the story. You know? Life…"
Rose smiled as she took a seat on her bed, looking at Jack as he looked at the paintings on the wall. "I could tell that about you...just by your sketches. You always focus on the hands and the eyes and there's something about them...something that's trying to tell me something. A story."
Jack's eyes left the paintings and met Rose's, a sense of awe filling them. "You noticed that?"
"Of course. You have a gift, Jack. You see people. You see their story without them having to tell it and you capture it on paper so perfectly that it just jumps out and grabs you. Honestly, your work should be hanging right beside a Picasso or a Monet, it's so good."
Jack sat down next to her and gently touched her face. "I see you, my Rose. You are a magnificent woman. You really are."
Rose closed her eyes, drowning in the scent of soap, charcoal, and flowers. She leaned in until their lips met in a lingering kiss. Her hands found their way to his arms, then up to his shoulders and down his chest as his arms found their way around her, pulling her close to his body.
They pulled away, panting heavily as they leaned their foreheads against each other's gazing into each other's eyes.
"You are making it so hard to be a proper gentleman right now…I shouldn't even be in here," Jack licked his lips, still feeling the electric tingle of her lips against his.
"I can't wait to be your wife. To not have to worry about what's proper and not proper. To be able to kiss you, lay down with you...make love with you…"
"We'll have that soon, Rosie. I promise you. How long does it take to plan a wedding anyway?"
Rose giggled. "Are you kidding? Now that I'm marrying a Boston Dawson, my mother is going to insist on something extravagant. She'll want to pull out all the stops. All of Philadelphia and Boston society will have to be there. Which means a big church and an even bigger reception hall."
"What about what you want? What would Rose consider a perfect wedding?"
Rose sighed, shrugging her shoulders. "Something...simple. Something elegant…"
"Elegant and simple….well...how about we nix the whole all of high society part and just invite the people important to us. Like my friends from Philadelphia. Your friends from Philadelphia. Some select business partners that my parents see as friends. Servants that we consider friends, like Trudy and Fabrizio. Family members of course from both of our sides. That should fill out a nice-sized cathedral yet won't be so overwhelming as inviting all of New England high society?"
"Hmm...I like that. And daisies instead of roses. Lots and lots of daisies!"
"Of course. Okay. Daisies."
"Ok, so that's the flowers and guests. I would need to look at the Cathedrals of Boston, though. I want something quaint and elegant at the same time. Not something showy."
Jack sighed, laying down on the mattress without thinking much about it. Rose laid down too, snuggling into his arms, resting her head against his chest. His fingers played with her red curls as his mind went over all that would need to be done. "How about your wedding dress?"
"No sequins and jewels. Just silk and lace and I don't want it all poofy," Rose giggled. She sighed as she remembered her promise to her mother. "I did promise mother that I wouldn't go with lavender for the bridesmaids' gowns. I told her I wanted pale blue dresses for those. The color reminds me of your eyes...so I'm not losing anything. I'm still getting a color I like."
"You know...I think with the right planner, we can pull off a wedding of everyone's liking a lot sooner than later…."
"I just want to keep it out of my mother's greedy hands. I can just see it in her eyes, how she's going to want to high jack the wedding plans…"
"Which is why we should hire a planner as soon as possible. That way, it'll keep control out of her hands and in ours."
"I'll leave that to you then? You're more acquainted with this area…"
"I'll ask my mother. She knows some good planners that will work with us and give us what we desire…"
Just like she desired Jack right at that moment, laying in his arms, their hearts beating in time with one another.
"I better go get that tea before tea time is over," Rose sighed, making herself set up out of Jack's arms. She shivered, missing his warmth already. "I guess you should wait in the sitting room. I'll be back."
"Maybe it'd be best if I wait in the main sitting room...things seem to get...intense between us nowadays...especially when we're alone together."
Hurt filled Rose's eyes, then she sighed in understanding. Jack was trying to keep their good reputations intact. But it was so hard, especially when he looked so good and smelled so nice and she knew what it felt like to be held by him so closely. She felt like the only girl in the world and she didn't want to give that up. Not for anything. But he was right. It was best that they kept a sense of decorum.
"Okay, you're right. You wait in the main sitting room and I'll go fetch the tea."
Jack got to his feet and grabbed Rose's hand before she could walk away. He pulled her into another hug and kissed her long and deep before pulling away again. "I didn't say that to hurt you. I just don't want to give your mother something to gripe about and the servants a reason to gossip. That's all. I much rather spend all day in here alone with you."
"I know. I'm just being a brat, I guess."
"Well, I can be a brat too. So you're not alone there."
Rose simply laughed and kissed him one time before pulling away again. "Come on. Let's go before mother really does realize that I'm not alone in here."
Hand in hand, Jack and Rose leave the room, looking forward to the day when they could be alone and in love without any problems at all.