Author's Note - There is a mild steam alert for this chapter. I know that we haven't had that in a while, bu there had been so much other stuff going on.

Chapter 128 – More Late Night Conversations

"So what did you find?" Jack asked.

"It looks like Sir Lionel's family needs an infusion of money." Dee said. "Money he wouldn't have …."

"Without strict conditions." Elizabeth interrupted. "If he married European royalty."

Jack just looked between the two of them. Elizabeth picked up on Jack's confusion.

"Most European families." Elizabeth said. "The money is controlled by one or two members and they have strict rules about what you can and cannot spend it on. Those rules are strictly enforced. Depending on where he ranked in the family he would be given a stipend to live and then he would be expected to work or otherwise raise the rest of the money needed. They are also usually provided with a place to live and it might be shared with other families."

"Exactly." Dee said. "Both Andrew and I have a feeling that Viola is going to try and take over the company in an effort to move money to Sir Lionel's family."

"But she had no right to it." Jack said. "Even if Elizabeth doesn't want it."

Dee put his hand on Jack's arm to calm him down. He could see that Jack was getting angry.

"We know that." Dee said. "We also don't think that Viola or even Uncle William know that Elizabeth knows about the clause stating that she can take over the company. If he does, that might explain why he has been bent on discrediting your marriage and/or pushing Charles on you. I doubt that William wants Sir Lionel to have his company. Jacobs said something after William left with his lawyer. I know that Dad didn't tell you, but I think that you should know. I don't think that Dad knows that I know. Anyway, Jacobs said that William said it wasn't his idea to come out here and he was sorry he let others talk him into causing trouble.

With all the business that Uncle William does overseas, he has to know that several of the British upper class are struggling right now and looking for infusions of capital. I think that is why several of the young women from your former circle have married into well known European families over the last couple of years. Right now, there is more cash wealth here in Canada and the States than in some of the families in Europe. They may have land, castles and titles, but lack the cash flow to maintain their lifestyles, especially to extended family members.

Andrew and I feel that it is only going to get worse before it gets better. Things are shifting in Europe, especially in Britain as well as other once large and powerful countries. It seems that the cash wealth is harder to come by if you aren't of certain families and even those are tightly controlled."

"So you think Viola is going to try and take over the company." Jack said.

"I would bet my career on it." Dee said. "Even Andrew is almost certain and you know how reserved he can be."

"Not really." Elizabeth said. "I have only met him once and then what I hear in Sophie's letters or those from your mom."

"Prying information out of him is harder than getting it out of Bill." Dee said. "Especially if he has made up his mind not to talk about something."

Jack laughed.

"I will take your word for it." Elizabeth said.

"So what are you going to do?" Dee asked.

"Well." Elizabeth said. "Jack and I talked a little about it today as well. I had a feeling that Viola would try something even though she had no interest in the company before. If it truly is possible to have the company and keep my name mostly out of it, I wouldn't mind. I even have a person in mind to run it or at least be the person in my place."

"Who?" Dee asked.

"No." Elizabeth said. "As I have not had a chance to speak to this person, I won't say anything."

"She won't even tell me." Jack said. "I did let her know that I have confidence in her decision and will support her no matter what she choses."

"Okay, then." Dee said. "I won't push you. I think you have some time to decide as Viola can't do anything until after her marriage certificate is filed."

"Speaking of which." Elizabeth said. "How did ours get filed so fast?"

"Advantage of being a Mountie." Jack said. "Since I am a Mountie and I was getting married with another Mountie as a witness. We were able to file it beforehand. Remember when I had you sign those papers the week of the wedding."

"Yes." Elizabeth said.

"That was the papers for the marriage." Jack said. "Hickum ran them to Buxton the Thursday before the wedding. So when we signed the certificate after the ceremony, Ned attached the pictures the next day. It was official. Hickum then ran those documents to Buxton right away on the twenty-seventh. So when Wynn stopped in Buxton and requested the papers on their way back, they were ready."

"So how does that work?" Elizabeth asked.

"We can file certain paperwork up to five days before the wedding." Dee said. "Then we have ten days after the wedding to get the rest of the paperwork there."

"The signed certificate with pictures." Elizabeth said.

"Exactly." Dee said. "It is usually the job of the best man to file the paperwork while the couple are on their honeymoon. Lee and Bill took care of it so you wouldn't have to worry about it."

"That was so nice of them." Elizabeth said. "I didn't even realize that was allowed."

"Mounties, government workers, and soldiers." Dee said. "We all have the privilege."

"So Viola won't be able to file early." Elizabeth asked.

"Nope." Dee said. "She will have even more paperwork that they will have to fill out as Sir Lionel is a British citizen and considered a member of the royal family. They will get the certificate before, but it can't be signed until the wedding and then it won't be filed until the Monday after the wedding. It will take about a week to fully process, so after that they would be able to try for the company. But she would need to be there, so if they are going away on their honeymoon, it would be after that."

"So I would have to go to Hamilton if I wanted to take over the company?" Elizabeth asked.

"I am not sure." Dee said. "That would be a question for Andrew. I think that since you are naming someone else to actually stand in your place, they would need to be there and you would have to send a sworn statement."

"That would be easier." Elizabeth said.

"Like I said." Dee said. "Double check with Andrew."

"I will." Elizabeth said.

Jack put his hand on Elizabeth's and gave it a squeeze. He still wasn't sure that taking over the company was the best plan of action, but he decided that he was going to just have to support Elizabeth in what she wanted. He was still going to have to learn to deal with the whole money thing, but the more he thought about Aunt Elizabeth was right. Dee could see that Jack and Beth were in their own little world again, so he knocked on the table to get their attention.

"So who is the mail from?" Dee asked. "I only recognized the one from your Aunt Agatha."

Elizabeth picked up the letters on the table. She looked at them. The large envelope was addressed to Jack with a law firm in Hamilton as the return.

"I don't know what this is for Jack." Elizabeth said. "But as you saw there is a letter from Aunt Agatha and the other one is from a teacher friend of mine. We have been writing back and forth for a couple of months. She was taking some time off while her new husband figured some things out. Her last letter was to let me know that he was looking for a new job and depending on where he landed, she was going to look for a teaching job in the area. She was the one that told me about the grumbling."

"What does he do?" Dee asked.

"He has an architectural degree." Elizabeth said. "But he also has worked for his family's string of hotels. He just didn't want to work for his older brothers and father anymore. Also according to my friend, he had a good head for business and numbers. Why, what are you thinking?"

"Nothing." Dee said. "I just know that Union City and Buxton both have a lot of opportunities right now. I mean if they want a change and to get out of the big city."

"I will mention it." Elizabeth said. "Depending on what this letter says. I don't think that she would mind getting out of the city. He grew up north of Montreal, not in the city."

"Hopefully things work out." Dee said. "Maybe she can come take over for you if they don't find something."

"I never thought of that." Elizabeth said. "I was just going to contact the board and let them know that I would need a teacher for the fall and part of the winter."

Jack let out a low whistle.

"Everything okay?" Elizabeth asked.

"I think you need to see this." Jack said.

"What?" Elizabeth said.

Jack handed over the envelope and she scanned the top page. She then turned and looked at Jack with wide eyes.

"Really?" Elizabeth asked.

"What?" Dee asked.

"I will tell you." Jack said. "But can we just keep this between us for the time being."

"Of course." Dee said. "You know that I won't repeat something if you don't want to."

"I just had to check." Jack said. "Because Elizabeth and I need to talk and pray about this. We need to do that before we loop in everyone else and their opinions."

"Apparently." Elizabeth said. "This is paperwork from Andrew Russell's barrister. He has asked Jack and I to be named guardians of Little Beth and Sarah if something were to happen to him and his wife. It sounds like they have spoken with their other children and are in agreement with the decision. If we decide this is something that we want, we can sign the enclosed paperwork and return it to the firm listed. If we don't feel that it is something that we can take on, they will understand as well."

Dee let out his own low whistle.

"Wow." Dee said. "You are technically the only blood relatives that those little girls have. I know, I know that the Russell family treated Andy the same as any of the other children, but still."

"I know." Jack said. "I do love those girls, but I don't know."

"We will talk and pray about it." Elizabeth said. "I also want to read through this paperwork very carefully. I am sure that they will come with security and trust funds, but I am sure that there are other things. I have thought that we might need some security for ourselves if we take over the company. Especially when we travel."

"Another thing that we will need to talk about." Jack said.

"Well it is getting late." Dee said. "I will let you head up. If I don't see you in the morning, I will have the wagon here about nine thirty to get you so you can watch them move the cabin. If you need any help with the paperwork, please let me know. I won't say anything."

"Thank you." Jack said.

Dee picked up his clean sheets and headed to his room. Jack picked up the paperwork and took it over to the desk. Elizabeth dropped her two letters there as well. She figured that she could read them later. As Dee was changing he was thinking more about his conversation with Jack and Beth about Viola. He was certain that he was right about Viola, but he wasn't sure what he could do. Dee made a note to wire Andrew and let him know that he had talked to Beth and she agreed. Dee knew that they would have to watch things more carefully the closer that it got to the wedding. He also felt that Charles wasn't going to give up, even if he was sitting behind bars. Dee wasn't sure what else he could do about that other than be alert.

After double checking the doors and fires, Jack and Elizabeth headed up to their room. Jack went to wash up while Elizabeth changed. When Jack walked back to their room Elizabeth was sitting brushing her hair. She saw Jack's reflection in the mirror. She blushed as he stood there in just his pajama pants hung low on his hips. She could clearly see his defined muscles in the mirror. She also cringed slightly at the sight of the bruising still present on his chest. He slowly walked over to her. As he did that, Elizabeth could see Jack's excitement and she felt her own excitement growing. After placing a kiss on her head, Jack took her brush and finished brushing her hair for her. When he was done, he moved her hair and kissed the spot behind her ear. She shivered when Jack's lips touched that spot.

"I want you." Jack whispered in her ear.

Elizabeth smiled at Jack in the mirror. When he pulled her up into his arms, he leaned in and kissed her showing her how much he missed her. Jack slowly backed them up to the bed, never breaking contact with Elizabeth's skin. Not only did he have her hand, but he was also placing kisses on her exposed collarbone while they moved. Elizabeth wasn't sure how she made it to the bed as Jack was driving her crazy and making her head spin. Besides kissing her, he was grazing his other hand up and down her body leaving a trail of heat.

When they got to the bed, Jack sat down and pulled Elizabeth to stand between his legs. His hands went to her hips and when he pulled the nightgown tight, her baby bump was clearly outlined. He leaned forward and placed a kiss on the bump. He then looked up at Elizabeth and smiled. Jack knew that he needed to be careful, but he wanted Elizabeth so bad that it physically hurt. He had missed their time together. If Elizabeth was honest, she was missing their time as well. She also didn't want Jack to push himself too hard, but she needed him as much as he needed her.

"God, you are gorgeous." Jack said

"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I don't feel that way right now. I am glad that Aunt Elizabeth brought clothes because I don't know how much longer my own stuff is going to fit. At this rate, I doubt that we will be able to hide this from people much longer."

"Enough talk." Jack said, standing and kissing Elizabeth again.

Jack stood there kissing Elizabeth until he started to feel lightheaded. He pulled back slightly, only to start lightly kissing her exposed collarbone again. It didn't take much to stoke the fire that was between them. Slowly Jack laid Elizabeth on the bed and slowly kissed her while he removed her nightgown. Elizabeth returned the favor and pushed Jack's pajama pants down his legs only to have him kick them off. It wasn't long and they came together, then falling back into the bed breathless. Jack laid next to Elizabeth trying to catch his breath, while he rubbed her belly with his one hand. Afterwards, Jack pulled Elizabeth to him and placed a hand on her stomach. She snuggled into his chest, content to be with her husband. They came together a couple more times before they drifted off to sleep wrapped in each other's arms.