“Sleep, my love,” he whispered and pressed another kiss to her hair.
Sophia closed her eyes and allowed the comfort of his nearness and the steady beat of his heart to lull her into a peaceful sleep.
Jackson knew when she finally fell asleep. Her breathing deepened and became more rhythmic. He took his free hand, the one she wasn’t laying on, and pressed against her chest just above her left breast. He could feel her heart beat. Though it wasn’t strong, it was enough to comfort him. She was still with him. He still had some time with her. No matter how short it was, he would cherish every second of it. He closed his eyes and, though he hadn’t wanted to, drifted off to sleep. His body was just too exhausted to stay awake. He dreamed of the life he wanted to have with his Sophia, but never would.
Chapter Twenty
Sunday, 22nd May 1887
Sometime around 8:00 a.m.
“Get up, you two!” Olivia practically sang as she burst through her sister’s door. Thomas had informed her that Jackson had come to see Sophia and never left. They both knew that the good doctor would never take advantage of their sister, and they also understood his need to stay with her. Sophia didn’t have much time left, and they all wanted to spend as much time with her as they could.
She stared at the sleeping couple and smiled. They were wrapped so tightly in each other’s arms she wondered how they could even breathe. Olivia’s heart ached. She wanted her sister to have this. She wanted her to get to live her life filled with countless nights wrapped in her love’s arms. If she could take Sophia’s place, she would do so in a second.
“It almost seems cruel to wake them up,” Thomas said from just behind her. He had always been able to sneak up on her, almost like he’d been born to be the hunter he was. “They deserve one another.”
“Yes, they do, but they aren’t about to miss their own wedding,” Olivia said. “Sophia, get up this instant! Lady Templeton will be here with your dress, and we have a lot to do. GET UP!” She yelled and pinched the back of her sister’s arm on the tender flesh. It was a sure way she knew would get her sleeping sister’s attention. Dying or not, Olivia thought, the woman was getting married today.
“Bloody hell,” Sophia snapped as she was snatched from her peaceful sleep. “Olivia Hill, so help me you’d better be out of my reach when I get out of this bed.”
“Tsk, tsk,” Olivia said. “It is not becoming of a lady to swear. Now up, up.” She clapped her hands. “If you don’t get up and get to this wedding, I’ll put on the dress and I’ll marry the first man who walks by our door. Then how will you feel? You’ll be the reason I married some random, probably ill-mannered, stranger and be stuck with him for the rest of my miserable life. Don’t you feel bad already for the fate to which you have damned me?”
“I thought you just said a lady wasn’t supposed to swear,” Jackson mumbled from where his face was tucked against Sophia’s neck.
“I did indeed say that, Dr. Elliot, but I never said I was a lady. Now get your sorry arses out of that bed.”
Jackson lifted his head and looked at her brother. “Does Foster know this is how she talks?”
Thomas laughed. “Even if he doesn’t, when he figures it out, it will only make him want her more.”
Olivia felt her heart drop to her stomach. “Foster?” She snapped around to face her brother. “What do you mean he will want me more?”
Thomas rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “I can’t have this discussion right now, especially not in the middle of such a big case. I don’t need my assistant inspector being distracted. He already insists on asking me question after bloody question about you. This is Sophia’s day. Let’s keep the focus on her.”
Olivia narrowed her eyes on her brother. “Fine, but don’t think this conversation is over.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he muttered under his breath.
“Sophia’s day,” Jackson said bringing the attention back to them. “What about me? I am sort of a part of this too.”
Olivia waved him off. “You’re just the groom. No one cares about you.” After more prodding, she was able to finally get Jackson out of the bed and, with much pushing, out of the room. Although it did take Thomas telling Jackson that he smelled like yesterday’s rotting meat to really get him moving. It wasn’t true, but Jackson obviously didn’t want to take the risk of actually smelling foul around his future bride.
“That was cruel,” Sophia said as she climbed out of bed. “He did not smell.”
“Psht, you don’t get to say anything. You’re in love with him. He could smell like a latrine, and you’d still say he smelled like roses.”
This made Sophia laugh. “The things you say, Olivia Hill. You never cease to surprise me.” Sophia steadied herself before she lifted her arms over her head to stretch.
“You look very refreshed,” Olivia said as she tilted her head and examined her sister. Sophia’s color was much better than it had been in several days. Perhaps sleeping with Jackson had brought some measure of comfort that had allowed her body to do some healing. She knew that there was no cure for her sister’s failing heart, but maybe happiness and joy were truly good medicine for the soul.
“I feel much better,” Sophia admitted. “Now, you said Lady Templeton—” Her words were interrupted by a knock on her bedroom door.
“Open this door before I drop all of this mess. Those blasted men were no help whatsoever.”
Olivia pulled the door open to reveal Lady Templeton carrying an armload that looked as though it would drag her to the floor at any second.
“They were both muttering something about smelling, some guy named Foster, and Olivia’s foul mouth. They said they weren’t about to come back up here. What in heaven did you two do to those boys?”
Olivia found it amusing that she called two grown men boys. But then, to Lady Templeton, who had watched them grow up, they probably all still seemed like children. “They’re just scared. And they should be. We have stuff to get done today. We don’t need distractions.”
“Agreed. Now are you going to help me?” Lady Templeton asked.
“Oh, right,” Olivia said as she hurried forward to help relieve her of her burden. They brought in the dress, a pair of shoes, what looked like a veil, a sewing bag, and another bag, the contents of which Olivia was unsure of.
As soon as Lady Templeton’s hands were free, she became a whirlwind of activity. She directed Olivia to draw a bath filled with hot water and oils that would leave Sophia smelling pleasant for days. Between the both of them, they soon had Sophia washed, hair cleaned, and legs and underarms smooth as a new baby’s bottom.
“Is it time for the wedding yet?” she whined as she sat down a tad ungracefully in the closest chair she could reach. “I’m not sure if you two are here to help me or torture me.” She groaned.
Lady Templeton laughed. “We just want to give Jackson the full effect of a properly pampered and prepared woman. Considering after this you probably will never go to such lengths again. Especially since he won’t leave you long enough for you to get a bath, wash your hair, or shave. You’d barely get your garments off before he attacked you.”
Sophia gasped. “Oh, good heavens! You’re worse than Olivia.”
“Only because I’ve never been with a man,” said Olivia. “So, really, this is a learning opportunity. Do feel free to continue, Lady Templeton,” she told the old woman who was wearing a self-satisfied smile.
“No,” Sophia said quickly. “We are not having this discussion right now.” She pointed a finger at her sister and narrowed her eyes. “You aren’t even being courted by a man. You’ve no need to hear any of this.”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “I’m not naïve, Soph. I know what happens between a man and woman behind closed doors. I just wasn’t aware exactly how amorous a man could be. Are they really that bad?” Olivia asked Lady Templeton.
“Well, I could say they’re all that bad, but, honestly, I’m sure that it varies some.
But, I think, overall, they are wholly driven by their basest desires. I’ve only experience with my late husband.” Lady Templeton smiled. How she missed her Henry. “And I usually had to hide from him in order to get dressed.”
Olivia giggled. “See, these are things a woman should know before she marries. She needs to be prepared for such attention.”
It was Sophia’s turn to roll her eyes. “I doubt anything would catch you by surprise, sister mine. Knowing you, you will be asking your fiancé questions about his amorous nature before you ever make it to the altar.”
“Haven’t you and Jackson talked about it?” Olivia asked. “Why wouldn’t you talk about something that is going to happen so soon? I mean, it’s not a secret.”
“Yes, well, it is something that requires you to surrender yourself and make yourself vulnerable to the person you love. It’s intimidating,” she said, her face reddening.
“Who better to make yourself vulnerable to than the person you love?” Olivia challenged.
Sophia shook her head. “And, here once again, you prove to be better at being the older, wiser sister.”
Olivia shook her head. “No, I’m just the sister who has no couth, and I’ll probably make a fool of myself when I undoubtedly ask my future husband just what his intentions are when it comes to bedding me. I really would like to know if I need to be prepared to run like a rabbit from a fox.”
“I would say the situation more closely resembles a cat in heat with a tom cat in rut nipping at your tail,” Lady Templeton said without any embarrassment.
“Can we please just continue getting me dressed for my wedding?” Sophia begged. “Besides, I don’t know if intimacy with Jackson is possible given my condition.”
“Oh, that would be terrible,” said Olivia. “To miss out on … that, after you’ve waited so long. I don’t think I could handle it.
“Don’t worry, dear,” said Lady Templeton to Sophia. “That will take care of itself. And Jackson will love you unconditionally regardless. But we do need to keep moving right now.”
Olivia took orders from the older woman while they continued getting her sister ready to walk down the aisle. She was so excited for Sophia, but no matter how she tried, she couldn’t get her brother’s words out of her mind: when he figures it out it will only make him want her more. Foster wanted her? Did she dare get her hopes up? He’d been on her mind, burrowing a hole into her heart since the night she’d met him. Men rarely gave her a second look after she’d opened her mouth and spoken more than a few words. Those that did only tolerated her for her looks, she knew that. She wasn’t a fool. So she was sure she’d put Foster off just like all the others.
But if he was interested in her, then why hadn’t he called on her? Was Thomas preventing his advances? God help her brother if that was the case. She was a grown woman and knew her own mind. She was perfectly capable of deciding if a man was worthy of her or not. Olivia took a deep breath and forced herself to calm the emotions that she wasn’t sure were even appropriate. She had no proof Thomas was thwarting Foster’s attempts to call on her. She was acting like a silly school girl. Besides, she needed to be focusing on her sister, not her own worries. With that resolve building in her mind, Olivia focused on Sophia and laughed right along with her sister while Lady Templeton continued to make outrageous statements about the opposite sex. It was as if the older woman knew it was what both of the young ladies needed.
Chapter Twenty-One
Sunday, 22nd May 1887
Sometime around 1:00 p.m.
Jackson straightened his tie for the fifteenth time, even though he hadn’t moved a muscle since the last time he’d done so.
“Are you nervous?” inspector Foster asked as they both stood on the edge of the park where the wedding was to take place. He’d arrived early because Thomas had asked Foster to be an usher and help people find their seats. He’d been honored to be asked. He was also hoping that he would get a chance to see Olivia before the ceremony started, but so far there’d been no glimpse of her. His eyes were thirsty to see her again. Ever since meeting her, she was nearly all he could think about. He kept asking Thomas about her, hoping that his boss would give him some indication that he would approve John’s courtship of his sister. But so far, Thomas had only grunted or given him short, inadequate answers and then gone right back to talking about the case.
“I wouldn’t say nervous was exactly what I’m feeling,” Jackson said. And it was true. He was excited, eager, desperate to hold Sophia, but not nervous. “I just want to see her again. It’s like being away from her for any amount of time is painful.”
Thomas heard Jackson’s words as he stepped up to the two men. It saddened him so much to know that Jackson would not have his sister for long. That pain of being separated forever would be devastating. She would be gone soon, out of reach for both of them. He could completely understand why his friend didn’t want to be separated from her for even a second. Needing to change the subject, Thomas motioned to the park. “They did an amazing job,” he said.
Jackson nodded. When Sophia had told him about Olivia reaching out to their friends for help, he had been truly touched. Sophia didn’t want him paying for their wedding, though he was more than capable, and Olivia had saved them from having an argument about it. Lady Templeton and the others had outdone themselves. And judging by the faces of awe from the guests beginning to arrive, they agreed.
“I’m glad it’s you, Jackson,” Thomas told his longtime friend. Jackson smiled back at him, but his eyes were filled with anguish. It was pain that he’d only seen on those who’d just lost a loved one. Jackson was already mourning the loss of his wife and yet he wasn’t even married yet.
“I am too,” Jackson agreed.
When the carriage containing Sophia and her sister arrived, all three men turned, their attention riveted on the buggy. But Jackson wasn’t allowed to see her emerge.
“Come on,” Thomas said as he took Jackson’s upper arm and propelled him forward. “We need to get you into position. You aren’t supposed to see her until she’s walking down the aisle and completely weepy.”
Jackson allowed himself to be pushed up to where the vicar was standing beneath the large tree. He took a deep breath and turned to face the aisle, awaiting his beloved who would be walking down it in a matter of minutes.
Olivia laughed as her sister tried to open the door of the carriage with all the enthusiasm of a puppy trying to get to a bone. “Eager?” she asked.
Sophia chuckled. “You’ve no idea. I could drop dead at any second. I would at least like it to be after I’ve said ‘I do’.”
Lady Templeton clucked her tongue. “If you’re going to make requests about when to die, at least request it to be after your wedding night.”
“Not again,” Sophia half laughed and half huffed.
“Let the driver get the door before you hurt yourself,” Olivia said as she pulled her sister away from the exit. “Besides, you don’t want to mess up our hard work.”
Sophia raised a brow at her. “Yes, because that’s what’s important,” she said dryly.
“You really do look beautiful,” Olivia told her. “And you are what makes the dress beautiful, not the other way around.”
The dress was candlelight in color with a simple A-line cut that fit her frame perfectly. It was slightly off her shoulders, just enough to remain proper. The sleeves fit her arms snugly and ended at a point on her hand. The dress was embroidered with a very fine gold silk thread that gave it an ethereal look. Every time Sophia moved, the gold thread shimmered. It was understated and elegant, just like her sister.
When the door to the carriage opened, Sophia stepped out with Olivia and Lady Templeton on her heels. She straitened her dress and then looked up. Her mouth dropped open at the amazing picture before her. “How?” she asked breathlessly. The beautiful tree supported thick vines that held blooming white flowers, which were woven through the lower branches and cascading down like a living c
urtain. Flowers scattered the ground, creating a walking path that Sophia felt was too sacred to tread upon. There were chairs in rows along either side of the pathway of flowers. Almost everyone was occupied by a beautifully dressed woman or a finely tailored man. Each chair had a large candlelight-colored bow tied to the back of it. There were candles on pillars scattered throughout the park. Those, along with hanging gas lamps, created a soft glow over the entire area. All of the flowers made the air smell sweet and fragrant. Sophia felt as though she’d stepped into a fairy tale.
“It looks amazing,” Olivia said. She watched as Sophia’s eyes scanned the area. They were lit with excitement and wonder, but Olivia could tell the instant her sister saw her groom. Sophia’s eyes brightened further, if that was possible, and love was pouring out of them.
When the music of stringed instruments started to play, Olivia’s head snapped around. She hadn’t even noticed the musicians. “I guess that was your doing, as well,” she muttered to Lady Templeton as she motioned to where the music was coming from.
Lady Templeton shrugged. “Think of how stupid Sophia would look walking down the aisle to only the mutterings of women praising my skill as a seamstress.”
This brought a snort of laughter from Olivia. “When I grow up I want to be like you.”
Lady Templeton motioned her to the start of the walkway just as Thomas walked over and took Sophia’s hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm. “You walk first, dear,” she told Olivia. “Try not to trip, and if you do … make sure you fall into the arms of a handsome man.”
Olivia giggled as she stepped up to the walkway. She’d planned to walk down the aisle by herself, so she was startled when a huge form suddenly materialized beside her. The damn man was just as quiet as her brother. Perhaps they learned how to be that silent in inspector school.