Rose was in a panic when she returned home that evening. She'd invited Jack to meet her fiancé–the man that she was marrying! Oh, how hurt he'd be when he learned of Rose's marriage to another man! Hopefully, he won't feel the need to save me from this marriage, Rose thought. After all, he certainly did the last time! But James is nothing like Cal. He has a heart and he doesn't even care much for himself. But I never even wanted a high society life…and I'm not carrying James' child. I'm carrying Jack's! Oh, thank goodness he didn't notice! I have to stop going out, or else he will notice eventually that I'm with child! But that doesn't mean that he won't stop calling on me…maybe if I pretend to not be at home…
But knowing herself, Rose would not lie to Jack. She couldn't. Even if she didn't love him anymore, he was still a great friend to have around. She refused to ignore his company, and thus, she would have to tell him. But he’d know how far along she was the minute he took notice of her stomach, and he'd know that the child was his! Tomorrow…she'd have to tell him tomorrow…when she could get herself away from James and talk to Jack in private. She told herself that she didn't love him, but inside, she knew that she still did. Everything in the past was still there…everything that he'd ever done for her.
That night, Rose couldn't stop thinking about who it was that she truly loved. She loved James, she knew that, but she also knew that she was using her love for James to cover her love for Jack. She was denying her love for Jack to herself, and she knew it. If she married Jack, she'd marry beneath her class, and her father would probably die of shame while her true mother would turn in her grave. Finally, sleep began to overcome her, and she slept well past eight in the morning. And when she woke, she dreaded the luncheon that was awaiting her that afternoon.
James arrived for breakfast and remained with her the rest of the day until Rose went up to change for lunch. Above her chemise and bloomers, she allowed Nancy to tie her corset as she continued to think. Jack would be over soon…what if he was over now? She had to hurry, but she couldn't rush Nancy, for she wouldn't allow it. Once the corset was laced, she allowed Nancy to help her with her corset cover and petticoat. Once the corset cover was well tucked into the petticoat, Nancy and Francesca both helped Rose with her baby blue tea dress. The dress had layers of lace going to the floor and the sleeves that ended in lace were a few inches above her elbows. This was one of her favorite dresses, and she preferred that her hair be up to match. Her curly red hair was held in place with many pins and soon covered by a matching baby blue hat with light blue roses on it. Rose checked herself once more before departing her bedroom. Downstairs, Rose heard the voices of both James and Jack deep in conversation in the drawing room. Entering, she cleared her throat. Both men looked up.
"My darling Rose!" James exclaimed, making his way towards her to kiss the top of her hand. "My, are you looking quite beautiful this afternoon."
Rose laughed slightly. "James, you see me every afternoon! You've seen me dressed better," she told him, glancing up at Jack.
Jack made his way over to her and lightly kissed her hand. "Miss Bukater," he said politely.
He was dressed so handsomely, it took Rose everything she had to not kiss him in front of James. She smiled nervously at him as he offered her his arm, which she gladly took. James did the same on her other side, and Rose took his arm as well. Both men led her out to the patio in the back. Jack took his seat while James slid Rose's chair out for her, allowing her to sit. He pushed her chair in and sat down next to her.
*****
Lunch was served and eaten, and now, Jack, Rose, and James were easing themselves into conversation. Mostly, it was Jack and James that were in discussion. Rose sat back and sipped her tea, listening to their conversation. After twenty minutes of discussion, James excused himself, leaving Jack and Rose alone. Once James was out of earshot, Jack looked at Rose.
"So, he's your fiancé," he said to her, a hint of jealousy and hurt in his voice. Rose, not looking into his eyes, nodded. "Well, I have to say, he's better than Cal, but I never expected you to go off and get married so soon after my supposed death." Rose looked up, and in his eyes, she saw anger, pain, and betrayal. It was obvious that Rose had betrayed her love for Jack by accepting another man's proposal. She sighed and stood, Jack doing the same.
"Do walk with me through the garden," Rose told him, taking off her hat. It was more of a statement than a question, but Jack offered her his arm and she took it, and he led her through the garden.
"Why did you accept his proposal? You don't love him and you know this," Jack said, taking notice of the beautiful lilies growing in a small pond nearby. Beside this pond were pink and yellow tulips surrounding it, and behind the pond was a green hedge. Jack led her beneath a pink rose arbor and around the pond.
"Well, I accepted his proposal because it will do good for both his family and mine and I could learn to love him. It'd be much easier than learning to love Cal," Rose replied.
Jack pulled his arm from hers and quickly pulled her to face him, grabbing her arms. He looked deeply into her eyes before pulling her to him and kissing her again. Rose tried to push him off, but couldn't bring herself to do it. The fire that exploded within her was hard to describe, but Rose loved the feeling of it. It surged through her soul and burned up any memories of James at that moment. James…what if he saw them? Suddenly, she felt Jack's hands running down her sides and they stopped on her midsection, noticing that it was larger than it had previously been. He stopped kissing her and placed his hands on her stomach, feeling a small kick on his hand.
Jack was shocked. So, she was pregnant! And he knew that Cal hadn't placed his hands on her, for she had told as much him four months ago, and he knew that James hadn't touched her, either, for this baby was too far along and James just didn't seem like the type to have sex with a woman before marriage. The child was Jack's. He knew it, and she knew that he knew it. He gave her a questioning gaze, which she returned with a nervous nod. And suddenly, Jack was furious, furious with her for not telling him sooner. He let go of her and stepped away from her.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he demanded angrily.
"Because I knew that if you knew, you'd try to stop my wedding to James and try to take my child away from me!"
"Why the hell do you think I'd do that? I'd never take your child from you and I'd never stop your wedding, no matter how much I want to! But I'll tell you this, Rose, I will not let that Sherman guy be a father to my child!"
"Well, I'm marrying James and I'm not going to have you live with us. That'd be too absurd and awkward and I'm not giving you my child after he or she is born! My child needs me, and you can't raise a child on your own!"
"Then admit that you don't love Sherman and call off the engagement. Rose, I thought you loved me! We fell in love four months ago, and if I had known you survived, I'd have taken you to Wisconsin and I would have married you by now! But now, all of a sudden, you don't love me anymore? Rose, what happened?"
"I realized that I was meant to love and marry James. Jack, he comes from my world, and he's willing to treat me like I belong to the high society world. Jack, I don't think I'd be able to adapt to lower class life as easily as you. I just couldn't."
"So, what are you saying? You don't love me anymore? All you did was toy with my feelings so that you could finally find someone who made you feel like you belong to your class?"
"No, Jack. That's not at all what I'm saying! Jack, please don't be this way!"
"Then tell me you love me, Rose. Tell me that my doubts about you still loving me are wrong! Tell me I'm crazy and that you want me still!" Rose was silent for several seconds before Jack spoke for her. "That's fine. It doesn't bother me anymore. I'll just go back home before you can hurt me anymore than you already have." With that said, Jack turned around and walked away from her.
"Jack! No, Jack! Wait! Jack!" Rose called, but he ignored her, leaving her world for his own.
Rose sat down on a bench and cried into her gloved hands. He was gone from her life. She didn't want this. She wanted to remain friends with him, at least! But he didn't want her, nor anything to do with her. Suddenly, she felt a presence approach her and take a seat next to her. Expecting to meet Jack's baby blue eyes, Rose's emerald green eyes met James's blue-green ones. She looked down at her gloved hands as James took them into his.
"Is everything all right, Rose?" he asked her in a worried tone.
Rose took a moment before nodding. "Yes. Yes, everything is all right," she answered, pulling out a handkerchief and wiping her eyes. She looked up into his eyes once more. "James, do you really love me?" In his eyes, Rose saw hesitation, and James took a moment to answer.
"I cannot say that I do, but I cannot say that I don't either, Rose. I am falling in love with you, I have to admit," he replied.
Rose managed a small smile. "Oh, James," she said. "I love you. I know I do." What was she saying? Well, she had to hurt Jack in every way possible, like he had hurt her. "I love you, James." James knew inside that Rose was lying, for he knew that she did not love him. But from the way she looked at the Dawson boy who had come to lunch, he knew that she had some sort of attraction to him, an attraction that was stronger than her attraction to James. Suddenly, Rose did something that James did not expect her to do. She kissed him.