The Proposal: Chapter 10

Next morning Jax looked at the envelope. He handed it back to Maggie. "It has Keesha's name on it, take it upstairs." he stood. "Isn't my breakfast ready?" he left the sitting room.

"I can dress myself!" Keesha called from inside her chamber to the knock on her door.

The knocking continued. With a sigh, Keesha went over, opening the front door.

"This is yours my lady."

Keesha stared at the envelope in Maggie's hand. "Jax is going somewhere?"

"No. He is in the dining room. This was delivered."

"Thank you." Keesha closed the door, tossing the envelope on the desk. She finished tying her hair and went downstairs, leaving the letter unopened.

"I was considering taking you into town today."

"I may take myself into town."

"No. Actually you cannot, remember."

"Jax, I am not going anywhere."

"Of course." Jax smiled at Keesha. "Because you will not be going into town without me." He drank some tea. "So...I see you are receving letters," he mentioned, hoping his tone was nonchalant.

Maggie poured Jax another cup of tea. She knew he would want to know about that letter. She was surprised he had not opened it. She left the room.

"Yes. I have yet to open it however. I did not want to keep my food waiting. I know how you hate that," she smiled softly, before breaking eye contact once more. "I will open it before we leave."

"So you do wish that I take you?"

"I wish to go into town. If you insist on coming, then I cannot stop you."

"Well Keesha. I am glad we have some things clear."

"Of course...who is to say you can keep track of me once we are in town," she teased, drinking from her own tea cup.

Jax sat down on the edge of his bed. All he needed was his pocket watch...

It was unlike him to have such a scattered mind. Jax looked over and saw his unopened gifts on his nightstand.

Slowly he picked up Keesha's gift, carefully opening the box. His eyes grew at the sight of the golden watch inside. He had been looking at that watch...more importantly he had not given her any money. So she came up with the money to buy him...

"Keesha?" he called as he walked into their bath. He knocked on her door. "Keesha..."

Keesha read the letter once more, the tears escaping her eyes. "Yes?" she answered, wiping her face quickly.

"Thank you..." Jax's voice trailed off as he looked at her, sitting on the bed, her head bowed. "What is wrong?" He came over quickly.

"He's gone." Keesha looked up at Jax and her eyes watered again.

"Who is gone?"

Keesha wiped her tears once more, standing from her bed. "My father is dead."

Jax blinked. "Keesha..."

"I knew this would happen...I just..." She tossed her letter on the bed and walked over to the window.

Jax stared at Keesha. He came closer, slowly reaching for her.

"Please do not," she whispered as she continued staring out the window, and he froze. "If you allow me some time, I will be down soon."

"If you wish," Jax answered softly. "Take all the time you require." He headed for their adjacent door, walking into the bath.

Keesha took a deep breath. Why didn't he come? Why didn't her daddy come? He would be alive if he had only come. She wrapped her arms around herself and started to cry.

Jax leaned up against the still slightly opened door. He closed his eyes, listening to Keesha as she started to cry. He turned, opening the door and looking at her once more. He started to call for her, but he remembered, when his father died all he wanted was to be alone.

But he couldn't just leave her alone.

So, once again he closed the door partially and just waited in the bath. So he would be able to hear her if she called. Though he never expected to hear his name.

Suddenly it was quiet.

Too quiet.

"Keesha?" Jax called softly, opening the door again.

Keesha did not answer. She walked away from the window and went over to Jax. Without looking at him, she stood in front of him waiting.

"May I do something?" he whispered. She finally looked up at him, and his heart shattered at the sadness in her eyes. Despite himself he reached out, touching her cheek.

Keesha closed her eyes and stepped closer, and Jax slowly wrapped his arms around her.

Suddenly he heard a whisper.

"Jax..."

Jax closed his eyes, holding Keesha tightly as she buried her face into his chest and cried once more.

"I thought you were going into town my lord."

"I have since changed my mind." Jax stared out the window of the library, looking at Keesha as she sat on the edge of the fountain, her thoughts buried in his mother's book. "Remind our lady that she cannot leave our grounds. If she asks why, mention Garcia, and she will remember." Jax turned away from the window, looking at Maggie.

Maggie was surprised Jax did not deliver such an important message to Keesha himself. Yet she said nothing.

"Do not bother her however. Tell her and leave. She is not to be bothered today."

"We will be eating soon..."

"Do not bother her. Just leave her be." Jax left the library and Maggie heard his footsteps disappear up the stairs.

Keesha drew the book closer to her...why could she not see as well...she looked up, realizing for the first time night was beginning to fall.

She had been outside all of this time? She closed her book quickly. If she missed dinner yet again, Jax would be angry. And she did not feel like dealing with her husband while he was angry.

Keesha ran up the stairs. She would have to change into something quickly. Maybe for once, she would ask Maggie for help...

Jax looked up from his letter to Jules at the sound of movement coming from Keesha's room. He blew out his candle and walked into the bath.

Keesha sat down on the edge of the bed, reaching behind her to tie her dress. Where did she put the ribbon she just removed from her hair. She glanced around and her eyes focused on the letter, right where she had left it in the middle of her bed.

Jax watched as Keesha froze momentarily. She reached over and picked up the letter once more, reading it again.

The last lines of her aunt's letter caught her attention for the first time.

Your father wished happiness for you, Keesha. He let you go so you could find a life of happiness. Please do not let your time apart have been in vain.

Keesha sighed deeply and then rested it on her lap. She leaned back in the bed and closed her eyes.

Jax waited awhile and then walked into the room. He closed her front door completely and drew her curtains shut. He stared at Keesha and concluded she had in fact fallen asleep. Jax walked over slowly and sat down at the edge of the bed. He reached out, pushing her hair back from her eyes before bending and placing a kiss on her cheek.

Jax finished his letter to Jerry and pulled out his watch. It was almost midnight. He looked over as Keesha turned in her bed, sighing deeply before falling asleep once more. Jax stood from her desk, strecthing as he realized sadly he probably should go back to his own chamber. He walked over to Keesha, covering fully with her blanket.

And her eyes opened.

"I did not mean to wake you."

Keesha stared at Jax, the flickering candles on her nightstand illuminating his face. Could she have possibly have fallen even more in love with him as she slept? "Why are you in here?" she asked, primarily to herself.

"I was going to leave. However..." Jax sighed, breaking eye contact.

And Keesha's heart continued to fill as she waited, looking at him.

"I have done nothing but watch you all day whenever it was possible, without you knowing I was there. If you have need to cry again, I wanted to be here to help you in any way I can..."

Keesha sat up in the bed as Jax watched. She leaned against the headbord and drew the cover from her body. "I am not going to cry."

"Then I may go now." He smiled softly.

She tilted her head, looking at him once more. "Thank you."

"Do not thank me." Keesha reached out slowly, touching the collar to his shirt. Jax glanced down, looking at her fingers.

"Have you changed your bandage?" she whispered when his eyes met hers once more.

Jax shook his head. "You always ask that at the oddest of times. But, yes. I have...do not concern yourself with my well being. I am fine."

"As am I."

"Are you?"

"No," she admitted softly.

"No?"

"Somewhere I have lost the tie to my hair."

"That is not important."

"Perhaps not to you, but there I have lost control of enough for one lifetime. I would like some aspects of my life to be in order."

"Really..."

Keesha caught her breath as Jax leaned over her body. She watched as he slowly sat upright once more, trailing her ribbon across her stomach. "Well I have found it and now order is restored...." Jax's voice trailed off as Keesha rested her hand gently on top of his, pressing it against her body.

Keesha watched as Jax's gaze slowly travelled up the length of her body, until their eyes were meeting once more.