Rose felt as though she were floating above her body. She saw herself being led downstairs. She felt Cal's hand pressing against the small of her back. She heard the low murmur of his voice and heard her own respond. But she wasn't really a part of any of it. It wasn't even happening to her. It was happening to someone else. She just happened to be able to see it.
No, it isn't! What's wrong with you? You have to get back up there! Jack's—
Her breath caught in her throat. Jack! Her mind raced. She had to get away from Cal, even if it was just for a second. She searched frantically for an excuse to leave. There had to be something she could say, some reason she could give—
"Rose, you look pale," her mother said, startling her out of her thoughts. Rose looked around. Without even realizing it, she had somehow ended up on the couch next to the fireplace in the parlor. Cal sat next to her, his hand on hers. Her mother stood at the window. "Are you letting your nerves make you ill again?"
Rose shook her head. "No, Mother." Her voice was little more than a squeak.
"That's what I thought," Cal said. He gave her a probing look. She was pale. Though how a woman with skin like hers can get any paler, I don't know, he thought. Not that he minded Rose's fair complexion. He actually considered it to be one of her most attractive qualities. "Like snow," he often called it. "Or milk." He would touch her cheek lightly with his fingertips. "Pure. That's the word for it. Perfect." Rose would just smile and quickly move away—further proof of her nervous disposition. He didn't mind most of the time. Rose's reticence might be a bit frustrating at times, but he preferred it to the alternative. After all, if he'd wanted an easily accessible woman for a wife, he'd be marrying his mistress. Of course, if that reticence lingered on after she became his wife, well, that would be another matter entirely.
"I got a little overexcited last night," Rose said. "I just need some quiet. So much has happened lately." She pressed a hand to her forehead. Ruth gasped as she caught sight of the ring on her middle finger. Rose gave her a puzzled look. "What—oh," she said, glancing at her hand. "It's stunning, isn't it?” She tried to sound enthusiastic.
She must have succeeded, because Cal looked pleased with himself. "I can't believe you didn't show her sooner," he chided gently. "But I should be accustomed to that by now. You so rarely show off anything I give you."
Rose ducked her head. "You know how I hate to draw attention to myself."
He smiled indulgently. "Yes, I know. I keep trying to find a way to change that." He placed a quick kiss on her head. "At least this one impressed you."
*****
Meanwhile, Jack was trying to decide if he should leave or wait for Rose to come back. "Or should I go after her?" he wondered. "But what if I do and she's fine? Well, as close to fine as she can be with him?" He chewed his lip. "What if I go running down there and it ends up making things worse for her?"
But what if she needs you?
His stomach knotted. If only there was a way he could get down there and see what was going on without anyone knowing he was there. But that would be impossible. The house was full of servants. One of them was bound to see him if Cal or Ruth didn't beat them to it. And then where would he be? More importantly, where would Rose be?
"No. That's just too risky," he decided. Of course, staying there even a second longer was a risk in and of itself. "I can't leave, though. Maybe I should, but I can't. Not unless she goes with me."
*****
Rose once again found herself being led away by Cal. This time it was to the garden outside. He'd decided she needed to get some fresh air, and so before she had a chance to protest, they were already halfway to the door.
She held her breath as they passed beneath her window. She glanced up at it out of the corner of her eye. The curtains moved slightly, as if someone were trying to look through them without being seen. Her breathing quickened. Jack.
I have to get back to him, she thought frantically. Oh, God, what if someone finds him before I can?
"Cal," she heard herself say. "Would you mind terribly if I went back upstairs for a moment?"
He seemed to study her face for an eternity before he finally answered. "Of course not," he said. "Are you feeling ill again?"
Say yes! Say you think you feel horrible and it might be contagious! No, she couldn't say that. If she said something like that, he'd have a doctor in before she could even finish getting the words out. And then he'd definitely never leave. "I just want to get a hat," she lied. "I don't want my face getting too much sun."
"Of course not," he said. "I'll walk you back inside."
"There's no need to trouble yourself. I'll only be a moment."
*****
"Jack!" Rose whispered loudly. "Jack, where are you?" Her heart sank. Had he left? Well, what did you expect him to do? Wait around to see if he could get caught?
Jack pushed the wardrobe door open a crack and peeked out. He'd jumped inside when the knob on Rose's door began to turn. "Rose!"
She whirled around just in time to see him climbing out of the wardrobe. "You're still here!" She threw her arms around him.
"Of course I'm still here," he said, hugging her back. "Rose, I'm not gonna leave you."
"I'm sorry, Jack!" She grabbed his face and kissed him. "I'm so sorry! I didn't want to go! I didn't know how to get away from him!"
"It's okay," he said soothingly. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"
"No. He's trying to make up for last night." She held her hand up. "He even gave me this," she said, her voice thick with disgust.
"Yeah, I saw that already. Thought it had something to do with last night." Jack resisted the urge to ask what he'd done. Not only did he not want to upset her further, but part of him didn't want to know. It was bad enough knowing he'd hit her.
"He thinks this just makes things all right," she said. She stared at her hand. "As if the whole thing never happened."
Jack covered the ring with his hand. "It doesn't matter what he thinks. I'm taking you away from him."
"I wish we could go now," she said softly.
"We can."
"No, we can't. He's outside waiting for me."
Jack swore under his breath. "Listen," he said. "We're leaving tonight. No matter what happens."
She nodded. "All right."
"Go back to him—" His mouth twisted as he said the words. "—and just pretend like everything's normal. I'll be here when you get back."
"You can't just stay here all day," she said. "Someone might find you."
"Don't worry about me," he said firmly. "I'll be fine." He pulled her closer. "But if he hurts you again, I'll kill him."