Armored Hearts

chapter 19

The dappled sunlight from the balcony window gave Jessamine a glow while she slept in their bed. Gareth sat in the chair beside her, watching her sleep. Tabitha stood next to him, her hand on his shoulder. Her eyes were red and puffy, and though she still broke into sobs on occasion after discovering her father’s death, she refused to leave Gareth’s side.

Gareth leapt from the chair and took to flying in the room, a sort of pacing he always did when he felt trapped, shooting back and forth, from one side to the other. “Where is Sarah today? Maybe I should have had the doctor come,” Gareth snapped, at no one in particular.

“When you went to speak to Reverend Piper about the…funeral,” Tabitha said and swallowed before continuing, “Sarah was here. She propped Jessamine up and spoon fed her broth. She said the herbs in it would help. She’s made just as much a fuss over Jessie as you have.”

He looked down at Jessamine and thought of how the Steels could have taken her from him. He glanced over at Tabitha, who had taken his place in the chair by Jessamine. Somehow his loyalty that day had switched. He started with plans to rescue his young aunt, but when Jessamine was poisoned, it was her he worried most about.

Gareth turned his attention to the bed when he heard the sheets and blankets rustle. He flew to the other side of the bed and sat next to her.

Jessamine tried to sit up, but fell back into the pillows, her hands fluttering to her face. “My head is splitting.”

“Don’t try to sit. Just lie still.” Gareth pulled the blanket up around her.

Tabitha leaned in closer to her friend. “Do you remember what happened?”

Jessamine glanced over at her, then blinked in realization and again tried to sit up. “Tabitha, you’re here?”

“Lie down before I strap you to the bed.” Gareth pushed her back down gently.

Jessamine glanced up at him, smirking. “That’s fine with me but let’s at least wait for Tabitha to leave before you do.”

Tabitha’s face turned pink as she covered her mouth.

“Oh…” Gareth shot up from the bed and hovered to the side.

Tabitha giggled. “Sarah found me tied up on an airship. It’s what they used to take me captive and shot arrows at the two of you when you came after me.”

Realization swept over Jessamine as she looked at Tabitha. “Oh, Tabitha, I am so sorry about Lord Gerald.”

Tabitha patted Jessamine’s hand. Her face softened, and her voice cracked. “Thank you. He gave his life trying to rescue me.”

“He loved you.”

Tabitha’s lip quivered as she bowed her head. “I know.”

Jessamine tried to push up again, but Gareth stopped her. “Please lie still until Sarah comes back.”

“I’m so stiff. How long have I been out?”

“Two days.”

“Two days?” This time Jessamine pushed herself up to a seated position, only to lie down again. “I’m so dizzy.”

Gareth fluffed the pillow and pulled up the blanket around her. “Rest and take it slowly.”

“When you get up and about, I’ll take you to see the airship. It’s well built. I’m quite impressed with the thing. I got to pilot it here. Wait until you see it.”

“An airship? Here? I’ve read journals on the theory behind them but had no idea any had been built. Take me to it.” She tried once again to get up.

Gareth blocked her from standing. “This is ridiculous. You are not going to see the airship right now. You were poisoned. Give it time to fully leave your system first before going off with Tabitha to play with toys.” His tone was gruff, but his movements were tender as he settled her back into bed.

“Tabitha, you best go. I think that my husband and I need some alone time.” She turned her head and in a mock whisper said, “I’ll sneak out later, and we’ll take it for a spin.”

Tabitha giggled and left the room, pulling the door shut behind her.

Jessamine lay back against her pillow and sighed. “I’m so glad she’s home and safe. I’d hated the thought of her hurt in a trap meant for me. I should have been the one to open the gift.”

“A trap meant for you but because of me. And if you’d opened it instead of Tabitha, what then? I’d still have gone after you.”

“I know, but I’m new here…and not exactly wanted. Tabitha grew up with you. That’s all I meant. Had it all gone wrong, I’d be the easiest to lose.”

Gareth’s mouth fell open, and he was about to say something when the door behind them creaked on its hinges.

“Yer up?” Sarah stood in the doorway, holding a tray.

“She just woke. And she keeps trying to get out of bed.”

Sarah smiled. “Ye gave yer husband here quite the scare. For the future, remember not to eat or drink anything offered by possible bad folk.” Sarah made her way to the table with a tray of tea and cakes before moving on to the bed. She placed her hand on Jessamine’s forehead. “How ye feelin’?”

Jessamine sighed. “My head hurts and my muscles ache from lying still for so long.”

“Let’s get ye up and see if ye got steady legs as yet.” She helped Jessamine out of bed and steadied her. “How ye feel now?”

Jessamine took a couple of steps before her legs buckled. Gareth rushed up and helped seat her in the chair.

“I guess I won’t be sneaking off for a joy ride in the airship after all.”

“Take it easy. We need to be stayin’ put until Thompton makes it back anyway. The townsfolk believe Lord Pensees was killed in an accident by a hunter in the wood. If you be up to it, the funeral’s set for the morrow.” She turned her attention to Gareth. “When Thompton returns, we’ll most likely be on our way to the Court of Ansleigh.”

“What about my father?” Jessamine asked, stifling a yawn.

Sarah frowned. “I hate to tell ye we deceived him.”

Jessamine looked back and forth between them. “What do you mean?”

Gareth leaned toward her. “When we returned from the Steels, we discovered that your father had had an urgent telegraph from your mother. It seems there has been some sort of disturbance with the natives back home. He wouldn’t leave without saying his farewells to you, so Sarah…”

“Aye. I took yer appearance and said goodbye fer ye so he wouldna be worried.”

Jessamine blinked. “Oh.”

Gareth nodded. “He understood that Tabitha needed to stay for the funeral and would have liked to stay himself, but your mother said the problem could not wait.”

Wrinkles of worry formed in Jessamine’s forehead. “I wonder what the problem could be.”

“We can wire them if you’d like,” Gareth offered and set a hand on her shoulder.

Her soft smile met his and made his heart flutter. He’d almost lost her just when he’d found her.

“What are yer plans for the factory?” Sarah asked.

Gareth frowned. “I haven’t decided. I wanted to talk to Jessamine about it first.”

“What factory?” Jessamine asked as Sarah handed her a cup of tea. Jessamine eyed the cup for a moment.

“Dona worry. I just made it. Go on and drink it.”

Jessamine grinned and did as she was told, taking a sip before placing the cup back on the saucer.

“I took over the Steel’s factory. I paid the workers and told them they could come weekly to collect wages until we had it up and running again. But I’ve no clue how to run a manufacturing plant, or what it should produce.”

Jessamine took a sip of the tea and followed it with a bite of the cake Sarah had put on a plate beside her. “That’s simple. Give it to my mother and father to run. Tabitha was going to be my mother’s new understudy, and they can decide who will manage it and what it will produce. Maybe it will give Tabitha a reason to come back sooner.”

Gareth brightened at the thought and nodded. “Splendid. We’ll wire them about the factory, as well. But until then, how do I get the pay to the workers?”

“I’ll take it there ’til Thompton gets back. I can send the wire fer ye, too.” Sarah made her way to the curtains and drew them shut. “I’ve been thinking that this may na be the best place for ye. I didna want to move Jessamine while she be recovering any more than necessary, but now that she’s up, I think ye’d be better off movin’ to a room with no windows.”

Gareth nodded. “That sounds wise. I’ll help move a bed in there.”

Sarah stood with her hands on her hips. “Yer Lord Pensees here, and King Tristan the second in my land, ye’ll na be doing any such thing. I’ll manage.”

“I’ve not agreed to be your king yet and either way, I’m helping you.” Gareth motioned her toward the door with a sway of his head. “Go and find a room that suits our needs, and I’ll be there to help shortly.”

With a shake of her head, Sarah walked out and closed the door behind her. Gareth knelt down beside Jessamine’s chair. “How are you feeling?”

“Better. I’ll have to remember my southern manners do not apply when visiting evil fairy folk. I’ll sew in some pockets and keep snacks on me for when I’m out instead. But pulling out my own snack still seems so rude.”

He shook his head at her. “How are you taking all that has happened since we’ve met in stride? You’ve been attacked and now poisoned. This can’t be the life you dreamed of as a girl when you thought of me?”

Jessamine leaned forward. “It doesn’t matter what I dreamed of before we married. This is our reality. I’ve thought you the most extraordinary man from the moment we met. And it’s proven true. I should have expected marrying you would come with an extraordinary life.”

Gareth flew back to the bed and sat. “See, there you go, making it all sound so much better than it is.”

“Than what is?”

“Being married to me. I can hardly stand myself most days.”

Jessamine laughed. “That was quite honest of you to say.” She smiled and pushed herself up in the chair. “I guess it’s just how I was brought up. My parents weren’t perfect. My mother…when she is on a project, working out the bugs to it, she forgets the rest of us even exist. That’s how my father and I ended up coming to England without her. She was supposed to come, too, to help me pick out a proper suitor. But she’d been working on a new automaton for the factory and would not leave her workshop on the day we were to depart. And yet, my father adores her. And she adores him for accepting her when she gets that way. She’s sent so many messages to me, apologizing for missing my wedding. I’d be lying if I said her missing it didn’t hurt my feelings. But that’s the mom I’ve got. Brilliant and obsessive. She’s planning a huge reception in America for when we get to visit, to make up for missing the wedding.”

Gareth considered her words before he rose and looked away. “Well, I was brought up that marriage was a necessity for men to produce legal heirs and nothing more. And a wife was a shackle keeping a man from his entertainment, leaving him to always be picking at the lock for his freedom. I’ve had no interest in the whole matter. Especially with my secret to keep.”

“And now?”

He looked back at her. “Now I’m thinking of the way you stood by me, ready to aid me. If marriage can be like that…I might not be so opposed to it all.”

Jessamine motioned toward the door. “I think Sarah and Thompton show that’s possible. She misses him, you know.”

Gareth only nodded.

For a brief moment they just stared at each other. Gareth’s heart ached in his chest. “If you think you can put up with me…” He stood and took her hand, drawing her to her feet. “I’d like to try and learn to be a good husband.”

He pulled Jessamine to him and tasted her lips. They were soft and sweet from the tea and cakes.

When the kiss ended Jessamine blinked up at him. “I think that was an excellent start.”

“Nothing more until you are recovered.”

“And when should that be?”

Gareth clenched his jaw as his thoughts drew dim.

“What is it?”

“Sarah thought you’d wake right away from the poison, but it took two days. It has made her rethink what they poisoned you with. Perhaps there was something other than herbs in the tea. We don’t know yet.”

Jessamine swallowed and looked away. She forced a smile and glanced back up at him. “I’m sure it was only herbs, perhaps just a lot of them at once. I’m feeling better by the moment.”

But Gareth saw the hint of fear in her eyes.