Chapter Sixteen

Lena sat at the desk in Jack's study and entered numbers in the ledgers Jack had brought from the club.

It had been four weeks since Essie had been kidnapped and Lena had been shot. She was much improved and almost ready to return to the club to work, but Jack wouldn't let her yet. He told her it was too soon.

Most days she felt fine and was sure she could work all day. Then there were days when she was ready to rest by noon. But today she was sure she could work well into the night, she felt so energized.

Jack would never allow that, though. He kept a close watch on her and made sure she didn't overdo it.

Brad and Essie were married a week ago. They had a small yet beautiful celebration. Essie, of course, made a beautiful bride, and Brad was an extremely handsome groom. Lena was so happy for them. To her chagrin, she cried through the entire ceremony. She couldn't believe Essie had found the perfect man to marry, a man who loved her with his whole heart despite her blindness. That was something she'd never thought would happen.

Jack had insisted that Brad and Essie live at Corbin House. Brad had always lived in the west wing, and Jack offered to enlarge it to make it as big as Essie and Brad wanted, but Essie had refused his offer. She explained that she felt more comfortable in a smaller space. That would be easier for her to manage. Brad agreed, so they moved their meager belongings into the west wing and made their home there.

Jack still slept at the club, and Lena slept in her room in the east wing. She loved it here, and if Jack ever proposed, this was where they would live.

"Are you gathering wool again, Lena?" Jack said from the doorway of his study.

Lena laughed. "Yes," she answered. "I think we should invest in some sheep. I find I gather wool so often, sheep would be quite profitable."

Jack laughed, then crossed the room and came around the desk to kiss her. "Oh, you smell good. What did you have for breakfast?"

"Toasted bread with orange marmalade. It was delicious."

"Now, you are delicious."

"And you are a flatterer."

"Of course I am. It's what I'm known for."

"I can believe that. What am I ever going to do with you?"

"You are going to get up from that chair and come over to the sofa and talk to me. I have something to tell you about."

Lena rose from her chair and walked to the sofa, where she sat down beside him. "What? Has something happened?"

"I had a visitor this morning."

"Who?"

"Josiah Barnaby came to see me."

"Oh, how is he doing?"

"Physically, he's doing fine. But he is thinking about bringing his mother and moving to Willowbrook."

"That's wonderful, isn't it?"

"Yes, but he needs something to do, and all he's ever done is build railroads with his uncle."

"So, what are his intentions?"

"He wanted to know if I would be interested in his taking over the running of the London/Willowbrook line."

"Oh," Lena answered, trying to be noncommittal. "What do you think of that? Would you be interested in giving up controlling interest? It would mean a loss of income for you."

"It would mean a loss of income for us," he corrected her.

"Money has never been that important to me, Jack. You know that. I have an idea of the money you make, and it's far more than we will ever need."

"So, you are in favor of letting Barnaby manage the railroad line?"

Lena turned on the sofa to squarely face him. "I would be in favor of you deciding what you would like to do, Jack. You would have more time to enjoy running your club, and more time to enjoy being with your wife and children—should you ever have them."

"Are you saying that I may not?" he asked with a look of surprise on his face.

"I don't know," Lena teased. "I wasn't aware that you had asked anyone to be your bride."

"I guess I haven't. I will have to remedy that. Will you marry me, Lena?"

Her eyes filled with tears of happiness. "Well, since you are the only man I have ever loved, or ever will love, I suppose I probably should marry you."

"Yes, I suppose you should," he said, "and since I purchased a special license the last time I went to London, we should probably get married before it expires."

"Yes, we probably should," Lena said. "Because I imagine it cost you a great deal of money."

"Oh, it did," Jack teased. "But then, you are worth it."

"Oh, I am," Lena assured him as another tear streamed down her cheek.

"I love you, Lena," Jack said, holding her in his arms. "More than I thought I would ever love anyone."

"We will have a wonderful life together, Jack. A life filled with happiness and laughter and lots of children to love."

"How many is ‘lots'?" he asked.

"I don't know. However many God grants us. He knows we have lots of love to give them."

"Yes, we do," he said, and kissed her.