Wallingham Manor 1905
Caroline entered the room. "What is all the commotion?"
Jack showed her the newspaper. "Isn't wonderful? Katherine is back here in England. I can see her again."
A frown crossed her face and she shook her head. "Jack, she is still a Baroness and most important, she is still married. How is going to see her again so wonderful?"
"Don't you understand? I can see her, talk to her again." Jack was beside himself with joy and Caroline was trying to make him understand what the situation truly was.
"So you see her, then what? Your heart gets broken again." Caroline held his hand. "Jack, think what this will cost you."
He had her sit down, still holding hands. He needed to explain himself to her; to make her understand why he needed to see Kate. The words poured out. " I love Kate and I know she loves me. My problem is I fell in love with a married woman. If I never met her then I wouldn't have put her in that position. I have caused her much grief. When she left Peking we never got a chance to say good-bye. It may be over between us but I have to know."
Caroline looked him in face. "You are good man, John Percival and I guess you deserve to know."
"Don't judge me too quickly. Michael was right about married women and I."
"What are you saying?" Caroline gave him a quizzical look.
"While in China Michael talked constantly about you. He described you down to the smallest detail. It got so I didn't need to see your picture he always cared with him. Compared to my situation, I became jealous of him. When I met you at your wedding, you were better than my imagination. And each time I have seen you my feelings have grown."
Caroline stood up and walked to the sideboard. "Are you saying what I think you are saying?"
"You are Michael's wife, my best friend's wife, and I have no right to feel this way. Maybe I'm jealous. I don't know."
"Then last night, when I came to you..."
"More than anything but I knew if I did, it would ruin 2 other people's lives. I already ruined my own."
Caroline turned and ran to him. She fell to the floor, kneeling and placing her head in his lap. "No, Jack, don't say that. You are a good man. You're kind, decent, and caring. You were there for me yesterday and last night. You showed your feelings in the best way possible. A different time, different place, perhaps."
Jack nodded. "It seems my fate with my love," he thought. "A different time, a different place, a different woman."
Again Jack rode the train, this time south to London. Like the last time he had time to think. When he left Caroline, she made it clear that he would always be welcomed at her home. She made him promise he would visit often and then kissed him in full view of some members of the staff. She then whispered in his ear that she hoped that might encourage him to visit again.
The last meeting with Michael was on his mind. It certainly ended badly but more importantly was the fact that Michael believed that something already had occurred between Caroline and him. If he continued to believe that, then there was no way to fix it. On the face of it, it seemed to Jack that Michael wanted it to happen and was pushing them together. For what reason he didn't know.
Finally Kate was where he could reach her. Caroline had made perfectly good sense as to why he shouldn't but it didn't matter. He had to see her even if just to return her locket. It might be the only way to clear her from his mind.
Jack reached London in a foul mood. He had wired ahead to tell Johnson what train he was on and when Johnson was a few minutes late, Jack almost chewed his head off. They rode in silence back to his flat. The falling rain mirrored his mood. When Johnson tried to remind him of the Monday meeting at the Embassy, Jack snarled that he knew and he expected Johnson to have everything ready in the morning. With that, he went up to his room.
The meeting on Monday was important as the Morocco Crisis was reaching the boiling point. Someone had to blink but no one wanted to lose face. If no one did, then war was a real possibility. Pres. Roosevelt had weighed in with a suggestion of a conference to talk, not fight. In information that was not to leave the room, Roosevelt backed the English and French position but more importantly he wanted the US included in any decision. If the US was to be a world power, it needed to be there.
As the meeting broke up, the Ambassador asked Jack to stay behind. "Excellent work on the British Naval alert, Major. The President was impressed also. It seems he knows you."
"Yes I met Mr. Roosevelt when I returned from China. I carried the dispatches to Washington and met him there. He is also friends with my family. He was only vice-president when I met him."
"I see," nodded the Ambassador. "I have an important job for you to do and I believe with, so I'll say, your connections, you can do it. I need you to work up the possible number of ships each country can put to sea. Battleships and cruisers only."
"Which countries, sir?" Jack asked.
"Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and Austria-Hungary. We have the US figures. The others are not as readily available."
"It may take a little time, sir."
"That's the rub, Major. We may not have time. Do this well and if everything works out, you can get some time away from here. I know I can count on you."
"Yes, sir. I'll get right on it."
Jack dived into the work. It seemed that nothing else matter and it took his mind off his personal dilemmas. He worked his contacts at all levels and with all the governments. In some cases he walked through the front doors of an Embassy and in other a meeting over dinner. He used his charm on some, male or female. For others, a little cash went a long way. He stayed late and arrived early. By late Wednesday afternoon he was done.
"Here you go, sir," Jack said presenting his paper. "As you can see, it is broken down by country and type of ship. I also included armament, condition, and present location. If possible, the name of the commanding officer."
"Good lord, Major. Job well done. It is more than we could ever want."
"Thank you, sir." Jack said. "Now if I may, I would like to go to my flat and sleep. And if possible, take that time you offered me?"
"By all means but leave a place where you can be reached. Just in case."
"Wallingham Manor, East Crosswicks, sir."
Jack was true to his word. He went straight to his flat and slept the sleep of the dead. Bright and early the next day he was up and on his way to Wallingham Manor. He really had no plans. He wasn't even sure if Kate would be there or even want to see him. He told Johnson that he may be back tonight or need him to bring some clothes for a longer stay.
It was not knowing that was killing him. In the Marines there was always some plan or an idea of a plan. In his current position, he could be cool and calculating but he knew his ultimate destination. When it came to women, it seemed to him, that nothing was clear. He led with his heart, not his head, especially with Kate, and even Caroline. For someone who could be quite smart, he could be incredibly stupid.
The village of East Crosswicks was a picturesque place. Except for the train station, Jack felt that it had changed very little in the last hundred years. He made his way to a small inn just off the green. Upon entering, some of the locals stopped their conversations and gave him the once over. He walked over the bar where a young lady stood. She appeared to be a little younger than Jack, blue eyes and freckles, a healthy country girl.
"Don't mind them," she said with a bright smile. "We don't get many strangers here. At least not ones like you." She looked him up and down. "What can I do for you?"
"I'd like a room, for at least 1 night, possible more. I'm not certain yet."
"Very good, sir. I can give you our best room. It is in the front and has windows facing the green so you can catch the breeze. And your name, sir?"
"Major John Percival."
The girl stepped from behind the bar and had him follow her upstairs. Showing him the room the girl turned to leave. "If you need any thing, my name is Colleen and I will be glad to help."
