Chapter 7 - A Gathering of Forces

Monday came all too quickly for Emmeline, now that she had resumed working again. She liked the work, and San Francisco Public was certainly a far cry from Pankhurst and it's attendant picayune pomposity...but she had come to love life's slower pace back in the Villa Encantata. Herb, egg and wool gathering, planting, harvesting, drying crops, caring for the animals, milking goats, cooking, canning, even sewing and chopping wood all seemed to Em more worthwhile efforts and far more agreeable to her than city life.
Em sighed as she struggled to awaken and prepare to meet the new day. Caramba but it was cold in San Francisco! Mark Twain had the right of it...she braved a peek out her window. Bah. Fog again...yes, she had to admit, she was a changed person for all her recent experiences.
Oddly, Daryl accompanied her on this trip to the library, and escorted her within. They came upon Mrs. Peel in the foyer. Emmeline noted her worthy supervisor was sporting a violet and gold ribbon. Her notions were bang on when after greeting them both, she handed Daryl and Em a handbill proclaiming 'Women's Suffrage Meeting': at District
11 Union Hall. 'Tonight!'smiled Mrs. Peel. 'I do hope you will attend!' She looked down upon her new employee's head, suddenly filled with hopeful visions of renewed activism.
'Oh, certainly!' Emmeline answered, daring Daryl to oppose them both.
Daryl, ever surprising, answered, 'Unfortunately, I shan't be able to attend, but my ward seems anxious to be represented in my stead.'
'Very good!' Mrs. Peel nodded, and addressed Emmeline. 'A coterie of library women will be heading there directly after work, if you would care to join us.' She looked at Daryl, '...and we would be happy to take you home afterward.'
Daryl agreed that would be fine, and seemed full of encouragement for the ladies' efforts. Well! One never knew did one? Em couldn't spare time to figure out Daryl's quirks.
She looked forward to the evening out, and becoming acquainted with the library's sisterhood.
Oddly, because she'd be leaving with the women of the library when heading home, Daryl took Manuel with him this day, leaving Emmeline without her escort/guard. Finally...she liked Manuel, she simply did not care to be under constant surveillance.
Later that day, toward the end of her shift, she spotted a familiar bright red head of hair. Ah! She remembered then, it had to be Casey. Yes, that the was lad who did the odd job for Jack and Aleister she now recalled.
Hmmm...and no Manuel. A perfect day to get word to Jack, et al. Em went to the desk and took a sheet of paper and pencil and scribbled a quick note:
'Mr. Yeats, Jack and Aleister,
First, I must say muchas gracias, mi amigos. As ever, I am
in your debt. But my short stay here has yielded much fruit.
Ripe for the picking. I would like to get some choice offerings to you, as soon as possible. Tonight there is a suffrage meeting at the Union Hall, district 11, at 6pm. I shall await you there with a cornucopia!
Adiosa til then,
Emmelina'
There! Em folded the note and went into the 800's seeking Yeats. She found him easily enough and stuck the note within, setting the book back upon the shelf, slightly forward of the others. She paused, wondering if their own Mr. Yeats was a relative of Himself; he had hinted as much during the St. Patrick's celebration. Well, another mystery for another day perhaps...Em gazed about her, hoping Casey would notice the book before someone else did. Ah, there he was, across the room, he caught her eye then and lightly touched his cap and gave a bare nod.
Em exited around the shelf and took her cart down the aisle, keeping one eye on Casey. He casually approached Yeats's shelf and from the other side, Em saw the book disappear. She watched as he took the note, glanced about, and pocketed it, setting the book back with a wink her way across the shelf.
At last, the Game Was Afoot!
                           . . . .
Although evenings came sooner now, still 6 pm hadn't come soon enough for Emmeline. She entered the Union Hall with the others from the library, amazed at the turnout here! The hall was much larger than any at Pankhurst, and it was already filling with people, not only women, Em was pleased to note, hoping for some brotherly solidarity as well.
The ladies jockied for seats, greeting friends, and saved a space for Em, luckily on the aisle. 'It's so good to see such a crowd! Back in Pankhurst, we could barely fill a hall half this size!'
Mrs. Peel smiled. 'Well, you're not in Pankhurst any longer!' she touched Em's hand briefly. 'I should not be surprised to see things become SRO before the night is over!'
One of the women, a Ms. Greer, if Em remembered aright, leaned forward, 'We all pull together here! Most of us anyway,'she grinned, 'We San Franciscans are known for our open minds.'
Mrs. Peel sighed, as she gazed about, 'Yes...but there's still the Old Guard here, the Old Boys' Club, you know, wishing to hold on to their musty, ancient facades, however crumbling...'
'Well,'another woman took up the thread,'You do know old Dewey only recommended women for library work because he knew they could be paid less money than men!' She gave a sharp nod to punctuate her words. Em did recall that now. What was this lady's name? ...something like Stein...
Steinem, perhaps? She sat back smiling to herself. She liked these women.
Best keep an eye peeled for her party, though. No sign of Yeats or Jack as yet. Thank goodness they were both tall, she might be able to locate them easier in this throng.
'Ah, here are Greta and Margaret!' Mrs. Peel stood, waving toward the doorway, trying to catch the attention of her friends. 'They've seen us. Now, where to put them...?' she gazed about. Em thought this was her chance. 'I don't mind sitting behind you all! If your row moves over one, they can both fit beside you...'
Despite polite protests, Em did just that, and took a seat behind the women. Perfect. Now she could slip out easier when the time came...if it ever did. 'I'm just going to the tables in back a moment to have a look at the literature, if you don't mind watching my coat?'
Amid murmurs of agreement, Emmeline slipped out and wandered about the hall, thrilling to the energy of the crowd. She breathed a sigh of relief. How grand to be somewhere amongst so many others of like mind! What a battleground, by comparison, Pankhurst was; at least where there was anything new or at all challenging to the status quo. Perhaps there was something to city life after all, at least in San Francisco.
Em was perusing tables of handbills, which she pocketed in her bag, as well as hastily printed stacks of literature of all sorts, and not only women's voting rights. Emmeline was heartened by viewing Gertrude Sanger's family planning materials here, recalling that earnest and hardworking lady. Ah, some union handbills as well. I best keep a low profile with that until I've tested the waters at work, Em thought, thinking she was pushing enough envelopes there already...
Emmeline had donated some coins and was pinning a gold and violet ribbon to her jacket, when she heard a familiar voice:
'Viva la difference, except when it comes to women's rights, of course!' Em looked up into Jack's smiling and welcome face, and noted Yeats looming behind.
She smiled. 'I'm so glad you could come!' She glanced about. 'I have much to tell you both, but...alas, I can't get away for long...'
'Leave that to me, then,'Yeats took charge. 'We shall be traveling in a special coach which shall deliver us between and beyond, and back again, no one the wiser.'
'I haven't brought...anything, with me though,' Em accented her 'anything' hoping they would know she was referring to the the artefact. 'I only just found out about the meeting here this morning.'
'Not to worry. We have a conveyance of our own, just over here...' Yeats put an arm forth, escorting them both out the  rear exit, after muscling their way through the gathering crowd.
As they went through the doorway, Em felt a tight squeeze upon her person, and a slight feeling of being stretched somehow, as Jack took one hand and Yeats held her other. All went black and she felt nothing under her feet a moment.
When she could see again, she found herself standing in the parlor of Crowley House.
                           . . . .
Aleister rose in greeting. 'Emmeline! My girl! So good to see you!' He gestured for her to have a seat upon the sofa, which she managed to do whilst orienting herself.
'How are you feeling?' Dr. Parsons enquired, sitting beside her.
Em blinked, glancing about her. 'I, I think I'm alright. Physically. Perhaps a trifle dizzy.' My, how strange the place seemed to her now! Though it hadn't been long, timewise, too much had happened in that same short space between Emmeline's departure and return for it to seem anything other than an age betwixt then and now.
'May I?' Aleister enquired, taking Emmeline's pulse.
'Oh, Aleister...I'm alright, truly.' Em was touched by his concern.
Yeats looked at Jack and the latter went 'round into the kitchen, whilst the Head took a seat. Jack returned moments later with a tray of hot tea. Setting it upon the tea table before them, he poured for all.
'Do try some tea, Em. It will settle you,' Jack handed her a cup, ever solicitous.
Emmeline recalled her mission here then, fingering her cameo. She wore the one Daryl had given her nearly every day. She accepted the tea and smiled. 'I'm fine. Everything seems so oddly familiar,' Em commented as she gazed 'round. 'I recognize it all, but it seems from nearly another lifetime ago...'
Yeats sat in the chair across from her and looked intently upon her. 'You needn't worry about your friends missing you. As long as you are here with us, your time is frozen back in the City. When you return, it will be as though you never left.'
Jack sat in the armchair next to Yeats regarding her seriously as well. She needed to come round to present place/time and get down to business...
Just then from the back of the house came a slap-bang! and a scampering of claws on floor hailed the arrival of Dylan through his recently cut dog-door; a furry ball of hyperactivity and bon homie.
'Oh! Who is this then?' Emmeline asked, attempting to pet Dylan who was twisting himself into pretzels at her feet.
'Dylan! Sit!'Aleister tried his best command-voice. Dylan sat, a minute, too excited by company to last longer and resumed his enraptured squirming about.
'Ah, this is Dylan, our new watchdog-to-be,' Jack offered,
thinking that title sounded rather more hopeful than actual at present. 'We acquired him only recently, after the incident here with the bear...'
'Bear!?' He'd Em's attention now.
'Um, yes, a tale for another time perhaps. The bear is no longer a threat at any rate,'Jack wished to hear what Em had to say about Daryl forthwith.
Aleister directed Dylan to his basket. 'Lie down, boy.' Dylan reluctantly went and complied, but his tail thumped hopefully from his corner.'Alice is here still, but, ah, they're working on getting used to one another.'
Al motioned atop the secretary desk where Alice glared balefully down from her basket. Emmeline smiled, amused to be among her friends once more. 'It's good to be here, with you all, I must say...and thank you so much for your help;it is greatly appreciated!' The men made murmurs of 'not at all's!' and 'da nada's...' Em frowned slightly. 'Actually I don't know if I'm still a wanted suspect or not. Have you any news?'
Her friends assured her that the entire affair seemed to have been hushed-up. What they had concluded, was the man who was said to be 'missing' (one of the be-sheeted party who had
attacked the Guevara's and was accidentally killed), hadn't
really been missed much at all. As those who had perpetrated the attack knew they were in the wrong, and the Guevara's fled, the matter had been rather quickly dropped.
'The Guevara's can probably return home, and nothing more will be said about it,'Jack assured her.'I...don't believe that you were implicated, directly, Em.'
This was good news. Em visibly relaxed. Soon, somehow, (maybe even through Daryl, Emmeline reluctantly conjectured), she could get word to them in Mexico City.
'I'm hoping I may still have some of my papers here, for identification at the bank. There is an office in San Francisco near Nob Hill where Daryl has taken residence.'
'Nob Hill',thought Jack: perfect for Daryl who was still quite the knob in Jack's book. 'All of your papers and personal items are here, Em...in the Indigo Room.'
Ah, her old room...she'd barely a chance to try it out before she fled...how welcome it seemed now. Well, one day perhaps, but for now, she was on a mission and meant to see it through and find some answers.
'Good. I'll have to take what few items I may secret away with me when I return...but!' Em took a breath and continued,'I suppose you are wondering what news I have for you as well.'
'We are just happy to have you here with us, again, Emmeline.'Aleister assured her. Yeats and Jack smiled in agreement.
'And I couldn't be happier to see you all!' Em grinned and took a sip of tea. 'Right then! Well, as you may have guessed, Daryl showed up at the gypsy camp in Sonora where I was visiting with Marta's mother...'and she proceeded to detail her kidnapping and consequent enshrined entrapment at Casa Rivera.
 '"Don Diego" he is calling himself now! Can you believe it?'
Jack looked at Yeats, both men frowning now. 'This is the house on Nob Hill?'
'Yes. And look at this...' Emmeline opened her cameo and  revealed her mothers' photograph within. 'Daryl gave me some
clothing for work and other items, encluding this cameo of my mother. He also showed me a photograph, taken on the front steps of our same house, of him with my mother and father!'
'The devil you say...' Jack couldn't help himself. 'When was it taken?'
'Oh, 1860 he guessed. He didn't know exactly. It was before I was born.'Em glanced at him questioningly. She was hoping they would have more answers than questions.
'...Jack? Did you know they were acquainted?'
Jack was leaning forward, head in hand, and was rubbing his
chin in deliberation. '...actually, no, I didn't know. It's a surprise, rather.' He gazed up, eyebrow raised. 'Daryl's doings are pretty much a mystery, to me especially. I was always away at school...and he was banished from my fathers' house.' He sighed. 'I have only what I've gleaned from living at his old estate, and well, hearsay...'
'It does put quite a new twist on old mysteries...'Aleister opined.
'Well, you haven't heard anything yet!' Em leaned forward as well. 'He recently took me to a teashop on Russian Hill, a sortof antique store-cum-cafe, which was ran by a Russian woman, where he feted us in grand style and also gave me some royal hyperbole about our families, Jack, yours and mine, and how there is a connection somehow.' Jack was all ears. Emmeline looked down, trying to recall Daryl's ramblings.'...yes, something about a  Welsh prince, Madoc, a Bowen ancestor, which is my mother's maiden name, who had discovered America by way of Mobile Bay--this I know is a true legend, at least, I had heard of it from my cousins on the distaff side while I was there visiting, long ago...anyway...these Welsh sailors met with a tribe of Indians...'
'...the Mandan,' Jack supplied.
'Yes! Exactly! And they settled among them, teaching them Welsh apparently, and intermarrying...many of the tribe later had blue, grey and hazel eye colors.'
'Well,' Jack sat back, hands on knees. 'That explains our consanguinity, Em! Way back, on my mother's side as well, I have Mandan blood.'
'Jewish and Indian, and Dutch and now a wee bit Welsh as well, Jack? Interesting...'
Aleister looked at Jack as if he were studying a new  specimen. Luckily, Jack was used to Al's scientifically enquiring mind.
'Well, we're all a melting pot here in America,' Yeats supplied at last, who had been quietly taking in all the latest.
Em wasn't fazed, she was mentally adding it all up, hoping for an answer. '...also Daryl mentioned something about Elizabeth's court astrologer, John Dee--he,too, was related to Prince Madoc, or so he claimed.'
'...think I've heard something about that, now,'Jack mused.
Yeats stood then, pouring more tea all around. 'Yes, but what does it mean? And what has Daryl in mind for Emmeline?'
'I may have an idea...'Em ventured, taking a sip. 'Daryl mentioned that the Welsh, like most Kelts, have the odd bent for second sight, and for having interconnections with the Sidhe; he also said they excelled in time travel and walking between worlds.'
'As do most native tribes,and indigenous peoples of all lands,' Jack added.
'Possibly, when the two bloodlines combine...?' Aleister suggested, 'You have a good subject for timewalking through many dimensions.' Al considered this thoughtfully.
'When bloodlines combine...'Em was gazing at her left ring finger, and sighed. 'When I was in Sonora, at the gypsy festival, I met the gypsy king's daughter, Josephina...' Em smiled then. 'She was wonderful...truly...I wish I had been able to get to know her better! But, before Daryl came along, we spent a little time together and, we became blood-sisters.' Emmeline showed them her krys knife cut, now mostly healed.
'Hm...interesting,'Jack took her hand, studying the mark. 'It is rare that gypsies would take a stranger, and a gringa, gorgia, into their family so readily!'
'She read my palm...and gave me warning, although I didn't realize it then for what it was. The thing is, Jack,'Em paused, gazing at him,'Daryl has the same mark. He showed it to me, intending I take note of it.'
Jack looked at Yeats then. He stood at the mantle, leaning his chin in hand, deep in conjecture, but merely uttered a low, 'Hmmm...'
'Also...on the night he abducted me, he made certain I brought the artefact with me.'
Em had their full attention. 'And where is it now?' asked Yeats.
'It is safe, in my room at Daryl's house. Oddly, he only gazed at it and returned it to me. As far as I know, he hasn't touched it since.' She looked at them all, curious.
'That IS a mystery,' Aleister shook his head, and went to rummage in his humidor, drawing forth a cigarillo.
'A 'two-pipe problem', doctor?' Em enquired, slyly.
'Ah Emmeline...' The good doctor lit up with the tip of some small kindling, '...we have missed your wit of late, my dear.' He smiled. Good of the lass to have endured all she had with such grace. He wished that she would give her adventuring a bit of a rest, however. She looked much too thin and wan since he'd last seen her.
'As your physician, though, my girl, I urge you to take things easy for awhile, whenever you can. How is your health now?' The unrepentant smoking doctor enquired.
Em felt she'd been found out in some guilty plot, but his concern warmed her spirit. 'Oh, I'm much better now...I'd taken  ill when I was on the road with the Guevara's...we'd days of rain without a break and I came down with bronchitis...'The doctor frowned, puffing like a steam train, and went for his black bag, Em noted,'...but I'm quite well now! Truly, Aleister!' He'd sat next to her now, tossing his cigarillo into the fire, and was taking out his stethoscope, '...only an occasional cough...'she added weakly,knowing she had said too much already. Oh, dear, she shouldn't have brought it up, she realized; good friends though they were, they could be overly solicitous, which only read: 'controlling' in Em's book.
'Just wish to check your lungs, my dear. You seem to be well enough...but just to be sure.' Al had his physician's cap on now so Em had no choice but to go along. 'Deep breath now!'
Meanwhile Jack wasn't looking happy. 'A word, Mr. Yeats, if you please...?' And the two of them repaired to the foyer. Oh dear, that didn't bode well. What were they cooking up now?
Em's first intimations of unease crept in. She simply wished everyone would treat her as an equal and not some china doll...
Aleister meanwhile put his things away and took Em's hand. 'You'll be fine, I'm sure.' He patted it gently. 'But!' He frowned at her, concerned. 'You are much too thin, my dear.
You lost much weight, and quickly too. Your lungs have been weakened. You need to repair cells, now, with good nourishing food, and rest!' A final pat, then he held her hand in both of his. 'Promise me. As an old friend.You have been under considerable stress.'
Em couldn't stand much more gentle regard or she would soon become teary. She patted his hand in turn. 'Of course, Aleister! Doctor!' she amended, nodding. 'I feed very well at Daryl's, really...we have a wonderful girl, Rosa, who is an excellent cook, and she lets me help in the kitchen as well.
We recently made pumpkin tamales...' Em smiled, hoping to lighten the mood.
Al wasn't to be so easily placated. He tilted his chin up and gazed into her eyes. 'And do you sleep? Not working too hard, or too long?'
Oh, goodness...well, this is what friends are for, and Al was only doing his duty. 'Yes, papa doc! I sleep...alright, as much as I ever can...and it's only part time work at the library.'
'Papa Doc!' Aleister busted out a laugh. 'Did you hear that Jack? "Papa Doc!" Am I such an old dictator, then?' He still was chuckling.
Yeats and Jack returned smiling, but still looking concerned.
'Ah, she doesn't know...' he turned to her, 'Papa Doc Duvallier was a fearsome Haitian dictator in the 20th century, Em.'
'Far from a 'seven-dwarf' connotation, I take it!'Em smiled,
relaxing again.
'Definately.' Jack sat on the other side of Em. 'Emmeline...
you do know that our concern for you is genuinely for your own safety, and health as well. Please, Em,' he took her hand now that Aleister had relinquished it, 'We aren't about to become dictators ourselves,' he glanced up at Yeats,'but, promise us, you will take the utmost care in dealing with Daryl. And, well,'he looked down then, black forelock falling over one eye as she had seen so often before, 'We worry about you, girl...'
Emmeline squeezed his hand. 'Of course Jack, Al, Mr. Yeats!
You know I appreciate your concern. And I shall be cautious. And, yes  doctor, I will try to rest and eat well enough, you may be sure!'
The clock struck the hour of 8pm and Yeats spoke then, 'Don't worry, Em, when you are returned, it will only be half past six and just minutes after you left the hall. I think though, that this should be enough for now, and we can reconnoiter again after we have had some time to research this new information.' He came to her then and bent to take her hand in his. 'Take care, my dear. Nothing chancy, what!' His eyebrows bristled as he gazed intently down. Em nodded, smiling.'Very well. Jack shall usher you back whence you came, then.' And giving Aleister a meaningful glance, he took his leave, with Al following,after laying a brotherly hand upon her shoulder and giving further encouragment of food and rest...and at last, Emmeline and Jack were alone together.
'Well, Jack! I suppose I should retrieve my things from upstairs first!'
'Yes, of course, Em!' Jack roused himself and escorted her to the stairs, Dylan decided to shepherd them both.
Em looked back at their dogged companion. 'He is a sociable creature, isn't he?' She smiled. 'He is awfully cute, Jack. I'm glad you got a watch dog, in training.'
'Someday, yes...we're working on it,' Jack assured her, as he unlocked the door to her room, and surprisingly, turned on the light, a low, round blue globe hanging in one corner.
'Ah! You're wired now!' Em noted the cool blue glow with approval.
'Umm, not exactly. We're wireless, but it's Tesla technology, not satellite or similar frequency waves. It doesn't interfere with human biology and the body's own electromagnetic system, unlike some 21st century experiments with wireless...but I digress! Here are your things, Em, we kept them in this trunk...'
Em rummaged about, finding her identification papers and a few other items she deemed would come in handy. She couldn't very well return with more than she'd came with which would raise questions.
'Well, this is about all I really need anyway...' She gazed about. 'How odd it seems to be back here...' She breathed in, noting the new grass smell of the tatami mat, which Dylan also delighted in, sniffing eagerly.
'You're a good boy, aren't you, Dylan?' Em bent down and petted the pup in friendly fashion which set his tail whirling like the blade in a ceiling fan. She righted herself and gazed out the window...
 'Ah, Jack...'she turned, and regarded him, smiling. 'I have missed you. And this place...Al, Mr. Yeats...you still see Jethro and Homer...?' Em's voice trailed off softly.
'I do. I was nearly living at Homer's after...you left.' Jack felt like saying he'd been seeing Sugar as well, but his smarter side told him to cork it.
Em nodded, looking down. 'It, hasn't been easy Jack.' She took his hand, surprisingly, and gazed at him. 'I have missed you.'
Jack wasn't sure if he was hearing right. But he'd take a sweet illusion over a sour reality any day. Still, he didn't quite know how to act around Em. Tread carefully, then, old man.
'Well. We're always here if you need us. You know that, Em.'
He squeezed her hand.
Hm. That 'we' wasn't what Em was expecting. Could it have possibly been a royal 'we'? She sighed.
 Well, so then, things had changed...
 'Thank you, Jack.' She rallied and took up her bag. 'I suppose I'm ready, then!'
Jack ushered her out, Dylan following, and locked the door.
'Your room is ever ready for you, Em.'
Well, she supposed there was still that, at least. How would that be, then? Could she live here like a sister to Jack, watching him escort his lady loves out on the town? And, after...?
Oh, not bloody likely...
Em stopped on the landing, waiting for him to catch up. 'Look. You can see the moon from here, just over that big oak tree.'
'Yes.'Jack came to her side, gazing at the clear autumn sky.
'I often stand here, just for the view sometimes...'
'San Francisco...is often foggy nights...' Em murmured, 'I haven't seen stars since Sonora...'
Jack couldn't bear it. He gently took her arms and turned her toward him. 'Emmelina...I can't tell you how much I regret the turn things have taken, and all because of Daryl!' He raised a hand then, gazing down, 'I know, I know: yet another mad Van Horn, wild with abduction obsessions!'
She listened quietly, not having the heart to tell him that she had thought exactly that... Not that she believed it of Jack any longer.
He looked at her again. 'Please tell me you don't blame me...'
'Jack!' The very idea! 'Of course I don't! How is your Uncle Daryl's actions at all under your control?' She held onto his arms as well. 'I don't think any less of you for this. Jack, you have done nothing but give me aid of late. I'm not confused about who is to blame, believe me!'
He sighed. 'Alright. Thank you, Em.' He regarded her, shaking his head slightly. 'Em, how I've worried...I've missed you so...'
She looked down then. Maybe he wasn't...otherwise occupied.
'Jack...'
He tilted her chin up, gazing at her. 'Let me help you. Just give me a chance, Em...' He wasn't waiting any longer. He took her cheek and slipped a hand through her hair, bringing her to his lips.
Em felt herself being kissed suddenly, and oh, my...what a good feeling it was. She melted into Jack's kiss, leaning into him, and wrap'd her arms about him, which he rewarded with a groan. Oh, that just wasn't fair...she'd been too long away...
Pulling him toward her, Emmeline pressed her mouth to his, needing to be closer, slowly moving her lips deeply onto Jack's...
...And then let go, breathing in. She looked into his eyes, which met hers with a pleading, yet fierce and hungry gaze. Closing her eyes then, she slowly, gently touched his face with her hand and caressed his lips with her tongue, lightly. Jack about went mad.
He embraced her hard and kissed her desperately, needing to drink her in like a man finding an oasis in the desert...
Emmeline lost herself then, feeling the room spin about her...suddenly, she found herself held away from Jack, while he frowned, eyes closed. Opening them, he said,
'I, we, had better get going, Em!'He looked down, shaking his head, 'If you don't go now, I don't think I could leave you alone...'
She came to herself somewhat then. 'I, alright, Jack.' Yes, it was best. She certainly hadn't expected this so soon. Needed time to think. Should get back.
Jack was nodding his head, and ran a hand through his hair.
'Um, after you, Em...'
Em bit her lip, and turned, trying to get her bearings. Wuf! Timewalking and kissing Jack now had become a rather volatile combination. She slowly descended the stairway, stepping carefully around Dylan.
'Right then.' Jack led her into the parlor once more. 'Ready?'
'Oh, yes, I suppose so!' Emmeline flustered. 'I'll see you again soon, then?'
Jack flushed. 'Of course!' Try to keep me away, he thought!
'Whenever you wish.' He nodded. Then kissed her gently. 'Here you go, then, my lass...I'll send you safely on your way, but it's best that I not appear on the other side this time, alright? You'll be fine, I guarantee.'
Em wasn't so sure, but, 'If you say so, Jack,' she looked earnestly at him, biting her lip. Jack wished to do the same.
He kissed her once more, a bit longer this time...
'Alright!' Jack, let the girl be on her way, man! Or keep her here and duel it out with Daryl..."Don Diego", diosa what a bloody knob! He was half tempted to take that option.
Emmeline was nodding. 'I'm ready Jack. I'll be fine.' She told herself, clutching her bag with white knuckles.
'Here you go then. Adiosa, til we meet again...' Jack bent over her hand, kissed her fingers lightly, and twirled her about, as if they were at an English country dance...
And Emmeline suddenly found herself opening the exit door from whence she'd come, and entered the crowd of suffragettes, momentarily disoriented by the noise and people milling about. She dazedly found her way back to her seat.
Mrs. Peel turned around. 'Ah, Emmeline! You're back!'
Yes, she supposed she was. Em smiled like the cat who'd been tickled with canary feathers...
                           . . . . .