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The moon stood high above the Governor’s residence. All of its inhabitants seemed to be asleep except for the servants and the guards.
Belle, too, had not yet allowed her tiredness to distract her and was working on a daring new surgical technique. She was trying to figure out how severe heart defects could be repaired.
The Lady was already wearing her nightgown, which was decorated with delicate lace that Jack loved so much, and her hair, which she only wore loose at night, fell in soft waves down her back. Countless papers were scattered all over the desk, and Belle was deeply immersed in the subject. She was so concentrated that she did not even notice her lover, Jack Dawkins, watching her from the open balcony door.
“Still researching?” Jack asked with his typical mischievous grin.
Belle jumped and turned around.
“Oh, Darling, I’m sorry if I frightened you and if I’m turning up here so late, but I had to wait until that idiotic guard fell asleep. Your father should probably pay better attention.”
Jack now came closer to his Lady, who was standing, and placed his hands on her waist. Belle stared sharply at him, as sharp-witted as ever.
“We both know you don’t, and what the hell are you doing here, Jack? You’re at the pub on Fridays, aren’t you?”
“Ah… I see my choice of words is rubbing off on you. Your mother will most likely kill me for that.”
At his answer, Belle lightly hit him on the arm.
“Don’t avoid my question.”
“Why shouldn’t a gentleman be allowed to break into his Lady’s room at night and spend the night with her?”
“If you put it that way: No, I don’t think so. At least according to my mother.”
Jack kissed her lightly on the cheek and walked over to the bed. He threw his frock coat and hat onto the nearest chair and eventually let himself fall onto the bed.
“Belleee… don’t ask questions and come to me.”
She merely raised her eyebrows and lay down beside him. Immediately, he wrapped an arm around her, and she rested her head against his chest, just as they had done so many times during their stolen hours.
“All right, if you want to know. I had a fight with Fagin. He’s such a bastard, and honestly, he doesn’t understand that I have to behave myself now because of you. No matter how many times I tell him that I can’t take any risks, he asks again.”
Belle knew very well that Jack missed the little adventures with Fagin. They had argued about it so many times over the past few months.
“It’ll calm down eventually.”
Jack merely grumbled at that.
His arm rested loosely around her waist, and, as naturally as ever, he stroked her back. It was a familiar gesture. Jack knew perfectly well that she had been having trouble falling asleep lately. Her thoughts were simply too loud.
Jack, on the other hand, had no trouble falling asleep, but he had all the more trouble staying asleep. For a long time now, he had been plagued by nightmares about Belle’s aorta failing again. Every night, he dreamed of the same disturbing scene.
“Jack… will you tell me about the Navy, please?” Belle asked as she snuggled closer against Jack’s bare chest.
It was nothing unusual. So many times, when she could not sleep, he had told her about the many countries he had travelled to.
He cleared his throat briefly before speaking. “Of course, Mylady, but don’t complain at the end. My stories aren’t very virtuous, as you know.”
“You’ve never been virtuous.”
“Hey, don’t say that. I’m trying to be an honourable gentleman here!”
Belle laughed mockingly, and he raised his eyebrows.
“You’re no gentleman, Jack Dawkins. We both know that, and that is exactly why I love you.”
“And I love you, Mylady.”
He accompanied the words with a gentle kiss, which she returned.
When they kissed, no one could hurt them. Then there was only the two of them and the differences that bound them together. For a moment, there existed only pure, true love.
Shortly afterwards, Jack told her about his adventures in all sorts of different countries, and before she could even learn more about them, she quietly fell asleep. Her head rested against his chest, her breathing peaceful.
He, too, fell into a deep sleep shortly afterwards, his fingers resting against her pulse as always.