Jackie and the Giant by Linda Jones

Author:Linda Jones [Jones, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ereads
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Sitting at the secretary in the schoolroom, Jackie penned a letter to Mina, the only person in the world she could confide in. Kevin was sleeping and Rory was at the stables, so she had a moment alone.

Mina would want to know that her friend and protégé had married. Besides, Jackie felt like she had to tell someone what she'd found, how she'd come here to steal a fabulous treasure and had come away with so much more.

She'd filled pages with details about Rory and Kevin, about the home and the unexpected peace she'd found. No one else but Mina would appreciate the change this meant for her life, no one else would feel the wonder of it the way Jackie did.

Jackie sealed the letter, including some of her earnings as governess. She didn't need the money anymore, and she owed Mina more than she could ever repay.

"Good afternoon, Miz Jackie,” Nell said as she entered the classroom with a silver tray bearing tea and cookies. Jackie had to smile. Since her arrival the housekeeper had been trying to fatten her up, day after day declaring her much too thin and small.

"Good afternoon, Nell.” She set the letter aside to post later and stood slowly, straightening her skirt. For some reason, Nell made her feel as if she were always being lovingly inspected. Perhaps this is what it was like to have an aunt, or even a mother. “You didn't have to do this. I was planning to go to the kitchen as soon as I finished my letter."

Nell placed the tray on the edge of the desk and threw her hands in the air. “You don't want to be in the kitchen this afternoon. I'm trying to teach those useless girls to make fudge, and they've made an awful mess. There's chocolate everywhere, I swear. On the floor, on the counter, on the girls.” She lost her sour frown and laughed. “Mostly on the girls."

Jackie had recognized right away how much a part of Cloudmont Nell Logan was. If she resented having another woman in the house she certainly didn't show it. In fact, she'd been welcoming from the beginning.

Nell didn't excuse herself right away, but looked about the schoolroom as if searching for dust, running her fingers along the bookshelf and Kevin's small desk. It was, as the rest of the house always was, spotless. When Nell stood several feet away, just behind Kevin's desk, she turned to Jackie with her hands behind her back and a stern expression on her face. Here it comes, Jackie thought.

"It's a good thing,” Nell said adamantly. “Your marriage to Mister Rory."

Jackie nodded, but Nell's expression didn't soften. She obviously wasn't finished.

"You're settling in nicely here, and Mister Rory and Kevin are both happier than I've seen them in a long time."

"Truly?” Jackie couldn't help but smile. She'd never made anyone happy before. Never.

"Truly,” Nell said softly “And I just want to tell you that if you ever need someone to talk to about .

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