Chapter 42：I wouldn't leave without you

―It's not so bad being with you, she shyly whispered. ―I am enjoying myself. I wish I had known that we do share common interests before we got married. Then I wouldn't have given my poor father so much grief over it. She could have knocked him over with a feather.

His heart leaped for joy at her words. He leaned forward to kiss her but the stagecoach stopped. They had arrived at Mr. Walker's house. He settled for simply smiling at her as Franklin opened the door for them to get out. ―I hope you can have a good time with Mary, he said.

―I always do. She's a good friend. He followed her out of the stagecoach and into the house where the butler took their hats for them. ―The women are enjoying the nice warm evening outside, the butler informed them. ―The men are in the parlor.

―I'll see you later tonight, Leo told Jessica. She glanced back and saw that Mary was walking to the door. ―I'll wait here for her before going outside, she said. ―Come and get me before you're ready to leave.

―Of course, I will. I wouldn't leave without you. He was tempted to kiss her on the cheek but wasn't sure if that would be appropriate in public. He hadn't paid enough attention to know if other husbands did that or not.

He nodded a greeting to Mary before joining the men in the parlor. The room was filled with twenty men. Most of them were sitting and talking while a few stood around the room. As soon as his uncle saw him, he said something to Conrad Leroy, stood up and walked over to greet him.

―I take it things have improved since yesterday morning? Since Jonathan had been out of town earlier that day, he hadn't seen Leo before that night. ―Yes. Things look very promising. He tried not to smile like an idiot, but he was too excited over what she said in the stagecoach to hide his joy. Jonathan grinned and patted him on the back.

―Keep doing what you're doing and she'll admit that she wants to be with you for life. He pulled Leo to the corner of the room.

―I wanted to tell you about my meeting with Mr. Davidson before we eat. He's extravagantly wealthy but he's also extravagantly particular about having things done his way.

He won't do business with us until he meets you and Jessica and sees what kind of people you are. His residence is not far from my beach house, so to make it worth both of your troubles, I am offering it to you to stay there for a week to enjoy your honeymoon. Ask Jessica what she thinks and let me know what you two decide. Alright?

He nodded. He thought the trade-off was worth spending the day hunting, which was something he dreaded doing. But it would be fun to be completely alone with Jessica. The possibilities of what might happen excited him.

―Dinner is ready, the butler announced at the doorway. ―We will be eating in the dining room, Mr. Walker began. ―My wife wants to eat outside with the women because she says being so close to the hot kitchen makes it hard for her to eat this late in her pregnancy. So we'll be left to ourselves tonight, gentlemen.