Jack pursed his lips as he made his way to the door. Not once, in the whole of his years’ service, had he met with his commanding officer on a naval ship. He took hold of the airlock and pushed open the bulky door, dipping his head to step inside.
As he peered up, he came face to face with Brigadier Haughton. Immediately the beat of his heart thundered with force, presuming Nell had fallen ill, or some other terrible feat had become of her.
“Nell?”
“Eleanor is fine,” the Brigadier said coolly. “Now Sergeant, you can go back through that door, come in, and address me as you should.”
Jack’s eyes scowled. Yes, the Brigadier was a high ranking officer, and of course Jack should have followed military procedure. But he hated the man, and thought the only reason he wanted to see him, was so he could send him even further away from Nell. His jaw clamped down and his eyes set in anger on the Brigadier.
“Sergeant?”
Jack grumbled under his breath. He had to follow orders, otherwise he would end up being reprimanded. With a sharp turn, he marched out and back in with his chin high, his thumbs pressed against his fingers, staring right over the shoulder of the Brigadier. He stop with a halt, slamming down his boot to salute his superior.
“Sir. Sergeant Montgomery of the third infantry division, Sir,” Jack stated loudly.
“At ease Sergeant.”
Jack moved his boots shoulder length apart and held his hands behind his back. He wanted to know of Nell. He wanted to hear of her recovery, and how she was in herself. But the only man who could tell him such detail, was a man so intent on keeping them apart.
The Brigadier paced to and fro before a mahogany table full of blueprints and maps, kneading his hands together at his back.
“I’m going to ask you several questions Sergeant, and I expect your answers to be truthful.” He stopped and stared at Jack, only inches from his face, “What are your intentions toward my daughter?”
Jack frowned at the Brigadier in unease. “Sir, my intentions have always been honourable.”
“So, your plan is to marry her?”
Jack smirked, which the Brigadier did not appreciate. “I have already asked her… Sir.”
“You need my permission first Sergeant,” the Brigadier snapped.
“I have been torn away from her enough, thanks to you, sir,” Jack maddened. “So asking for your approval is useless really.”
The Brigadier walked back to the table and silenced for a moment with his back to Jack. He then turned on the spot, taking a drawn out breath.
“Ask me,” he ordered. “Ask me, in a proper manner.”
Jack was not expecting this. He wasn’t good at doing big fancy speeches. In fact the whole conversation was puzzling him greatly. He wondered if the Brigadier had finally lost his marbles.
“Sir?”
“Good god man… if you want to marry my daughter so much, you should have no problem saying a few simple words,” the Brigadier huffed.
“Sir…” Jack cleared his throat. “Sir, with your permission, I’d like to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage?” He cringed from head to foot, hating how his own voice sounded.
“Very well,” the Brigadier said to the point. “But only on the condition you use this.” Out from his pocket he pulled a gold ring set with two tiny diamonds, and held it out to Jack.
Jack took the ring between his thumb and finger, nearly dropping it as the ships horn sounded. His heart raced and brow crumpled at the Brigadier.
“We’re pulling out of port and setting sail for Portsmouth, Sergeant,” he said.
“But Sir, I have to report to my commanding officer,” Jack flustered.
“I have spoken to your commanding officer, and you are now on permitted leave,” he answered sternly. “You have a new assignment Sergeant, and you are to follow my direct orders.”
“Which are?”
“To go and ask for my daughters hand in marriage, and make her happy.”
Without another word, the Brigadier left Jack alone, staring at the gold ring.
Soul to Soul
It was first light, and all the patients were fast asleep at the Manor. Nell had not managed to rest; not since that heated fallout with her father over a week ago. She was cross with herself. Cross for thinking that perhaps she did go a little too far, and maybe she should have given him the benefit of the doubt. He blamed his behaviour on his grief and did feel remorseful. Nell thought of her feelings for Jack, and that if she were to lose him forever, she like her father, could become plagued with bitterness, hurting those closest to her.
She wallowed in thought every night, evaluating her upbringing, Alistair, her disability, and her lost love, Jack. All she wanted to do was escape from it all. For all the worries to disappear. She needed to get away from that Manor, so she quickly tightened the clips on her leg, then threaded her arms through her long beige trench coat.
As she snuck down the stairs and out of the grand entrance, she kept an eye out for any staff that would try to stop her. She couldn’t move in great hurry. She had mastered the stairs, but still had to master the art of speed.
She had to get out of that place no matter how long it took her. The insomnia and tears she had shed every night, were slowly but surely sending her on the path to lunacy.
With her hands in her pockets feeling the crisp chill on her skin, she limped quietly between the avenue of oak trees, through the moist morning mist.
It was the furthest she had been from the Manor. She didn’t want to stop walking, but she had to rest when her leg began to rub, and hips started to throb. She flinched in discomfort, looking up to the leaves of the trees that were tinged with a hint of red, indicating autumn was on its way.
“Move you damn thing,” she uttered down to her foot.
The length it was taking to resemble something of her old-self was a long road, and she was struggling to reach the end of it all alone. She arched over, wanting to just give up. Give up on healing, and give up on life.
As she massaged the base of her knee, she heard the crunch of a footstep. She peered up into the fog, but saw nothing. Feeling tired and defeated, she decided to turn back before she caused herself anymore pain.
Having only took three steps, she was forced to a standstill as those strange footsteps upon the gravel became louder. She turned and gazed into the mist to see shadowy figure nearing: tall, wearing a hat, and now moving quicker.
Nell brought her hand to her mouth as her breath ceased for a moment. She wanted to fall down to the ground and cry. If it was a dream, it was a cruel one she thought.
Jack emerged from the haze and when his eyes met Nell’s, he dropped his bag onto the ground and ran to her. His heart leapt at the thought of her touch. He grabbed her weak body and lifted so her feet hovered above his boots. Breathlessly, he kissed every inch of her teary face.
“Nell,” he choked. “My sweet Nell.”
He gently placed her back onto the gravel, and took her cheeks into his hands. She wept and smiled simultaneously as he pressed his head against hers.
“God, I’ve missed you.”
“Jack,” Nell sobbed.
Jack held onto her elbows and positioned her a step back. He drew in a good amount of air, and dropped down onto one knee. Taking hold of her cool soft fingers, he smiled nervously, gazing into his future.
“Nell, I cannot even begin to tell you how much you mean to me. How much I’ve missed you. How much I need you. I’m going to spend every second of my life, knowing that we’ll never be parted again.” He coiled his fingers tighter around hers. “I swear, from this moment on, I will never let you go. I will love you beyond the end of time.” Jack held up the ring, swallowing down the nerves. “Marry me Nell.”
Tears of love seeped down Nell’s face as she nodded a big yes. Jack himself let out a tear as he slipped the ring onto her finger. The ring fit perfectly and Nell had a smile from ear to ear. It was her mother’s ring, and she knew to get
it, her father had been trying to make some kind of peace.
Jack rose up to his feet and swept Nell up into his arms. He carried her through the dense mist, and never took his eyes off her once.
Jack and Nell
On the 25th of June, 1945, not only had the war come to an end, but Nell and Jack married in a small chapel in the village of Elham. The village their love story first began. The day was a momentous occasion, with old and new friends turning out in force to witness the happy couple tie the knot.
Jack even received two surprise visitors, his older Brothers, Jimmy and John. Nell wore her mother’s dress, a stunning silk and lace ivory gown, and her father gladly gave her away. She walked tall down that aisle, regardless of the obstacles in her way. And Jack watched every step she took toward him, full of pride. There wasn’t a dry eye in the chapel on that wonderful summer’s day.
It was not long after that the patter of four tiny feet arrived. First a Son: Nathaniel Jack Montgomery. Then, less the two years later, a Daughter: Sarah Anne, named after Nell’s mother. Jack stayed in the armed forces for several years, but remained stationed only a few miles away in Dover. He successfully won over the Brigadier, and worked his way up the ranks to make an outstanding Major. But even though he became such a prestigious officer, it did not for once second stop him from being an amazing Father. If not sometimes a big kid himself.
Nell made the perfect family home, and over the years learned to live with what happened to her. When her father died in 1950, after suffering a short respiratory illness, she was left with the entire Haughton Estate. And she knew exactly what she wanted to do with it. In the summer of 1952, and with full support from Jack, she opened a riding school, dedicated to helping women and children who had escaped domestic abuse.
At first such an idea was frowned upon. To some, she had no right to interfere in marital affairs of others. But that didn’t stop Nell. She knew what dark secrets these women kept, and that sometimes a distraction from the dark was needed. So, if riding out once a week gave some respite, she had no problem providing it.
Jack and Nell’s story is proof that true love has no boundaries. It cannot be influenced by class. Nor does it burn out in time. It only grows stronger. It is the most powerful force on earth, where two souls will fight to seek out each other. Sometimes even twice.
Never Another You Page 13