Rookery ~ Assassin's Creed Syndicate

Chapter Twenty Nine

After spending an hour eating, kissing and watching London pass by from the open carriage door, Jacob began cleaning up the left over food. He piled it all back into the crate and started back towards the main carriage with the half full crate.

When he returned, I had questions. Many, many questions about why he had actually organised this picnic. He sat back beside me, fiddling with something in his pocket.

"Why did you actually organise this?" I whispered against his lips. "You didn't really do this for being together for a few months, did you? You didn't think me that stupid." He chuckled then lowered his head again.

"No, of course not. But the charade was fun while it lasted, was it not?"

"Now tell me your true intentions. You weren't hoping to bed me, were you? Because I have a little more respect for myself than to sleep with someone before marriage."

"No. I wasn't hoping for that, my dear." He kissed my cheek. "I was hoping to ask you something."

"Oh? Really? And what were you hoping to ask?"

"I have something for you first."

"No, you didn't have to buy me anything." He pulled out a small, oblong box. "Although, I do want to find out what exactly is in there." He placed it into my hands and closed my fingers around it.

"Why don't you open it and find out yourself?" I picked the lid from the top and gasped at the beautiful, silver chain inside. On the end of the chain was a small, ivory frame carved into the shape of the Assassin Insignia. The necklace was short and probably wouldn't have hung down at all. I smiled at it, then handed it to Jacob so that he could put it around my neck. He did so with a gentle touch and I moved the short hair from underneath the chain. I admired the charm.

"It is beautiful. But where did you get this? More importantly, what did you pay for this?"

"Less than enough for my darling Carina." I raised an eyebrow. My eyes then widened in realisation.

"You better not have bought me anything else. I will feel awful for you buying me so many things." He smiled.

"I am afraid that I am so very guilty." He carried on moving his hands around in his coat pocket.

"Don't you dare pull anything else out of there." He started to remove his hand. "Ah, no. Put it back." I prodded his arm. Jacob then produced a cube from inside the pocket. "Jacob, please." He opened the box, showing me a small ring with a row of three rubies in it. "Jacob, I--"

"No. Don't say anything." He slipped the ring on my finger. "Now, this isn't a marriage proposal. Do not think of it that way. But I just want a promise that we will be together. And that, when and if I should ask for your hand, you will accept." Tears sprang to my eyes.

"Of course. I didn't realise you felt quite so strongly." I said in a high-pitched voice while throwing my arms around his neck. "You, sir, are a true romantic."

"Anything for you." He kissed the side of my neck, his hands on my lower back. "So? Is that a promise from you?"

"It is indeed. I want to be with you for a long time. And this ring is a symbol of my promise to you." My arms stayed looped around his neck but I leaned back so that I was sat on my feet. "I promise myself to you for at least the foreseeable future. I cannot promise forever, but I can promise quite a few years. It hasn't been long enough to say 'forever' just yet. Possibly in a few months or so. Maybe then I can say 'forever'." He smiled.

"You, my dear, took the words right out of my mouth. Then, you rearranged them into a smart, intelligent sentence and you fed them back to me."

"Jacob, Carina? I got bored and I want some food. Is there anything left?" Evie called from the main carriage. Doors began opening again, then the one to the carriage we were in also opened and Evie stood with a wide smile. "I am sorry I interrupted you both, but I am starved. Do you have any food left?" I nodded, swiping hair out of my eyes.

"Jacob put it back on the counter in the other carriage." She didn't move, instead staring at my hand. "What? What are you looking at?" She rushed over and grabbed my wrist. She then grinned.

"A ring?! Jacob, did you give her this?" He nodded. "Oh my goodness!"

"No, not like that, Evie. It isn't an engagement ring." She sighed and threw my arm back down.

"It is a promise ring."

"So, no wedding?" I shook my head. "You got me excited for nothing! I even forgot that I was starving." She huffed and stormed out of the carriage.

"Maybe in the future, dear sister!" Jacob called. In response, Evie slammed the door shut. "Well, my dear, what shall we do now?"

"I have no clue. How about that mission you said you were doing earlier. Perhaps we could actually go and to it." He smirked.

"I like the way you think, sweetheart." He swiftly pecked my lips while standing up again. "Well, then. Shall we get going then, Carina?"

"Let me sort something out and then I will meet you in the other carriage." He helped me to my feet.

Once Jacob was gone, I spent my time cleaning up the mess we had made. There were crumbs from the food all over the picnic blanket. I picked it up and shook it outside of the door. Some of the crumbs were blown back by the wind and due to the direction the train was travelling. I rubbed them out of my eyes. Folding the blanket, I started pushing my bare feet into my boots. Then, a tune came to my head which I couldn't help but whistle. Upon placing the blanket back into a cupboard, I came across a letter. It was in curly handwriting, as if someone had tried especially hard to make sure it was neat.

My darling Frye,

How I long to be in your arms again. Ever since our last meeting, I have been racked with loneliness. Your absence drives me to despair. I implore you; return to me at once. I long to see you and hear your voice. Do not delay. I await your arrival and offer myself to you completely.

Your very own Elizabeth

I growled, scrunching the paper in my hands. A love letter from an admirer. Addressed to someone named Frye. And, as far as I knew, Evie was very much head over heels for Henry, so a woman would not be writing love letters to her. Jacob was going to get what was coming for him. I was going to exact my revenge on him. Not with violence, but with complete humiliation.