Work Text:
Jack Dawkins had a certain knack for going against society’s rules; letting Lady Belle Fox work alongside him not as a nurse but as a surgeon, being a gambler, and gross indecency. Although that last bit has been going on for a long while now.
“ Jack ,” His name is breathless against your tongue, his hands finding their purchase on your hips. His hair falls onto your neck as he leans over you, your combined sweat making your skin stick together, his own breath dancing across your skin like a steady heartbeat.
His pacing isn’t brutal, he’s not rushing like he would a surgery, he takes his time with you. It’s like he’s committing each bit of your body to memory each time he’s in your bed this way. “ Mm— you’re doing great,” He mumbles into your skin. You can feel his teeth scraping against your skin as he talks, apology kisses coming in his teeth’s wake. “You feel so good,” He pants, his voice clearer this time.
You lift your head, clutching one of the hands that's holding you so tenderly. “Because of you—“ Your head drops as he hits the proper spot, your stomach tightening. The bed creaks under your combined weight and movement, and the expensive rosewood frame bangs against the wall. He’s losing himself inside of you, his pace is faltering and his grip is tightening.
Unable to hold yourself up any longer, you shift down to your forearms, bracing your head inside of your pillow. Jack continues, lifting himself up from you, his eyes carefully taking in the way your hands clench at the bedsheets, the way your thighs tighten before your body relaxes. It’s like clockwork, the way once your knuckles start to relax he grabs you by the waist, keeping your lower body pressed against his own.
He doesn’t last much longer himself, kissing up your back as he spills inside of you. Removing himself from inside of you, Jack pants, watching as you roll onto your back, your chest rising and lowering. He leans forward, pressing slow kisses up from your chest to your lips. “Are you alright, darling?” He carefully asks, scanning over what he could see from his viewpoint above you.
“Perfect,” You mutter against his lips, holding the sides of his face. “Are you?”
“Never been better,” Leaning down once more, your lips touch and you feel his tongue slip between and dart around your mouth. Rolling your hips onto his, his hands quickly grip your thighs, wrapping them around his lower back.
Rapid knocks on your door startle your both, pulling you out of your blissful daze. “(Y/n)!” Your sister's stiff voice rings out and you sigh, running a hand down your face.
“What do you want, Belle?” You groan, sitting up and staring at the door, it’s both locked and with a chair under the knob just in case. Jack snickers as he stands, finding both of your undergarments discarded on the floor.
Carefully sitting up, you grab a handkerchief from your nightstand and clean yourself. “Open the door,” The knob rattles as Jack holds the two pairs of underpants up, trying to remember who’s were whose.
He must’ve figured it didn’t matter, extending his hand to help you stand. “I am rather indecent, dear sister.” You call back, holding Jack’s shoulder while he helps you into your britches.
“Oh!” She huffs, you can picture her face while she is, too. “Allow me to guess, Dr. Dawkins is indecent too?” The two of you share a look, although his gaze is far more humorous than yours.
Buttoning them up to your navel, you wave him off so he can get dressed. “Oh, sod off!” Grabbing your undershirt, you rush to toss it on before haphazardly stuffing it into your waistband.
“He’s rubbing off on you, you know that— are you decent yet?” The door rattles as she tries again.
“Belle,” You whine.
“What? As my older brother, I am in dire need of your assistance!” She bangs on the door again. Now no longer nude, Jack removes the chair and unlocks the door. He doesn’t get a chance to grab the handle before the door opens and your sister walks in. Jack looks at you, pointing at the door and you wave at him, watching as he softly closes and locks the door.
“Is someone dying?” You ask, hands on your hips.
“Someone better be dying,” Jack nods to which she scoffs, pushing herself further into your room. She eyes the messy bed before her face scrunches. You’ll never understand her, truly.
Spinning on her heels, Belle stretched her arms out. “I am dying of…of dread!” Nodding to herself, she settles into your desk chair, her eyes flickering between the two of you as if you had personally wronged her by not opening the door sooner.
“Dread,” You echo, unimpressed. “You interrupt us because you’re... Amazing. And why don’t you bother Fanny? I’m sure she’ll make better company.” Grabbing your socks, you sit on the edge of your bed and start putting them on. Jack is across from you, buttoning up his vest.
“Because Fanny cannot contest Sneed's proposal to myself.” She tosses her arm out, barely catching the annoyance shifting to anger on your face in mere seconds.
“ He what ?” Both you and Jack shout. Belle nods, crossing her arms.
“When did this happen?” You ask, standing from your bed.
“Just now,” She nods again, pointing out of your window. “In the garden, he proposed with nutmeg.” She holds up a small metal jar and you snatch it, looking inside at the brown powder.
The gall of him— not even a ring but a stupid spice? “I’ll kill him myself,” You declare while she takes the jar back, inspecting it. “Where’s my gun?”
Jack and Belle roll their eyes at you, watching as you cross your room to a locked box. “I don’t think the gun would be necessary,” Jack carefully says.
You scoff. “And what do you suppose I do? Talk to the oaf, he hadn’t the decency to even ask myself or father for her hand and not to mention he was allowed in this house for Fanny! Lest we forget the previous week’s disastrous dinner—“
“Pretty hard to forget,” He mutters, adjusting his scarf into his vest.
Belle sits forward in her chair, her hands laced together as she gives you a half-glare. “And, pray tell, brother do you suppose you’ll do? Kill him? Have him hanged for crimes that are…?”
Exasperated, you look over at Belle. “You come to me for help and now you’re criticizing me— you’re ridiculous. But fine, fine. I am a gentleman and a representative of the governor. You two head down to the hospital for whatever it is you're doing today, I’ll have a conversation with father before I head down myself.”
Jack straightens himself. “It’s an eyeball—“
“Darling, I will be woefully ignorant of your medical procedures until I arrive.” You grin. “Now, do hurry. Before father or Sneed catch you here,” He nods and the two of them leave, closing the door behind them.
Once they’re gone, you lean against your desk, biting your nail. It’s a particularly lengthy list of tasks you need to complete today; change the sheets, wash the soiled ones before the help can see the stains, talk to your father— convince him about Sneed, make it to the hospital in time to act as your sisters buffer and leeway into the operating room— truly, it doesn’t end.
Ripping the sheets off, you take the top layer and stuff it into a basket you keep under the bed before opening your windows. It smells of… certain acts and you certainly will not be caught that way.
With that straightened out, you adjust your clothes and hair before heading downstairs, trying to ignore the strain in your leg.
Knocking on the open door, you step inside, giving him a tense grin. “Father, a word?”
—
Entering the operating room, you see they’re in the middle of the operation and softly shut the door behind you. The sailor is strapped to the table, sitting upright while Jack has a hook in his eye and Belle holds the string. You wait in the corner, trying not to let your curiosity get the better of you until he finishes up, putting a fresh bandage over the man’s eye.
Belle takes the man to the infirmary while you join Jack as he washes his hands free of the blood. “How’d it go?”
He sighs, staring into the tainted water. “Only time will tell, I’m afraid. He did well, though, so I’m hopeful.” When Belle returns, the three of you sit against the wall, facing the operating table. You’re sandwiched between the two of them, staring at the rows for viewing as they talk. You can see the moon rising, but the sun had long set before you even got to the hospital.
Lying your head on Jack’s shoulder, he kisses your forehead and Belle rolls her eyes, checking the door for the two of you. Belle had been the first person in your life to know of your relationship, and she found out purely by accident. Caught the shared glances you had during your father's party where he operated on the boy; saw the way your hand lingered on his back in her room that same night.
She didn’t care much, she seemed almost relieved. Now there was a reason for her to visit the hospital and someone— a man, older than her but in her family— to make it acceptable for her to be in such close proximity to another man.
Somehow, the three of you ended up sleeping in the operating room. You woke up first, carefully got up and picked up the medical book Belle had brought from the house to read it when the doors opened.
“Lady Belle,” Looking up from the book, you snap it shut, getting Sneed's attention. “Lord (Y/n),” His voice is less accusatory when he addresses you.
“Rainsworth,” You sneered while the two of them started to wake up.
“I scarcely believe my eyes,” His gaze shifts back to them. “Lady Belle, I insist you return to Government House immediately and we will discuss this later.”
“There won’t be a later,” You correct, stepping forward while Belle leaves; although not without a comment of her own. “You set foot near Government House and I’ll leave you imprisoned for trespassing, do you understand?” Sneed pauses, his feet stuttering as he steps forward while Jack does little to hide his amusement.
“What?” He turns to you and you nod, tucking the book behind your back.
“It’s quite simple honestly, you are not allowed on my father's property. I’m sure Captain Gaines will have you served soon. You are not to speak to Belle or Fanny going forward and, Sneed,” Stepping closer to him, you place a hand on his shoulder. “I think you should consider finding a new job, I have good word you won’t be getting Head Surgeon anytime soon.”
“ He —“ Sneed throws his arm out behind you, pointing at Jack. “Disobeyed me and performed an operation I had forbidden him to do! He has no respect for his betters. You-You’d let a reprehensible, arrogant upstart be ahead Surgeon?”
“I have enormous respect for my betters,” Jack nods. “Lord (Y/n) insisted I perform the surgery,” Sneed turns his gaze back to you while you lick the inside of your mouth, waiting for him to say something smart.
You nod, crossing your arms when he doesn’t. “I did,” Taking a step back, you wipe your nose. “Dr. Dawkins explained the situation and I thought it best he performed the surgery; do you attest to my choice?”
He stammers for a second before shaking his head. “No, of course not but—“
“Good,” Patting his shoulder, you turn to face Jack, giving him a nod that he gives back. “Now, I must accompany my sister back home. Good day,”
—
“I believe the sulphuric miasma permeating the town is in reality coming from below, not above.” Gaines tells you, your father, and your mother.
“That would be unusual, wouldn’t it, Captain Gaines?” Your father asks.
“What we are smelling now, is evil's canker, writ large.” Leaning back in your seat, you study the beige paper in front of you, half-listening to their conversation. You and your mother had talked at length about the pipes and how it wasn’t the best idea to have them in the town's center.
“The most exciting news!” Fanny rushes in and you look up, eyebrows raised. “There is to be a duel in town.”
Belle looks back down at her book, now interested. “Don’t be silly, duels are illegal.”
“Not entirely,” You correct, drumming your fingers on the table.
“I rather think it might be over moi ,” Franny admits. “It does eliminate one possible suitor, but what does one wear to a duel—“ You and Belle’s eyes meet; a suitor of whom she hasn’t had many. From what you can recount, just Sneed.
“The duel,” You strain, sitting forward in your chair. “Fanny, who is dueling?”
“Sneed and your friend, Dawkins,” She grins. You and Belle don’t even look at each other before you both stand, leaving the house in a rush. Your family is left confused but don’t put on a fuss as you do.
“I’ll find Sneed, you’ll talk sense into your partner,” She says as the two of you step inside.
“I can’t imagine how this started,” You huff, closing the carriage door.
“Men and their emotions, I presume,” She shrugs.
“I won’t respond to that,”
The carriage drops you off at the hospital and you watch Belle rush away. You wait until she’s out of view before heading inside, finding Jack in the operating room.
“You bumbling idiot!” You curse as you walk inside, seeing him sword fighting with his friend while Fagin sits on the side, pandering about their latest issue. You try not to get too involved with Fagin and whatever it is he does with Jack, unless it becomes an issue too large for them to handle alone.
“What’ve I done now?” He asks, briefly facing you.
Grabbing his shoulder, you make him face you. “A duel— with Sneed?”
The door opens and Belle’s voice rings out. “You idiot! You absolute dunderhead!"
Jack looks between the two of you, sighing. “What’s with you and your family calling me an idiot?” You nod at the people in the room and they clear out without a word.
“What were you thinking?” She asks.
“I am tired of being treated like some mangy dog!”
“Well, you certainly aren’t one.” You nod, crossing your arms. “And he’s an idiot for treating you like that but you need to apologize and withdraw.”
“And bow down to his arrogance?” Jack leans close to your face. “No.” Clicking your tongue, you see Belle doing the same. “And I’m not going to kill him, I will barely scratch the pompous git. Don’t worry, I spent ten years in the Navy. I am a master with the word.”
You nod, turning to Belle. “Great, my partner is going to a gun duel with a sword. Come on, sister.”
The two of you walk out with a brisk pace, trying to come up with a plan for that damn idiot. The two of you exit the hospital, staring at each other with hands on your hips, trying to silently come up with an idea that would leave Jack alive and, more importantly, out of jail.
“You said duels were technically legal?” She suddenly asks, squinting.
“Well, yes. In certain circumstances but even so— oh, I have a brilliant idea. You talk to Captain Gaines and I’ll return to the house, I need to talk with father.”
—
You’ll curse Fanny for trying to tag along, for delaying the carriage to the bloody cliffside. If those buffoons had already dueled, you’ll hang Jack yourself and then ship Fagin across the country. Probably leave him to be a manure mover for an incredibly large farm.
Belle sits across from you, her eyes flickering to the road and to your face with each passing moment. When the carriage came to a halt, you were the first one out despite your father being closer to the door. You stumbled your way out, squirming down the short hill at the group— thankfully, it seemed as though the duel hadn’t ended yet. But it certainly started.
“Stop this at once!” Your voice carried across the field just as they pointed their guns at each other.
“I’m told, rather unsportingly,” Your father, now joined at your side with your sisters, speaks. “that this town cannot survive without its two surgeons. Lower your weapons,” Carefully, they both lower their guns and you relax, leaning against Belle.
“Now, the rules are very clear. In circumstances such as these, the seconds must assume their place.” That certainly causes an uproar. You don’t think there’s a single person who’s in agreement with that. You listen to Fagin, of course, lie and their pleading to no avail.
You meet Jack as Fagin walks back. “If he dies…” He whispers.
“He won’t,” You promise. “Sneer’s seconds a terrible shot.” He blinks at you and you can see the tears in his eyes. Softening your stance, you restrain yourself from holding his hand. “I wouldn’t have made this plan if I thought you or Fagin with die. Have some faith in me,”
The sound of the guns going off brings the two of you back to the duel and you see that neither men have any wounds. You assume neither hit the other until you hear shouting. Heads snap in the direction and you find that Fagin is bleeding from his leg.
“Lucky shot, I’d say,”
Jack smirks at you, nudging your arm. “Hush it,” Everyone rushes to attend to Sneed, hauling him into the carriage before setting off to the hospital. You don’t ride with them and you try not to dwell too much on the sound of Sneed’s pained moans from ahead of your carriage.
You don’t want to stay for the operation, but you know Belle wants to do so you resign yourself to standing in the corner. Belle and Jack do a bit of a song and dance, knocking the head doctor out and have the room cleared out. You’d hate to admit it, but it’s nice watching him work. He’s incredibly cocky and when he beckons you over, he doesn’t laugh at your hesitation. Belle does, though.
“It's just a bullet wound.” She muses. “And I do remember you laughing when we found out.”
“My profession is a legal advisor— later a political figure. I do not— oh god,” The wound stares at you and you rush to look away, finding Jack. He’s looking at you kindly, making sure that you’re fine and not about to faint— it wouldn’t be the first time. “Do hurry, it’s unsightly.”
He smiles at you before handing Belle a scalpel. She takes it as the two of you look at each other, you can hear the sound of skin being cut and you close your eyes. Jack, seeing you nearly about to puke, quickly distracts you with a kiss.
Sighing into his mouth, you pull away before anyone can notice and shake your head. “You two disgust me. This is a surgery, not a private room.” She chides, holding her hands up to keep the surgery site clean. “Your turn, Dr. Dawkins.”
He takes the scalpel, nodding at you. You move to sit on the chair on the side of the stairs, watching them from the corner of your eye. They finish the surgery without many words, you enjoy the way they work together, the way Belle lights up whenever she’s included in the surgery.
Eventually, he’s taken to the recovery ward and the two of you head up to Jack’s room. You’ve been there countless times, enough that he doesn’t mind when you drop onto his bed, holding an arm over your eyes. “What happened when I left?” You ask.
The bed creeks as he sits next to you, rubbing your leg. “What do you mean?”
“What… caused the duel?” Looking at him, you watch as he looks away. His nostrils flare and he rubs his hands together, lips pursed. “What did that git say?”
“He…” He looks at you, just for a moment before he looks away again. “Sneed had remarked on your… birth origins. Called you some unsavory words and I might’ve… punched him.” It’s no secret that you’re adopted, it’s hard to hide that fact when you’re so different from the Governor but it wasn’t as though you felt it. Sometimes you forget, if you’re being honest.
And you’re not daft, you’ve heard the whispers about you and the words they say behind your back. You used to get hurt by it but you’ve grown a thick skin since then.
“Jack, darling—“
“No,” He shakes his head, knowing what you’re about to say. “I know you don’t care for it— for the words—but… between the way he spoke about Belle and then you . I couldn’t.”
“Well, thank you.” Grabbing his hand, you give it a gentle squeeze. “But next time, don’t do something that could get you hanged.”
He smirks down at you, brushing hair from your face. “As long as you’re there to bail me out, I don’t see the issue.” Shaking your head, you bark a laugh.
“That favor only extends to you, by the way. Fagin is on his own,” Fagin, whom you’d yet to see since the duel, by the way. You can only imagine where he’s gone off to.
“Oh, I’d hope so.” He leans down, kissing you softly. When he pulls away from the kiss, his eyes carefully move between your eyes and lips. “Thank you, by the way. For saving my life, again.”
“Anytime, my love.”