A Bridge Through Time: (Time Travel) (10 page)

While Mrs. Drapey mulled the question, Lady Millthorpe thought back to her visit at the Greywick estate. She hadn’t noticed a necklace on Jane Fielder. She should have been more observant.

“It be a queer sort, mum,” Mrs. Drapey finally replied. “None that I ‘ave seen before.”

“Describe it for me.”

“It ‘angs sort of like the pendant me granny wore to the day she died. The only piece of jewelry she ‘ad and black-like with blue it was, an’ a gol’ chain it was.”

“Are you talking about your grandmother’s necklace or Miss Fielder’s?” asked Lady Millthorpe, suppressing a sigh of exasperation.

“Both, really, m’lady,” said Hortense Drapey. “Miss Fielder’s ‘ung pretty much as my granny’s pendant did ‘cepting it was black and Miss Fielder’s was green slate-like with a light-colored circle in the middle. She leaned toward Lady Millthorpe, sharing her strong garlic breath so that Wilma pulled back. “Me Granny was Druid,” she added in a confiding whisper.

“You were able to see this in just a few seconds that you saw her?” Lady Millthorpe was familiar with the exaggeration servants often indulged in.

“I brought ‘em the tea, mum, and leaned over toward the table doin’ so. That’s when I ‘appen to glance at Miss Fielder and there was the necklace big as life ‘angin’ from her neck.”

“I didn’t see it when I saw her the other day,” said Lady Millthorpe thoughtfully. “Of course, I wasn’t looking for any necklace and I was thinking of something else. She may have worn it underneath her clothes.”

“How long have you worked with Mr. Cannidge?” Lady Millthorpe’s question was sudden and loud so that Mrs. Drapey almost jumped.

“Not ‘is regular I ain’t, m’lady. ’is aunt be ‘is ‘ooskeeper, she be the reg’lar. I only fill in when she visit her niece for the birthing in Exeter or other things.”

“And how long is she going to be away?”

“’Er sister wants her there for the birthin’ which ain’t likely to be too soon, considering the two before. Mayhap she’ll make it back too soon, ‘ccording to ‘er. But then who but the Lor knows for sure?”

Wilma’s spy had brought back the information as to who was working with Cannidge and under her ladyship’s instructions had intercepted her on her way home and advised her that Lady Millthorpe wanted a word with her. That was how Mrs. Drapey was now sitting in Lady Millthorpe’s sitting-room sipping a much appreciated cup of tea and rapidly devouring a few pastries the likes of which she seldom had occasion to indulge in.

“I want you to keep our meeting secret, Mrs. Drapey,” Lady Millthorpe said. “There might be a position for you in my household once Cannidge’s aunt returns to Mr. Cannidge’s house and you are left without your temporary position. It will depend on how well you help me.”

“A position, m’lady–‘
ere?
” Mrs. Drapey almost choked on the pastry she was eating.

“Yes,” said the lady. “But it will depend on your discre – it will depend on you being able to keep
absolutely secret
what transp – what we talk about. And that means
everything.
You will promise to not tell anyone what you and I talk about?”

When Mrs. Drapey nodded earnestly, Wilma went on: “Now, Mrs. Drapey, hold your hand up, thus. Will you swear on it?”

With round eyes and a few crumbs around her mouth, Mrs. Drapey stopped chewing and solemnly swore she would keep secret her meetings with Lady Millthorpe.

“Remember, not even to your closest kin. You understand that?”

“Yes, mum, swear on me ‘art.”

“Very well, then,” Lady Millthorpe continued. “This is what I want you do…”

CHAPTER 12

“How exciting,” Jane said, following Jestyn as he went quickly to a side door that led to a corridor and then up a dark wide staircase.

Jestyn was fulfilling Jane’s wish to find the clothes Jestyn had worn when he posed for the portrait.

When they reached one floor they continued up to the next one. Once at the attic door Jestyn stood aside for Jane to enter. Jestyn had led Jane to the second of the two large attics.

“It’s huge,” Jane said, glancing around. “And it’s dustier than the other one!”

Jestyn placed the candle rack on a dusty table and looked around. “There are a few trunks with old clothes. “Come over here, Jane, I think this is the trunk that held the clothes from that portrait, for it’s a trunk where Cedric and I stored clothes.”

Jane hurried over and shifting through the clothes soon found what she wanted.

This is what you wore,” she replied excitedly. “You looked to me like a knight in shining armor in that portrait,” Jane touched the clothes in wonder and placed the velvet jacket softly to her cheek. She shifted through the rest of the clothes. There was a musty smell to the silk and velvet but ignoring it she slid her hand over the shirt and dark vest and again put them to her face.

“As a knight of old?” said Jestyn with a laugh. “I didn’t act like a knight when I first saw you. I bit your head off. And then it turns out you saved Cedric’s life and mine!”

“Well, I can understand,” said Jane. “From where you stood, you saw someone who appeared out of nowhere dressed like a man and carrying an alien torch – and spooked your horses. I don’t blame you for your reaction. I wish I could take these clothes back to the future with me. I love them so very much. You cannot know how much.”

Jane sighed as she re-folded the clothes and tucked them back into the trunk. She stood up and straight into Jestyn’s arms.

The past few days had been leading up to this, she thought, as cascading feelings were let loose between them. Jestyn kissed first her hair and then her mouth. Within his embrace Jane suddenly felt as though she had never embraced a man until this moment.

Jestyn kissed her as she had never been kissed before, across time. She was an alien in a strange land and yet she felt at home because Jestyn was with her, because she was in Jestyn’s arms. His broad shoulders and arms around her, Jane laid her face on his chest. She never wanted to let go. There was nothing in her life before Jestyn that could ever compare.

As Jane felt his tongue exploring the inside of her lower lip a shudder of passion rippled down her loins, down to her toes, so that her skin was suddenly hot with desire. Jestyn laid her on a pile of coverlets and unfastened the buttons of her gown. A shiver of desire overwhelmed her to her toes as Jestyn’s fingers circled slowly the rosette of one nipple and then the other. His mouth closed around one of them, sending an eddy of pleasure that made her seek his mouth again. She was suddenly on fire, her skin so sensitive to his touch that tingles rippled over her skin, overwhelming her with feeling. She wanted his kiss, again and again. She wanted him to possess her, to need her.

***

“We must leave the attic,” said Jestyn, coming to his senses before Jane did as he eased his hold on her. “Aunt Florinda saw us coming up here. She will become concerned if we don’t come down soon. This cannot be good for you, Jane, because it will compromise you and the last thing on this earth I want is to harm you.” He was trembling with a shudder of pleasure and his groin was tight against his breeches. But he didn’t want Jane to come to harm, not for a moment of pleasure – not for anything! He realized how much he cared for her as he guided her out of the attic.

“Your life was changed dramatically since you were thrust into my time. I mustn’t make things worse for you. I will not harm you for a few moments of pleasure. The walls have ears even in this attic. Come, sweetheart, let us go downstairs.”

***

“Would you like to participate in an enjoyable activity?” Jestyn’s eyes lit up as he looked deep into Jane’s eyes. She suppressed the sigh that was ever constant in her whenever he looked at her that way.

Jestyn glanced toward the door where Aunt Florinda’s attention appeared to be on her sewing. He moved his hand closer to Jane’s so that their fingers touched.

Having known and loved Jestyn what kind of life would she live without him, Jane wondered, as a shudder of pain pierced her heart.

Jestyn looked deep into her eyes. “It was as I wondered how to keep you with me a bit longer that an idea occurred to me.”

“What kind of activity?” Jane asked, forcing her voice to normal. She had felt at the very moment when Jestyn had looked deeply into her eyes that their relationship had changed from a friendly one to one where they were deeply aware and attracted to each other, to the exclusion of everyone around them and even of their surroundings. In truth, they were falling in love in leaps and bounds.

“I’m going to Exeter tomorrow,” he said. “It’s an emergency, otherwise I would not think of going – not now when it’s so important we find the way for you to return to your time. But I’m also afraid of leaving you here without my protection. I know that in your time you disdain male protection and are an independent young woman. But you are not in your time and there are a lot of dangers lurking here for you.

“I would feel a lot better of you would come with me. It will be just one day and Aunt Florinda, of course, would accompany us. We’ll take the carriage and our coachman, so that you and Aunt Florinda will be comfortable.

“I prefer to have you in my sight, so that I might be able to come to your aid should anything arise. Cedric would protect you while I’m gone but not as thoroughly as I can. In truth, I would not be able to function over there in the business I have to conduct, while worrying about you, so please agree to come with me.”

“I would love to go to Exeter with you,” Jane said with a wide smile. Anything to stretch the time with him.

“How I wish you could remain with me for the rest of our lives, my heart,” he added. When Jane remained silent, a tear sliding down her cheek, Jestyn pressed her close to his chest.

“There are some nice sights in Exeter. Aunt Florinda is anxious to do some shopping so she will be elated when I tell her. It will be a treat for her. The hotel where I stay was recently renovated and is comfortable and pleasing, close to the sea as it is—right on the quay. We will have a day and a night, together, without the prying eyes that follow us everywhere.”

Jane sighed deeply against Jestyn’s chest. He was right. She could not be apart from him even for a day for a lot could happen while he was away.

The faster she got out of the past the safer she would be, but the thought of leaving the past and never seeing Jestyn again sent a sick wave throughout her body.

“I would love it, Jestyn,” She said quickly, to suppress the ache lingering in her heart at the thought of never seeing him again. But he was right. People looked at her as if she had just come from Mars.

“Wonderful!” Jestyn smiled broadly. Jane wondered how she could force herself to live without that smile for the rest of her life.

“But you risk yourself too, Jestyn, by being too much around me.”

“Please understand, Jane, that were you to be unable to return to your time, I would take up your upkeep and it would not be as a relation that I would ask you to remain in my household but as–”

“As what, Jestyn?”

“As my wife, my darling.” There, it’s said,” he added, looking deep into her eyes.

“I must go make arrangements for the carriage and bays to be readied for tomorrow,” he said with a wide smile.

***

He had not known real love until now,” Jestyn thought as he headed to the mews behind the vast estate. The deep anguish over Evaline’s betrayal years before had been forgotten as he sank into the sweet vortex of a love so unlike anything he had ever known that he was certain he would never love anyone as he loved Jane. But she was in danger in his era. People’s suspicions grew by the day and their superstitions were becoming like ugly tendrils reaching toward her, to choke her with their ugliness. Aunt Florinda had received a few calls from friends and when before the warnings had been subtle, close friends warned her that a tide of superstition was rising against Jane.

And his close friend, Lord Halensford had been earnest in that Jestyn and Cedric should find a way to, if not return Jane to her time, at least remove her from the area until they were able to find the path for her to return to her time. Maybe she could stay in London, Halensford suggested.

***

When Jestyn had left the drawing-room, Jane felt his absence physically and wondered just how she would be able to live without him if they succeeded in transferring her back to her time. She and Aunt Florinda ordered the tea tray, as Jestyn had told them to go ahead with tea because he had some paperwork to attend to in his study once he had arranged for the carriage.

So deep in thought was Jane, listening to Aunt Florinda’s voice only as a soft murmur that she had not registered Beacon’s entrance into the drawing-room until he was right before her.

She glanced up at him, startled.

“This package has arrived for you, Miss Fielder,” said the butler.

Jane glanced at the silver-wrapped square box adorned with a beautiful deep red velvet bow and smiled broadly. Jestyn! She had surprised her with a gift while he was tending to their trip for tomorrow!

She placed the box on the table while Aunt Florinda expressed her joy in little whimpers. “Quick, open it, dear,” she urged Jane.

Once the beautiful bow was off the box Jane removed the box top.

Then she screamed.

Beacon, who was by the drawing-room door on his way out, rushed back. “Miss Fielder!”

Jane stood up and walked backwards from the box. Inside the box was a large grey rat, its fat body curled and pressed to the sides of the box.

Aunt Florinda screamed as she leaned over from where she stood. She, too, backed away in horror.

Several servants who had been about their duties nearby came rushing into the drawing-room and a bevy of exclamations filled the room.

“Take it away.”

Jane thought she had yelled out the order but only a strained whisper had come out of her mouth.

Beacon directed a footman who was staring at the box to remove it from the room and discard it out in back of the house.

***

“I will find out who did it,” Jestyn said as he cradled Jane in his arms. “Although I have a pretty good idea who it was. This has Lady Millthorpe written all over it.”

He had walked back a few minutes after Jane had opened the gift box to find the house in an uproar. Things had calmed down now and Jestyn and Jane were again by themselves in the drawing-room, with Nellie sitting with her sewing by the door.

Jane’s voice faltered. “I thought it was from you Jes. I didn’t even stop to think that there was no card with it.”

“Don’t think about it anymore, darling,” Jestyn urged her. “The more you think about it the more it will stay in your mind.”

“You know, up until now, that danger did not seem too real. But now…”

“Maybe we needed this jolt in order to move faster in solving your return to your era,” Jestyn said sadly.

A sigh of exasperation shuddered through him. Each time he thought of the danger Jane was in he also felt immense sadness that once she left he would never see her again.

“Let’s think of other things,” Jestyn said as they both sat again on the sofa. “Our trip to Exeter, for instance. We now have an ally in Cannidge. He assured me that while we are in Exeter he will work hard to find out how it was the pendant brought you here. He sent me a note that he found another book that mentioned a pendant.” He dug into his coat pocket and pulled out Cannidge’s note and handed it to Jane.

“I’m glad.” Jane returned the note to Jestyn after she had read it. She forced her mind away from the “gift” she had received.

“I’m so happy to be going with you and Aunt Florinda to Exeter, Jes. In
my
time, Aunt Florinda’s presence would not be necessary. The need to chaperone grown women is a quaint idea that has been relegated to the past in most countries.”

“Yes, I know,” Jestyn exclaimed with a laugh. “You cannot know how much I will miss your humor and curiously unrestrained ways!”

“And I your restrained ways,” Jane said, tapping the tip of his nose with her index finger.

A silence hung between them. Jane had an almost uncontrollable urge to reach out to touch Jestyn’s cheek, to the dark hair over his ears that glistened with copper highlights and curled in a loose waves. She wanted to pull his head down toward her and kiss him. His mouth was to Jane the most wonderful mouth she had ever seen in her life. The slightly plump lower lip curved a little in one side in a way that made her constantly itch to kiss it.

She wanted to kiss him until both their lips were bruised and they forgot two centuries separated them. She wanted so much to nestle inside his arms without fear of being seen.

“I’ll miss our talks too,” Jane said, suppressing the tremor in her voice. Though her departure from the past was of dire necessity, Jane felt a thrill of awareness every time she was with Jestyn and now she knew he felt the same way toward her.