A Bridge Through Time: (Time Travel) (12 page)

CHAPTER 14

“I just saw Lord and Lady Millthorpe coming into the shop,” Jestyn told Jane. “It will not be possible for us to avoid them, I’m afraid. I can’t believe it’s just by luck they coincided on our journey to Exeter.

“I don’t think it’s by chance they’re here, Jes,” Jane glanced at the entrance where the Millthorpes were speaking to a waiter. “She probably has spies reporting to her about our every move – when she’s not wrapping boxes with rats to send me.”

“Shh,” Jestyn warned. “We cannot hint we suspect her. Be especially careful, darling.” His voice had changed so that Jane felt the tension in it. They let go of each other’s hands and moved their legs apart under the table, even though they were hidden by the tablecloth.

The Millthorpes walked toward them. And although Jane and Jestyn had let go of each other’s hands before the Millthorpes had reached their table, the woman glanced down at their hands that were close together on the cloth.

“Greetings, Greywick!” Wilma directed her greeting only to Jestyn.

Jestyn stood up and kissed the air over Lady Millthorpe’s proffered hand.

He then turned to the man: “Roswell, what a coincidence. How are you?” 

Jane stiffened as two pairs of eyes scrutinized her. She was uncertain as to how she should handle the meeting. She glanced at Jestyn. Jestyn nodded, almost imperceptibly, giving Jane a cue as to what she should do. Jane then nodded to each in turn. Hell would freeze over before she curtsied to the woman.

Jane saw that Lord Millthorpe was making as if to reach for her hand so she awkwardly extended it to him. Lord Millthorpe then kissed her hand. Jane forced herself not to snatch her hand away.

“A pleasure Miss Fielder.”

Lady Millthorpe tapped Greywick on the shoulder with her fan.

“Greywick, how tiresome of you not to let us know you were coming to Exeter. We could have come together in the carriage or arranged to meet. I just sent you an invitation to our ball.”

“May we expect you and Miss Fielder at our ball?” she asked.

“I’m afraid Miss Fielder may not be up to balls at the moment, Wilma,” said Jestyn. “She has not yet recovered from her injuries.” Jestyn removed Jane’s walking cane from a chair so that Lady Millthorpe could sit at the table.

“Do change your mind and make a special effort to attend, Miss Fielder,” said Lady Millthorpe, “I have it on good authority – Dr. Lenn, no less – that healing is helped by partaking of amusing distractions. Do you not feel this to be so?”

Lady Millthorpe looked to Jane like the well-endowed women in paintings by Gainsborough or Rembrandt, with her generous waist laced by a strangling corset. No wonder women of her generation had such good posture – there was no other choice, given the whale bone corsets they wore. Slumping would have made it hard to breathe.

Lady Millthorpe was sitting upward as straight as a rod in an attractive emerald walking dress and military-looking spencer with matching plumed hat. She had titian hair, and large green eyes and a pointed chin that was a tat too long for beauty. She was now flirting openly with Jestyn even though she was getting no response from him.

Jane smiled agreeably at Lady Millthorpe. From Lady Millthorpe’s attitude toward Jestyn, Jane could see that she still carried a pretty heavy torch for him. In fact she seemed the sort that carried the torch for a lifetime, no matter whom she married. She forced herself not to grimace.

From the first moment Jane had been introduced to her, she had felt Lady Millthorpe’s jealous eyes raking her over in a way that she could not confuse. She felt bad vibes like darts from the woman and was glad she wouldn’t be here to receive any more of them.

“I can’t contradict that, my lady. It is sound advice,” Jane said carefully, trying to sound like a lady of Lady Millthorpe’s era would sound. “This little excursion to Exeter with Mr. Greywick and his Aunt Florinda has helped my spirits. But as to dancing, well I’m certain I will not be able to partake of that for a long time.”

“Ah, my dear, I do not expect you to dance, although there is nothing like exercise for the healing of sprains, I am told. But sitting on the sidelines as you are doing now and viewing the dancing might be beneficial to you. Besides, it’s in two weeks’ time. By then you will no doubt have healed. Do I have your word that you will at least consider it if by the night of the ball you are feeling better?”

Jane glanced at Greywick.

“I shall be happy to take Miss Fielder and Aunt Florinda to your ball, Wilma, if Miss Fielder decides she is well enough to attend.”

Lady Millthorpe looked Jane over carefully, her huge green eyes making Jane nervous as they slid over Jane’s blue flowered muslin with blue spencer jacket and on to Jane’s chip bonnet and blue gloves. “And you, Miss Fielder, do I have your word you will consider attending my ball with Jestyn and his Aunt Florinda?”

“Yes, Lady Millthorpe, You have my word I will
consider
it.” Consider to dump it in the round file, Jane thought. The woman knew Jestyn would not attend her ball without Jane so her eagerness to have Jane attend was all due to securing Jestyn’s attendance. It was amazing that she could sit here chatting after sending Jane the gift rat.

“That pleases me,” Lady Millthorpe replied, “And speaking of your Aunt Florinda, how is the old dear?” She turned toward Jestyn.

“She is in perfect health and right now enjoying a restoring nap at the Blue Ridges Inn,” Greywick replied.

“Ah,” said Lady Millthorpe, “and how do you like living in that place, New York, Miss Fielder?”

“Have you been to America, my lady?” Jane asked sweetly.

“Good heavens no! I hear heathens have the run of the streets, as well as all sort of wild creatures…”

“Yes – there certainly are heathens and wild creatures running wild in New York streets.” Jane replied.

“There are some ruffians running wild in our London streets as well, my lady,” said Greywick.

“I had an encounter with one of ‘em last week,” said Lord Millthorpe loudly, speaking for the first time. “Caned him so hard all he was hoping for was to get away from me.”

Jane looked with great interest as Lord Millthorpe recounted his encounter with someone with whom he seemed to have had a dispute. Millthorpe looked like a man who spoke with great flourish even when recounting inconsequential things, and in a theatrical manner that called attention to him even from other tables nearby.

“You were lucky, sir, to have bested your opponent,” said Jane politely, glad that Lady Millthorpe’s peeled grape eyes were now on her husband, instead.

“Ah, Miss Fielder,” he said, and apparently encouraged by Jane’s words expanded on another recounting of it, the second time making his participation in it even more glorious and courageous than the first.

“I heard Miss Fielder was wearing a strange pair of breeches when she was taken to Lord Halensford’s house,” Lady Millthorpe interrupted her husband when it appeared he was going to launch into yet a third recounting of his scuffle, “But of course I couldn’t credit it, unless I am advised it was true. Was it?” Lady Millthorpe turned first to Jane and then to Jestyn.”

“Miss Fielder attended a masquerade…” Jestyn began vaguely.

“And ladies are allowed to wear breeches to masquerade balls in the Colonies, Miss Fielder?” she turned her probing eyes toward Jane.

“It has been known to happen,” Jane answered, her eyes steady on Lady Millthorpe’s.

“It may do for the Colonies, Miss Fielder,” said Lady Millthorpe, “but I would advise you not to wear men’s breeches here. It will get you into a great deal of trouble.”

“I am leaving shortly,” said Jane in a cold voice, “so it does not really matter.”

“Everything matters in these parts, Miss Fielder. Let me give you some valuable advice: do not give people who have age-old superstitions a reason to suspect you.”

“What would they suspect me of, Lady Millthorpe?”

“Witchcraft.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

“I say, m’dear” interrupted Lord Millthorpe, “you’re scaring Miss Fielder.”

“I am not easily scared,” said Jane, her look still steady on Lady Millthorpe.

“That would be your first mistake, Miss Fielder.”

“I’m afraid I must beg you to excuse me, my lady,” Jane said suddenly, standing up. “I have developed a dreadful headache that is being made worse by talk.”

Jane had had enough of the Millthorpes and saw no reason to extend her stay at the Mols Coffee House when the pleasure she had experienced there had ended when the Millthorpes had appeared.

“Of course,” Lady Millthorpe said, with a sharp look toward Lord Millthorpe.

“Thank you so much, my lady. It was wonderful meeting you, of course, and thank you for your understanding,” Jane said sweetly.

Jestyn took Jane’s arm and ushered her out of the place.

Lord Millthorpe stood up awkwardly and almost toppled the square table and Jane caught a look from Lady Millthorpe that could not be mistaken. Jane could tell Lady Millthorpe had taken offense by Jane’s sudden departure.

“Of all the–” Lady Millthorpe said when Jestyn and Jane were out of earshot.

“Can’t expect breeding from a woman bred among heathens,” Millthorpe said soothingly to his wife. “Don’t take it so hard, m’dear; it can affect your health, what!”

“It already has,” said Lady Millthorpe, her pointed chin trembling. “Too late for that; and that peasant girl will find out soon who she has tangled with.”

“She’s of no consequence, m’dear,” said Millthorpe, trying to placate her, “Do not exalt her by giving her your notice.”

“I’m going to give her my notice all right,” said Lady Millthorpe. “Those two were blatantly making lovey eyes at each other right in front of us!”

“They’re both unmarried…” Millthorpe began, “…surely…”

“Surely nothing!” Lady Millthorpe said, her voice trembling with rage. “That woman is beneath my contempt. She’s not a suitable match for Greywick. She is strange, as strange as the witches that were burned in this region. I have been in close contact with Mrs. Claye, the Halensford housekeeper. She told me alarming things about Miss Fielding. She believes her to be a witch.”

“Surely not,” said her husband, “not for a hundred years has the area seen anything of the sort…”

“I will make certain Jestyn does not become entangled with her,” said Lady Millthorpe, a shudder in her voice.

“She said she’s returning to the Colonies, did you not hear her?”

“I don’t believe that for a minute!” Lady Millthorpe hissed. “She’s out to get Jestyn and I will not stand for it!”

Lord Millthorpe shook his head in resignation. He was well aware of his wife’s real reason for her opposition. The passion she still held for Greywick was obvious not only to Millthorpe but to his friends, as well.

“Didn’t you hear that she has plans to return to the Colonies as soon as her limb is healed?” asked her husband, trying one last time to convince his wife.

“She has no plans of the sort,” said his wife. “I know what kind of plans that vixen has – plans to ensnare Jestyn in her web.”

CHAPTER 15

“That has to be the most unpleasant woman I’ve met in a decade,” said Jane to Jestyn when they were out of their earshot. “That poor hen-pecked Lord Millthorpe. He must rue the day she crossed his path.”

“I agree with you, Jane. Although I don’t think they present too much of a problem to you,” he added with a laugh, “You cut short Wilma’s questions very ably.”

“I deal with people like her very often in my line of work, Jestyn,” Jane said with an exasperated sigh. “But I’m glad I won’t be here to be the recipient of her attention. There can’t be anything good coming from her. And she seems fixated on me. I feel so uncomfortable in her orbit – and it’s really because she’s still in love with you. Jealous women, especially someone like
her
can be very dangerous.”

“I agree that she can be dangerous. It’s not a good thing to make an enemy of Wilma, darling. I had a taste of her machinations at one time.”

“She seems obsessed with you, more than in love, Jestyn,” said Jane. “Her husband seems like her puppet, too.”

“Yes, but he’s not a schemer like she is,” Jestyn agreed, “He muddles through harmlessly, except when she embroils him in her schemes.”

“What kind of schemes?”

“I believe Rosswell hadn’t the least idea of marrying Wilma. He was in love with a very nice girl, a neighbor to the south of his estate but–”

“But Wilma schemed him out of the match and got herself married to him, instead,” Jane guessed, shaking her head.

“Yes.”

“What a snake. That poor girl engaged to Rosswell before – she hadn’t a chance against that bug-eyed tarantula.”

“Yes,” Jestyn agreed, smiling widely at Jane’s description of Wilma. “Mary Capenelle was in love with Roswell, unlikely as it would seem. Rosswell is a blustery sort of fellow, as you had a taste of today, but he is harmless. They made a good couple and would have had a placid, happy marriage.”

“I couldn’t get him to stop his version of that scuffle he had with someone,” Jane said.

“I heard a very different version of his assault from an eyewitness, Jane, for it happened late at night in front of White’s. And I can assure you,” he added, laughing, “that Lord Millthorpe did not fare as well as he described nor his opponent as badly as he would lead us to believe.”

“Lord Millthorpe would have recounted the episode a couple more times if we had allowed him to, and with each time he would appear more courageous,” said Jane with a smile.

“Are they close friends of yours?”

“Good Lord, no, thankfully, mere acquaintances,” said Jestyn, “although Wilma is constantly pressing for the friendship to be more than what it is. We must be on guard when in Wilma’s presence, though.”

“I’ll follow your advice faithfully,” Jane said with a laugh and told him how she had thought he was exaggerating when he warned her not to confide anything to Mrs. Claye. “Later on, when I experienced Mrs. Claye’s dominant nature on myself I thought that rather than exaggerate you had not warned me enough!

“She would have strung me up like Joan of Arc if she’d had the chance when she saw my pants. What an unpleasant woman. The minute you left the bedroom she showered me with dirty looks.”

  “Mrs. Claye has no power, but she can influence others by repeating gossip. Wilma, on the other hand has power in the region, so you should be on guard with her. Be careful of Lord Millthorpe, too, for he’s completely ruled by his wife. Thankfully he’s more inclined to be absorbed with his gaming and debts.”

“I shall remember that, Jestyn. It’s a good thing I’ll have very little contact with either of them before I leave for I wouldn’t go to that ball they’re giving to save my life. Other than that I don’t think there would be another occasion to meet them.” Jane sighed of relief.

“She’s got a combination of a grudge and a grand passion for you that’s pretty awful to watch,” Jane added. “I don’t know how Lord Millthorpe puts up with it. But then
he
looks like putty in her hands.”

“Tell me about the customs of your time, Jane. Is, for instance, the way we address each other, too formal for your time?”

“Yes. People are often on a first name basis right from the start, especially in America. In England there’s more formality, though.”

After dinner in the company of Aunt Florinda, and afterwards as Aunt Florinda  napped in a chair nearby, Jane and Jestyn talked for a long time, in their little balcony, until the light waned above the chimney tops on the buildings of Exeter, and the full moon hovered above the silvery gray water turning rapidly dark.

Aunt Florinda excused herself and went to her bed. “I will sleep like a log, my dears. Never mind me – you two just go on talking as much as you like. I must rest before our return journey tomorrow.”

“She’s a sweet dear,” said Jane.

“What other positions do women hold in your age?”

“Doctors, lawyers, engineers, business persons. Women may hold any profession or occupation that men hold. But less in heavy construction work, I think, although many women are now entering that field. Also, they are now active in the military, particularly in aviation. They don’t yet go into direct combat but I read that they are training for it and will soon join the men in the combat fields.

“I would want to see the skyscrapers, I think,” Jestyn said. “A hundred stories! Amazing! And what you call ‘television’ – it’s simply astounding!”

“I can imagine how such things as I have described to you must sound,” Jane agreed. “It would be as if I had been transported two hundred years into
my
future and someone tried to explain wonders I didn’t know existed!

“I shall just have to resign myself to not ever seeing those things,” said Jestyn with a sigh. I was telling Cedric about some of the things you told me and he was just as astounded as I was.”

“I’m glad Cedric has recovered completely,” Jane said. “I’m sorry I have not been able to see much of him. He left shortly after I arrived, didn’t he?”

“Well, Cedric is in love. He became engaged just two days prior to our accident. As you can imagine, a young man in love, such as he is, and very newly thrust into such a state, thinks of nothing but to be near the object of his love. And then, Lorraine lives quite a distance from us.

“But Cedric assured me they are coming back to Greywick Hall today. He is very concerned for you. After I showed him the objects of your hand bag he was as impressed as I was and saw it as absolute proof that you are not from our time. He believes you are in increasing danger, too.”

“Is he and Lorraine getting married soon?”

“Yes – they have set the date for early fall. Lady Mellingway’s mother is in delicate condition after a recent illness, so they have agreed to postpone the wedding until she is recovered. Sir Walter Mellingway is our neighbor to the east. I am very happy with Cedric’s choice, Jane. Lorraine is an attractive, level-headed girl. You did meet her, did you not?

“Yes, but just briefly. I’m glad for them.”

“You were betrothed shortly before you came here, were you not?”

“I had broken up with Ken shortly before I left for England. He – he was not the loyal type, I’m afraid. That was the reason. He was not able to be with me only. He went on seeing an ex-girlfriend, apart from some other women. I found out too late into the relationship.”

“But fortunately you were able to find out about these defects of character
before
you married. It would have been worse still if you had had to spend your entire life with him.”

“Not my entire life! Only the few weeks it would take to get a divorce,” said Jane with a laugh.

“Is divorce common, then?”

“Very
common.”

“I can’t believe I was so lucky you were not engaged when I transferred to your time, Jestyn, or is there someone you are fond of in your era?”

“I was in love once, very deeply. I – well, I think I’d like to tell you about Evaline one time and then I shall never mention the subject again.”

“Yes, Jestyn. I’d like that, too,” Jane said.

“I thought she loved me but it was just her outward compliance with her parents’ wishes. She had fallen in love with Sam Lester, Lord Feehey’s head stable groom and the groom that always accompanied her when she rode. Riding was everything to her. She was on a horse more than half the day.

“I had been attracted to Evaline since childhood on and fell in love with her as an adult. My father and her father had planned our union since our infancy and I was eager to agree to my father’s wishes, which he expressed shortly before he died. His wishes were easy for me to comply with.

“I found out later from her brother, Tom, that Evaline’s father had ordered Evaline to accept my suit when she seemed reluctant. The way things are here, is that marriages are arranged very much between the suitor and the lady’s father. Evaline pretended to love me and to accept my courtship but it was only so that nobody would suspect where her true affection lay. Also unknown to her parents, Evaline suffered from a heart ailment.

“Evaline disappeared the day before our wedding and her brother came to seek Cedric and my help. You see, her twin brother already suspected what was going on and when his sister and Sam Lester disappeared, he had no one to turn to but to us. He didn’t want his parents to find out where Evaline was. So we went to look for her and after asking around we were led to an inn in Lydford. We found her lover, Sam, distraught. Evaline had died minutes before we found her.

A doctor was summoned – in total secrecy, of course. He diagnosed her with heart failure – apoplexy. The doctor agreed to keep to himself the circumstances of how she had died – literally in the arms of her lover, while making love. Sam Lester delivered a letter to us that Evaline had meant to post that day, informing her parents of her decision to flee with him, whom she loved, rather than be wed to a man she did not love.

“Her parents were devastated with her death. But her brother had begged us to keep the truth from them. Her twin brother Tom, Cedric and I – and, of course the head groom, Sam Lester, as well as Dr. Devinge, the Feehey’s physician, took an oath to keep the affair a secret, only for Lord and Lady Feehey’s sake.

“What a horrible tragedy!”

“Yes,” Jestyn agreed. You and I had similar experiences with love, Jane. But I would have given up any claim to Evaline’s love a thousand times if it would give her back her life, for her parents’ sake. I believe their grief will be the death of them. I wish she would have confessed to me that she did not love me, rather than pretend she did for her parents’ sake. She might still be alive today. I believe the excitement of her escapade caused her heart failure.”

“It’s so sad,” Jane said, astounded at the tragic ending to Jestyn’s engagement. There was a long silence between them. Then Jestyn spoke, his voice soft.

“The corridors in this hotel at this time of the year are empty. I believe we are the only ones occupying a room in this wing of the hotel, darling.”

Jane looked deeply into Jestyn’s eyes. She better leave soon, she thought, for she had fallen in love with him. And she knew in her heart he felt the same way. They had made a private little world for themselves and it was a world that had no future. Yet…

“Let’s go to your room,” Jane said. Jane’s bedroom was right next to Aunt Florinda’s and she wanted complete privacy.

Jane locked her bedroom door and they headed just a few doors down to Jestyn’s room. The narrow corridor was quiet and empty and lit at intervals with wall sconces.

Once inside Jane sat on the window seat and looked down at the river. They were on the third floor.

“The river looks like a slice of silver in the waning light,” Jane said. “Come here, Jestyn, look at how lovely it looks.”

“Get away from the window, Jane,” Jestyn urged. “Someone might see you there and this is not your bedroom. Exeter is not a large town – not as it is in your time. Everyone knows each other around here. There would be all manner of talk.”

Jane left the window seat and when she was well away from the window Jestyn drew the drapes, shutting out the night, the river and Exeter from them.

“We have so little time, Jestyn – as if had been doled out by a miser,” said Jane, her lower lip trembling. “I want to be as close as I can be to you in the little time we have…”  Jane started to unbutton her spencer jacket, her fingers trembling.

“I – feel a little – a little–”

“Let me help you, darling.” Jestyn unbuttoned Jane’s jacket, tossed it on the chair by the bed and then turning her toward him, unbuttoned the tiny buttons of her gown.

“You’re beautiful,” he said as Jane now lay on the bed, completely nude.

“So are you, my sweet love,” said Jane. “I admired you first in your painting. “I still have trouble believing I’m here with the original. It’s as if the painting has come to life.”

Jestyn kissed her and her last word was lost in his breath. He showered her with small kisses on her neck and shoulders and then his mouth found her breasts.

“
You
seem like a painting to me,” he said between kisses. “You came from another world not only to save my life but to make me happy. I was bitter because of what happened with Evaline. You erased the bitterness from my soul so that I could live and love again—love
you
. Surely fate can allow us some time together.”