He wrapped his other arm around her. “I’d like that.”
“Okay, okay. People. I’m right here.”
“Oh, look at our Eva, she’s got Regency sensibilities.”
“To be honest, I wasn’t much of a PDA type gal before I left this century.”
“She’s perfect for Oliver. I’m telling you.” Jane winked.
“Well, where is he?” Now that she’d felt about a thirty second expectation that he would arrive any second, she couldn’t wait another hour’s time without seeing him. If she must, she’d go back to find him. She clutched her heart. Would she? Go back?
“What is it? Are you well?” Jane rested a hand on her arm.
“Yes. I—I don’t know what to think.”
“Sometimes in situations such as these, it’s best not to think.”
“Well someone has to. Because what if Oliver is floating around in time somewhere?”
“Do you think he braved the leap?”
“I don’t know, of course, but I think he’s not the type to lift his hand to touch a portrait and then change his mind at the last possible millisecond.”
“Millisecond?” The duke tilted his head, curious.
“She means, moment.”
He nodded.
Jane turned on the car and pulled out. “Oh, I’ve missed this.”
Eva was losing patience with the new duke and duchess. Seemed she much preferred their Regency personae after all. Did she prefer all people in that era? She might. Everyone here was grating on her every nerve.
And she missed Oliver. The hole in her heart had grown to take over her whole chest cavity, and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could bear to be without him.
They pulled up in front of Twickenham Manor. It was only about a mile or two away. She remembered trying to walk the distance and closed her eyes with a smile thinking of Lord Hereford picking her up on the side of the road. How shocked he must have been at her behavior at every turn.
Somehow he’d preferred her to all others. She paused. He’d preferred her even in her shocking behavior.
They rushed into the house without knocking. “Aunt Nellie.” Eva called out, not caring how many rules of propriety she broke. Even though they were back in 2020, they were not in America, but she no longer cared. They had to find Nellie and see what was going on with her Oliver.
They ran into the front sitting room. It was empty.
Then Algernon raced down another hallway. “The library. Follow me.”
They chased him and pushed open the old thick wood doors. Empty. Not even a maid in sight.
“This home has always been rather odd in its staffing.”
“I think they’re all Fae.”
“They are?” Algernon thought for a minute. “That would explain much.”
“How about the portrait room?” Eva shivered. She knew what could happen in that room. Was she ready for such a leap?
Oliver followed the young Aunt Nellie into the portrait room. “So, what can be done? I’m obviously in the wrong time.”
She studied him for a moment. “And you wish to follow this woman to 2020, whenever she is, that’s where you’d like to be?”
“Yes, please, that’s why I touched the painting. I don’t know where the duke went. Is he with her?”
She didn’t answer. But she walked up and down the row of portraits. A new one appeared where another had held that space on the wall.
“Right there. There he is. And Jane. And Eva. That’s her, the woman I’m following.”
She pressed her lips together. “But I see no portrait of you.”
“Can you make one?”
She considered him. “I could, or we can use the same magical path that brought you here and send you back to your time, to the moment you left.”
“But that’s not where I’m trying to go.”
“It is where, just not when.”
“Yes, precisely.” He stared about hopelessly hoping his portrait would show up beside the others. When it didn’t, he nodded. “Then yes, send me back. From there, I can try again, I presume.”
“Yes, you can, as long as you can find me.”
He nodded.
“Close your eyes.”
He did and felt the soft powdery feeing of snow all around him, followed by the dizzying whirling. His head pounded and he opened his eyes to see he was once again on the floor of the portrait gallery.
He stepped out into the hallway, rushing, clutching his head in an agony. But everything looked different. He was not in his time. And he was not alone.
A man tilted his head to study him. “Have you just arrived?”
Oliver cleared his throat. “Yes. You?”
“Oh no. I never leave. But I’ve seen many of you come and go.” He stepped forward and held out his hand. “I’m Dr. Charles Smithy.”
“Oh hello. I’m Lord Hereford, Oliver.”
“Ah, a Regency chap, I gather.”
“Regency?”
“You’re from the time of Prinny as the regent?”
“Yes, of course. And this time is…”
“Much, much later than that. Jumped ahead two hundred years and you’ve found us.”
“Two hundred? Do you know Eva? Or Jane or Anna?”
“I do! All three of those lovely ladies. Have you met Jane, then? Is she making a life for herself?”
“She is, the duchess of Ramsbury. They are some of my dearest friends. And their friend Eva. Have you met her?”
“I did, just recently. She’s lovely, quite beautiful. Did she take the leap?”
“Yes, we met in the portrait gallery. And then she disappeared and then showed up again.” He waved his hand and then clutched his head, grimacing. “It’s all rather complicated.”
“I imagine so.” He indicated they keep walking. “Let me find something for that headache of yours.”
“Oh yes, please. But what do you suggest? A compress?”
“Much better. It’s called Tylenol. You’re going to love it.”
He nodded, interested.
“We don’t have much more time of the full moon. I was surprised to see another person show up.”
“Can people only take the leap during the full moon, really?”
“So far, that’s all I’ve seen. We should probably let Aunt Nellie know you’re here.”
“She’s the one who sent me.”
“But that was Aunt Nellie in the other time period, correct?”
Oliver’s brain stopped following. So he just grunted.
The house felt unnaturally quiet. And he saw no one, which he found odd. Didn’t a house of this size usually have a full staff of servants? They walked a few more steps when he heard voices.
As they got closer, he smiled. “It’s the duke and duchess!” He picked up his feet to run to them. As he reached the stairwell, he met them coming up. “Algernon! Your grace!”
“Oh, call me Jane. You must even when we all return home.”
‘I’m so happy to see you. I’ve been a different time, and she thought she was sending me home, but now I’m here…. Where is lady Eva?”
“Oh dear. We thought she was with you.”
“What?”
“We sent her back to you. Back to our time.” Algernon acted as though it was the safest, most natural thing in the world.
“But you could have sent her anywhere. I would know, having just been in such a place.”
“And what are you two still doing here?”
“We have some purchases to make before we go back. We decided to stay the month and then time our return to coincide with Eva’s.”
“I must go to her.” He turned from them, rushing back to the portrait gallery.
“Oliver, chap. It’s too late.” Algernon’s voice irritated him in a deep itch.
“What do you mean, precisely?”
“The full moon is past. You must now wait for the next full moon, and you can return with us to the exact moment she arrive
s. Trust us, friend. It will seem but a moment for her.”
“And I have to stay here thirty days without her?”
Jane smiled.
“Don’t smile that doe-y eyed look. I’ve lived without her already enough.”
Jane made a valiant effort not to grin, but he saw it coming and simply walked away. He was in no mood to address the silliness that he knew was coming.
Instead he’d best exert himself to the task of growing accustomed to the idea that he’d be living in essentially a foreign place for the next month, and without Eva.
19
Eva spun in the whiteness as her world transformed again. When at last everything stopped, she stood in the portrait gallery. A couple stood across the room and she watched with interest as they both reached forward to touch the paint. With a poof, they disappeared.
Interesting. She’d always wondered how it would appear to others.
“Lord Hereford.” She called out into the room, hoping her voice would reach the hallway, if he had wandered out there.
But no one answered.
She made her way to the stairway banister and knew at once she was back in the Regency time period. She looked down at her clothing and gasped. She hadn’t changed her outfit. And the duke and duchess had decided to stay for a month. They’d said they’d arrive within minutes of her standing there and would bring her some clothes and other things. But so far, she saw no one, most especially not Oliver, who she’d come back to find.
Perhaps she’d come back to the wrong time. She wandered down the upstairs portion of the home until she found a bedroom. She slipped inside. Perhaps there would be some clothes here she could borrow. It wouldn’t do to be seen in her current state, not when she wanted to try to mend her reputation.
She found some clothing and some passably pretty gowns. She reached for the bell pull. How quickly she’d become accustomed to a lady’s maid. But in this case, she was entirely necessary. No one could dress in all these clothes by herself.
A short young maid arrived and curtseyed.
“Would you mind helping me dress?”
She nodded. “Certainly.” She made no comment about Eva’s clothes. Perhaps working here, she saw all kinds of people in every manner of clothing.
“Would you mind terribly helping me know what time it is?”
“It’s almost morning miss.”
“And what year? What season?”
Her eyes sharpened. And she nodded. “You are in the year 1813. And it is approaching the autumn, miss.”
“Thank you.” She sucked in her breath. Months later. Should she try to go through the painting again?
No, that would be impossible. She’d waited long past the full moon.
She thanked the maid for helping her dress and then determined to find a way to travel to Lord Hereford.
If he hadn’t married yet.
As she made her way downstairs, Aunt Nellie left the front room. “Oh, you’ve returned.”
“Yes, can you tell me if Lord Hereford is here?”
“He is not.”
She let her shoulders fall. How would she ever be back together with him again?
“He left a full month ago, back to his own estate.”
Her heart picked up. “Oh, excellent. Do you know how I might find a conveyance to London?”
“London? If you’re hoping to go to Lord Hereford’s estate, it is but five miles distance.”
Her heart leapt. “Oh is it? Why, that’s excellent news.” She rested a hand on the banister to keep from falling over. “And would you please help me find a means to travel to his estate?”
“I could call for our carriage, if you like.”
“Thank you. I would very much appreciate it.”
While she waited for the carriage, she stepped out on the front stoop. The fall weather was chillier than she expected. The trees were all about her. The wall that had been protecting the property was much smaller. But most everything seemed the exact same. She would guess that Twickenham would always remain timeless.
At last a carriage pulled up in front of her, and she allowed a footman to help her up inside.
The more she thought about living in Regency, the happier she was about her situation. She belonged here. The carriage pulled away and she smiled. She found her stays comforting. The skirt that rested against the top of her slippers felt like a beautiful blanket covering her. Her gloves protected her from dirt. They drove down a long lane, lined with trees. The way opened up, and the land spread out in front of her, down rolling hills and rising up again to a stunning large home that sat on a hill at the end of the lane.
They continued down the drive while Eva drank in everything around her. Until at last they stopped at the front stoop of what she hoped was Lord Hereford’s home.
She waited until the footman came around to open her door. The housekeeper and the butler had come to stand out in front.
When she stepped out to greet them, another woman approached—older. Lord Hereford’s mother.
Eva curtseyed.
Lady Hereford did the same. “You must be Lady Eva?”
“I am.”
She studied her for a half breath and then she held out her arms. “Come here, child. We are so happy you’ve finally returned.”
Shocked at the woman’s sudden support, Eva didn’t need to be told twice. She stepped forward and then hesitantly into Lady Hereford’s arms.
“I came as soon as I could.”
The woman’s seemingly frail arms gifted her with a strong embrace.
“Mother? Who is it?” Lord Hereford’s voice felt like honey to a parched throat.
She felt his gaze, felt his halted progress. She turned. And then drank him in. He stood tall, strong. His eyes held their same kindness. His smile, growing in delight looked the same. It couldn’t have been too long since they’d last seen each other.
“You’ve come back.”
“Yes, I have. Back to your lordship.” She grinned at her own movie reference. Which no one would understand except her. But that didn’t matter, because her earl was standing right in front of her, smiling and happy to see her. “I wonder if it’s not too improper of me to come call on you…”
“Alone.”
“Oh, quite. Yes. Alone.” She’d done it again.
“I would expect nothing less.” He chuckled then he held out his hands. “Come here, you.”
For a moment, she had to look around to make sure they were in the correct time period.
“What?”
“How long you plan to make a gentleman wait?”
She stepped forward. “I guess not much longer?”
“Darn right.” He reached for her hand and led her away, through the front room, through the study, past the sitting room and into the library. All the while her expectation growing. And her wonder. Had he come to her time period after all?
When at last he stopped, shut the door, and then pulled her into his arms. “I’ve missed you.”
“I didn’t think I could survive another minute without you.” She stood taller.
“So how about that last item on your list?”
“Only if you know what it means.”
“Oh, I know what it means. Do you?”
“I do.”
His eyebrow rose in an adorable sort of way. Something about him had changed, a different kind of confidence, an element of fun. And she liked him even more.
He searched her face in one delicious slow motion. His eyes lingering on her lips, before moving up to her own. The love that stared back from him was beautiful, constant, and true. She could lose herself forever in the loyalty she saw staring back at her. “I love you, Eva.”
“And I love you, too, my lord.” She’d come back for him. She’d go anywhere for him. Life was only meaningful if he was in it.
As his gaze once again lowered to her mouth, he pressed his lips to hers in an agonizing intensity. He kissed her again and again, exploring every angle. H
is arms wrapped around her back, holding her closer, cradling her against him.
She returned the urgency for more of her own and their kisses turned insistent. She pressed again and again, pulling at him, asking, needing, until he scooped her up in his arms and brought her to the couch. But with her on his lap, he slowed their intensity, pausing for a moment to look into her eyes. “Marry me.”
“Yes. When? Soon? Now.”
He laughed in a quiet belly sort of way and then kissed her once more, twice. “Are you here to stay, then?”
“Yes. And may I never see another portrait room again.”
“You’ll hear no argument from me there. Whatever you need, Jane can bring it back for you.”
“Is this really happening?”
“It really is.”
His face shone with his love for her, and she wasn’t sure how she could be any happier. “Thank you for coming back. I love you, my Eva, my American newly penniless heiress from San Diego, California.”
She gasped. “How could you…”
“And don’t worry, I’ve asked your father. He fully supports the match.”
“What?”
“And little Joey says hi, and he wants you to have this.” He reached inside his pocket and pulled out a match box car.
She lifted the car from his hand. And then tipped back her head and laughed. “Tell me all about it later.” Then she tipped back his head and lowered her mouth to his. “I’m not nearly finished.”
He smiled beneath her mouth, wrapped his arms around her more tightly and dipped her to his side where she was more soundly kissed than she ever had been with plans to continue every day for the rest of her life.
The end.
READ Jen’s other Time Travel Regency HERE.
20
Chapter 1 Dating the Duke
As soon as the airplane doors opened, Jane was the first to get off the plane. She raised her hands in the air and walked down the nearly empty exit ramp. Victory. She made her way to baggage and felt a smile stretch across her face when a driver held up a sign with her name on it. “Lady Jane.”
She collected her bags and the driver took her to Chatwick Manor. Driving back across the same countryside she had travelled when she journeyed back to Regency England just a few weeks ago brought back all the familiar anticipation. But she told herself, she was not hopping two hundred years this trip, she was going to relax in the year 2019. So there was nothing to feel anxious about.
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