Time's Arrow

by Clare Revell

  Elizabeth spoke up. “I don’t mind accompanying you if you wish to sing, Sebastian. He has the most amazing singing voice, Miss Peterson.”

  “Really? I would love to hear it.” Jonni said, thinking Sebastian looked almost embarrassed as he half smiled.

  Mr. Stott looked at her. “And what about you, Miss Peterson? Do you sing or play?”

  “I can sing, although my music teacher would beg to differ. He claimed my playing was better.”

  “You had a music teacher?” Louisa asked, amazement tingeing her voice.

  “We all—” Jonni began, without thinking. “Yes, I did, but I haven’t played in a long time.”

  “Then you must do so now. You can accompany Sebastian.”

  “Louisa, if Miss Peterson does not wish to play, then she does not have to. My voice is not as good as you make it out to be.”

  “Don’t be such a spoilsport, Sebastian. Of course, she must accompany you. And you have an exquisite voice. Numerous people have commented on it.”

  “He certainly does,” Elizabeth gushed.

  Jonni found herself pulled to her feet and led to the piano. She sat and looked at the music placed in front of her.

  “This is his favorite song, although he’ll likely deny that, as well.” Louisa pushed Sebastian to stand next to the piano.

  Jonni began to play. She didn’t know the song, but read music and soon found herself lost in the melody she played, and the sound of his voice.

  They finished to cries of wonderful and encore, but Jonni shook her head. “I’m very tired and still not fully recovered. If you will excuse me, I’ll call it a night.”

  Sebastian nodded. “Goodnight.”

  6

  At breakfast, Sebastian stood as Jonni entered and moved to pull her chair out for her. He had been uncommonly rude the previous evening and needed to make up for it. “Good morning, Miss Peterson. How are you feeling?”

  “Fine, thank you.” She sat down and tucked her skirts out of the way. She glanced up as a servant placed a plate of bread and a cup of tea in front of her. “Thank you.”

  Sebastian returned the smile of thanks she shot him and went to his seat. “What are you doing today, Miss Peterson?”

  “I want to go for a walk.”

  “It’s raining, you will get soaked.”

  “I love the rain, I always have. Getting wet is half the fun.”

  “It takes all sorts,” Sebastian said dryly. “I have to ride over to the estate office this morning, Mother. The bailiff managed to mess up again.”

  Countess Maud snorted. “That does not surprise me. You should think about getting a new one. Speaking of new things, I spoke to Mr. Stott last night. He has no objection to a match between you and Elizabeth.”

  Sebastian’s stomach roiled and his fork dropped from his hand. The chink of metal on china echoed in the heavy silence. “You spoke to him about marriage? Without my consent?”

  Countess Maud nodded. “You have been a widower far longer than most and you need an heir for the estate. Not to mention a mother for Alexis.”

  There was now no way he was going to tell his mother that Miss Franks, the ninth governess since his wife had died last year, had that very morning announced her position untenable, Alexis impossible, and that she wished to leave at the end of the week. It would merely give his mother more proof that he needed a wife to keep him in check and run the house in his stead. A week was more than enough time to find a suitable replacement.

  “Alexis has a very competent governess and does not need a mother for now. And when she does, or when I need one, I am quite capable of finding a wife, myself. Elizabeth Stott is no more suitable than any of the other ladies you have inquired after.”

  “Why ever not? She comes from an excellent family, would be good breeding stock, and you know very well you need a son to inherit.”

  Sebastian resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Once his mother got on this track, there was no stopping her. “Mother, please. There is more to life than having children. Besides they say to look at the mother to see what the daughter will be like.”

  He noticed the filthy look Louisa shot him in response to that remark, but kept silent. She knew what he meant and there was nothing wrong with George, or he would not be friends with him. Moreover, he would never allow his sister to marry him if there were.

  Countess Maud sighed. “Just because Mrs. Stott is a little, shall we say, eccentric doesn’t mean—”

  “Madam, Mrs. Stott is more than a little eccentric. The woman is mad. If her husband had any sense, he would have her locked in an asylum. As it is, he does the next best thing and keeps her under lock and key in his own home.”

  He paused, trying to reign in his annoyance. “I will not be making an offer for Miss Stott any time, either now, or in the future. I will thank you to keep out of my affairs from now on. When I decide to remarry, I will find a wife, myself.”

  Jonni looked at him over her cup. “And what do you look for in a wife, Lord Tyler? Other than love, that is.”

  Sebastian laughed. If only that were possible. “An earl doesn’t marry for love, Miss Peterson. Love is found in story books. One marries for necessity, or convenience.”

  “I beg to differ. If you don’t love someone, then how can you ever want to marry and live with them, never mind have children with them?”

  He shook his head at her. “I would marry in order to provide a legitimate heir for the estate. But liking the woman would be a good place to start.”

  A loud sigh came from Countess Maud. “To get back to the subject in hand, we were thinking a double wedding with Louisa, to coincide with the Christmas feast.”

  Anger welled in Sebastian. “I don’t care what you have arranged. I did not make the offer for Miss Stott, and I do not intend to honor the one you made on my behalf, as it is not legally binding. There will be no wedding. End of conversation. I will go across and speak to Mr. Stott and undo the harm you have done.”

  Louisa sat there in shock. “I am to be married in two weeks?”

  Countess Maud nodded. “Mr. Stott arranged for a special license. You and I go shopping today for your bridal gown and your trousseau.” She looked at Jonni. “You are welcome to come if you wish.”

  “Thank you for asking, but I think I will stick to my walk. Wedding shopping is something you and Louisa should do between the two of you. I will see you all later.”

  Sebastian stood as Jonni got up and left the room. Maybe she is right about arranged marriages, but marrying for love? If I married anyone for love it would be her…

  He broke off, excusing himself and heading to the door. Where did that come from? He didn’t know the woman, but the way she made him feel, simply by her presence, was incredible. Not even Mary had summoned such a reaction so deep within him. He must find out where she came from before he pursued anything else. Until then his physical reaction would have to wait.

  ****

  Jonni found Hattie upstairs tidying her room. “Hattie. I need some information.”

  Hattie looked up. “Yes, miss?”

  “Do you know where I was found? I thought maybe my ID fell out and would still be there.”

  “T’were by t’milestone, mebbe ‘alf mile from here.”

  “Which direction?”

  “Left at the bottom of drive.”

  Jonni smiled. “Thank you. Oh, do you have a pair of scissors?”

  “Yes, miss.” She vanished from the room and soon reappeared with a pair. “Here.”

  “Thank you. I’ll leave them here for you.” Jonni waited until Hattie had left and shut the door. Then she removed all the wretched pins from her hair and looked at it. Taking a deep breath she began to cut her hair as short as she could stand it. That way she’d no longer have to suffer the indignation of having her hair brushed and pinned each day. Just being washed and dressed.

  By the time Jonni had finished, everyone else had left and the rain had stopped. Borrowing a cloak, she head
ed down the steps and branched left at the bottom of the drive. The wet paths splattered her boots with mud, and soaked the hem of her skirt. Nothing was as she remembered it. Where there should be houses, shops, roads and cars, there were fields and trees and hedgerows.

  Yet the beauty and peace of it touched her soul. It made communing with the Lord so much easier.

  Half an hour after she left the house, Jonni reached the part of the road where she had fallen under the horses and carriage. There was the mile marker, just as Hattie had said.

  It was exactly the same as it was in her time, albeit a lot less weatherworn and cleaner. She looked beyond it, but the fields were empty.

  Jonni’s heart fell.

  She was an idiot for seriously expecting the village to be there. She reached out and touched the milestone, running her hand over it. It felt a lot smoother than the last time she had touched it. She looked around the milestone for her ID. She had her wallet and phone and keys. Pushing aside the grass, she searched for anything that looked out of place.

  Jonni took a deep breath. What would it take to go home? Would she have to tap her heels three times and whisper ‘there’s no place like home’ or would merely walking past the stone do it? There’s only one way to find out.

  Letting out the breath slowly, she touched the milestone. She closed her eyes and walked past it.

  Jonni opened her eyes fully, expecting to see the village standing around her, with the traffic and pollution and noise.

  Ohhh.

  There was nothing but fields in front of her. She whirled around. The milestone stood there mocking her. She moved back past it and touched it. Then she went back again, then a third time and a fourth.

  Each time nothing changed and she just saw fields. Acres and acres of wet, green fields. Tears filled her eyes. What was she doing wrong? Why wasn’t this working? Maybe she did have to tap her heels together.

  What had she to lose? She closed her eyes, tapped her heels three times. “There’s no place like home.” She took a step forwards.

  “What are you doing?” demanded an amused voice from behind her. “And what have you done to your hair? You look ridiculous.”

  7

  Jonni spun around, wiping her eyes, and stared up at the man on the horse, her heart starting to pound once more. “I cut it. Not that my hair, or what I am doing is any concern of yours.”

  “You are crying. What is wrong?” Sebastian asked, his tone softening.

  “Nothing’s wrong.”

  “Of course there isn’t. I would imagine you are exactly the type of woman who always stands in the middle of a muddy field and cries over nothing.”

  “Oh yeah, all the time.” Jonni wiped her hand over her eyes, irritated the tears wouldn’t stop.

  Sebastian reached into his pocket and pulled out his handkerchief, offering it to her. “Here. Now what is the matter? I warn you now, I don’t have much time for women who use their wiles and tears to get their own way.”

  Jonni took the handkerchief. She blew her nose and wiped her eyes. “I was trying to get home.” She shoved the handkerchief into her sleeve. “But I can’t…it didn’t work. It’s gone.”

  Suddenly with a flash of lightning, the heavens opened and the rain poured down, soaking them both. Thunder followed.

  Sebastian’s horse reared, almost throwing him. He regained control of it and looked at Jonni. “We’ll take you home, later. Right now we should go back to Southby, and get out of this storm.” He offered her a hand. “Come.”

  Jonni hesitated, looking at him. She’d never been on a horse in her life. Taking his hand, she let him pull her up in front of him. His palm was warm against hers, his grip firm and his strength comforting.

  Sebastian pulled her against his chest, wrapping his cloak around the both of them. Then with a tug on the reins and a whistle, the horse galloped over the fields.

  Jonni was all too aware of Sebastian’s scent, and the feel of his firm body against hers. She could hear his heart beating. His breath caught her ear as she leaned against him, her breath automatically falling into the same easy rhythm. In his arms, she was safe, except for the way her heart rate increased and her stomach churned within. She closed her eyes, ignoring the way he made her feel, as if she were an object of desire.

  He was vastly different from Bryan, the last man who had instilled that reaction in her. Unlike Bryan, there was no deceit in this man. If things were different, she could let her feelings for him show, but as it was, they had to remain hidden.

  The rain pounded against them. Using the drops to shield her tears, Jonni tried to grasp the fact that she was now stuck two hundred years in the past with nowhere to go. She couldn’t stay with the Tylers indefinitely.

  Lord, what do I do now? Do I try to get a job in the local school or something? Is this really Your plan for me—to live out the rest of my life in a kind of living history? Please show me what to do.

  ****

  Sebastian urged his mount to move fast. Something stirred within him as he held this woman close. Never had he loved any woman before, not even his wife. Oh, he had liked Mary, even tolerated her, with a slight affection for her, but there was no all-consuming desire. It had been a marriage not of his choosing.

  Yet with Miss Peterson, the response happened on the instant, despite his best intentions. His senses filled with her delicate perfume, the way the dress hugged her figure, the wet fabric emphasizing her outline from her full round breasts, to the curve of her hip. Being near to her made his whole body come alive.

  He didn’t know the first thing about the woman in his arms, just there was something about her that made him shiver in delight and turned his insides into a mass of quivering jelly. He didn’t like it, and didn’t want the feelings it invoked, or the way his body responded. He preferred to be in control of everything, especially relationships. No, he would not choose desire. He was a man and could discount those feelings that made him weak.

  Lord, I cannot allow myself to feel like this. I need Your help to combat this reaction. Nothing can come of it. Now she knows where her home is, I can take her there, promise her family recompense for the distress her accident caused and put an end to it. She has not mentioned a husband, but she is far too attractive to still be single at her age. Perhaps there are still gaps in her memory.

  Not soon enough for his liking, Sebastian clattered over the driveway in front of the house, his tone brusque as he fought to control himself. “Run inside. I will stable the horse. Hattie will prepare a bath for you.”

  ****

  Jonni nodded and jumped off the horse, feeling somehow disappointed that the moment had gone. Despite what she had told herself, she enjoyed having his arms around her. She wished she could stay there forever, but it could never be. Even if circumstances were different, men like him did not fall for women like her. She was the wrong social class, not to mention in the wrong time.

  She looked up at him.

  The soaked, white shirt clung to his firm upper body, the arm muscles rippling beneath the sleeves. His dark hair dripped onto his shoulders, the rain streaking down his face. His dark gaze held hers for a moment, then he jerked his head to the house. “Go inside before you catch your death.”

  Jonni gathered her skirts and ran up the steps. She stood dripping in the hallway, unsure whether to take her boots off, or not.

  Hudson looked at her. “Boots off and run upstairs, miss. Hattie isn’t back yet, but I will send someone to draw a bath for you.”

  An image of a servant with pen and paper sketching a picture of a bath filled her mind. Jonni stifled a smile and nodded. “Thank you.” She pulled off her boots, gathered her wet, muddy skirts and ran upstairs.

  The storm was closer now, the wind howling through the chimneys and the gaps in the windows. Thunder followed lightning rapidly, while the rain poured down in torrents.

  “You look wet. Were you out in the storm?”

  Jonni stopped. She looked at Alexis, who sat
on a chair in the hallway, clutching a doll to her chest. Jonni nodded. “Yes I was.”

  “Weren’t you scared? I am.”

  “No, there is nothing to be scared of. The thunder is simply the noise the lightning makes.”

  Alexis looked at her. “So why don’t we hear it when we see it?”

  “Because light travels faster than sound. The closer the gap between them, the nearer the storm is.” Lightning flashed again and Jonni counted, showing Alexis how to calculate the distance.

  Alexis smiled. “Thank you. What did you do to your hair?”

  “I cut it. It’s far too much bother to have a million and one hair pins in it. This way I can brush it and leave it.”

  “I shall ask Papa if I can have mine cut,” Alexis said decisively. “Can I ask you something else?”

  Jonni shivered. “Sure, so long as you ask quickly.”

  “Would you teach me how to play the piano, later? I heard you last night. You’re good and no one has time to teach me.”

  “Of course, later on this evening, before you go to bed.” Jonni went to her room and stood shivering while servants carried the hot water up the back stairs along with the tin bath. When it was ready, she dismissed them and shoved a chair under the door.

  She stripped off her wet things, letting them fall to the floor. She climbed into the water and leaned back, feeling the water begin to warm her. Her mind filled with thoughts of the man stabling his horse.

  ****

  Sebastian came in and stripped off his cloak and boots. “Hudson, send up to Miss Peterson’s room once she has finished with her bath. Tell her I wish to see her in the parlor. Bring some tea in there.”

  Hudson nodded. “Yes, Sir. I took the liberty of asking John to draw you a bath.”

  Sebastian nodded and headed upstairs.

  What did Miss Peterson mean by her getting home not working? Homes did not simply just vanish. That was not possible. If necessary he would call the doctor out again, but he would wait and see what she said when he spoke to her.