“What do you mean he wasn’t the same?” Marguerite asked. She dipped her head to look at his face, but he kept turning away from her.
“I do not know how to explain it, but he was different. At first, he simply wanted to be alone. Then he became increasingly agitated, his temper flared at the least provocation. The people of the keep kept their distance; I was the only one he allowed around him for any length of time.”
She gasped in surprise, “You slit his throat, why would he keep you around?”
Milford merely shrugged.
“Sorry Milford, but I am a little surprised he did not kill you.”
“I know, I know. I was as well.” He shook his head in understanding, “But somehow he did not remember any of that. He seemed to have lost part of his memory. It was almost as if he lost part of himself when you left.”
“That was not my fault. I did not leave. I was ripped from him.” She turned and glared at Raven.
Raven swallowed hard. “Hey…how was I to know this was some kind of magical necklace,” she defended and covered the necklace up quickly with her hand as she glanced over at Reed. He was staring right at her, his expression unreadable. Shit.
“Where did he think I went?”
Milford shifted awkwardly, his eyes darting around the room.
“Milford, please,” she begged once more.
“Jayce told him you left, that you went back home.”
Marguerites mouth dropped open. “Oh,” she said, lifting her hand to her chest once again. “How did he take that news?”
“It was strange. Jayce offered to go and look for you but Darias said nay. He said it was his fault because he never told you how he felt in the first place. After that first day, he never spoke of you again. It was as if he had forgotten about you, but every once in a while I would catch him staring off into the distance and I knew he was thinking of you.”
A tear slid down her face and she brushed it away with the back of her hand. “Then what happened?”
Milford paled. “Things changed and not for the better.” He shook his head, and then he sighed. “You see, Darias was a good man and somehow he wasn’t any longer. I decided to take matters into my own hands and went off to find Merlin so I could get you back, so Darias could be whole again. I think you were his light and without you there was only darkness left inside.”
“So you found Merlin and he made the necklaces for Darias?”
Milford again grew antsy; he rubbed his clammy palms off with his handkerchief before answering. “Not exactly,” he said and stuffed his handkerchief back into his pocket.
“Not exactly what?”
“I stole the necklaces and book of spells from Merlin. He wouldn’t help me…well not at first,” he mumbled, barely audible.
“He said it was my fault you were gone and he couldn’t or wouldn’t bring you back because…oh I don’t know why. So I waited and when he finally left, I took the items myself and used them, or at least I tried to use them. But they didn’t work for me, so I had to ask her.”
Who?” Marguerite asked, even though she had already guessed who she was.
“Well, I wasn’t the only one that wanted Darias back to normal. So did Morrigan. I think she loved him…”
Marguerite snorted, “He was her obsession.”
“Well…,” Milford started speaking and then stopped.
“What, tell me?” Marguerite grasped at his hand, tugging on it.
“They were lovers before you showed up.”
Marguerite dropped his hand and at the same time her mouth dropped open. “They were?” she asked, her voice shaking.
“Yes, he bedded her quite often.” He stopped at the look on her face and immediately felt horrible, and appalled at his callous words. “I am so sorry, if it helps any, I do not think he cared for her as he did you.”
“Oh.” Marguerite understood now. She guessed if it was the other way around she would try to do the same, or would she? She guessed she would never know for sure.
Milford tapped his chin. “Still I suppose it must have stung a bit when he brought you to the keep and kept you up in his chamber day in and day out. He never did this with her, you see. He never kept women in his chamber. Somehow, you were different. You were special. Perhaps that is why she disliked you so much.” He sighed heavily; it was as though a great weight lifted from his shoulders.
The library was silent. Reed drained his drink, set the glass on the table, and stood. “That was quite a tale Milford. You had me going for a while.”
Milford looked at Reed, who reminded him of Sebastian. He not only looked like him, but he was as closed-minded as well. He sighed heavily; there was nothing to be done about that. “It is true. Every word, I swear to you.”
Reed gave him another incredulous look. “Well, I can see you believe what you are saying.”
Raven piped in finally. “How can you not believe what he is saying? This girl did pop magically out of thin air, but what I don’t get is why she…” She stopped and looked at Marguerite. “Why were you trying to beat me up?”
Marguerite regained some of her lost composure. “I thought you were Katherine. She had a bad habit of toying with the necklace. She sent me to some horrific places.” She shook her head as though it was suddenly too much to relay. “It is not important.”
“Of course it is. Who in the hell is Katherine?” Raven asked, completely mystified by the entire conversation.
“She is the girl I found to replace Marguerite the first time,” Milford offered, and then shrugged.
“What in the hell are you talking about?” Reed cut in, his voice rising.
“There is no need to yell Reed.” Raven glared at him, which seemed to end his mini tantrum and then turned back towards Milford. “Where is this Katherine…?” Raven stopped in mid-sentence as something suddenly dawned on her. “Wait…is she the girl who went missing from the party here? Was she the girl who worked at Biddle and Bailey before me?”
“Yes, she is the one.” Milford nodded his head.
“What party?” Reed asked.
Avoiding his direct gaze Milford added. “The one you had for the historic society, to raise money…ah right…I forgot I wasn’t supposed to mention that. Sorry,” Milford added sheepishly.
Well, now that was interesting. Raven knew an answer to one of her many questions, finally. Reed was having the contents documented in the estate not for insurance but for money instead. Hmmm, she wondered why though?
“She was a lovely girl,” Milford said, almost as an afterthought.
“So I’ve heard,” Raven muttered.
“How do you know Katherine?” Marguerite asked, looking pointedly at Raven.
“She has my position at Biddle & Bailey; well she did,” she amended. “That is, before she disappeared. Then I started working there and now I am here….” Raven trailed off, wondering about her own resemblance to the girl, correction, girls. Was that a coincidence as well? Or did she have a larger part to play here than merely documenting the contents of the estate.
Reed walked across the room and refilled his glass. He took another long draw of bourbon before setting it down on the desk in front of him. He braced his hands on the top, shaking his head. “This is absurd.” He pushed away from the desk and walked back across the room. He looked at the girl Marguerite. Somehow, someway he could believe she was from another time, even though it was ludicrous. Everything about her seemed to be from a forgotten time. Images of the so-called Knight Darias and the girl in front of him now flashed before his eyes. The vision he had seen in his room when Raven woke him, the way her long hair fanned across the pillows as the man Darias made love to her. He shook from the recollection. Was that her? The more he looked at the girl, in front of him, the surer he became she was the one he had seen—Damn!
Raven watched the play of emotions on Reed’s face and wondered if he remembered the girl from the vision as well. It was a heated scene. Her face flushed with the remem
brance.
“Milford, how do I get back?” Marguerite questioned, her eyes filling with unshed tears.
Milford pursed his lips, and then let out a hefty sigh. “It is going to be tricky but I think it can be done.”
Marguerite jumped from the sofa, ran to Milford, wrapping her arms around him, and gave him a large exuberant hug. Her sweatpants hung low on her waist and she had to keep hiking them up.
Milford patted her on the back. “Everything will work out. I promise,” he whispered for her ears alone.
She leaned forward and kissed his cheek, then pulled away smiling broadly. “I knew you would not let me down.”
It was not Marguerite he was worried about letting down. It was Darias. He was his liege, his friend… the man who saved his life. He owed Darias that much and more.
Beyond Reason
RAVENHURST * PRESENT DAY
REED railed at Milford, inches from his face. “Are you insane?”
Milford pressed his shoulders back. “No sir, I am not. You asked the question and I gave you the answer. I am sorry it was not to your liking, but it is the only answer I have.”
Reed lifted his hands to his face, pacing back and forth as he threaded his fingers into his hair. “Unbelievable!” He wanted to shake his fist in the air as well. He was that frustrated. How was that an answer? How was any of this even possible? It wasn’t. And even on the far off miniscule chance it could be real… he shuddered at the thought. What good could come from marrying Raven? Hell, he didn’t think he would ever get married and if he did, it wouldn’t have been to her. He cut a glare in her direction for a moment, his eyes lingering on her lips. He shook his head. This was ridiculous, absurd even.
And now what? The only way to send this beautiful, sweet…ethereal girl back in time…He watched her demurely take a sip from her cup, she who appeared from thin air, his mind taunted …this was the only answer, the only way for her to be with him, the Dark Knight Darias, to send her back to the Realm of King Arthur. The Realm of King Arthur, his mind scoffed at the absurdity of it all. And knights too—right. Surely, it had to be a joke, a trick…what a load of bull. Knights…come on, and Merlin? His mind staggered at the impossibility. And yet, knowing all this, he somehow, someway, had agreed to it all—he was an idiot.
Wishful Thinking
RAVENHURST * PRESENT DAY
RAVEN was back in her room much later that evening, alone. Reed escorted Marguerite to a room of her own, down the hall. She leaned forward and looked at herself in the mirror hanging over the pedestal sink in the bathroom, her face reflected back at her, taunting her. She let out a sigh and put a glob of toothpaste on her toothbrush and scrubbed her teeth, rinsed her mouth out, and then washed her face.
Once she was finished she patted her face dry and dabbed her La Mer face cream on. Walking back into her room, she lifted her hair up, wrapped a hair band into the mass of curls making a messy bun, and sat heavily in one of the armchairs in front of the fireplace.
The air had a distinct chill now that the storm was fading. It was still raining, just not thundering, and lightning. It felt like one of those lazy Sundays, the ones where you lay under a blanket on the couch all day watching movies or reading a good book.
Those were the days she pulled out her trusty Crockpot and made homemade chicken soup or chili. The delicious smell would permeate the house all day. It was a perfect way to spend a rainy Sunday. She pulled her legs up and tucked them under her body in the spacious seat of the chair while the events of the day tumbled around in her brain, filling her mind to capacity like an overloaded dryer. Everything was coming at her so fast. Marriage? To Reed?
It was crazy, out there, ridiculous. That didn’t stop her from becoming slightly breathless from the thought, nor did it stop her excitement at the prospect of such an act. No, even though she knew her marriage would only be temporary, a day or so at the most and a ruse—a giant ball sucking one. She had still agreed. And yet, even though she knew all of these things she found that she was not overly adverse to the idea. What did that say about her? Oh, she knew what it said about her—she was pathetic.
Clock’s ticking
RAVENHURST * PRESENT DAY
MILFORD made his way to his chamber. The ancient clock groaned out its fourth chime to mark the hour as he passed it. He hated that clock. It was a constant reminder of the time that was slipping away from him. Time was his cross to bear, the weight of it, shrouding him under its ever-changing moments as he passed through the centuries. He shut the door to his chamber and bent to pick up the glossy ad he had dropped earlier. He pulled out his drawer and tucked it neatly back into his bureau, fingering the slick page for a moment…not long now, he thought with a smile lingering on his lips, tracing the outline of the white sandy beach with his index finger.
Yes, everything was turning out just as he had planned… well almost he amended. He actually didn’t think it would be so easy to convince Reed to marry Raven. Of course their marriage to one another wasn’t an absolute necessity but he, Milford, figured it was better this way. Reed needed someone like Raven in his life. That fateful afternoon in the library, he could tell how upset she was. Reed needed her; she would be good for him and he would end up being very good for her as well.
Milford pulled the lever down on the mantle in his room. A door slid open soundlessly. He grabbed a small flashlight off the table and slipped into the darkened passageway. Once inside he turned on the flashlight and pulled on another lever. The door swished shut. He walked carefully down the stairs and reached in his pocket to pull the ancient key out.
The chain swung haphazardly, hitting the aged wood of the door as the lock clicked. He pushed open the door; it creaked in protest from lack of use. It had been a very long time since he was last here. The closed up smell hit him as it always did. The mustiness of it intermixed with trace smells of potions that were conjured in the room in the large black cauldron that still hung in the hearth surrounded by firestone. He remembered so many things from this room, some things he would like to forget, and others he embraced. The moments passed in front of his eyes, swirling like dancers in a kaleidoscope of colored dresses, blurring together as they spun with partners under the sparkling candle lit ballroom…
What comes Knocking?
RAVENHURST * PRESENT DAY
RAVEN flipped over and shoved her head under a pillow to block out the noise. Unfortunately, the insistent pounding made that impossible and finally pulled her from her dream. She pushed her sleep mask off her face and moaned when she opened her eyes to the bright light. She pushed her hair back and squinted towards the clock. She had no idea what time it was, but by the intensity of light pouring in through the open curtains, she assumed it was pretty late in the morning.
How did she sleep so long?
She didn’t even remember getting into bed. She lifted her hand to her mouth, her lips felt swollen, like she had been kissing someone. She cautiously looked to the empty space beside her on the bed. Obviously, it was empty, but was it all night? She tried to remember but everything was a bit muddled.
The insistent knocking continued. She climbed from her bed and walked over to the door. “Yes, I am coming. Hold on,” she grumbled, rubbing her temples. The handle was cool to the touch and she pulled it open about to give whoever it was a load of crap. The words never came out for she was pushed back into the room and the door slammed shut. She didn’t even have a chance to say a word before Reed’s mouth was on top of hers, kissing her hungrily… deeply. He moaned into her mouth, pressing his hips against hers. His hands roamed freely over her body, down her back and over her buttocks as he walked them toward the bed. They fell into the bed, tangled in one another’s embrace. Raven moaned. His leg caressed between her thighs as he used it to nudge her legs wider apart. Then suddenly Reed was completely naked, his arms braced on either side of her body. He leaned forward kissing her neck, trailing feather light kisses down to her naked breast, taking the taut nipple in his m
outh. When had she taken off her clothes? She wondered in some tiny place in her mind. She didn’t care, not now. She moaned loudly, writhing under his body. He brought his head up and kissed her again on the mouth, ravaging her lips with his own as he delved his tongue deeper. Oh my GOD, this was so hot…Raven felt wanted…needed…she was burning up…she couldn’t stand a moment more. He did not enter her body, instead, he teased, with his lips and fingers and caressed every touchable inch of her exposed skin. Why wasn’t she freaking out about him staring at her body? She glanced down; her skin shimmered in the candlelight. God she loved candlelight. Your skin always looked flawless in it. Her mind screeched, backtracking. Who lit candles?
He kissed her again, and again she gave into the moment. “I am going to take your panties off,” he whispered huskily in her ear, sending shivers of delight racing down her skin. Wait, wasn’t she just naked? Her lashes fluttered, no it was dark, and the storm was growing worse shaking the windowpanes outside. His fingers slid further, peeling the lacy black edge of her panty over her hip as his mouth kissed the exposed flesh. Oh, my…his lips felt so good…she remembered now, these were her special occasion panties, the ones she wore on dates with the matching demi cup bra. When did she put them on, she wondered absently as another rush of delight spread over her as his lips traveled even lower…she was burning up…
The storm grew louder, the thunder shaking the house.
Reed lifted his head. “Answer the damn door.”
Raven shook her head. “What?” she asked, clenching the sheets with her hand. The pounding noise shook the room again. “Raven, answer the damn door.”
Raven jolted awake. She pushed up off the bed panting, flustered…so hot. Shit.
DREAMS OF TOMORROW: A NEW ADULT TIME TRAVELING ROMANCE (Ravenhurst Series) Page 15