10 Timeless Heroes; A Time Travel Romance Boxed Set

by P. L. Parker, Beth Trissel, L. L. Muir, Skhye Moncrief, Sky Purington, Nancy Lee Badger, Caroline Clemmons, Bess McBride, Donna Michaels

  “No, this is not right. I am drunk. I have had the most difficult night. You are a guest in my house with few resources. I will not compromise you.”

  Ellie grinned. He’d gone Victorian on her. She couldn’t believe he’d actually said compromise. How cute!

  “Robert, I forgive you for being drunk. You are no less appealing to me. I choose to come to you willingly. You could never compromise me. I’m a twenty-first-century woman. We don’t get compromised anymore.”

  Still, he held back, refusing to do more than hold her against him and bury his face in her hair.

  “We did not have an opportunity to dance this evening,” he murmured in her ear.

  Ellie tilted her head back to look at him. “Were you going to dance with me tonight? I couldn’t tell.”

  Even in the soft light, she could see the deep dimples above his grin. “Of course I was going to dance with you...if Sadler could be persuaded to leave your side for a moment.”

  Ellie snorted. “You mean if you could tear yourself away from Constance long enough.”

  He pulled her against him more tightly. She struggled to breathe but relished the moment.

  “Nonsense. Let’s dance.”

  Ellie looked around the fully furnished and carpeted study.

  “Here? Now?”

  “Yes, here and now.” Robert kept hold of her with one hand and raised his other arm. Ellie slid her hand into his palm. He stepped out and began to move her around the room in a graceful waltz. She followed him effortlessly, prancing around the room in her bare feet on the carpet, two or three steps to his every one. Though no music accompanied their dance, a symphony played in Ellie’s head. She began to hum a tune as Robert twirled her around the furniture. As she laughed and responded to his charming grin, she felt heady, carefree, romantic and very much in love. The dreamy dance ended when Ellie stubbed her toe on a leg of the desk.

  “Ouch,” she mumbled, grabbing her foot and hopping.

  “Oh, my dear, I am so sorry,” Robert chuckled. He led her over to his chair and pulled her down onto his lap. He held her while they examined the toe together under the lamp, but no bones appeared to be broken. When she tried to rise, he held her against him.

  “Well, don’t you think this is a bit compromising?” She arched an eyebrow but snuggled into his arms.

  He grinned. “Yes, I do, but I cannot help myself.” He raised her hand and brought it to her lips.

  A book on the small table, next to his wineglass, caught her eye. She peered at it closely.

  “You’re reading the H. G. Wells book, Robert.”

  He stared at it for a moment. “Yes.”

  “Is that a coincidence? Did you conjure me up with a time machine?”

  Robert failed to respond to her joke. He eased her off his lap and jumped up to pace the room restlessly. Ellie knew a moment of desolation. She hugged herself. Robert noticed and took both her hands.

  “I am looking for answers,” he murmured as he pulled her into his arms again.

  “Answers to what, Robert? What?”

  “To tell me how to keep you here. How to keep you with me.” His husky voice tore at her heart. “I-I have written a letter to Mr. Wells to discuss some of his thoughts on time travel. I do not expect a response for weeks, but I hope he will give me some encouragement.”

  Ellie leaned back to stare at him. “Robert, you didn’t tell him about me, did you?”

  He laughed without humor. “Do you think I am mad, woman? No, no, I did not discuss your...ah...arrival with him. I asked if he believed time travel was possible, and that if one traveled in time, could the traveler stay in the time or would they have to return.” He cleared his throat. “I asked other things, but that was the gist of the letter.”

  Ellie touched the side of his face tenderly. “Robert, I didn’t come in a machine, other than the train. It’s not the same thing.”

  He pulled away from her to pace the room once again. “I know, I know. But perhaps Mr. Wells used the machine with literary license. Perhaps it was just an acceptable metaphor for something we do not yet understand.”

  Ellie watched him as he wandered the room, restlessly placing one hand on his hip and the other to the back of his neck or alternatively clasping both hands behind his back. The man seemed possessed with finding an answer to something she thought she already knew. It was a dream. And in the dream, he was in pain...because of her. The happy-go-lucky, charming, suave man had evolved into a grim-faced, unhappy and morose man seized by doubts and confused by a phenomenon neither of them understood.

  She sank into a chair and watched him stalk about the room.

  “Robert, come here. Please sit down,” she called. He stopped pacing and returned to the chair beside her.

  “What is it, my love?”

  Her heart soared at the endearment, but she tightened her lips against the romantic aura his words evoked. He’d known her for only a couple of days. How could he be in love? She ignored the fact that she herself had fallen fast and hard.

  “I can’t stand to see you like this, Robert. You look miserable. If this is my doing, then I need to fix it.”

  Robert reached for her hand and brought it to his lips, turning it over to kiss the inside of her wrist. His mouth felt warm and delicious on the tender, exposed skin. Against the responding stirrings in her body, Ellie held fast to her thoughts.

  “Do you hear me, Robert? I need to fix it.”

  “And how would you do that, Ellie?” he murmured as he kept her hand in his. “Can you guarantee me that you will not disappear? Can you promise me that the future will not snatch you away again? Can you assure me that I am not some poor sap in a dream of your making?”

  She shook her head mutely.

  Robert rose from his chair and pulled her back into his arms.

  “I cannot bear to lose you, Ellie, not now that I have found you. I have waited so long for you. I do not care whether this is a dream or if you have traveled through time to come to me. I do not want you to wake up one morning and forget me. I do not want you to disappear.”

  Ellie shivered at his words, though her heart craved the love he so eloquently expressed. His fear and pain seemed genuine, and she knew she must make a decision. It could not go on. But for now...just for now...she would forget the future.

  “Stay with me then, Robert. Don’t let me go to sleep. I’m terrified that I’ll wake up and you’ll be gone...that I’ll be taken from you.”

  He whispered against her hair. “Hush, my love. I will stay with you. I will not let you go.” He lowered himself into the chair and pulled her down into her arms, cradling her on his lap like a child. “I have waited all my life to fall in love. I will not lose you now.”

  They stayed together for hours, without words, without movement. Ellie rested her face on his chest and listened to the rhythm of his heart. How could such a strong, steady heartbeat belong to a shadowy figure in a dream? She fell asleep toward dawn.

  ****

  Robert did not sleep. Sleep was an impossibility with Ellie in his arms. While she slept, he studied her face and her body, longing to trace a line from her eyes to her lips with his fingers. He barely suppressed the urge to caress the soft curves of her thinly dressed figure. It was all he could do not to stroke the sleek curls of the dark hair that dangled over his arm.

  But he did not want to awaken her, and he chose to do nothing but watch her—committing her face to memory—in case the worst came to pass. He drew in a deep breath and released it, gritting his teeth as he contemplated losing her. He was determined that would not happen this night. He would not let it. He would hold Ellie against him until dawn, securely in his arms. She would not slip away from him through time or in a dream. Not on this night.

  ****

  Ellie made her way to her room early in the morning, after Robert kissed her and told her he had to go work.

  She looked around her room and wished things could have been different, but they weren’t.
Robert’s safe and secure life had turned upside down. He was miserable and uncertain of the future, and it was her fault. She would take action.

  She found paper and pen—not a ballpoint but the old kind, with metal nib and ink—in the drawer of the nightstand, and she wrote out a note. When Alice came to help her dress, she gave her the note and asked her to have it delivered immediately. Alice left with the letter, and Ellie waited in her room. She couldn’t face the rest of the house. Melinda would probably sleep in, and Mrs. Chamberlain always took breakfast in her room.

  Two hours passed, and still Ellie heard nothing. She tried to think of mom’s apple pie and the boy next door while she waited for a response. What if an answer never came? What if she had exposed her plans only to have them betrayed?

  Alice tapped on the door.

  “Mrs. Green is here to see you, ma’am.”

  Ellie jumped up. Constance! She hurried out the door and down the stairs, tripping occasionally on the green skirt Alice had managed to squeeze her into earlier that morning.

  Alice followed her down and opened the door to the parlor. Ellie slid in and shut the door behind her quietly.

  Constance stood at the window, gazing down on the view of the city below. Her dark blue tailor-made silk suit and jacket showed her slim figure off to perfection, the netted hat giving her a regal bearing that Ellie knew she could never hope to achieve.

  “Constance, thank you for coming. May I offer you some tea?” Some well-trained servant had thoughtfully placed a tea tray on the mahogany table in front of the sofa.

  “No, thank you, Ellie. Your note sounded urgent. Is everything all right? How can I help?”

  Now that Constance had arrived, Ellie’s grand scheme suddenly looked foolish.

  “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll just have a cup. Are you sure?”

  Constance looked at her curiously and acquiesced. They sipped tea for a few minutes while Ellie composed her chaotic thoughts.

  “I need your help, Constance.”

  “Yes, so you said in your note.”

  Ellie’s face burned. She had to be insane asking a stranger for help.

  “I’m sorry to trouble you, but I don’t know many people here.”

  Constance tilted her head. “You know Robert.”

  “Yes, well, that’s just it. This is about Robert.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, Ellie saw Constance stiffen.

  “I see,” she murmured.

  “Oh, no, it’s not what you think, Constance. You see, I need to leave the house. Then I’ll be out of your hair and out of Robert’s hair.”

  “My hair. Whatever do you mean, Ellie?” Two bright spots of color shown on Constance’s pale skin.

  Ellie turned a frank look on her. “You know what I mean, Constance. It’s obvious that you have a crush on Robert...that is...that you care for him. That’s what I mean by out of your hair.”

  Constance dropped her cup onto her saucer and put the cup down. “I-I...well, I... Is it that obvious?” she murmured.

  “It is to me. I share the same problem as you.”

  “You are saying that you too...care for him?”

  Ellie drew in a deep breath and released it. She nodded. “Yes, I do. I think I’m in love. So you see, we are both in the same boat.”

  From the shocked look on Constance’s face, Ellie thought the dark-haired beauty was going to jump up and stalk out of the room, but she tightened her lips and stayed in place, her eyebrows raised in inquiry.

  “Ellie, I do not know why you are here or where you really came from. I must speak frankly. I wish that you were not here. Since you first appeared, Robert has hardly spoken two words to me. I thought he and I were close friends. In fact, I hoped...” She picked up her tea again and studied the inside of the cup.

  “You hoped that he would ask you to marry him?” Ellie knew she took a chance with the woman’s good graces, which she really needed at the moment.

  Constance threw Ellie a self-conscious look and nodded.

  “Yes,” she said quietly. “I did.”

  Ellie stared down at the light blue oriental carpeting, fighting an unexpected blast from her own jealous furnace. Constance hadn’t revealed anything Ellie didn’t already know, but to hear her say it aloud was painful. She took a deep breath.

  “Well, you might still get your chance. As I mentioned, I need to leave the house, and it should be in such a way that Robert knows I’m okay but doesn’t know where I am.”

  “Why?” Constance asked bluntly. She narrowed her eyes and watched Ellie’s face closely.

  Ellie colored. “I-I have outstayed my welcome. Robert and his family have been very kind to me, but I can’t live off their generosity forever. The truth is...I-I’m not staying in Seattle. I will be leaving soon, though I’m not sure when. I-I’m just waiting on a letter from my parents. They’ll send word when they are settled in their new house and I can return home.” Ellie could hardly keep up with her convoluted lie, but she did the best she could with little sleep and a heart that ached.

  “I see,” said Constance though her puzzled face showed that she clearly did not.

  “I know it doesn’t make sense right now. So difficult to explain. My parents. Such odd creatures, really.” Ellie babbled on till she was out of breath.

  “And how can I help you, Ellie?”

  “I need to find a boarding house. I have a piece of jewelry that I need help selling so I can pay for my room.”

  Constance drew in a deep breath and stared into the distance.

  “This sounds so irregular, Ellie. Are you sure? Have you ever been to a rooming house?”

  “No, but I’ve read about them. I was hoping you could find a suitable one, perhaps one for working women.” A small smile broke through. “If I have to stay here long, I’ll have to go to work, so...”

  “Work? What could you do?”

  “I can teach, Constance. I am a teacher by profession.”

  “Really? How interesting. Yes, now that you mention it, I do recall a boarding house for professional women. My next-door neighbor has a sister who runs such a house. I will make inquiries right away. When do you need to leave?”

  Ellie swallowed hard. “Today, right now.”

  Constance turned to stare. “Ellie, that is impossible. What has happened to make you run from this house? Are you in trouble? Did Robert—” Her soft face hardened, and her eyes flashed unexpectedly.

  “No, no, nothing like that, Constance.” Ellie’s face flamed. “I simply need to leave. I hope you understand. If you are as hopelessly in love with Robert as I am, you’ll understand.”

  To Ellie’s surprise, Constance shook her head. “In this situation, I do not understand. I enjoy Robert’s company very much, but I have not been hopelessly in love since my husband died.” She paused and stared into the distance with a small smile. “I loved him like no other.” She returned her gaze to Ellie. “I care for Robert a great deal. He was very kind to me when my husband died, but I am not madly in love with him.”

  “Oh,” Ellie murmured, momentarily stumped. How was that possible? Who wouldn’t be madly in love with a charming, arrogant, kind, rash, affectionate, debonair man with laughing eyes like Robert?

  “I did hope to marry again some day, and Robert would make a very suitable husband, but...” She quirked a wry eyebrow in Ellie’s direction. “I think his interests lie elsewhere.”

  Ellie swallowed hard. Another wave of color heated her cheeks. “Well, not with me, that’s for sure. We hardly know each other. And as I said, I’m going to be leaving at some time in the near future. I don’t think it would be right to continue to live off his largesse, as it were.”

  “I understand. From what I know of Robert, he does need a woman who is willing to stay with him. It is a shame that you cannot move to Seattle permanently.”

  Ellie bit her lips. “Oh, well, you know. My duty lies with my parents. They need me.”

  “I understand.” Constance
rose. “Well, I have much to do if I am to find you rooms before the end of the day. What is the jewelry that you will be selling? I do not think you will need the money today, but you might need some pin money by tomorrow if you are to be on your own.”

  Ellie pulled a ribbon out from beneath the high lace collar of her shirtwaist blouse and showed Constance the white-gold diamond engagement ring dangling from it. Bought too large for her finger, Kyle hadn’t gotten around to having it resized, so she’d worn it around her neck.

  Constance gasped, wide-eyed. “Oh, my word. I have never seen such a beautiful ring. It must be worth a fortune.”

  Ellie chuckled. “Not really, but I hope I can get a reasonable amount for it.”

  “It almost looks like... Is that an engagement ring, Ellie?”

  Ellie grimaced. “It was.”

  “I had no idea.”

  “It’s over.”

  “Oh!” Constance replied. “I am sorry to hear that. Well, we can take it to a pawnshop tomorrow. For now, I must hurry. If I am able to obtain a room for you, I will send a note to you with the address. I will meet you there.”

  Ellie reached to hug the taller woman. “Thank you, Constance. Thank you! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.”

  “Of course, Ellie. I will have the carriage wait for you when I send the note.” She left the room like a woman with a mission, and Ellie felt infinitely better than she had all morning.

  She returned to her room and waited for news. While she waited, she considered her situation. She could not possibly take Melinda’s clothing, and yet she really couldn’t walk around unnoticed in her oversized sweater, denim skirt and clogs. In addition, she had to say goodbye to Melinda and Mrs. Chamberlain...and Robert.

  Ellie sat down and pulled out paper and the irritating pen that dripped blotches of ink all over her letters. She penned a thank-you note to Mrs. Chamberlain, a more sincere and affectionate note to Melinda telling her she would have to borrow at least one set of clothes until she could obtain her own, and a final note to Robert—that broke her heart and set her to sobbing—with words that seemed trite and contrived.