Love's Past

by Laura Bastian

  “We aren’t,” Cyrus said. “Kaitlyn was feeling a little rebellious and decided to break some rules.”

  Kaitlyn waved away his explanation. “There’s this huge room with a ton of different styles of clothes, but then there’s another room just past that one where we found it. You’ve got to come see.”

  Jem glanced at Reese. “What do you think?” She looked like the idea intrigued her.

  Cyrus grabbed Kaitlyn’s hand and pulled her with him. “Let’s go before someone stops us.” He glanced back, surprised that no one was even looking their way. They made it through the front foyer to the stairs with nothing to impede them, so they continued.

  Kaitlyn pointed the room with the clothes to the other girls, but Cyrus motioned for them to follow him. “Show them the clothes later. They have to see this first.”

  When they got to the door of the huge portrait gallery, it was cracked open even though he was sure he had closed it when they sneaked in earlier. With the darkness of the night, they had no way to see the paintings and the other decorations in the room, so Cyrus felt along the wall near the door.

  Cora pulled out a phone and turned the light app on for him.

  “Thanks,” he said as he flipped it on. When a soft glow flooded the room, Kaitlyn rushed forward, pulling one of the other girls behind her.

  “There,” Kaitlin breathed, her voice a hush. “What do you see?”

  They all leaned forward, studying the portrait. Everyone reacted differently, but they all seemed just as surprised as he and Kaitlyn had.

  “What the—” Jem began.

  “I told you.” Cyrus started humming an ominous tune.

  Jem turned to Kaitlyn, then to the others. “Okay, nice trick. How’d you get this done? I wasn’t even here till a few hours ago.”

  “I didn’t do it,” Kaitlyn said with a scowl.

  “This is creeping me out,” Reese said.

  “Do you guys feel weird?” Cora mumbled, her gaze glued to the picture.

  The other girls nodded. Cyrus looked over at Jem, who stared hard at the picture.

  “I’ve got to get a picture of this,” Cora said. She took a few selfies.

  “Do you see a glow?” Cyrus asked, turning around. The others looked up at the light fixture and shook their heads. Cyrus looked closer at the painting, sure something about it was glowing, but with his eyes fixed right on it, he couldn’t see anything anymore. The center of his chest got a little tighter. He felt Kaitlyn’s hand reach for his, and he gripped it tight.

  Cora turned to the others. “Quick, everyone, stand by your doppelganger and we’ll get a picture.” She held up the phone and the five of them got in close. She snapped a picture. Before she could lower the phone, a burning sensation started at Cyrus’s back. He looked at the painting on the wall again. This time he was sure it was glowing.

  The fancy clock under a glass case chimed the midnight hour and the painting seemed to reach for them. He stared at it in horror. The others around him grabbed on to each other as if seeking comfort. He closed his eyes, trying to push down the stomach-turning sensations. He pulled Kaitlyn close.

  “Oh, well done,” Nellie’s voice came from behind them. Cyrus opened his eyes, surprised the lighting was different. He turned around and stared at someone that wasn’t the same Nellie he’d seen only minutes earlier downstairs.

  Chapter Seven

  “Another two,” Nellie said, meeting Kaitlyn’s eyes. “How many were with you again? I believe Mr. Taylor said five. Am I correct? I wonder if you’ve all traveled to today.”

  “What?” Kaitlyn asked, feeling dizzy and confused. She turned to Cyrus, who still held her hand. She looked for the others, only to find the room empty besides Nellie and Cyrus. Did she mean Jem when she said Mr. Taylor?

  “Where are the others?” Kaitlyn asked. “Cora and Reese and Jem were right here just a moment ago.” She looked again, hoping to find them where she’d missed them before. Instead the empty room was lit from the sunny day out the huge windows. “Did you say Jem is here?”

  Nellie nodded. “Yes, Mr. Taylor and Miss Hamilton arrived a few hours ago. Though I have not seen your other friend yet, rest assured that she will be fine. If she traveled with you on the same thread, she’ll arrive sometime soon. And if another thread plucked her up, I’ll meet her then and take care of her. We’ll get you all sent back through the portrait when the magic bubbles up again on the next full moon.”

  Kaitlyn turned around to find the wall blank. As if it hadn’t been painted on yet. The unmistakable feeling of something powerful surrounded her.

  “Where’s the painting?” Kaitlyn asked at the same time Cyrus asked, “What’s going on?”

  “You were at a Regency event at my house, correct?”

  Cyrus nodded. “You should know this. You are the hostess.”

  Kaitlyn took a step forward and studied Nellie, a crazy thought entering her mind. “Are you a fairy godmother?” she asked, feeling breathless at the idea.

  “Oh, please, Kate,” Cyrus said. “Be serious.”

  “In a sense, yes. I’ll get more into the details later, but I need to get you grounded to today. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to experience the real Regency period. The year is 1850.”

  Kaitlyn’s stomach fluttered as if she’d just swallowed a handful of pop rocks. She turned to look at the room, noticing all the differences in the color of the wallpaper and placements of the paintings and decorations. Even the clock that had been in the room seemed different. Kaitlyn was sure Nellie was telling the truth. The sunlight streaming through the window was proof enough that time had passed. So how hard was it to believe they had passed through time to end up where they were? Nellie was even dressed differently.

  “I can’t believe I’m actually here.” Kaitlyn could barely contain her excitement at the idea.

  “Now wait a minute,” Cyrus said, his voice taking on a hint of panic. “Something is going on here and I want to know what. Last thing I remember is feeling a little light headed and some crazy light glowing. Did you put something in our drinks? Where are the others?”

  Nellie smiled patiently at Cyrus. “I know it is hard to believe, but you and your friends have been caught up in the magic that my home protects. The year is 1850, and Queen Victoria rules the British Empire.”

  “Time travel is impossible,” Cyrus said, rubbing the spot between his eyes like he had a head ache.

  “Time travel is possible because time is like a fuzzball. Everything is connected, touching everything else all at once.”

  “But what about—”

  Nellie held her hand up, cutting him off. “I cannot explain everything now. I have guests arriving soon for a house party. Hopefully you two remember your training in manners and etiquette. You’ll need those skills while you’re here. For now, we’re going to say you are from the Americas. Kaitlyn, you, just like Clarisse, will be American heiresses here to visit me. I’m well known for inviting people to stay with me, and no one will question your sudden arrival. After all, sometimes mail gets lost at sea.”

  “What?” Jem asked.

  Nellie continued without acknowledging him with more than a hand raised. “Your attire is a bit out of date. Luckily I have clothing for situations just like this.”

  Kaitlyn looked back to the room off the side of the grand hall with all the portraits.

  Nellie caught her looking and nodded. “I see I still have it there in your time?”

  Kaitlyn nodded.

  “Excellent. Go get fitted for the right kind of dresses immediately.” Nellie turned to one of the servants who had just entered the room. “Andrews, please get our new guests some of my special tonic. I think they’ll be in need of it soon.”

  Another servant entered the room. “Begging your pardon, Aunt Nellie. Your attention is needed below.”

  “Ah, thank you.” She turned to the two of them and smiled. “Now remember what you learned at my other home. Your training should suffice.
Any oddness can be blamed on your being from America. Don’t forget to refer to each other with your last names. Miss Kaitlyn Taylor, Mr. Cyrus Manning, and when you meet up with them, it will be Mr. Jamison Taylor and Miss Clarisse Hamilton. I would advise you even try to stick with it in private so you don’t make a mistake.” She studied them for a moment. “I believe it will be best if we have Mr. Manning be cousins to the Taylors. And Miss Hamilton will be another cousin.”

  She paused a moment. “Did I tell you what your fortunes were?”

  Kaitlyn shrugged. “Well, you did when we first arrived last Monday back in my time.”

  Nellie smiled and rubbed her hands together with enthusiasm. “Wonderful. Let Agnes here know if you need anything. She will take care of you until I have a chance to meet with you again myself.”

  And with that, the little fairy woman glided away and out of the room.

  ***

  Cyrus shook his head. “How is any of this possible?” he asked, pulling Kaitlyn to the side. “Do you really think we’re more than a hundred and sixty years in the past?”

  “How else do you explain all the differences?” she asked.

  “What if we’ve been drugged? Maybe Nellie’s snapped and decided to do this to us just to fulfill some sick scheme.”

  Kaitlyn rolled her eyes, giving him a long-suffering sigh. “Think about it, Cyrus.” She pointed at the windows again. “It’s the middle of the day now. And it was midnight just minutes ago. Do you feel sick? Any weird hallucinations?”

  He shook his head. “No, but I do remember feeling really off right before the light changed. Kinda sick to my stomach. Maybe there was something in the drinks I had right before we left the ballroom.”

  “Okay, but who else had that same drink?” Kaitlyn asked. “I didn’t have the same punch as you, so why am I in this dream of yours?”

  He would never admit to having her visit his dreams before, but she was right. They were nothing like this.

  “Besides, would dream me do this?” She reached out and pinched his arm. “And if I did, would it hurt like this?”

  “Ouch.” Cyrus pulled his arm back. “Okay, so maybe it isn’t a dream or hallucination, but how is it possible?”

  Kaitlyn shrugged. “I don’t know for sure, but Nellie said she’d explain it later. She’s got to have some kind of magic in her. And you heard what she said about time being like a fuzzball. I’m sure I’ve heard of a theory like that before.”

  Cyrus shook his head as they left the room, following Agnes.

  While a small army of servants joined them and searched through the clothes for the right time period, Cyrus looked at Kaitlyn. “What are we going to do? How do we get back home? How do we avoid catching anything here that they can’t cure?”

  Kaitlyn shrugged. “This is how I see it. Aunt Nellie doesn’t seem mean or dangerous. She seems like she’s genuinely thrilled we’re here. And don’t you remember when we first arrived? She kinda acted like she already knew us. And all the servants in the house. I’ve noticed a few things that didn’t seem possible, and I just pushed the idea aside as silly, but the more I think about it, the more I’m sure they’ve been using something like faerie magic.”

  “Come on,” Cyrus said. “Do you truly believe they are faeries?”

  Before Kaitlyn could open her mouth, the servant Nellie had sent for their tonic entered the room. “Of course we’re fairies,” he said, motioning with his hand and levitating the little crystal goblets. He moved them on a string of air to each of them.

  Kaitlyn grinned. “See?” She reached for the cup.

  “This will help you calm down and give you a little energy boost for the long day ahead of you. If your experience is like many others we’ve had, you probably came to us after a full day.” When Cyrus nodded in shocked surprise, the servant smiled. “Please, drink. It will help.”

  Kaitlyn brought it to her nose, smelling it first, then taking a small sip.

  “Wait,” Cyrus said. “What if it’s poison or drugged?”

  Kaitlyn tipped the cup back and swallowed the rest of it in one gulp. “Then I won’t have to worry about you bringing me down.” She handed the cup to the servant, who reached for it and turned away to move closer to the closets full of clothes. Cyrus felt the cut deep. He knew he had been a little harsh with her, but who could blame him for not believing this?

  Cyrus studied the iridescent liquid and, hoping he wouldn’t regret it, he took a swallow. He immediately felt better.

  Chapter Eight

  The drink Nellie had called her special tonic was like magic, and probably had a bit of it in it. Kaitlyn felt relaxed and calm and completely ready to face what lay ahead of her. After they’d gotten dressed in proper Victorian attire, Kaitlyn was led to a room near where she’d stayed before and was once again certain she’d actually traveled into the past.

  After freshening up, she stepped outside her room and looked for a hint on where to go next. When she caught sight of Reese and Jem with their heads together at the end of the hallway, she’d nearly knocked them over in her excitement to see they’d arrived safely as well. After a few quick words about how relieved they all were, Kaitlyn asked, “Has anyone seen Cora yet?”

  “No,” Reese said. “I’m just so relieved you made it. Is Cyrus here, too?”

  Kaitlyn nodded. “He doesn’t seem too pleased, but oh my heck, I’m so stinking excited to be here. Really here in the past where we can see it all for ourselves. Can you believe it?”

  Jem shook his head. “Not really, but Nellie assured us everything will be fine, so I guess we don’t have a choice except to go with it.”

  A young girl approached Reese. “Miss, it’s time for us to go. If you would follow me.”

  Reese seemed to steel herself, as if preparing for something terrifying. She looked at Kaitlyn as if wishing to beg for help.

  “My maid, Sarah, told me we wouldn’t be seated together since we need to be spread out amongst Nellies other guests. You guys go ahead. I’ll wait for Cyrus. I think he might need a little help getting used to this idea.”

  Jem gave her a quick hug, whispering quickly, “I’m so glad you made it here, too. Reese was so relieved when they told us you’d arrived.”

  “I’m glad you’re here, too.” She waved goodbye as they followed the maid. She turned to see if she could catch Cyrus coming out of his room. She knew he’d look even better than Jem did wearing the clothes of the time.

  When his door opened and he entered the hallway, her heart fluttered for a moment before pounding against her ribcage. He had done it again. Just glancing at her and unleashing that perfect smile made her understand why some women wearing the tight corsets of the time could swoon. It was difficult to catch her breath, but she didn’t mind the sensations that flooded her system, almost like the threads of magic that pulled her back in time.

  Yet she knew it was all from him.

  The early dinner scheduled before the ball went smoothly. Everyone seemed enthralled to meet all the American heiresses. She had so much fun telling the story of how she would be inheriting property and money from her mother’s side of the family and that Jem could still take over the ranch and horse business their father ran.

  It was easy enough to answer the questions in generalities since it seemed like too much detail would have been impolite to ask about. Nellie whispered a few things and the gossip spread that they were well to do with enough money and influence in Ohio to be set up forever.

  None of the dinner guests seemed so snobby as to look down on them for their new money or the fact that they were from the Americas. At least Kaitlyn couldn’t detect any snubbing.

  She was surprised to realize she was actually hungry, but it had been more than six hours since she had eaten last. When the realization that it had been more than a century since her last meal, she giggled out loud. Most of the guests looked at her. Kaitlyn did her best to act demure and polite, but it was hard to remember to not be too forward as a woma
n. She would have to be extra careful in what she said. She spent most of the meal observing others and getting a feel for the people there.

  Reese was talking to a young girl who seemed to be enthralled with her. Jem sat on the other side of Reese and looked like he was doing his best to keep her from giving too much away. Cora still hadn’t arrived, but Kaitlyn didn’t worry at all for her friend. It might have been the magical tonic Aunt Nellie had provided for them, or it might have been the atmosphere, but Kaitlyn felt incredibly happy. She couldn’t wait for the ball to begin.

  ***

  The hours finally passed and dozens of guests began arriving for the elaborate ball Aunt Nellie had planned. The house was large enough to hold a huge group of people and Kaitlyn wasn’t surprised to see more carriages lined up down the street ready to drop off the party goers. It was a little different than when she had watched the arrival earlier in the day, or back in her own time, but the anticipation of the evening’s events all felt the same.

  The dresses in the Victorian time were so much different than what she’d worn only hours ago when she first arrived. The corset was tighter, and the neckline was different. The large flowing skirt felt odd against her legs after having worn the straight dresses. But she loved the way these clothes looked. Coming on the night of another ball was just perfect timing. Instead of having sore achy legs, she was ready to dance for hours and hours. If only she knew what was in Nellie’s drink. She could become a billionaire by selling that.

  Kaitlyn studied the room, enjoying the ability to people watch in a time and place completely different than what she was used to. She smiled at Jem and Reese, who stood close together. Cora arrived just before the ball and managed to get dressed in record time. She first seemed just as excited as Kaitlyn had when she’d first talked to her, but she looked like she wished she could be anywhere else. Kaitlyn looked for Cyrus, but she didn’t see him in the room.

  Their hostess and resident faerie approached her as she stood looking out over the group milling around in the ballroom. Nellie took Kaitlyn’s hands and looked up into her face. “Thank you for believing in me, and for your enthusiasm tonight. I believe it’s helping all your friends come to terms with what’s going on. You remember my nephew William at dinner. He will be the one to introduce all of you to the different gentlemen tonight. He’ll also help keep the few unsavories that I wasn’t able to avoid inviting tonight away from you all and give you time to acclimate.”