Summer Magic

by Lorraine Bartlett

  His eyes softened. "Don't you know?"

  And at that moment, she did. He was in love with her. She felt the same way. She'd denied it, knew she was leaving this island after a week and that falling in love this fast, literally at first sight, was something she didn't believe could ever happen.

  "If I'd told you right away, you'd have taken the information and left the Vineyard. We both have to be here. We need to solve the mystery of how to put the Pryets or Pruitts to rest."

  "So what you told me about your aunt, is it the truth?"

  "Yes," he stated. "She first told me the story of how her great-grandparents came to the U.S. hoping for a better life and that even now, in death, she knows they do not rest. I didn't remember it until I saw the vision."

  "Is she a direct descendant?"

  "No, it was my uncle who carried the name."

  "How am I involved? I don't know anything about those people."

  "Don't you?"

  Ellie remembered the face of the ill-fated Lady Jane she'd seen in her vision.

  "Ellie, you are Lady Jane," Drew said quietly.

  She stared at him incredulously.

  "You've seen her. I know you have. You know that Lady Jane looks exactly like you. You are a direct descendant of the Pryets."

  She gasped, understanding what that meant. "Then…we're …" She couldn't say it.

  "Related?" He shook his head.

  "How?" Hope reared within in, but fear overrode it.

  "After we discovered the Pryet connection, I called my aunt. It took some coaxing, but she finally relented and told me the story, almost exactly as Blythe had related it. When I asked more questions about our family, she said there was something else I should know, something I should see."

  "What was it?"

  "The family bible. I'd seen it before, but never thought much about it. It was something that was there, like family photo albums or crystal glasses in a china cabinet."

  Ellie knew people once recorded births and deaths in church records, but in today's electronic world, Ancestry.com was a more viable solution.

  "She told me it was locked in a steamer trunk among my grandmother's things. I offered to call her back after I went to look for it, but she insisted on remaining on the line."

  "Did you find it?"

  He nodded. "It didn't take long. She knew exactly where the trunk was. The bible explained my heritage."

  She touched his arm. Obviously, he'd found something he wasn't expecting.

  "I wasn't part of the original bloodline," he murmured. "They aren't my family. Not my blood family."

  Ellie was relieved. They weren't related. For a moment, her heart sang. Then just as quickly, it dropped. Drew had to be feeling awful.

  "Are you okay?" she asked.

  He led her to a chair and they took seats facing each other.

  "I've had a day to process it. At first, I was angry. I felt as if I'd been lied to all my life."

  "You weren't," Ellie stared.

  Drew took her hand. "I know. They are my family. The Warwick's took my family in when we had no one. It was generations ago. I am part of them, part of their heritage."

  Ellie knew it wasn't that easy. It would take some time for Drew to come to terms with this knowledge. She wanted to be with him when it did, wanted to assure him that he was as who he was because of the Warwick’s and their compassion. They couldn't do it now. He needed time. And there was something else they needed to do first. Maybe this would help him understand.

  "Tell me," Ellie said softly. "What did the bible reveal?"

  Drew took a long breath. "As a child, my great grandmother was the sole survivor of her family during an influenza epidemic. She had nowhere to go and was taken in by a neighbor family, the Warwick's. There were no real adoption guidelines back then. The family gave her their last name and called her their daughter. When she married, her children were considered the grandchildren of the Warwick's, but they shared no bloodline."

  "Your grandmother was from the captain's lineage?"

  He nodded.

  "Then why does he appear in the Manor and not your house? There's a direct connection to you."

  "The house was built after he died. It's not as old as the Manor."

  Ellie understood, but she frowned. "If you're a descendant of Captain Warwick, why do you look like that picture of Curtis Pruitt?"

  Drew's shoulders rose and fell in a defeated gesture. "I asked my aunt about that. From what she could remember being told, there were several Pryet families back then that were unrelated to each other. Because travel wasn't easy, most didn't even know of my great-grandmother's fate until years later. She didn't know if I was a descendant of any of them. But right now, we don't have time to worry about tracing the family tree."

  "When this is all over, we can get your aunt and my aunt together and unravel our pasts," she said.

  "But first, it's up to us to clear the captain's curse," Drew said.

  "I don't understand," Ellie said. "If the visions show us the captain issuing the curse, why would he want us to end it?"

  "That's not the captain, at least not the one you're thinking of."

  Drew bent down and retrieved the stone Ellie had knocked from his hand. Immediately the haze formed, stealing into the room like a foggy mist from beyond time. Through it, she saw the father and son she'd seen before.

  "Look carefully at the younger man," Drew whispered. The spectral images could not see or hear them, but the scene felt like something that should only be discussed in low tones.

  Ellie squinted at the younger man. This time the captain she had seen before was not there. Only the two men, and one was dressed for the sea.

  "It's her brother," Ellie whispered.

  "Your ancestor," Drew told her. "This is the captain who comes to us."

  "Why should we save them?" she asked. "They ruined Jane's life, forced her to forego everything, even caused her suicide."

  "True, they did all those things. But because of who her family was, should we, who have the ability to forgive and change things, continue to perpetuate the fate of this family?"

  Fate—he said the word. He had no way of knowing that Ellie believed in fate. She and Drew had never discussed it. Fate was a heavy belief, something difficult to grasp or allow to form in your mind. But somehow fate had brought her to Drew and it had led him to her. They were destined to somehow change or correct what had happened all those centuries ago.

  "How?" she asked.

  "I have no idea."

  Drew walked so long he thought he'd circled the island. The sun was rising when he passed the Cove View Room. Looking up, he imagined Ellie asleep in the big bed and wished he was there with her. He'd been up most of the night, Blythe's words ringing in his ears like the refrain of a song whose words eluded him. He felt like a man in the middle of a dense forest. He couldn't see the sun for the trees or his feet for the darkness.

  Where did he fit in this riddle? Very little of what she explained could relate to him. His family was prosperous. The only part of the story that bothered him was the name of Lady Jane Pryet. He knew that names had many variations, especially after they crossed the Atlantic and were Americanized. Pryet could easily have become Pruitt. And Drew had an aunt with that last name.

  Could that be the connection?

  Could his family have descended from Lady Jane Pryet's family? Did Ellie see the captain because she was his descendant?

  Drew glanced at her window again. No one looked down at him. But he heard his name and looked up. Ellie wasn't there. He took a step, intent on walking away when again he heard her call him. She appeared behind a profusion of flowers the island was known for. Drew waited as she came down the steps and stood in front of him.

  "What are you doing here?" he asked.

  "I could ask you the same question. At least I'm staying here for the week."

  "I couldn't sleep," he said. "I went for a walk."

  "And you ended up her
e?" she smiled. She wanted to touch him, wanted him to touch her the way they had as they watched the sun set. But out in the open, barely in the shadow of the Manor, Ellie didn't think they should chance it.

  Ellie took his hand and the two began a morning journey. Their walk took them toward the water.

  "It was Blythe's comment, right?" Drew asked.

  He looked out at the water, then back at their path. "I've been thinking about what she said and other things."

  "Like we might be related?" Ellie supplied.

  "That, for sure," he said.

  "But even if we are, there are generations between us. Our bloodline has to be so far diluted that the two of us would have no problem with it or future generations. But even if it is closer than that, we aren't married, engaged or even lovers. We've shared one kiss."

  And it was a life-changing experience, Drew thought to himself.

  "You know we're going to have to test this theory out," Drew said.

  Ellie nodded several times. "I've thought of that. We need to be at the Manor. Blythe shops this morning and the other guests will be leaving in a few minutes. Let's try it then."

  They rushed back to manor and checked the kitchen for Blythe. She was gone, along with the list of items she needed to replace.

  "To be safe, let me knock on her door." Drew went to Blythe's personal rooms and knocked. No answer. He did it twice more before confirming that she was out.

  Ellie checked for the other guests. No one answered her call. She and Drew went into the library and both closed and locked the door.

  "I brought my stone," she said. Lifting it from her pocket, she showed it to Drew, but kept it lying on a handkerchief. He reached for it and Ellie pulled her hand back. "It'll burn you."

  "If it does, I'll drop it back in the handkerchief."

  Ellie was reluctant to allow it, but she nodded. Drew reached for the gray stone and lifted it. Nothing happened. No vision formed and he didn't appear discomfited by the stone resting in his palm. He looked up and shook his head. Ellie stared for a long moment, then raised her hand and took hold of his forearm, the one where he held the stone.

  It happened. The world around them changed. The library was gone and they were in a rotunda size room. There were two men dressed as Eighteenth Century gentlemen. A third man appeared, worn out and tired. His face was haggard and creased with lines that showed his age. He stood with his head held high, but his shoulders sagged as if in defeat.

  The two stood to one side while the single man faced them. They were arguing with each other, but Ellie could not hear what they were saying.

  "Who are they?" she whispered.

  "My guess is they're Lady Jane's family and the other man is the captain."

  "He looks so defeated."

  Then she heard a word. Cocking her head to the side, she listened. Every now and then she heard a word, but no clear sentence. The gesturing increased, but suddenly the captain's knees dipped as if he had to force them to support his legs. His face contorted in anger. Blood rushed into his face, turning it the color of rust.

  "No," he said, shaking his head. "No, no, no," he repeated. "You killed her."

  Ellie gripped Drew's arm tighter when she heard the words. "Can you hear them?"

  Drew nodded, but Ellie didn't turn to look at him.

  "We did not." one of the men said.

  "You married her off to someone she hated."

  The older man looked as if the captain's words had cut him.

  "She was my only daughter," the older man shouted, yet each word seemed to rob him of energy.

  "And instead of thinking of her happiness, you sold her into legal prostitution." The captain shouted the last word.

  "Don't you dare speak to my father like that," the other man said. He took a menacing step toward the captain. The captain held his ground, lifting his chin and shoulders. Pumped up by rage, strength seemed to return to him.

  "I'll speak to him any way I like. There was a time when I would show respect, but not anymore."

  "She was married," the younger man said.

  "But not of her own free will. And her only solution out of it was to take her own life." The captain's hands clenched as if he wanted to hit something, but was held back by the thinnest thread. The older man took another step back, perceptibly moving away from imminent impact.

  "Leave," the younger one said, pointing behind the captain. "Get out of this house and never come back."

  "I'll leave," the captain said. "And I’ll leave you with a curse. I curse you and all those that come after you. You and your descendants will never rest. Until someone puts right what you have done wrong, you will walk the earth with the same pain my Jane felt. Your heart will be forever heavy and your mind in confused turmoil."

  The captain stepped back, then stopped as if he'd forgotten something. Opening his hand, he looked down, then up at the two men in front of him. Two large stones rested in his open palm.

  "These are rubies from India. They were to be Jane's dowry. They were to prove that I was worthy of her, that I could keep her, provide for her as you would." He glared at the gems as if they were vicious animals. "I curse them as I curse you." With that he flung the stones at the faces of his enemies, hitting one of the men. He smiled as the younger man's hand went to his cheek. Turning, the captain marched toward the exit.

  Ellie let out a pent up breath. Drew removed her hand. Together they sat down on a nearby sofa. Both were exhausted. Ellie felt all the tension and stress the captain and Lady Jane's family must have felt during that exchange. Her heart pounded. She breathed hard, like she'd run a marathon uphill.

  Drew wrapped the stone up and handed it back to her. "Are you all right?"

  "I'm shaking," she said.

  He pulled her close to him. The vision returned and she moved away. "I'm sorry. It seems when we're in this place any touching opens a time portal.

  Ellie tried to laugh, but she felt cold. An afghan lay on the back of a chair across from them. She started to get up, but Drew stopped her. He pulled the afghan and dropped it around her shoulders. Ellie wrapped herself in the warm folds of the knitted cloth. After a moment, she stopped shivering and laid her head on the sofa. Closing her eyes, her body calmed, and she felt more like herself.

  "Has that happened before?" Drew asked.

  She shook her head. "Has it ever happened to you?"

  "Not with this intensity. When I saw you, you were happy, running along the water, playing tag with the surf."

  "So you never saw any of these people from England?"

  "Not until I got here."

  Ellie had read about them in the diary, but not with names. The writer said she concealed the names in case anyone ever found the book. She was sure someone had read it before because it was not in the place where she'd left it. Then she talked about finding a better hiding place. Ellie wondered how that place came to be in Tennessee.

  "We need to leave here," Drew said.

  "Why?"

  "Drew pointed toward the clock. Ellie was surprised to discover an hour had passed. The exchange she witnessed couldn't have taken more than several minutes.

  "Blythe will be back soon," he said, and I want to hold you and I can't do it here without a time distortion."

  Ellie felt a surge of warmth run through her. Usually she was standoffish when it came to men, especially someone she'd known less than a week, but like the captain and Lady Jane, Ellie felt as if she and Drew had known each other for centuries. That time was malleable for them.

  6

  The sun rose on the back of the house and light began to filter through to the room where they sat.

  "We'd better get you back to the Manor," Drew said. "You're still in your nightgown."

  "People will think I spent the night," she teased. "Do you think they'll shun me?"

  "If you were, Lady Jane you'd become unmarriageable and have to hide from society. "And you wouldn't want that," Drew said.

  Ellie laug
hed for the first time since she'd come into the house. She and Drew stood up at the same time. Since they were facing each other, they nearly bumped heads. Ellie leaned back and overbalanced. Drew's hands came out and steadied her. She looked up, automatically ready to thank him, but her throat closed and she stared into his eyes as if she were held in place by the hands of time that wanted them together.

  There was only the slightest moment when she could have changed things. Ellie could have stepped back, allowing the hands at her waist to drop. It was only a fraction of a second decision, but she made it without her head. Her heart decided and she stayed in place. Her eyes came up slowly, traveling from her hands on his forearms to his face. Drew's eyes were soft and dark. Desire reflected in them as sunrise and sunset reflects off the water. Ellie breath caught and held.

  Around them fire seemed to spring up and burn. It cocooned them, but did not singe their skin. Yet it was meltingly hot, as hot as Drew's mouth when it touched hers. For a second, soft and teasing, then hunger borne of centuries rushed into them drawing him to her. Fitting her body against the length of his until the two of them appeared to merge into one.

  Her foot came off the floor and her leg entwined his. Drew continued his magical torture as if he were a sorcerer and she his willing captive.

  At once, Ellie was Lady Jane and Drew was her beloved captain. The intense love the two had for each other seemed to join the centuries and flow into them. Ellie knew what Lady Jane felt. She understood the love her ancestor had for the man she couldn't have. Then she realized how much she loved Drew. Despite her pragmatic attitude, she'd fallen in love—completely and desperately.

  With renewed energy she kissed him with her whole being. Lady Jane was not in her and she was not kissing Robert Warwick. The ghost of the centuries, the ones who'd led them to this spot on earth, were no longer manipulating her.

  Drew broke for air and Ellie put her head on his shoulder. His arms caressed her, kept her close and made her feel safe.

  "Did you feel it?" she asked.

  "Yes," he whispered without her explaining. He knew. He understood that their falling in love had allowed Robert and Jane to spend their eternity together. Finally things were right. Lady Jane had found her captain and no barrier on earth or beyond could keep them from happiness.