Comes The Dawn (The Wonderland Series: Book 5)

by Irina Shapiro

  Some small part of me hoped and prayed that Archie and Frances would come in their own time, but now it was too late. The portal between our worlds was closed for good, and the physical connection broken. We would remember them for the rest of our lives, but we’d never see them again, or hear their voices. I felt an overwhelming sense of loss as I stared at the wall, willing the flower to reappear. Perhaps it was better this way. No unsuspecting person could find themselves in the past, or lose their life while trying to return, like Max. And, Hugo and I were here for good; there was no going back.

  I laid my two primroses at the feet of Bruce and left the crypt, knowing that I wouldn’t return. I walked out into the morning sunshine and through the archway in the wall. Whatever my personal feelings, this was closure of sorts, and I had to accept it. There was nowhere to go but forward. I suppose that was the case for all people, except when they went backward as I had done. I smiled when I saw my children running down the ridge, laughing and waving their arms like windmills as Tilly ran after them, wagging her tail and barking happily. Hugo was chasing the children, a huge grin on his face when he spotted me. The children flew into my arms, blissfully happy on this summer day.

  “Mama, we caught two fishes,” Valentine gushed as she spread her hands to show me how big the fishes were. “Mrs. Harding is going to cook them for lunch with some potatoes.”

  “I don’t like fish,” Michael said petulantly. “I want ice cream.”

  “Well, I suppose it’s early enough. If we get ice cream now it won’t spoil your lunch,” Hugo said as he swung Michael onto his shoulders. Michael instantly brightened, happy to get his way.

  “I want chocolate ice cream,” Valentine announced. “Mama, are you coming?”

  “Ice cream, Mama,” Michael reiterated, in case I wasn’t feeling enough excitement at the prospect.

  “All right, ice cream it is. What about Tilly, what flavor does she like?”

  “Tilly likes strawberry,” he replied, because that was his favorite.

  Hugo linked his arm through mine as we walked into the village. Several people eyed us in surprise, not having seen us together before, but we no longer cared. They’d have to get used to the sight. We were here to stay.

  “Did you find them?” Hugo asked after we settled the kids on a bench with their cones.

  “Who?” I asked innocently before taking a lick of Hugo’s ice cream. He never passed up an opportunity to get ice cream. He’d discovered on his first trip to the future that he had quite a sweet tooth and was no better than a child when it came to sweets.

  “You know who,” he replied as he offered me the cone. I shook my head. One lick was more than enough for me.

  “No, I didn’t, but I wish I had. Now we’ll never know.”

  “No, we won’t,” Hugo agreed. “I do miss them. And Jem.”

  “Me too.”

  June, 1689

  Surrey, England

  Chapter 50

  “Would you like to rest for a bit?” Archie asked after several hours of walking. He found a nice shaded spot by a stream and settled Frances on his cloak before going to get some water. The days were getting warmer, and although it wasn’t as cold and uncomfortable at night, Frances found herself feeling overheated and drowsy during the afternoons. Her limbs seemed to turn to lead around midday, and her eyes began to close of their own accord, her body demanding rest. The sharp pains she’d experienced in the early days of her pregnancy seemed to have passed, replaced by an occasional feeling of stretching as her womb grew to accommodate the baby. She still didn’t feel it move — it was too soon — but despite the inadequate diet, her belly had grown a bit larger. If her calculations were correct, and she did indeed conceive in March, then she would be nearing her fourth month and due to give birth sometime in December. She was still terribly anxious, but it had been more than a week since Archie’s escape, and perhaps the manhunt had been called off.

  Frances gratefully accepted a cup of water and drained it in one gulp. It was cold, sweet, and refreshing. She held out the cup for more, and Archie poured her some more from the bottle he held.

  “Are you feeling all right, Franny?” he asked as he knelt in front of her. “You’ve gone over all pale.”

  “I’m just tired, Archie. We’ve been living like vagabonds for nearly two weeks now. I long for a hot bath, a clean bed, and a decent meal. I feel like I could sleep for a week, given the chance.”

  “It won’t be long now, love. Another few days and we’ll be in London. Once we get into the city, it’ll be that much easier to lose ourselves in the crowd. We’ll find a place to live and just lay low for a few weeks. You’ll be able to rest then. And I’ll go out every day and get you fresh pies, oyster stew, and maybe even some syllabub. Would you like that?”

  Frances smiled sadly. “Syllabub reminds me of Jemmy. Remember how he used to love it? I do hope he’s all right, Archie. He wanted to come with me, but I just sent him away. He looked so forlorn. He lost everyone he cared about in the space of a day.”

  “I miss him too, Franny, but you did the right thing,” Archie replied gruffly as he sat down next to Frances. “Jem belongs with his family now. He might not be very happy, few boys his age are, but he’ll grow up to be a fine gentleman. His father will see to that. He will have an education and the means to have a life of his own choosing. Even if Jem’s brother inherits the estate, being Master Marsden’s firstborn within wedlock, Jem will still be better off than he would have been.”

  “I think he wanted to go with Lord and Lady Everly and was hurt that he wasn’t asked,” Frances said wistfully. “Of course, he assumes they went to France.”

  “France or not, he wasn’t theirs to take. He has his father now, and it would have been wrong to drive a wedge between them.”

  “I think his father is doing a fine job of that himself,” Frances argued as she settled her head in Archie’s lap. She was so tired, all she wanted was to sleep for a bit. At this moment, the thought of an actual bed made her giddy with anticipation.

  “Franny?” Archie’s tone made her put the feather bed out of her mind and focus all her attention on him. Whatever he was about to say was not going to be something she wanted to hear. Frances opened her eyes and looked up at Archie. His face had that stubborn look he got when he’d made up his mind about something and wasn’t about to be diverted from his course of action. Frances felt a pang of apprehension. What plan had he been hatching these last few days when he’d been unable to sleep and sat by the dying fire long into the night, brooding while she slept?

  “I need to see my Da before we head for London.”

  Frances’s stomach lurched with fear. “But Archie, it’s not safe to go home. You said so yourself.”

  “It’s not safe to remain there, but I think that passing through Cranley is safe enough. No one would expect us to go there for fear of being recognized and arrested, so it’s probably one of the safest places at the moment, especially if we go at night.”

  Frances didn’t quite agree with Archie’s reasoning but decided to try another tack. “Why do you need to see him?”

  “I have to tell him about Julia’s death,” Archie explained. “He has a right to know.”

  Frances shook her head in dismay. “Archie, your father is an old man. Would it not be kinder to leave him in ignorance? He’s lost so much already, why break his heart?”

  Frances didn’t add that she didn’t think Horatio Hicks had much longer to live. Perhaps what Archie really wanted was to say goodbye. He knew his father was ill, and probably wouldn’t last to see the year out or to meet his grandchild. Archie wanted to assure his father that he was alive and well, and put his mind to rest about Liza. Telling him about Julia’s death was just an excuse, or was it?

  Archie nodded at the wisdom of her words, but she knew he wasn’t dissuaded. He’d been distant and silent the past few days, his sleep disrupted by bad dreams. There was nothing she could do to help him forget the horror he�
��d seen or come to terms with it; all she could do was be patient and let him deal with his feelings of guilt and grief. Perhaps talking to his father about Julia would make it easier for him to accept her death.

  “Franny, my father is the type of man who’d rather know the truth and suffer the pain of that knowledge than be lied to. In some ways, Julia was lost to him already, but he deserves a chance to mourn her properly, and perhaps ask Reverend Snow to pray for her soul. I wasn’t able to give her a proper burial, and I will have to live with that knowledge for the rest of my days, but at least I’ll know that her death didn’t go unnoticed and unacknowledged.”

  “Archie, your sister is in Heaven with her beloved children and your mother. Her death is not unacknowledged. She’s with the Lord, whom she’d served faithfully despite all the suffering she’d been through.”

  “I hope you’re right, Franny. I’d like to imagine her reunited with her babies. I still dream of them sometimes. They were such sweet children, and so affectionate. I used to think that once I got married, I’d like to have a family just like Julia’s. That was until they all died, and then I swore I’d never marry or have children of my own.” Archie’s hand rested on Frances’s belly, his face suddenly tense. “Franny, if anything ever happens to you or our baby….” He didn’t finish the sentence, but Frances knew what he was feeling. She wanted to reassure him, and opened her mouth to say that nothing would happen, but then changed her mind. To make a promise like that was to tempt fate. Things happened all the time. There wasn’t a family in England that hadn’t been touched by death and loss, and no man who didn’t fear losing his wife and baby in childbirth.

  Archie helped Frances to her feet, and they resumed their journey. They walked in silence, but it was a companionable silence, the silence of two people who didn’t need to talk all the time to feel connected. Archie held Frances’s hand, his own hand warm and solid on hers. Archie was no careless fool. If he thought stopping in Cranley was safe, then most likely it was. He’d never endanger them or their unborn child. Frances smiled as she thought of the baby. Archie laid his hand on her stomach every day before they fell asleep, the gesture meant to be one of love, blessing, and the promise of protection.

  June 2015

  Surrey, England

  Chapter 51

  Detective Inspector Knowles pushed Lucy on the swing at the playground, her squeals of delight gladdening his heart. She’d been a little upset the past few days, her initial joy at having a baby brother overshadowed by sudden jealousy. She wanted her mum, but Carol was busy with the new baby, catching a few hours of sleep between feedings and nappy changes. Baby Justin was only four days old, but it was obvious that he was going to be a fussy baby, not at all like Lucy had been when she was a newborn. Justin slept lightly and cried when he was awake. Colic, Carol said.

  Bobby was so proud to have a son, but he was too tired and sleep-deprived to feel any actual joy. And poor Lucy seemed lost, her little face full of confusion as she was constantly told to wait or be quiet because the baby was asleep. Bobby pushed the swing harder, eager to make her happy. He would take her for an ice cream after the playground and then perhaps go visit with DS Johnson’s wife Sarah for a playdate with their little girl. Lucy would love that, and it would give Carol some much-needed alone time with Justin. She said they needed to bond, so Bobby would bond with Lucy in the meantime.

  Bobby’s benevolent mood dissipated when he saw Everly walking toward the playground with two children. The girl was a little younger than Lucy, but there was a determination in her step and a glimmer in her eye which instantly made him feel protective of his own daughter. The little boy held on to Everly’s hand, an old-fashioned wooden horse in his other hand. He looked excited to be at the playground, but held on to the man’s hand as if he were intimidated by the swings and slides. Bobby had heard that Everly’s girlfriend moved into Everly Manor with her two children. To others, it would seem strange that a man who’d been missing for over three years would get involved in a serious relationship so quickly, but knowing what he knew, Bobby realized that this relationship was anything but new.

  “Good morning,” Everly called out politely as his girl made a beehive for the swings and climbed on next to Lucy. The two girls eyed each other like prizefighters taking each other’s measure. Lucy seemed a bit put out, but the other girl suddenly smiled beatifically.

  “My name is Valentine. What’s yours?”

  “Lucy,” his daughter mumbled.

  “I just loooove swings,” Valentine said, as if she’d never been on a swing before.

  Everly walked over to the slide with the boy who climbed to the top and waited for Everly to walk around to catch him when he came down. The child finally let go and slid down with a squeal, only to have Everly catch him at the bottom and toss him up into the air to the delight of the boy who screamed, “Again, again.”

  “Are you visiting Lord Everly?” Bobby asked Valentine hoping that the child would reveal something important. Surely she was too young to have been schooled in a lie by Everly and her mother.

  “We did before, but now we’re going to live here with Papa. We lived here once before, but it was a long time ago, and we stayed in the other house then,” Valentine volunteered.

  “What other house?”

  “The one where we can’t go anymore. Archie and Frances were there too, but we had to leave them behind.”

  The child didn’t make much sense, but she’d called Everly “papa.” That was interesting. Bobby gave Valentine a push, making her giggle happily.

  “Thank you, sir,” she said formally, startling him.

  “What’s your papa’s name?” DI Knowles asked conversationally as he continued to push both girls, watched by Everly from the slide.

  “Lord Hugo Everly.”

  Bobby Knowles was about to ask something else when he saw a woman walking toward the playground. She was attractive, with blonde curls framing her face and large brown eyes, so like Valentine’s. She waved to Everly, a warm smile on her face. “You forgot your wallet. The children will be wanting a treat after the playground.”

  Bobby Knowles stared at the woman. He’d seen her before. She came to the village a few years ago to scout out the location for a historical series about Charles II that was to be filmed at the old Everly Manor. Max fancied her, but then she disappeared. Must have gone back to London once her job was done. Bobby stared at Everly and the woman. This made no sense. Where did she come from? What was her relationship to this man, and were these their children? What was her connection to Max? Was she somehow responsible for this twisted charade?

  She smiled at Bobby as she walked over. “Thank you for pushing her. Valentine loves swings.”

  “Yes, she told us. Have you recently moved to the village?” he asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

  “In a sense. We’re here to stay with Max for a while.” The woman seemed on guard now, her demeanor one of wariness.

  Bobby’s mind teemed with questions, but he couldn’t very well interrogate this woman. Everly, whoever he was, could destroy his life at any moment, so he had to abide by their peace accord. They would leave each other alone, but that didn’t mean that Bobby was pleased with the arrangement. Most people would not recall this woman from before, but he did, and the children were clearly hers and Everly’s since they resembled them in looks and coloring. They looked more like the woman, but there was something in Valentine’s facial expressions and strange formality which reminded Bobby of Everly.

  Bobby helped Lucy off the swing. “Are you ready to go, love?”

  “I want to play with Valentine,” she whined. “Want to go on the slide?”

  “All right,” the other girl answered regally. Valentine took Lucy’s hand and led her to the slide. She was younger, but there was no question who was the leader.

  Bobby walked over to a bench and sat down, his mind going in circles. The child said her father’s name was Hugo. As far as he knew there hadn’t
been a Hugo Everly since the seventeenth century, but this man had to be an Everly to resemble Max as much as he did. Only a few days ago, Bobby had seen fresh roses laid by the grave of Hugo Everly and Elena Everly, both of whom died in the late seventeenth century. The child had mentioned that they used to live in the old house, but couldn’t go there now.

  Bobby shook his head. This line of thought was absurd. Whoever this man was, he was likely some distant relation Max had never mentioned. Perhaps he met the woman at some point and they conspired to get rid of Max and take his place. Bobby sighed with frustration. His detective’s instinct was on fire, every fiber of his being convinced that these two had murdered his friend. Bobby strode over to the slide, scooped up a protesting Lucy, and practically ran from the playground. He’d never felt so helpless in his life.

  June 1689

  Surrey, England

  Chapter 52

  A hazy gibbous moon hung above the village of Cranley, the stars barely visible in the balmy sky. Despite the warm temperature, most windows were shuttered for the night, the villagers fearful of the ill humors the night air might bring. A stray cat slithered along the wall of a house, its fur bristling with alarm when it saw two strangers walking hand in hand, but it appeared to be the only inhabitant awake at this late hour. It was well past midnight, and the street was deserted.

  Frances sighed with sadness as she glanced at the shadowy bulk of Everly Manor, sitting proudly on the ridge. The estate manager, Godfrey Bowden, most likely had the house shut up, and the staff dismissed until such a time as a new Lord Everly took up residence, be it Michael or Clarence Hiddleston who was next in line. Michael would not be coming, so eventually, Clarence would get his clutches on the estate his mother so desired for him. Frances felt a pang of despair when she thought back to last November. Had the Everlys not decided to return from France, they might still all be together, Elena still alive, and herself and Archie not on the run from the law. How life changed when you least expected it, and rarely for the better.