by Dawn Brower
Genevieve had fallen asleep in the last hour of their journey. She’d joined him on his side of the carriage, and her head currently rested against his shoulder. The journey had been cathartic. It had given them a chance to rehash some of their old wounds and clear the way for a new beginning. He hoped she was finally ready to see where their future might lead. The past twenty-four hours had been hell. It was hard to believe it had been that long since he’d gone through the mirror with Serenity. It was almost as if a lifetime had passed in that short amount of time. What a difference a day could make…
The carriage pulled to a complete stop and Genevieve jerked awake. She lifted her arms in the air and stretched them wide. Her mouth slipped open into a yawn she quickly covered with her hand. “How long was I asleep?” She was so beautiful. He’d never tire of looking at her. Her auburn curls were tousled and floating over her shoulder. He’d unbound them as she slept—the urge to feel their silky texture between his fingers had been too great. Her ice blue eyes still held a touch of sleep to them. They almost looked dreamy or even whimsical. She met his gaze, and her petal pink lips tilted upward. “Are you going to answer me, or must I guess?”
“Not too long. Maybe an hour or so.” Too short in his estimation. In her sleep, she trusted him instinctively. He rather enjoyed her cuddling up with him and wrapping her arms around his waist. Nothing compared to the feeling of holding the woman he loved and having the possibility of a future with her once again. “We’ve just arrived.”
She peeked out the window at Weston Manor and sighed. “I haven’t been to this estate since the day I disappeared. I was almost afraid to come back. Rosanna tried to get me to come here, but it didn’t feel right.”
“Why not?”
He didn’t quite understand her reasoning. It should’ve been the one place she felt the most comfortable. It would have been, or should’ve been, like a home away from home. They’d spent so much time at Weston while they were together. Weston, for Trenton, had been home, and Bradford was the only person he considered family. It made it easier for Trenton to give up his apartment when he was searching for the embezzler in his father’s company, and her family lived in Ireland. He thought Genevieve liked staying at the manor. She’d been going to school at Oxford, and the months before she disappeared she’d been on summer break. She was supposed to go back the weekend after the annual ball at Seabrook Manor—that was if she’d not fallen off a cliff and traveled through time. Would she want to return to school and finish her graduate degree? Whatever decision she made, he’d be by her side every step of the way.
Genevieve bit her bottom lip and glanced down. “I couldn’t come here. The memories would have been too hard to bear.”
Trenton could understand that. Weston was a hard place to be without her. If not for his relationship with Bradford, he might have avoided it himself—even if it was home. He couldn’t very well ditch his stepbrother because he’d lost the love of his life. Unfortunately, things didn’t work that way. Somehow, he’d found the courage and strength to move on without her. It had been one of the most difficult things he’d ever had to do.
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s go inside. It will be good for both of us.”
“A way of exorcising whatever demons remain between us?” The corner of her lips tilted upward as amusement appeared to dance across her features.
He smiled. “That’s one way of looking at it.”
Trenton pushed open the carriage door and stepped out. He wouldn’t want to use one on a regular basis, but in this one instance, it had been a good thing. Carriages were bloody uncomfortable to sit in for long periods of time. Genevieve had lost a lot of the anger and resentment she’d been holding on to through the journey. The hours it had taken to get from the duke’s home to Weston had been a gift. He glanced at the manor and then back at Genevieve. He held his hand out to her and helped her descend. She looked as if they’d had more fun in the carriage than they’d actually had. Her expression hadn’t changed much, and her unbound hair gave the wrong impression. There wasn’t much he could do about it though. He hoped that the current Duke of Weston wasn’t the prudish sort.
“Shall we knock?”
“No time like the present,” she agreed.
They headed up the steps. The door opened before they had a chance to lift the knocker on the door. An old man stood stiffly over the threshold. “How may I help you?” He croaked out.
“We’re here to visit the Duke and Duchess,” Trenton replied. “More specifically, Her Grace if she’s available.”
He was glad Bradford wasn’t the formal type. If he had to utter His Grace to his stepbrother every time they talked he might have to punch him. It was rather tedious and even more annoying.
“Do you have a card?”
Trenton scrunched up his nose. A card? What the bloody hell was the old codger talking about? Then it hit him. The butler thought they were regular callers, and if they were he should have a card. But one didn’t carry such things when traveling through time. He doubted that Genevieve had one either. All he did have was the letter from Branterberry to pass along to the Duke of Weston. He pulled out the letter and handed it to the butler. “Will this do instead?”
The butler pulled the letter in his hands. When he noticed Branterberry’s crest, he nodded and allowed them both inside. He kept Genevieve’s hand firmly in his grasp as the butler led them to the front parlor. It was decorated in various shades of blue and accented with gold filigree. The room had a feminine touch to it.
“Henderson said we had guests…” The current Duchess of Weston, Alys Dewitt Kendall, breezed into the room. She was dressed to perfection in a brilliant emerald gown cut to emphasize her bosom. Her golden blonde hair was artfully dressed on her head, and her light green eyes widened at the sight of them. “Trenton,” she squealed and rushed to hug him. “How? I don’t understand?”
Trenton wrapped his arms around her and held on a moment for stepping back. “It’s good to see you too. Regina will be happy to hear you’re doing as well as we’ve read.”
“You found my letter?” Alys asked. She brought her hands together in front of her in an excited gesture.
Alys was exactly as he remembered her. She’d always been kind to him whenever they met. It was nice that he could tell her about her family and fill her in on everything. If he hadn’t come for Genevieve, she might never have known how everything turned out in the future.
“Not me personally,” Trenton said. “Though I have seen it. Regina and Bradford found it.”
“I’m so glad,” she said. Her lips tilted upward into a smile. “I didn’t want any of them to worry about me.”
Trenton smiled back. “Rest assured, your family is aware of what happened to you and are glad you’re happy with how things turned out.”
“Come,” she gestured. “Sit and tell me everything, and please introduce me to your friend.”
Trenton and Genevieve sat down on a nearby settee, and Alys took a chair next to it. “This is Genevieve Byrne,” Trenton said. “Genevieve, I’d like you to meet Alys.”
“It’s a pleasure,” Genevieve murmured. “Thank you for seeing us.”
“Think nothing of it,” Alys said and turned toward Trenton. “Tell me how you’re here. How is my sister?”
Genevieve squirmed in her seat. She must not like hearing about Regina. He couldn’t really blame her.
“She’s doing well,” Trenton said. Now for the hard part—they all knew how Alys was doing because of the journals. She had no idea what had transpired for all of them in the future. Alys hadn’t been around to see his marriage to Regina fall apart, or to see her sister fall in love with Trenton’s stepbrother. “She and Bradford are married and expecting their first child soon.”
Her mouth fell open. “Pardon me, what did you say?”
“I realize that is a lot to take in at once…” This was as hard for him as it was for her. He didn’t like that he’d failed Regina. She was a
good person and didn’t deserve the way he’d treated her. When her and Bradford had fallen in love it had lifted a weight off of his chest. He was truly happy for them both. “We realized early on that our marriage wasn’t what was best for both of us. We had it annulled.”
“I see,” she said. Her lips tilted upward. “That cocky bastard. I knew he had feelings for her. He tried to tell me it was lust.”
Trenton lifted a brow. “What?” Bradford had lusted after Regina before Alys had disappeared? That would mean… “Did you have this discussion with him on the day I married Regina?”
“Of course,” she said. “It was evident.” Alys sighed. “I wish I’d been there to see it. I hope she made him grovel.”
How had that slipped past him? Had Regina had feelings for him then too? He closed his eyes and shook his head. It didn’t matter because he had conflicted feelings himself. The marriage should never have happened in the first place. It appeared they both may have gone into the marriage for the wrong reasons. He wasn’t entirely sure what Regina’s motivations were, but he couldn’t hold them against her. His hadn’t exactly been altruistic either. Regina was with the person she was meant to be with, and soon he would be too. He had to remain patient while she worked through her indecision.
“I can assure you that he loves her. The rest, I don’t honestly want to know about.” It would probably be better that way. He didn’t want to be irritated with his stepbrother and Regina when everything worked out the way it was supposed to. Besides Genevieve probably didn’t want to listen to him talk about his previous marriage…
Alys nodded. “That’s fair.” She turned toward Genevieve. “Have we met? You seem familiar.”
Genevieve shook her head. “The one Kendall I’ve met in this time is Lady Rosanna,” her Irish lilt was heavy as she spoke.
“Ah,” Alys said. “You’re that Genevieve” Her smile softened. “I think I understand what is going on a little bit better now.”
Trenton was glad someone understood because he didn’t. How did that enlighten her? Was she privy to all the details of when Genevieve had been held captive with Lady Rosanna? “We won’t stay long,” Trenton said. “We have to access a mirror here in the study. At least, I think it is in the study. I suppose it could be in a different room.”
“What does it look like?” Alys said. “And what does a mirror have to do with anything?”
“It’s a long story…” Trenton didn’t know how much he should tell her. He didn’t want to screw up the timeline. “Do you really want to know? I don’t want to change something in your future.”
“I don’t understand,” Alys said. “How could that potentially change anything?”
He’d have to tell her something. Alys had always been the curious sort, and she’d not let him go without explaining it to her.
“It has to do with your daughter, Elizabeth.”
She lifted her hand to her heart. “I’m not sure I want to know it all then. If something happens to her…”
Trenton hadn’t considered she’d jump to that conclusion. He didn’t have children, but if he one day was blessed with them, then he’d not want to know if they were going to come to harm in the future either. He had to ease her concern, and then he could ask her about the mirror. “Elizabeth will be fine. She’ll grow up and one day meet the man of her dreams.” Quite literally, in a way, as she’d first seen the gentleman in the very mirror Trenton was searching for. “But how I discovered to travel here is first discovered by her.”
“How peculiar,” Alys said. “That my family is tied so intricately to time travel. Why is that, do you suppose?”
“Aubriella had a theory,” he glanced at Genevieve. He still hadn’t told her about her cousin jumping through the mirror on her own time travel adventure. “That only those with psychic abilities can travel through time or at the very least be aided by someone who has them. I know you’re adopted, and don’t know how you come by yours, but you must have some. Do you have any special gifts?”
She tilted her head and appeared lost in thought. “I have a photographic memory, but other than that I don’t think so. Does that count?”
It had to. Why else had she been able to travel through time. “Eve has telepathy, Regina, as far as we can tell, is a receiver. She can catch psychic abilities and sometimes share them, but doesn’t have any of her own. Your father has visions or hunches that helps guide him in business. I think your memory thing must be tied into whatever makes you special.”
“How did you know about my telepathy?” Genevieve asked. “Did Regina tell you?”
He nodded. “Aubriella confirmed it. She also told me she’s an empath.”
“So what does my daughter have?” Alys asked. “And how does that make her discover how time travel works?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “Her journals never said.”
The whole idea of psychic abilities was new to him too. He didn’t have any special gifts. A part of him was glad for that and the other part wished he had something useful about him.
“Maybe I’ll figure it out as she grows. It is enough for me that she is whole and healthy. I’m glad she has a prosperous future ahead of her.” She folded her hands in her lap. “I assume this mirror is the one you need to transport you two back to the future.”
“Yes,” he said. “We need the mirror to return home. It’s oval, about six feet tall, and the border is engraved in gold. Do you know where it is?”
Please let her know what mirror I’m referring to. Trenton wasn’t sure any mirror would do. He wasn’t even certain how the thing worked. Genevieve would have to be the one to activate it.
“I do,” she said. “However, I have a proposition for you. I know you two are in a hurry to return, but do you think you could stay a night. I’d like to visit with you a little longer and gather as much information about my family as possible.” Her lips tilted upward. “It will give you time to meet my family. You can report back to Regina and tell her about Elizabeth and the twins. She’ll have questions and will be so disappointed you can’t answer them.”
She was as good at emotional blackmail as her sister. “It has been a taxing journey.” He turned toward Genevieve. “Do you mind waiting until morning to return home?”
She’d been rather silent for most of the conversation. What was going on in that head of hers? He hoped she wasn’t backpedaling. They’d made a lot of progress on their journey to Weston. He would not be happy if he had to work twice as hard to get them back on track once again.
“Of course not,” she said. “At this point, why rush?”
Why indeed? They had their whole life ahead of them. One more day wouldn’t change that.
“Splendid,” Alys said. “I’ll have rooms prepared for you two.”
Trenton wished he could tell her to make it one room. He wouldn’t push Genevieve for something she wasn’t ready for though. She needed time, and he’d ensure she had it. When they returned home they could work through their issues and see if they had what it took to make their relationship last…
Chapter 9
Irony was finding himself in the precise bedchamber he normally used, but in his own time a century in the past. Alys must have remembered that tiny detail. How, Trenton wasn’t sure… She hadn’t exactly been around much before his wedding to her sister. She’d said she had a photographic memory though, and Regina hadn’t mentioned that before. He supposed there was no reason for it. Alys’s ability must’ve come in handy when she was going to school to become a doctor.
Dinner had been long and drawn out. James had sat at the head of the table brooding for most of it. He’d been leery of Trenton and Genevieve, but acquiesced once Alys explained why they were there. The man probably thought they were going to steal his wife away from him and take her back to the future. He couldn’t say for sure what was going on in the duke’s mind, but James kept flashing him wary looks most of the evening. Several times Trenton had almost opened his mouth to reassur
e him, but thought better of it. James would realize in time that Alys wasn’t going anywhere.
Alys, for her part, had peppered him with question after question about the future. She wanted to know if Regina was having a boy or a girl—he had no clue. He’d never bothered to ask. That probably made him a rotten uncle-to-be, but he’d had other priorities. He’d make it up to Regina and Bradford when they returned. There wouldn’t be a more doting uncle than him. It didn’t matter that, technically, he’d be the solitary uncle around to spoil the baby.
He’d met Elizabeth and found her an eerie four-year-old. It was like looking into the eyes of an old woman in a toddler’s body. It was—unnerving. Perhaps that was her ability in itself. She had an old soul, and it allowed her to see things others didn’t. Maybe it would become clearer later, or it could be they’d never find out. The twins were still babies and there wasn’t much to tell about them. They were both cute, he supposed. Babies were all the same to him, but he did the obligatory thing and cooed over them like they were the most beautiful things he’d ever laid eyes on. He’d been grateful to escape to his room and unwind. The one thing that would have made it all better is if he’d been sharing it with Genevieve. He wasn’t even sure where Alys had put her in the mausoleum that was Weston Manor.
A soft knock at his door brought him out of his thoughts and back to reality. He sent up a silent prayer that it wasn’t Alys again. How many more questions could she possibly have? He moved toward the door and then pulled it open. He was pleasantly surprised to find Genevieve on the other side. She was in her night clothes and pulled her wrapper tight as she fidgeted in the hall. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” he asked.
“Are you going to invite me in?” She looked up and down the hallway. “You know how scandalous this is in the nineteenth century. I don’t want to start any drama before we leave.”
He swung out his arm and gestured for her to enter. “By all means, come inside my den of iniquity.” She laughed as she brushed past him and then pulled him inside.