“Waistcoat,” Rick corrected. “Truthfully, I found I was in sympathy with him. He must have been led a devil of a dance."
Now was the time. The time to wipe the slate clean. She rested her shoulders and head against the marble fireplace, stalling to find the words. Inhaling, she plunged into it. “Rick, I've never seen Derek Donnehey before today. In person, I mean."
“Perhaps you will be good enough to explain this mad scheme to me. It has to do with Madame Reena, I believe.” Rick's voice held a heavy amount of disapproval. Maybe he thought she willingly had taken part in the deception.
“Well, okay. Um, you see, it's like this. I'm, well, I'm not your wife. I think you know that already. But my name really is Alaina. Sawyer is my last name.”
She paused. “My story's so unbelievable that, to be honest, I wouldn't believe it myself. Except, of course, here I am. Living proof."
Taking a quick look at him, she then sighed and dropped her gaze. He should have been a lawyer; his face was so noncommittal.
“Right. Well, anyway, where I lived, which isn't important, I began to have visions. You know, dreams that occurred during the day as well as night. Talk about frightening. In these visions, there were two people. A woman whose resemblance to me was uncanny, and a man, Sir Derek. They plotted an escape. Madame Reena was hired to help them. In December, on the night the exchange took place, I felt very odd, and had a compelling desire to drink.”
She turned around to face him. “I even had a vision of you that night, Rick. You were sitting at a desk and seemed very angry. In your hand was a letter. You threw it into a fireplace."
He frowned. Hopefully, he recalled that letter.
“Then I heard voices chanting, and the next thing I remember is waking up in the bed I had seen in my visions. And Dana calling me ‘Milady.’”
Rick stared at Alaina. He still didn't show any sign of belief or disbelief.
She held out her hands with her palms up. “I know it sounds crazy. But it's the truth."
He slowly stroked his chin. “So you did not volunteer for this ... switch?"
“Good heavens, no!” was her quick reply. “I mean, I was abducted. You're probably wondering why I went along with the masquerade."
She walked over to him and sat on the floor beside his chair. “If you could put yourself in my place for a moment. There I was, waking up in a strange house. A totally different environment.”
Alaina grinned. “Totally different. And I had only the haziest idea of what happened. I was afraid that if I denied being Alicia, if I said who I really was, I'd either get arrested or thrown in a mental institution."
The jaconet muslin of her gown bore the abuse of her agitation. Over and over again, she bunched the material, pinched, and folded it. “I did the only thing I could think of. Pretend to be Alicia and search for Madame Reena. I hoped to convince her to undo her magic. As you know, I found her too late."
Rick held Alaina's hands to stop her mutilation of the gown's fragile fabric. With his fingertips, he lifted her chin.
“Has Alicia taken your place then? And why do you feel it is impossible to return to your home? For that is what you said over Reena's grave.”
Alaina bit her lip. Gosh, what could she tell him? Meeting met his gaze, she whispered, “I honestly don't know if Alicia took my place. Since Reena was successful with one transference and Alicia disappeared, I assume she woke up in my bed.” She sighed. “I can only imagine what a mess she's making of my life."
He caressed the side of Alaina's cheek. “You have not answered why you feel it is impossible to return to your home. Are you saying then that Alicia cannot come back as well?"
Alaina leaned into his hand. “I can't get back. You'll have to take my word for it. Reena was my only chance to return. And since I can't get back, Alicia can't either."
Easing her into the chair opposite his, he asked, almost grimly, “Does it grieve you, then, not being able to go to your home?"
“Oh, Rick!” She threw her arms around him, hugging him, loving him. “I don't want to go now. I want to stay here with you."
He kissed her so passionately, she was left breathless. “Tell me, Ally, where are you from? I need to know."
She pulled away from the heaven of his arms. He was right; he did need to know. “Well—"
“Wait.” He reached behind his desk and grabbed something pink. “I believe this is yours."
She nodded. “Yep, that's my robe, all right."
“And the fastener?"
“A zipper.” Alaina made a sheepish grin. “It hasn't been invented yet."
Rick raised his eyebrow. “Care to explain?"
“Okay,” she sighed. “Here comes the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. You see, Reena found your wife a perfect double to change places with, but the only problem was, I come from your future."
“Indeed?"
She raised her own eyebrow. “Indeed. Almost two hundred years into the future. That's why I seem a tad bit different than everybody else. And how I knew about Victoria's birth and all that. I'd just read a book on it."
Leaning on the edge his desk, he shook his head. “Ally, that is—"
“Unbelievable? Bizarre? Crazy?” She wagged her finger at him. “Don't blame me. You asked me and ... I told you."
She laughed. Now that the truth was out, she felt like a million dollars. “Okay. I'll have pity on you, Rick. How about another prediction? George III will die in 1820. That's not too far away. Want to bet on it?"
“The devil!” Rick rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I do not know what to believe. Why do I have the sinking feeling that I am in over my head on this?"
“Because you are!” She twirled around the room. “Oh, I'm so happy this is out. So, don't you see, this is exactly why I can't go back home."
He reached over and stopped her dance by clasping her in a fevered embrace.
“Mmm, heavenly,” Alaina lifted her head for air. “Goodness, does this mean we're engaged?"
“Ally, my girl, I have grown rather partial to you being my wife.” His dazzling smile turned up her very toes.
She tilted up her face. “And I suppose I'm used to having you as my husband.” Nibbling his ear, she murmured, “There are certain benefits."
“Such as this perhaps?” He rained kisses over her face. “Tomorrow I shall arrange for a ‘renewal’ of our wedding vows. This way you will be mine in the eyes of the law and the church, now and for always."
“You're so romantic.” She blew her own kisses in his ear.
“Good Lord! Why are we wasting time?” He swept her off her feet and headed out the door. “We have a deadline to meet."
“Whoa!” She couldn't help laughing as he carried her up the stairs. “What's your hurry? And what deadline?"
Kicking open her bedroom door, he gently laid her on the bed. “I told Donnehey you were increasing. We have to hurry so that the little bundle can be born on time!"
~The End~
About the author of Timeless Deception
Susanne Marie Knight currently works as a writer for a fitness program shown on public television. Multi-published with books, short stories, and articles, she specializes in “Romance Writing With A Twist.” In addition to TIMELESS DECEPTION, a time-travel Regency with NovelBooks, Inc, her Regencies include THE MAGIC TOKEN and five-star time-travel Lord Darver's Match, both with LionHearted Publishing; and THE RELUCTANT LANDLORD with Wings ePress Inc. Also with NovelBooks, Inc. is LOVE AT THE TOP, a sexy and smart contemporary romance.
Susanne's best-sellers also include Tainted Tea For Two, a romantic murder mystery published by Hard Shell Word Factory; Janus Is A Two-Headed God, a science fiction romance published by Awe-Struck E-Books; and Grave Future, a paranormal romantic suspense novel now published by LTDBooks.
Originally from New York City, Susanne currently lives in the Pacific Northwest, by way of Okinawa, Montana, Alabama, and Florida. Along with her husband, daughter, and feisty
Siamese cat, she enjoys the area's beautiful ponderosa pine trees and wide, open spaces—a perfect environment for writing. She has her own website domain: www.susanneknight.com and has her Master of Science degree in Natural Health.
You can contact to Susanne at [email protected] and be sure to sign up for her newsletter, Knight Dreams, at [email protected].
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