by Ada Bright
‘It’s not just the accent.’ Morgan grimaced. ‘I have a tendency to get carried away and tell people all the wrong things I shouldn’t tell them. In general, I avoid secrets because it’s impossible for me to keep them.’
‘That is… unfortunate.’ Edward threw his sister a significant look.
‘Oh, not this!’ Morgan was keen to reassure him. ‘I can keep serious secrets.’
Jane shrugged lightly. ‘It is of little consequence; who would believe you if you told them?’
‘So true.’ Morgan glanced at James, who walked over to sit beside her. ‘Speaking of, when were you thinking of disapparating us?’
‘Dis-what?’ Charles bit back on a laugh, his gaze going from Morgan to his sister.
‘It’s a reference to something from a popular book in my time.’
Rose looked at Jane, but her gaze had drifted to the window, then back to the newest arrivals.
‘There will be sufficient darkness to take you within the hour.’
Relief filled James’ face, and he put a hand on Morgan’s back, then withdrew it quickly. ‘Sorry, sorry. Just glad to know I won’t lose any business over this… business. With Roger gone…’ He glanced at Rose. ‘I need you on hand or I’ll be down to the part-timer and the temps.’
Jane and Cassandra exchanged slightly puzzled looks; Edward frowned, and even Charles looked as if he was struggling, and despite her turmoil, Rose wanted to laugh.
‘Er, James, I am not sure that translated very well into Regency English.’
It was James’ turn to frown. ‘Oh!’ His expression cleared, and he turned to Jane. ‘Sorry. Not something for you to worry about. Rose, you can stay on holiday until Monday, of course. So long as I get back tonight.’ He glanced at Morgan, a faint smile on his lips. ‘Mr Darcy will be getting frantic as it is.’ Then, his smile faded. ‘My keys had better still be there!’
Morgan’s eyes grew round, and a hand flew to her mouth. ‘Oh no! I’d forgotten about him!’
‘Her,’ James added instinctively, but Rose had seen the continued confusion in those around them.
‘There is no need to be alarmed.’ She addressed Edward, as he seemed to be struggling the most. ‘It is not a fictitious character somehow transported from the pages of a book, just the name given to a kitten Mor— Miss Taylor found.’
Charles laughed and drained his glass, and even Edward smiled at this, though Rose suspected it was more from relief at the mundane explanation than anything else.
‘There, Edward.’ Charles waved a hand towards where Aiden and Rose sat. ‘You are down to two unexpected guests instead of four.’
James, however, was frowning as he looked over to where Rose and Aiden sat. ‘Wait, aren’t you two coming?’
‘I suppose that depends on Rose’s plans.’ Aiden glanced at her. ‘I don’t foresee any problem with my losing another day or two in the present. I’m freelance, and not known for checking my phone.’ He smiled ruefully at the blank faces around him. ‘It means I am not answerable to anyone in my profession and they are used to a delay when trying to communicate with me.’ He took Rose’s hand, and no one raised a single brow this time. ‘If Rose wants to stay a little longer, I’d be more than happy to soak up a bit more of the history.’
Charles walked over to the console table and picked up the wine decanter, topping up his own glass before walking over to them and doing the same. ‘As the mystery of the neighbour has yet to be solved, I suspect you will remain a while?’
‘What neighbour?’ James held up his glass as Charles offered to refill it, then looked at Morgan, who raised her brows.
‘Does everyone else know about the, umm…’
Rose glanced guiltily at her boss. ‘Everyone but James. Sorry,’ she added, as his gaze flew to hers.
James held up a hand. ‘Keep all the secrets you want. I don’t want to know anything else. I didn’t want to know this to be honest.’ He gestured around the gathered company, and Morgan sent him an exasperated look. ‘Not that it isn’t lovely to meet you all, of course.’
‘Is it a possibility to maybe tell him, because I’ve come to a decision that doesn’t make a lot of sense unless that is known.’
Rose stared at Morgan, unsure of her meaning. ‘What are you saying?’
‘I’d like to stay as well. This is a big deal for you, and I’ve been absent for a lot of big things in your life this last week. I’d like to be here for this one.’
James leaned forward. ‘What?’
Morgan looked like she might reach out for his hand but thought better of it. ‘Just another day or two. You can take care of Mr Darcy and maybe tell my mom—’
‘I can’t let you!’ Rose protested. ‘It might not be anything at all.’
‘You do not truly believe that, Rose.’ Jane got to her feet. ‘When we were walking here and you told me of your most recent discovery, you were speaking as if it were fact – were you not aware?’
‘What recent discovery?’ Charles looked to Cassandra, who shrugged, then over at Jane.
‘Morgan, you must go home. I would’ve gone with you happily, but…’ Rose’s voice tailed away. Until the impossible had turned into the highly likely.
‘No, I have it all worked out.’ Morgan got up and paced in front of the fireplace. ‘I’m going to have James text my mom and tell her we went off to a three-day, full cosplay, live-in-Regency-times thing where we can’t have technology. It’s basically the truth and should give you a few days to find out what you need to find out.’
James pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose. ‘I don’t want to know, I don’t want to know,’ he intoned, then sighed heavily. ‘Fine, I need to know, please. What the devil is so important?’
Chapter 12
Considering James had one of the most rigid, unimaginative minds Rose had ever encountered, he took the revelation of Jane’s purpose in bringing her back in time fairly well, in that he said nothing until everyone had chipped in their own particular theory.
When silence prevailed, he got to his feet and paced over to one of the windows, a hand to his head, then turned to face the others.
‘So, is the principal theory Rose’s… this man,’ he gestured vaguely with his hand, ‘was born of this time, managed to travel forward at some point, father a child and then, a few years later, decided to return to his past? Or do you think he is from our time,’ again he gestured, this time towards Morgan, Rose and Aiden, ‘and somehow travelled here – to the past – and was trapped?’
Jane smirked. ‘It is not unheard of, sir, for such a mishap to occur.’
Rose’s brow wrinkled. ‘I’d not actually considered the first option.’ She looked over at Jane, who shook her head. ‘If he was raised here, I would be very surprised.’
James grunted. ‘I’m stunned anything can surprise you any more, Rose, with all this going on. So.’ He turned to face Jane. ‘It’s the assumption this Mr Wallace disappeared from the present and has lived here for these twenty-five years?’
Charles swirled the wine in his glass. ‘When I met him in Gibraltar, he was already married with four young children.’
‘Four?’ Rose looked from Charles to Jane in surprise.
‘Had I not mentioned the eldest?’ Jane smiled. ‘A small lapse. There is also a son away at university.’ She looked at her brother. ‘Do continue, Charles.’
‘Excepting a few eccentricities and a strong desire to move back to the mainland, he was much the same as any man of my acquaintance. Since that time, we have maintained a steady correspondence and six months ago, he came here to live.’
‘How many years ago exactly was that? That you met him?’
‘About thirteen?’
James looked back at Rose. ‘What do you plan to do? Introduce yourself, Rose?’ James’ voice softened, as did his expression, and he walked over to where she sat. ‘He’s not going to want to return, to become your missing father.’
‘I know!’ Rose’s head was spinni
ng. This constant talking about the situation was vying with the sensible part of her brain. ‘He has a life here – a wife, children.’
‘He has a wife and a child in our time as well,’ James reminded her gently.
Rose raised her chin. ‘Both of whom can support themselves. That is not the case, should he leave his family here to fend for themselves.’ Rose got to her feet, and Aiden did likewise. ‘James, I can’t leave yet. I have to at least find out the truth, and for that I need a bit more time.’
Her boss held her gaze for a moment. ‘I can’t quite believe we’re even having this conversation. I feel bad for leaving you here.’
‘I have the support of all these lovely people.’ Rose looked around the room – most of those gathered had been strangers to her until two days ago, but she was convinced she was right.
‘Well then.’ James leaned forward and kissed her cheek. ‘I’ll see you soon.’
‘Yes, good luck this weekend.’
He smiled faintly.
‘Sir?’ James looked over at Jane. ‘Darkness has fallen; now would be opportune if we are to see you on your way.’
‘In that case,’ James grasped Morgan’s hand and looked down at her, ‘I guess it’s time for me to get going.’
Morgan’s infallible cheer disappeared for a moment before she rallied and smiled at him. ‘Good luck with the transitions this weekend. Don’t be fooled by any females who get locked out of their properties. They’re probably just flirting with you.’
James smiled. ‘If someone gets locked out they can climb through a window. I’ll be taking care of Mr Darcy.’
Rose bit her lip. Morgan’s smile was tremulous and the enormity of what her friend was proposing struck her forcibly. She seemed to have no sense of the precariousness of slipping through time, but then she’d not lived through what Rose had the previous week.
She glanced at Aiden, who seemed to sense her disquiet and nodded, and she stepped forward to her friend’s side.
‘Morgan, you need to go back.’ She looked from her to her boss, two of her closest friends, and crossed her fingers that they wouldn’t question why she had just become insistent. Jane might hopscotch around history with aplomb, but Rose knew better than most that things could go wrong. It didn’t matter how unlikely; Rose wouldn’t be the cause of James and Morgan’s separation from the life they knew and each other.
Her insides swirled for a moment at the realisation she herself could fall victim to the same jeopardy, but she ignored it. Morgan was clearly gathering herself for an argument.
Rose took her hand. ‘Your family is not going to be satisfied by one text, and just how well do you think James will fare against the full wrath of the Taylor family?’
She focused on Morgan, trying to send her firm vibes that she would not be swayed, but she thought she saw gratefulness in James’ face. ‘Besides, I need you to get a message to my friend, Liz, in case I’m not back by Sunday.’
‘I can’t leave you here!’
‘Yes, you can.’ Rose smiled. ‘Are you saying you want to use a toothbrush made from animal bone, eat animal fat and have no shower at your disposal?’
For a moment, amusement returned to Morgan’s face. ‘Good point. Not sure I can handle this going commando thing much longer either!’ Then, she sighed. ‘But I’m your friend. I don’t want to leave you alone in the middle—’
Rose clasped her hands together. ‘You are my best friend, but you’re not leaving me alone.’
Morgan looked at Aiden, then over at where Jane and Cassandra stood side by side. She smiled a little, but still looked about as miserable as Rose had ever seen her.
Jane cleared her throat. ‘There is something I can do for you, and it may lessen the pain of separation by a very frequent and most unreserved correspondence.’ She touched her sister lightly on the arm. ‘We told you, did we not, that Cass and I devised a way of communicating through time? There is no reason why you and Rose should not do the same.’
‘Could we?’ Morgan’s eyes lit up in an instant, and she clapped her hands together. ‘That would make me feel so much better.’
Rose stared at Jane, then realised her intent. ‘The space under the floorboard in your room.’
James huffed out a breath. ‘I don’t want to know. I really don’t want to know.’
Jane merely rolled her eyes at him and turned to Edward. ‘If you would not miss a page or two of parchment, some ink and a pen?’
Edward looked like he just wanted to be done with whole matter. His gaze roamed across his unusual visitors, and he nodded slowly.
‘Of course. Be my guest.’
* * *
Despite his blatant discomfort at being more than 200 years removed from his normal life, Rose had been unsettled to see James leave. His parting shot of ‘You’d best be in early on Monday. There will be a lot of fallout from the last week,’ hadn’t helped, as her mind had fled back to her own life in Bath: her home; her friends; her job.
Morgan had looked as sad as Rose felt as she’d released her from a fierce hug, tucked the slip of parchment bearing Liz’s number up her sleeve and followed Jane and James from the room. Rose was relieved the remaining occupants left her alone to compose herself.
She had drawn in a few shaky breaths and wiped her eyes, before a hand touched her gently on the arm, and she turned to meet Cassandra’s concerned gaze.
‘Do not be sad, Miss Wallace. ‘’Tis surely but a parting of short duration.’
Rose’s throat was tight, but she summoned a watery smile, grateful for the lady’s understanding. She glanced over to where Charles and Edward stood in conversation with Aiden, then looked back at Cassandra.
‘This is so strange and incredible all at the same time. I do not know if I am coming or going. Simply being here in 1813 is weird enough; seeing Morgan and James today was almost unfathomable. If it wasn’t for what happened this last week, I would assume I am going mad or it was all some weird dream. I appreciate your sister’s reason for bringing me here, but I still cannot decide what to think about it.’
‘I think you do know, Rose.’
She turned around. Aiden had come to stand beside her, and he smiled at Cassandra before turning to Rose.
‘So what are you going to do next?’
Rose stared at him. What should she do? What could she do? Would the Wallace family consider themselves acquainted with her now? She’d not even given them the courtesy of a good morning when Charles had introduced them earlier, distracted as she was by seeing Morgan.
‘Miss Wallace, would you care to join us for a moment?’
All three of them turned to look over to where Edward Knight stood before the fireplace. Charles had returned to the console table with his empty wine glass again, but Cassandra held out a hand to her and Rose took it and walked with them to join Edward.
‘Charles has made a suggestion that I feel we ought to consider in the meantime.’
Re-joining them, Charles raised his glass in a salute. ‘Then make the invitation, Brother.’
Edward bowed in Rose’s direction. ‘I feel it incumbent upon me to offer you—’ He hesitated, then raised his chin. ‘I fear we trespass too much upon Mama’s hospitality. It would be better for all if you were to adjourn to the great house for the remainder of your sojourn in these parts.’
‘Oh!’ Rose looked to Cassandra for guidance, but she was smiling encouragingly.
‘I do think it best, Miss Wallace. Martha is due to return on the morrow, and we need no added complexity. Do not be concerned, for Jane shall wish to accompany you.’ She waved an elegant hand. ‘There are ample accommodations here for you all.’
Releasing a relieved breath, Rose turned back to Edward. ‘I thank you, sir, for your consideration. If you think it best, then I would be happy to stay.’
Rose tried to keep the conflict from her features, but her head was trying to grapple with the fact she was now going to be staying in Chawton House. Morgan would have been
made up! She knew it would remove her chances of observing the Wallace family from the end of the garden but, considering the brothers were already acquainted with them, she may get more opportunities to actually interact with her fa— Rose stopped herself. She couldn’t think it, not yet.
‘Then we look forward to receiving you after you have broken your fast on the morrow.’ Edward turned to accept a glass of brandy from his brother, who then offered the same to Aiden, and Rose, feeling herself dismissed, turned around in search of Morgan, only to recall she was no longer with them.
She bit her lip, then followed Cassandra over to where the paraphernalia for making tea had recently been laid. Had Jane left already? Had James and Morgan travelled back as easily as they had come? Was James’ car still safe, their modern-day belongings secure?
‘Come, Miss Wallace. Take some tea and my sister will return directly with the necessary assurances.’
Rose took the offered cup with a grateful smile and sipped, her gaze drifting, as it so often did, in Aiden’s direction. He was deep in conversation with Charles, but Rose frowned. Though they were clearly engaged on whatever topic they spoke of, she felt somehow she was the subject, and when Aiden looked up and caught her eye, he excused himself and came over.
‘Captain Austen has suggested Edward host a picnic for some of the principal families in the village, and can include the Wallaces. After church on Sunday.’
The tension Rose had carried with her since her arrival in Chawton resurfaced rapidly, gripping her shoulders, and she placed her cup unsteadily on a nearby side table. ‘I’ll be so nervous, it will take everything I have to speak to them. What do I say?’
Aiden eyed her with sympathy. ‘You’ll know when the time comes.’
‘But it isn’t absolutely certain, is it? I mean, this song… I know it’s impossible for anyone in 1813 to know the tune and the words to it. But I must have misheard, mustn’t I? I may have thought it, but it probably was just a bit similar…’ Her voice tailed off. Aiden wasn’t rushing to agree with her.
