“Yes, Mr. Kincaid.” She curtsied. “If you would please follow me, Miss Lucy.”
“Thank you.” Lucy took Mr. Kincaid’s outstretched hand, while studying his gentle, endearing face. A lump formed in her throat. She never could’ve imagined such an astonishing experience. “I am beyond grateful I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you.”
Mr. Kincaid pressed a kiss to her hand and then placed it on his cheek. “Thank you, my dear. It’ll be my greatest delight spending time with you.”
“Goodnight, Lucy,” Will called from near the pool table.
The lump in Lucy’s throat grew, which confused her as much as the tears that filled her eyes. “Goodnight, Mr. Godwin.” She gave a slight bow and then followed Ingrid to her room.
18
AFFINITY WITH CATS
Lucy stood outside. She wrapped herself in a blanket to hold off the nighttime chill. The balcony off her room wasn’t very big but there was enough room for a small table and a couple of chairs. The metal railing felt cold against her fingertips. Below she heard the ocean waves crashing against the rocks, but she didn’t bother to look down. It was too dark to see. Instead she concentrated on the mysterious moon. The cosmic sphere seemed closer than in her time.
Thick, cloudy tendrils sailed in front of the moon, cloaking it for a few moments. Lucy waited for the clouds to continue on, exposing the moon once again. But when the clouds were gone so was the moon. What she saw in its place was a woman.
Unable to believe what she was seeing; she closed her eyes. Opened them again. The woman still moved, getting closer. Lucy squinted, thinking maybe a group of clouds was playing tricks on her mind, but closer inspection verified it wasn’t. The woman walking out of the sky really was a woman! She had straight black hair with the edges resting against her shoulders. She wore a starry crown of white flowers in her hair with white ribbons trailing down the sides. In her ears were large circular earrings in the shape of the sun. Her dress was white with a circular collar. The patterns were bold blocks of color in red, blue, yellow, and white accents.
When the woman was only ten feet away Lucy began to worry. Had she lost her mind? Lucy decided she didn’t want to find out. She went back inside and closed the door, anxious to get to bed, thinking perhaps she just needed sleep. But when she turned toward the bed, the woman stood at its foot, still as a statue.
Lucy started, wrapping her hands around her throat.
“Sweet child. How blessed are ye to have found a piece of the amulet.” The woman shimmered like moonlight.
“Amulet?” Lucy asked when she found her voice.
“The piece within the locket. It has another half. Put them together and the amulet will be whole once again. You and your love will be whole as well.” The woman shifted and began to walk around Lucy’s room, inspecting the shelves full of books, the closet, the bathroom, bed and dresser. “The locket is most beautiful, is it not?”
“Yes, it is,” Lucy said. She speculated whether the woman was a ghost, as her grandmother had been or something else entirely. The woman reached for the locket. Lucy stepped back, nervous to have another touch her grandmother’s gift.
“’Tis all right, child. I will not harm the piece of amulet within the locket. But if ye allow me, I would like to tell ye a story about it.” She walked over to the window and peered out. “It is about two lovers.”
Lucy moved beside the woman. “Lovers?” Part of her knew she should be frightened by what was happening, but instead all she felt was an overwhelming curiosity. What had the woman done with the moon?
“The tale is of two gods, Apep the god of chaos and Hathor the goddess of joy and love.”
Lucy knew of Apep and Hathor from her studies on the ancient Egyptian civilization.
The woman continued, “Of course there is a villain as well.” She smiled at Lucy. “That is where I come in.”
“You’re a villain?” Lucy crossed her arms over her nightdress, still unafraid, but cautious.
“In this story, I am. Yes.”
“What happened?”
The woman smiled. “I am so glad ye asked.” She spun away from the window. “Would ye like to sit? The story is rather a long one.”
“Please. But first, will you tell me your name?”
A dark glimmer shone in the woman’s eyes. “I am called Bastet, daughter of Ra.”
Lucy sank into one of the chairs. “I’ve heard the name Bastet. You’re the Egyptian goddess of dance, music, and love. In many pictures you have the head of a cat.”
“Ah, ye have studied the gods of Egypt.”
Lucy nodded. “I’m no authority, but I’ve read a few books on the subject.”
“Well, as usual, the humans portrayed me completely wrong.” Bastet walked over to Lucy’s bed, tried to sit, but went right through. “I have an affinity for the cats of Earth, but I am not their goddess. I am the moon and the stars in the night sky. When ye gaze upon them, ye gaze upon me. The night is my would-be lover. Worst of all, I was created without the ability to love. Ironic, is it not?”
So Bastet was a ghost.
Bastet continued, “I should not be like this.” She hung her head.
Lucy had the urge to reach out and embrace the goddess. How sad to be born without the ability to love.
“My father believed if I were born free of the emotion, I would be better off. He did not realize that without love my other emotions would become more prominent. Some more than others. The greatest of those emotions would prove to be my downfall.”
“Which one?” Rage. Hatred. Despair. Those words came to mind.
“Jealousy,” Bastet said woefully. She turned away and floated through the exterior wall.
Lucy ran out onto the deck looking for her. She had so many questions to ask Bastet. Why was the amulet created? How did she go about finding the other piece? What would happen when the two pieces were put together?
The night sky was wholly dark without the moon and stars. The ground began to shake so hard Lucy grabbed hold of the railing to keep from falling over the edge. A sharp and repetitive sound whined in the distance behind her followed by a loud whooshing, as though the ocean was sucked away. She squinted, waiting for whatever came next as her pulse banged along her veins.
When the noise was nearly upon her, she saw a wall of water taller than the house. It rammed against the rocks, the railing, and into her. She was being turned in circles and she couldn’t breathe…
“Miss Channing, it’s time to wake up.”
The soft voice seemed to flutter above her like the wings of a bird. “Harriet, I had the strangest dream.” She knew Harriet would be standing over her with hands on her hips, a false glare marring her pretty features. Lucy opened her eyes. Harriet wasn’t there. Ingrid was and she wore a look of concern. And then the events from the previous day came rushing back.
Lucy took a deep breath. Bastet had come. She wasn’t a goddess in the way the books portrayed her, she was the literal moon and the stars.
Why had she come to see Lucy?
And the goddess mentioned Apep and Hathor. What if her dream was correct? Or perhaps it was just her mind trying to solve some of the many questions rolling around in her abused brain.
“Morning, Ingrid.”
“More like afternoon,” Ingrid said going over to the windows and pulling open the heavy drapes. Lucy propped a hand in front of her eyes to block some of the glare from sun. It shone brightly, already past its zenith.
“What time is it?” Lucy pushed back the covers. Then she walked to her closet.
“Did you want to clean up first?” Ingrid asked, pointing at the bathroom.
Immediately, she wanted a shower. The way the warm water beat against her body was exactly what she wanted. “You’re right. Yes. Thank you.”
She quickly removed her nightclothes and took care of her necessities. While she washed, enjoying the heat and steam of the water she decided the modern bathroom had to be the best invention ever cre
ated. She didn’t know how she was going to go back to relieving herself in a pot after her time here was up and considered the idea that, in fact, the twenty-first century bathroom was her true love and not a man.
“Miss Channing? Is everything all right in there?” Ingrid asked with a knock on the closed bathroom door.
“Y-Yes, of course. I’m nearly done.” She quickly finished and reluctantly turned off the water. Wrapping herself in a large towel, she opened the door. Ingrid waited outside.
“I’m here to help you dress and do your hair and makeup.”
“Thank you, Ingrid.” Lucy went to the closet. What should she wear? She didn’t know what they were doing today. Would they be walking? Riding? Sure there were several dresses like those she was used to, but there were other things as well. Like trousers!
“When is it acceptable to wear these?” Lucy asked Ingrid, holding a pair out for her to see.
“Jeans? Anytime you want to be casual.”
“Jeans,” Lucy repeated. “I am unsure about what I’m doing today.” She wished she had asked before retiring last night.
“Mr. Godwin is downstairs waiting. Would you like me to ask him?”
“He’s here? Already?” Panicked excitement bounced through her body. She spun in a circle, trying to decide what needed to be done first. After the third turn she realized she was getting nowhere fast. “Would you please ask him?”
Ingrid smiled. “Right away, Miss Channing. I’ll hurry.” She didn’t wait for Lucy to respond but rushed from the closet. Seconds later Lucy heard the bedroom door close.
“I appreciate it,” Lucy said.
While Ingrid was gone, Lucy had time to think about the dream. She opened the double glass doors and went out. The ocean glimmered in the sunlight. The moon was no longer visible, but she glanced up anyway.
The woman’s name was Bastet. She was the daughter of Ra. The goddess said her father deceived her…
A black bird landed on the railing next to her. It held something green in its beak. “Good morning,” Lucy said softly.
The bird tilted its head so one eye was directly upon her.
“What have you brought in your beak?”
The bird hopped over until it was no more than a foot away. It dropped whatever it carried onto the railing and flew away.
Lucy moved closer, curious about what the bird had left behind. It was a four-leaf clover. She searched the sky for the bird, but it was gone. “Why did you bring me this? Is it an omen?” She took the clover, went back inside, picked up a Jane Austen book, and went over to the table next to her bed where she set the clover down and placed the book on top.
Just then Ingrid returned. Her cheeks were flushed as she closed the door and leaned against it. “He said to wear jeans. Today is twenty-first century casual.”
“Did he say what we were doing?”
She shook her head. “He wouldn’t tell me. Said it was a surprise.”
Trousers. She always dreamed of wearing them. They appeared to be so freeing. Whereas dresses and all that went with them could be rather confining. “I’ll wear the jeans, but—” Lucy didn’t know the polite way to ask what she should wear beneath them.
“It’s okay. Come with me.” Ingrid walked into the closet. She opened a drawer and pulled out something Lucy was confused about and so hadn’t bothered with them before now. “These are called panties.” She pointed to Lucy’s lower half. “They go on first.” She took the jeans Lucy held. “Next you pull on the jeans.” She pointed to the button. “This is a button, which is something you’re probably familiar with and this is a zipper, which you probably aren’t. Do them up like this.” She showed Lucy how they worked. At the shoes, she searched row after row until she located a pair in the most remarkable color. Ingrid called it salmon. Most of the foot was covered, except for a small hole at the toes and the heels.
“These,” Ingrid said. She handed them to Lucy and moved on.
Ingrid opened another drawer and pulled out yet another inexplicable object. “This is a bra.” She gave Lucy a once over. “It should fit. If it’s a little too big, I’ll help you adjust it and then advise Mr. Kincaid you’ll need a different size.” She demonstrated how to hook it. “The cups go in the front over your girls.” She pointed at Lucy’s chest.
Lucy crossed her arms. “I see. And why should I want to wear such a contraption?”
Ingrid gave her an odd look, one that questioned why she wouldn’t want to wear one. “Trust me. You’re going to love it.”
“If you say so.” She took the bra from Ingrid. As Ingrid flipped through more clothes, Lucy considered the kindly woman. She hadn’t told Ingrid she was from the past, nor had she requested such detailed information about the clothing. Yet, Ingrid seemed to understand just how foreign everything was to Lucy. Perhaps Mr. Kincaid said something. That seemed the most likely answer.
“You need an amazing shirt and probably a jacket. It definitely isn’t shorts weather out there.”
Lucy didn’t know what that meant, but she nodded anyway.
“There it is.” She took a piece of material off the hanger and held it out. “This goes on after the bra.” It was white with a low cut round collar and no sleeves. Turquoise gems circled the collar.
“Is this similar to a shift?” Lucy asked thinking the material was comparable.
Ingrid moved to another section. “It’s called a tank top. During the summer you could wear it with a cute skirt or a pair of shorts.”
“By itself.”
“Sure. Well, I mean, you want to wear the bra too.” She took a jacket that was the same color as the shoes from its hanger.
“This tank top—” The words felt odd on her tongue. “It’s so sheer.”
“Yeah, but that’s why you wear the bra. So the important parts are covered.” Ingrid handed her the jacket. “That goes on after the tank top.” She shooed Lucy into the bathroom. “Put everything on. When you’re finished, let me in and I’ll do your hair and help you put on a little makeup.”
As soon as Lucy reached the inner walls of the bathroom, Ingrid closed the door. “Hurry. Mr. William Godwin isn’t one to be kept waiting.”
Lucy hadn’t known Will long but had a feeling Ingrid spoke the truth. “Right.” She went to work removing her towel. Slid on the panties—she liked them. Then the bra—loved it! They gave her cleavage without all the discomfort of a corset. The jeans were slightly too long and too roomy around the middle, but by Providence they were comfortable. As were the tank top and the jacket. She felt light as a feather.
But the shoes? They were a different story. Where the clothing was comfortable, the shoes reminded her of walking on tiny stilts. She walked back and forth in front of the mirror and nearly fell over four times before stopping in front of the bathroom door. She opened it, nervous about what Ingrid would think.
The maid clapped happily. “You look amazing.” She lifted the edge of the tank top, pulled on the waistband of the jeans and said, “These are a size too big as are the tank and the jacket. But the shoes fit beautifully.” She brought Lucy over to a wooden chair tucked under the counter and had her sit. “Take off the jacket.”
Lucy removed it, hanging it on the back of the chair while Ingrid went to work on her hair. “I’m going to put a French braid in your hair.” She finished Lucy’s hair and then allowed Lucy to see.
“I love it.”
“Excellent. Now for some makeup.” Ingrid pulled out some powder and brushed it over Lucy’s face. She ran a little over Lucy’s eyelids and put some lash tint on her eyes. Then she used a strange little comb on Lucy’s brows and touched a brush to her cheekbones. “All that’s left is lip gloss and you’re good to go.” Ingrid swiped a wand over Lucy’s lips. “Have a look.”
Lucy peered in the mirror and was pleasantly surprised. The dark tint of her lashes highlighted the violet of her eyes, her cheekbones stood out and her lips were glossy. “It’s wonderful.”
Ingrid beamed. “I�
�m glad you like it, Miss Channing.” She helped Lucy put her jacket back on. “Now you better get downstairs.”
Lucy took a couple of steps and then stopped. “I’m not sure about these shoes. I may fall.”
Ingrid came over and placed a hand on Lucy’s lower abdomen. “Keep your stomach in tight, take smaller steps, walk heel to toe, and take as many sitting breaks as possible,” she said.
Lucy repeated Ingrid’s rules over and over in her head as she made her way to the stairs. Glancing over the rail she saw Will texting on his smart phone. He glanced up just as she started down. His brows scrunched together as Lucy grabbed hold of the railing and made it down without killing herself. She smiled.
“Hi,” Will said, smiling back. “You look hot.”
“Thank you for your concern, but I actually feel quite fine,” Lucy said, wondering if she were perspiring. She didn’t feel like she was.
“You’re that too.” He glanced at her feet. “But those heels. They won’t do.” As he spoke, he bent down and lifted her over his shoulder.
Lucy squealed with shock. “Mr. Godwin, what are you doing?”
He started back up the stairs. “We’re going to be walking all over New York today. I won’t have you whining about your feet five minutes after we start.”
When he reached the landing he stopped and took a deep breath. Ingrid was just coming out of Lucy’s bedroom with dirty clothes. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“No.” He pushed past Ingrid into the bedroom and then set Lucy on the bed. Her cheeks were flushed red as ripened cherries. “Apologies, Lucy.”
She fumed, ready to give him a stern talking to. But he spoke before she could.
“Mind if I take these off?” He knelt in front of her, one knee up so he could place her foot on his thigh.
Lucy watched in irritated wonder at the way his body moved and the kindness of his features. He was handsome, but no more so than Dashel, yet she was drawn to him like no other man. “No,” Lucy replied, her heart racing. The whole scenario was highly unsuitable. If her mother knew, she would demand Will marry her immediately.
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