by Laura Beers
He studied her, admiring the rosiness of her cheeks. It was apparent that Amelia was not immune to his charms, but he would need to convince her that he was worth the risk.
Why were women such perplexing creatures? What if Amelia didn’t have feelings for him, and he was on a fool’s errand?
Well then, a fool he would be.
Chapter 13
Walking down the path from Twickenham Manor to the River Thames, Adam’s words, “Stay with me,” echoed in Amelia’s mind. She wondered what he was thinking. I can’t stay with him, she thought. This is not my time.
Stopping at the shoreline, Amelia stared out over the water. She was on the cusp of obtaining everything that she had worked so hard to achieve. She couldn’t throw that all away to stay in an unfamiliar time with a man that she had just met. No, that was unfathomable.
She sighed as she tucked a few loose hairs behind her ears. Then why was she even considering it? She had never experienced emotions this intense with any man, and it frightened her. Perhaps she could stay for another full moon. No, that was not a good idea. Either way, she would be delaying the inevitable. She had to go back to her time.
“Amelia,” a familiar voice said behind her; a voice that managed to penetrate all her waking thoughts.
Keeping her stiff back to him, Amelia was not surprised when she heard the dry leaves crunch under his boots as he approached. Her mind told her to flee, but her heart told her to stay.
“Where have you been these past three days?” Adam asked as he came to stand next to her, keeping his gaze straight ahead. He was dressed in riding attire, but he wore no top hat.
“I have been… occupied,” she replied vaguely, not feeling strong enough to look over at him. Whenever she looked into his piercing blue eyes, her resolve would shrink, and she needed to keep her wits about her.
“I see.” He made a clucking noise with his tongue. “Silly me. I had wrongly assumed that you were avoiding me because I asked you to stay in England with me.”
Amelia pressed her lips tightly together, not knowing how to respond. How could she possibly express what she felt when she doubted her own emotions?
Without saying a word, Adam’s right hand encompassed hers tenderly. She turned, keeping her gaze trained on their hands.
“I can’t stay,” she murmured. “I have to go home.”
His other hand trailed down her arm until he encompassed her other hand. “I care for you, Amelia.”
“And I care for you as well,” she replied, finally bringing her eyes up to his.
“Stay. Allow me to court you properly.” His eyes implored hers.
Tears came to her eyes, but she blinked them away. “I have to go home to take care of my mother,” she replied softly, “and I don’t want to give up being a doctor.”
“We will go together and bring your mother back to my estate, where I will hire staff to care for her.” Adam stepped closer. “And if you marry me, you won’t ever need to worry about funds again.”
A tear started rolling down her cheek, and she wished for the first time that things could be different. “You must understand; if I stay, I would be giving up everything.”
Releasing her right hand, he gently wiped away her tear. “If you stay, you would never regret it. I will give you whatever your heart desires. You will want for nothing.”
“What I am speaking of is not material wealth,” she tried to explain. “I would be giving up my independence. My entire identity.”
“You would be a countess,” he countered.
Amelia lowered her gaze to the lapels of his riding coat. “A title is of little importance to me.”
“I supposed as much.” Adam’s words were filled with pain.
Hearing the anguish in his voice, Amelia brought her hand up to cup his cheek. “You are a good man, and I hope you have a lifetime of happiness. But it won’t be with me.”
His eyes crinkled as he watched her. “Why am I not enough?”
“It has nothing to do with you,” she insisted. “I don’t belong in your world.”
“I don’t accept that.” His words became firm. “You may deny your feelings, but I won’t let you go without a fight.”
“You must,” she pleaded.
He gave her a tender smile. “I am going to kiss you now, Miss Amelia Wright.”
“I wish you wouldn’t,” she whispered, knowing she was lying to herself. She wanted him to kiss her.
Lowering his head, he kept his gaze fixed on her, giving her ample time to protest, but she had no willpower to resist him. Then, he kissed her tenderly, carefully, sweetly, still giving her the chance to push him away. Never had she imagined that a kiss could be so all-encompassing, giving her the intense desire to never let him go.
Placing his arms around her waist, Adam pulled her tightly against him, and she surrendered to his touch. As she brought her arms up around his neck, she threaded her fingers through his thick hair.
“Amelia,” he whispered against her lips, “you have no idea what you do to me.”
Not wanting this moment to end, she lifted on her tiptoes to press her lips to his. She didn’t want to waste another moment together. Adam took control and deepened the kiss, making her want to forget all the reasons why she couldn’t be with him. She kissed him back with matching fervor, knowing that this moment would be engrained forever in her heart.
Adam broke the kiss, bringing his forehead to rest on hers. “How can you kiss me like that and still want to leave me?” he asked, his voice breathless. “Make me understand.”
“I can’t.” She couldn’t tell him about the magic at Twickenham Manor without first asking permission from Aunt Nellie.
Keeping his arms around her, he said, “Come with me to the opera tonight. I have also secured tickets for Miss Turner and Lord Wessex.”
“I don’t…”
Her words were cut off when his lips pressed against hers, which was a most pleasing way to be interrupted.
“I won’t take no for an answer,” he asserted in a hoarse voice.
She smiled. “If that is the case…”
He kissed her again, this time his lips lingered longer on hers. “I thought I heard a refusal on your lips,” he said with a lopsided grin.
Returning his grin, she replied, “I am not complaining.”
“Then I will call on you tonight.”
“Yes, please.” She laughed softly because his hold on her tightened. “But now you have to let me go.”
“Do I?”
Stepping out of his arms, she laughed again at his crestfallen expression. “You do. I am having afternoon tea with the Duchess of Albany.”
“When must you depart?” He took a step closer to her, his eyes holding merriment.
“Why?” she asked curiously.
He waggled his brow. “I am wondering how long I can spend with you before I must escort you back to Twickenham Manor.”
Accepting his offered arm, Amelia leaned into him. “Perhaps you could show me the long path back home.”
Why did those words sound so enticing?
Walking into the Duchess of Albany’s drawing room with Peyton and Aunt Nellie, Amelia was greeted by the words, “Welcome to my humble home.”
“Humble?” Amelia chuckled, choosing to sit on a red velvet settee across from the duchess.
“Yes, you should see the size of our country estate in Bath,” the duchess replied merrily.
Peyton sat down next to her. “Good heavens, how do you manage to live in such horrendous conditions?”
The duchess ran her fingers over the rich upholstery. “This is a far cry from the pig farm where I was raised in Wyoming.”
Sitting down gracefully next to the duchess, Aunt Nellie said, “Thank you for the invitation for tea.”
The duchess smiled. “Thank you for accepting it.” She rose and closed the door. “Now, tell me everything about the future.”
Peyton leaned forward in her seat. “We now carry ar
ound computers in our hands and call them laptops.”
“We have made remarkable medical advances in the past few years,” Amelia shared.
The duchess waved her hand. “What I am more concerned about is who did Rachel end up with on Friends?”
“The television show Friends?” Amelia laughed.
“Yes, I faithfully watched that show for four years, and many times I have wondered about the outcome,” the duchess revealed.
Peyton clasped her hands in her lap. “Rachel ended up with Ross, but only after they had a baby together.”
“Oh my,” the duchess expressed, placing her hand over her chest, “you must tell me everything.”
After Peyton finished summarizing the last six seasons of Friends, the duchess reached for her teacup. “I do miss television.”
“Why did you stay and give up all that you had?” Amelia asked with a furrowed brow.
The duchess’s hand stilled as she regarded her for a long moment. “I suppose I followed my heart.”
Amelia huffed. “Hearts should not be consulted for making important decisions.”
Not appearing offended, the duchess responded, “When you meet your match, you fall in love involuntarily. It’s an incomparable, knee-weakening, all-consuming adoration that will not be ignored, no matter how hard you try.”
Not satisfied, Amelia pressed forward with her questions. “But you live in a day and age where women are no more than property.”
With an indulgent smile, the duchess replied, “The world needs strong women, regardless of the time period.”
“I agree with Amelia,” Peyton said, accepting a teacup from Aunt Nellie. “Could you imagine being stuck here with no indoor plumbing, air conditioning, or washing machines?” Her mouth closed when she realized the callousness of her words. “I apologize for my harsh remarks, Your Grace.”
“Nonsense,” the duchess insisted. “You haven’t said anything that I didn’t think before making my decision. I miss traveling by cars and airplanes. I miss having a competent medical doctor.” She lifted her brow at her. “The quacks here always recommend bloodletting and leeches.” She shuddered, then took a sip of her tea. “Don’t get me started on the incompetence of the dentists.”
“Then why?” Amelia asked. “Why would you give up your whole life?”
The duchess’s lips twitched in amusement. “You are only asking because you are thinking about staying.”
“What?” Peyton exclaimed, turning towards her. “Please say that is not true.”
Amelia shook her head adamantly, her curls swishing back and forth. “No, no, no…” Her words trailed off, then she declared too vehemently, “Absolutely not.”
“You can deny it all you want, but you love Lord Harrington,” the duchess said knowingly, holding up her teacup.
“I… care for him,” she hesitated, before adding, “immensely.” Her shaky hand went for the teacup before she remembered she hated English tea. “Regardless, this is not my time. I have a wonderful life in 2018.”
“I did see you kissing Lord Harrington down by the River Thames today,” Peyton stated innocently, taking a sip of her tea.
Amelia bit her lower lip. “He was trying to convince me to stay.”
“Did he propose?” Aunt Nellie asked.
“No,” she said. “He wants me to stay longer so he can court me properly.”
The duchess turned towards Aunt Nellie. “Do you think Lord Harrington is in love with our Amelia?”
“I have no doubt,” Aunt Nellie confirmed. “I can see it in his eyes.”
Reaching for a biscuit on the tray, Amelia took a moment to enjoy a bite before saying, “No words of love were exchanged. We are merely two people that are physically attracted to one another. That is all.”
“That’s poppycock, my dear, and you know it as well as I do. Clearly, you two love each other deeply,” the duchess stated. “You must understand, nothing in the world is worth having unless you fight for it, and that includes love.”
Turning her head, Amelia’s eyes took in the rich, red-papered walls. “I have worked my whole life to become a doctor. Why would I give that up?” She rose and put her hands up. “So I could become an aristocrat and live in my husband’s shadow for the remainder of my days?”
“I think the question is,” the duchess began, “do you gain more than what you give up?”
“I would give up countless years of schooling, an opportunity to help thousands of people, for what?” she said. “For a chance at happiness with Adam.”
“I assume that Adam is Lord Harrington’s given name?” the duchess asked Peyton, to which she nodded.
Amelia walked over to the window and stared out towards the well-manicured gardens. “It doesn’t matter. I must go home. My mother is dying.”
“Have you told Lord Harrington the circumstances of your arrival at Twickenham Manor?” Aunt Nellie asked.
She shook her head. “No, he would think I was crazy.”
“Mad, dear,” the duchess clarified. “In England, you say ‘mad’.”
Amelia turned around. “I could not bear for Lord Harrington to think I was mad.”
“And why is that?” Peyton pressed.
She closed her eyes, mustering up her strength to say her next words. “Because I am in love with him.”
“That’s no surprise,” Peyton mumbled, plopping the rest of the biscuit in her mouth. “But do you love him enough to want to stay?”
“No… yes… maybe?” she stuttered. “Even if we push aside the fact that my mother is dying, I would never be able to work as a doctor again. I would be ostracized for my American citizenship, and no doubt Adam would grow to resent me for what would be considered radical thinking in this era.”
Aunt Nellie rose and walked over to her. “Including the duchess, there have been many women that have been in the exact same position as you.”
“What did they decide?” she asked.
“Some went back, some stayed, but they all followed what their heart dictated,” Aunt Nellie revealed.
Amelia sighed. “And if I make the wrong choice? I could ruin history forever.”
Aunt Nellie’s face softened with understanding. “Time is a fuzzball. When your string touches another time in the fuzzball, then you are there.” She placed her hands on Amelia’s shoulders. “Every person has their own thread of time, their own destiny. And you are in control of your own thread.”
“Why don’t you just tell Lord Harrington the truth and see what he says?” Peyton asked. “If he thinks you are crazy then you’ll have your answer.”
The duchess picked up her cup and saucer, placing it on the tray. “Just be patient with him. When I finally found the courage to tell the duke about my time travel experience, he withdrew his proposal and didn’t speak to me for a week.” She smiled. “But he came around. Men in love always do.”
“But I’m afraid,” Amelia confessed, hugging herself to stop the trembling inside.
“Good,” the duchess said. “It means that your heart is longing for Lord Harrington, which renders you emotionally vulnerable.”
“How did you become so wise?” Peyton asked the duchess.
“It so happens that I minored in psychology,” the duchess revealed, and they all burst into laughter.
Amelia dropped her arms and squared her shoulders. “Why am I acting like a simpering female?” she declared. “I am a modern, confident woman. If Adam does not accept me for who I am, then I will accept that it was not meant to be and go home with no regrets.”
“But if you stay,” the duchess started, “you will have to start drinking the tea.”
Amelia made a gagging face. “It’s so gross. How do you stand it?”
“It’s an acquired taste,” the duchess said with a smile. “Perhaps Aunt Nellie would let me travel to the future, so I could enjoy a delicious Dr. Pepper.”
Aunt Nellie laughed. “You are welcome at Twickenham Manor anytime, Your Grace. Now, if you
’ll excuse me, these two ladies need to prepare for a night at the opera.”
Chapter 14
Standing in her bedchamber, Amelia held her mother’s coral necklace in her hand. Today, she would tell Adam who she really was. She’d planned to after the opera, but she couldn’t find the right words. Over the course of the last three days, Adam would come to call, or she would visit his estate, but still, she could not muster up the courage. It was too easy to get distracted when she didn’t necessarily want to bring up such a potentially destructive subject.
Slipping the coral necklace into the pocket of her lavender dress, Amelia muttered, “Today is the day.” She would finally know whether Lord Harrington loved her enough to accept the truth. Even if he rejected her utterly, the night of the full moon was only five days away. She could manage until then.
Moving to the window, she pushed back the draperies and saw Adam hopping down from his curricle, striding towards the main door. She gave herself a much-needed pep talk, took a deep breath and walked out to meet him.
As she passed by Peyton’s room, Amelia was surprised when her friend ran out into the hall and hugged her.
“Good luck,” Peyton expressed. “I’m rooting for you.”
“Thank you,” she said, attempting to ignore the churning in her stomach.
This was silly. Even though Adam had never admitted he loved her, she was sure that he did. And he would never do anything to hurt her, would he?
Gliding down the stairs, Amelia saw Adam standing in the entry hall, watching her with a smile on his face. She walked up to him, stopped, and returned his smile. “I see that you brought the curricle.”
“Are you spying on me?” he teased, offering her his arm.
Placing her left arm into the crook of his elbow, Amelia put her right hand over her stomach. Why did she feel such dread? This did not bode well.
Lord Harrington helped her into the curricle, climbed in, and urged the horses along the path. After Amelia spotted a private location, she placed her hand on his arm and leaned in.
“Would you mind if we took a stroll?”
