Through The Leaded Glass

by Fennell, Judi

  “If what you’re saying is true, we need to find them.”

  “And how are you going to explain your search? The evidence suggested that they were moved to that final spot years later and no one knows where they are right now, or if they’re even alive.”

  Alex grimaced. “Are you a witch?”

  “Was the gypsy?”

  He studied her, silent. He looked at the ring. Traced a finger over it. Touched her running shoe.

  Finally, after what seemed like hours, he exhaled. “As I said, Lady Aubridge is sure to have told the tale. I won’t deny it, Kate.”

  “You can’t be serious. I don’t belong here. I know nothing of your lifestyle, I have no background for your friends to discover, and I have a baby waiting for me at home. I need to go back.”

  “How? You’ve been saying that for a while now, yet you’re still here.” He stood up and held out his hand. “Come, Kate. While I believe your story, many will not. And since you have my ring and Lady Aubridge has seen you, we have the perfect solution to our situations. I was, after all, planning to marry. “

  The one point he’d made that she could agree with was that no one else would believe her, and until she got out of here, it wasn’t exactly a bad idea to have a protector on her side. She was all for being her own woman, but that didn’t amount to much in this century. “But don’t you have to get royal dispensation or something? I can’t see King Henry approving of me.”

  “Henry has permitted me my choice, as long as it is within the month. I was planning to ask a woman after the tournament today until the ring went missing. Since you have it, you aren’t barren, and Lady Aubridge has done her part, I see no reason—”

  “Hold on.” Kate ignored the hand he held out to her and stood up under her own power. “Let me get this straight. You couldn’t find the ring so you weren’t going to propose to your lady love? And then, and this is the kicker, you propose to me because I found it? What about the woman you were planning to ask? You’ll just throw her aside over a ring? Aren’t we just the teensiest bit fickle?” She held her thumb and forefinger together. This entire escapade was ringing a little too close to home with her cheating ex-husband.

  Alex sighed. “It’s not as if there’d be any love lost between Isobel and me. Our marriage is an expedient match for both of us, as is the way of noble marriages.”

  “So what does the ring have to do with it? I’m sure you have others you could give her.”

  “True, but this is the Shelton ring.” Alex locked his hands behind his back and, if she weren’t mistaken, his chest puffed a little. “It has been in my family for many years and is presented to the earl’s bride upon their betrothal. There is the legend that the ring is thought to—”

  “Bring the family luck.” Cold stole through Kate’s veins.

  “Ah, you have heard of it.”

  “No.” Now she did take his hand. And his other one. “You don’t understand. I think I know why I’m here.”

  “To marry me.”

  She rolled her eyes. “How arrogant can you get? Don’t you know chattel went out in the eighteenth—never mind. Look—you’re going to fight a joust today, or whatever it’s called, aren’t you?”

  He nodded.

  “Against your biggest enemy, right?”

  Again, he nodded.

  “Even though the ring was missing, right? Even when you knew your family’s good luck charm was nowhere to be found?”

  “I said it was the legend of the ring. I didn’t say I believed it.”

  Alex exhaled and pulled his hands from her, crossing his arms over that massive chest. The one covered in armor. Battle gear.

  She had the means to save him if the merchant’s story could be believed. And given what she was now facing, she believed.

  “That’s just it. You would’ve lost the fight.” She tried to remember Master Griff’s rendition of the ring’s history—this man’s history. “You would have lost the joust, been injured, and lost all of your fortune. Your girlfriend would refuse to marry you and you’d die a broken man.” She touched his arm. “That must be what I’m here to prevent.”

  “So now you are a soothsayer?”

  “No. I’m just someone who got caught in an unbelievable twist of fate. The guy who sold me the shield told me what happened to you.”

  Alex turned the tables on her, gripping her arms instead, and hauling her up against him. “And who is this man?” His jaw clenched. “I would not lose the joust. Isobel would accept my proposal with or without the ring, as it would be advantageous for her to do so. And I most definitely would not lose my fortune!” He tugged her closer until she was on her tiptoes. “This man, this thief, spreads lies. Who is he?”

  “He’s someone from five hundred years in the future, so save your breath. The point is, this is what would have happened. Now that I’m here with the ring, you can go jousting. You won’t get hurt and you can marry Isobel and grow old and have ba—”

  Oh God. “Do you have children?”

  His cocked his head. “A son. Why?”

  She covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh… no.”

  “What?”

  “The man also told me that your son will—” She shook her head. How did you tell someone this?

  “He will what?”

  Her whisper stretched between them. “He’ll be murdered.”

  Chapter Four

  “He threatens my heir?” A rage unlike any she’d ever witnessed stormed through Alex, locking his limbs, muscles clenching so hard he shook, his chest heaving as if he’d just finished a marathon. “Where? Who is he? You will tell me.”

  She wriggled her shoulders to loosen his grip. “I told you. He’s still back, or forward... whatever... in the twenty-first century. He can’t hurt your son, but he’s the one who knew the ring’s history. Let me find my window and I’ll prove it to you.”

  “How will this window prevent my son’s death?”

  “Not the window. Just my being here can. I’ve changed your future. You have your ring back so your luck hasn’t gone down the tubes. And even if you don’t win the joust, you can still marry Isobel.”

  “And William will be unharmed?”

  Kate nodded—and crossed her fingers behind her back. “It stands to reason that if the other events don’t happen, that shouldn’t either. The window is what brought me here, so I’ll just find it and be off.”

  “I am afraid that’s not possible, Kate.”

  “Did the gypsy tell you that? Because if you know some other way to send me back, I’m all ears.”

  “No, it’s just that Madame Alicia said—”

  “Alicia?” Kate went still. “You’re can’t be serious.”

  “I would not jest about my son’s life. That’s why we must—”

  “What did this Madame Alicia look like?”

  Alex exhaled. “Of what importance is that?”

  “Humor me, okay? How tall was she? What color was her hair? What was she wearing? Did she speak like me?”

  He cocked his head and his eyes narrowed. “She did.”

  “And her hair? Black like a gypsy’s?”

  Alex shook his head. “I hadn’t thought about it, but, no. Her hair was light. The color of wheat, almost white.”

  “And you didn’t find that odd?”

  “I was more concerned with what she was saying than her appearance. Now, as to—”

  “Answer one more thing for me, Alex. Was she wearing a bright pink outfit with lots of jewelry and a veil?”

  “You know her.”

  Oh yeah she did. And it only added to today’s unbelievable events. “I’m going to kill her when I find her. After she tells me how to get the hell out of here.”

  “Murder is a sin, Kate,” said the man who looked to be contemplating that very thing against the merchant. “And you cannot leave. Madam Alicia said that our lives would be intertwined until you have found what you are missing in your life.”

  Tha
t sounded like Alicia. And Kate didn’t have time for intertwining—well, maybe a certain kind of intertwining—No. Not that either. She needed to get out of here. She’d worry about how she got here later.

  Time travel. How in the world…

  “That’s exactly why I need to go get the window so we can both get on with our lives.” And Alicia and I can have a good ol’ heart-to-heart about keeping my fate out of her hands.

  Alex shook his head. “I’m afraid not, Kate. Madame Alicia said you wouldn’t find your window, nor is it what’s missing in your life. And then there’s Lady Aubridge. I’ll not be made a fool of when my betrothed disappears. You were seen wearing my ring, therefore we will be married.”

  “Look, Alex.” She smiled her most conciliatory smile. He could take his Lord-of-the-Manor act and browbeat some meek little medieval miss. “Don’t believe everything some quack fortune-teller tells you at a faire. I remember where I put the window, so I’ll just go get it.” She tapped her toe. “Somehow Alicia figured out how to travel through time and arranged for me to do it, too. And now she wants me to stay and enjoy the atmosphere. She’s always loved this time period.” She snapped her fingers. “I bet she was in cahoots with the guy who sent me to the window. Glass blower’s shop—ha. More like some pre-arranged Back to The Future episode. Or Kate and Leopold—she loves that movie.”

  “You’re speaking in riddles again, Kate.”

  “Sorry. It’s like this. I was married to a guy who I thought was perfect for me. But then I found out he expected his wife to be at home in some antiquated 1950’s ideal. It made him feel as if he’d arrived.” God, how she’d hated to watch him preen when he’d said that. Like a stupid rooster. “But his scenario ended up being the worst kind of indentured slavery. Turns out he was more into himself and his own creature comforts than giving a damn about what I wanted out of life.”

  Alex went to say something, but Kate wouldn’t stop. She didn’t need to hear Alex defend Jay. “Anyway, Alicia has been on my case for me to find someone else. Not that I want someone else. After Jay, I’d rather be in charge of my own life without banking my happiness on someone else’s whims. But I guess Alicia figured that since twenty-first century guys weren’t working out, she’d try the fifteenth-century version and have a nice vacation at the same time. Now she’s put my daughter in jeopardy.”

  “Your husband doesn’t want the child?”

  “Ex husband. And no. He didn’t want kids. This one is all mine.”

  “There is a way to have a child without a man in your time?”

  Wrong button to push. “Look, here, buster. I’m perfectly capable of raising a child by myself. I’ve got a good job, lots of support, and enough love that she’ll never know the difference whether I have a husband or not. In my opinion, husbands are highly overrated anyway.” She brushed off her hands. “So, Alicia’s dire predictions notwithstanding, I’m off to find my window. I hope your son grows up big and strong, and that Isobel will bear you many more. Have a nice life.”

  She hiked up her skirt and circled past him, but Alex grabbed her arm. “I don’t give you leave to go, Kate.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “There’s no need to beg. But I can’t allow you to walk among the villagers unescorted.”

  “Oh, really?” She yanked her arm free and crossed it with the other. “And why is that? Oh, and for the record? I wasn’t begging. It’s an expression.”

  Alex ran his fingers through his hair and around the back of his neck, giving her a look that was the medieval equivalent of whatever. “Have you forgotten Lady Aubridge?”

  “The gossip-monger? Tell her she was mistaken.” Kate tugged the ring. “Take your ring and no one will be the wiser.”

  Alex stopped her before she’d removed it. “No, Kate, it’s too late for that. Your fate is not your own to determine for word has spread by now. Isobel will not accept my suit. You must marry me.”

  “Uh, hello?” She tapped his shoulder. “Did you just hear me say I have a daughter to worry about? Unless you’ve got a ceremony all ready to go, or can jet me off to Vegas—not that it even exists right now—I’m guessing that a medieval wedding can’t happen in under two weeks. And let’s not even talk about the quickie divorce. So, sorry Alex, you’re out of luck. Buh-bye.” She turned toward the door.

  “And when you cannot find your window? What then?”

  She stopped. “Then I’ll find Alicia and she can zap me home.”

  “The gypsies have already left Shelton lands.”

  “Convenient.” She wanted to strangle Alicia. Her friend believed in fairy tales and happily ever afters and now, apparently, time travel matchmaking. “Fine. Whatever. I stowed the window away right before I showed up here. I’m sure it’s still where I left it.”

  “Kate.” His words were soft, but the smile was wise-ass enough to piss her off. “You don’t understand our ways. For that, I’m willing to overlook your most glaring misdeeds. But you will marry me. Or, at least, you’ll pretend a betrothal.” He held up a hand when she opened her mouth. “There’s a thief among my people, someone who wishes me ill. With you wearing my ring, the thief will attempt something more. Now that I’m aware of his plot, I’ll discover who it is.”

  “Look here, oh lord and master, and I use that term loosely, make no mistake. I don’t believe in Alicia’s predictions, I doubt that anyone cares whether you marry me or not, and the simple truth is that I don’t want to marry you. I don’t want to marry anyone. I tried that once and it didn’t end well. No thank you. So, again, have a good one.” She saluted him, spun on her heel, and left the tent.

  “I’ll be here when you don’t find the window, Kate. Then we’ll talk.”

  ***

  Of all the arrogant, self-assured, chauvinistic… Kate stomped down the path. “‘I’ll be here.’” He could take his supercilious airs and stick them. Alicia had a lot of nerve doing this to her.

  Please, Kate, Alicia had so tearfully cried on the phone, I really need you to come. It’s something I need to do to sort out my life. It’ll help, you’ll see. Please? Please travel back to medieval England with me.

  Kate groaned. If only she’d really listened. Alicia had asked her to travel to medieval England. The Renaissance Faire was Renaissance England, Elizabethan England. The era that came after the medieval time period.

  She had no doubt that Alicia had somehow set this all up. And she’d gone along, blissfully unaware.

  If she knew Alicia—and she had since they’d been four years old—she was around here somewhere, laughing her ass off. Kate wanted to strangle her. Practical jokes had always been Alicia’s M.O., with Kate, more often than not, on the good-natured receiving end of them. None had been mean-spirited and this was no exception. It was just damn inconvenient.

  That was Alicia. She acted before she thought—though this one seemed well planned. Alicia had been on her case about being weeks away from thirty and single—never mind that Alicia was, too. But Alicia was “looking,” whereas Kate had had her fill of men.

  Jay had been enough and the lessons learned from him would last her a lifetime. Her heart had been broken, her bank account depleted, and her self-esteem squashed like a bug. She’d learned and earned her independence the hard way. But the lesson stuck.

  So she was going to get her window and get back to her life and the daughter she’d been dreaming about since her wedding day eight years ago. And this little jaunt into the past wasn’t going to stop her.

  And she’d consider that thought and all its ramifications after she found the window, because, yes, it wasn’t a rational reaction. But then, what in this situation was rational?

  Kate strode to the tree where she’d stashed the window and, shielding her eyes from the late afternoon sun, reached into the crevice of the rocks.

  Empty.

  No. No way. Not possible.

  What about this entire situation makes you think it would be possible?

  Ignorin
g the smart-ass tone of her conscience, Kate swept the niche again.

  No window.

  She shoved herself out of the hole, repositioned the sleeves of her dress, brushed the hair out of her eyes, and looked around. This had to be the place. There weren’t any other rocks near a tree. Hell, there weren’t even any other piles of rocks big enough to hide the window.

  She turned around and plunked her butt on the stone. It was gone. Just like Alex had said. And like “Madame Alicia” had foretold.

  Kate scanned the area again. “Okay, Leese, come out, come out, wherever you are. This has been fun, but fun time’s over. I need to go home.”

  A horse whinnied nearby. A bird chirped.

  Alicia didn’t say a word.

  “Alicia? Please?”

  Nothing.

  Now what the hell was she supposed to do?

  Kate shuffled her running shoes in the dirt. Crow was not her favorite meal, but it looked like it was on the menu.

  ***

  “It’s gone.” Alex leaned on one of the casks. It wasn’t a question.

  Kate let the tent flap hit her as it closed. “Brilliant deduction, Sherlock.”

  “Shelton, Kate. Not Sherlock.”

  Right. “Looks like you and Alicia are plotting together to keep me here, or your thief has struck again.” She rubbed her temples and sat on the bench. “Now what?”

  “Now you’ll marry me.”

  Her head shot up. “Uh… no. I told you, I’m not getting married again. But—”she held up her hand when he opened his mouth— “it looks like I will have to pretend to be marrying you. But just until I can find my window.”