A Leap of Faith (The Hands of Time: Book 2)

by Irina Shapiro

  Valerie had to admit that she was excited at the prospect of getting away for a while. She’d probably be bored aboard the ship, but the idea of being on the open sea on the way to a tropical place was enticing. Valerie suspected that Alec was also eager to get away. Charles had approached him and apologized profusely, but the peace between the brothers was fragile, both of them still tense and awkward with each other. Charles was planning to take a trip of his own after they returned, possibly to England. He wanted to see his ancestral home and visit London, which he’d heard so much about. He talked of going to France as well, but time would tell.

  Valerie felt a twinge of excitement as the masts of the ships in the harbor finally came into view. There weren’t that many vessels, but they were imposing with their furled sails, and thick chains, stretching into the murky water and anchoring them in place. Several sailors came down from the Misty Dawn to take their luggage, but there was still time before the tide. It was fully light now, the sun already warm on their faces. Alec suggested going into a dockside tavern for a tankard of ale, and Valerie agreed. She wasn’t thirsty, but she didn’t want to be in the way as the crew prepared to set sail in an hour. She might get a cup of cider.

  There was no one in the tavern at such an early hour. Most sailors breakfasted aboard their vessels, or were still dead to the world somewhere, sleeping off the drink consumed the night before. Alec finished his ale and glanced out of the window to check the position of the sun. It was about eight o’clock. Time to go aboard. Alec threw a few coins on the scarred, wooden table as rose to leave.

  The docks were getting busy, the fishy smell growing stronger as the sun warmed the refuse floating in the water. It was already warm and humid, leaving Valerie wonder how Alec didn’t boil alive in his leather doublet, but his mind was already on the voyage, as he absentmindedly took Valerie’s arm and guided her toward the waiting ship. They walked along the quay toward the Misty Dawn, passing the Gloriana which had come into port the night before. The barkeep had mentioned that it had been attacked by pirates, but Valerie hadn’t been paying attention. She looked up at the hull of the ship, rising above her head. The creaking of sails and the scream of seagulls filled the air, making her suddenly happy.

  Valerie took one last look around before walking up the ramp to the great ship. She noticed a tall man and a woman descending the ramp from the Gloriana and her heart gave a painful squeeze. Something about the woman reminded her of Louisa, but of course that was ridiculous. She took Alec’s arm and headed up the ramp, eager to get going. Valerie wasn’t sure what made her stop and look again. It was some gut instinct that understood something before her brain did. She looked at the woman one more time, taking in the dark blond hair, just visible underneath her cap, and the trim figure in the brown dress. There was something apprehensive in the woman’s walk as the man steered her toward the tavern. The woman suddenly looked up, as if she felt Valerie’s gaze on her. Their eyes met across space and time and held each other’s gaze for a moment, before Valerie’s brain finally accepted what her heart was screaming so loudly. A great sob tore from her, and then she was running, screaming and crying, hurling herself at her sister, who was running toward the ship; her skirts raised above her ankles to avoid tripping.

  They were both crying and clinging to each other for fear that the other would disappear, and it would all have been an illusion. Valerie was dimly aware of Alec behind her, but she had no time to explain, couldn’t break away. Louisa was squeezing the life out of her, soaking her face with her tears. Neither one said a word, but it was all right there in their eyes. Valerie held Louisa away from herself, still unable to believe that her sister was there.

  “Lou,” she whispered. “Oh, Lou. I thought I’d never see you again.”

  “I’m here, Val. I am really here. I’ve found you and I will never let you go again. Never.” Louisa suddenly looked at Valerie in shock. “Were you leaving?”

  “Not anymore.” She turned to Alec, but he just smiled at her.

  “I take it you are my sister-in-law. I am Alexander Whitfield. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance at last. You must have traveled an awfully long way to get here.”

  Louisa saw something in his eyes, but wasn’t sure how much he knew, and just nodded happily. She could see why Valerie looked so happy in the portrait. The man was, in a word, “HOT”. She suddenly remembered Kit, who stood off to the side, patiently waiting.

  “Val, this is my husband, Captain Christopher Sheridan.” Louisa saw Alec look up in surprise.

  “Any relation to Lord Robert Sheridan?”

  “He was my father,” answered Kit shyly. Valerie gave Louisa an amused look.

  “Five minutes in the seventeenth century, and not only does she snag a husband, but a lord to boot. Well done, big sister. Well done,” she whispered into Louisa’s ear. Louisa looked at Valerie. She had vanished when she was twenty-six and had been here for fifteen years, so she was now forty-one to Louisa’s twenty-nine.

  “Who is the big sister now?” she asked bemused. They burst into hysterical laughter that left the men watching them in mutual confusion.

  “Alec, you go on without me. I have to stay here with Louisa. I hope you’re not angry.” Valerie threw him a winsome smile. Louisa had a feeling that Alec was very rarely angry with her sister.

  “I can go another time. I will just have them take the luggage off the ship. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” He turned away, leaving the sisters to stare at each other, still unable to grasp that they were truly together at last.

  Chapter 61

  “That was by far the absolute stupidest thing you’ve ever done in your life, but I am so happy you did it,” said Valerie, slightly slurring her words with too much brandy. The sisters sat curled together on a sofa in the sitting room, their faces illuminated by the glow of the candles. “Here is to the memory of Mom and Dad,” proclaimed Valerie, raising her glass of brandy.

  “Technically, they haven’t been born yet,” mused Louisa as she took a sip of her own drink, “but here is to them. I only wish they knew that we’d been reunited. Think of how happy they would have been.”

  “Especially if they knew it was in seventeenth century Virginia,” snorted Valerie, hiccupping. “So, tell me about Kit. How long have you been married?”

  “Two and a half days,” mumbled Louisa. She was getting a little drunk herself.

  “Seriously, Lou, do you love him?” Louisa stared off into space for a long moment before replying.

  “Yes. Yes, I love him. I wasn’t sure at first. I always thought that you had to know someone for ages to truly love them, but it’s not like that, is it? I’d been with Doug for nearly a decade and I loved him, I really did, but this is different. These men are different. He made me feel as if I was the only woman in the world for him. You know how guys are in the future. They’re always thinking that something better will come along, and want to keep their options open. I never felt that way with Kit. It was as if no other woman would do, and suddenly I felt as if no other man would do for me.”

  Valerie nodded. “It’s funny, but that’s just how I felt. When Finlay asked me to marry him, I thought that he couldn’t possibly be serious. We barely knew each other, but he was dead sure. Once he made up his mind; that was it. It was the same with Alec. There was never any question that we would be together after Finlay died. It was just a matter of time.”

  “It’s strange the way you talk about them,” Louisa said, getting more comfortable. “It’s as if you loved them both all along.”

  “I did. I knew that they were two separate people, but in my heart they were like extensions of each other, just two separate halves. I never really felt guilty about loving Alec after Finn. It’s what Finn would have wanted, and there was no one else to whom he would have entrusted his wife and child. Alec wasn’t just fulfilling his promise by marrying me. He loved me all along. I knew it the whole time, and I sometimes wonder what would have happened had Finla
y lived?” Valerie put down her glass and stared into the flames of the candle.

  “What do you mean, Val?”

  “I mean that we couldn’t have gone on all living together without incident. It was like sitting on a powder keg. Someone would have had to leave in order to avoid an explosion. But what about you? Will you be going back to England when we’ve only just been reunited?” Valerie looked devastated at the thought, and Louisa reached for her hand.

  “We hadn’t really talked about it much since we didn’t know if we’d find you or not, but Kit’s home is in England. I won’t leave you though, not yet. I want to stay with you until I can’t stand looking at you any longer,” she said with a smile. “And that will take forever.”

  “In that case, I hope that Christopher Sheridan is a very patient man.”

  “Val, how did you feel when you found yourself in the past?” Louisa asked.

  “Bewildered, terrified, but most of all alone. I went up to the castle, not knowing what else to do, and met Alec. He offered me protection and a home. At first, I still thought I might be able to get back somehow, but I quickly realized that there was no way back. I had to adjust. Life goes on.”

  “Oh, God. Remember that “Beatles” song? Mom and Dad kept singing it on the way to the Grand Canyon, and we kept asking them to stop because we wanted to listen to “our” music. What I wouldn’t give to hear them sing it one more time.” Louisa began to sing softly.

  Desmond has his barrow in the market place

  Molly is the singer in a band

  Desmond says to Molly "Girl, I like your face"

  And Molly says this as she takes him by the hand

  Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah!

  Lala how the life goes on

  Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah!

  Lala how the life goes on.

  Desmond takes a trolley to the jewelry store

  Buys a twenty carat golden ring

  Takes it back to Molly waiting at the door

  And as he gives it to her she begins to sing

  Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah!

  Lala how the life goes on

  Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah!

  Lala how the life goes on.

  Valerie joined in, their voices rising in unison. They must have gotten pretty loud, because Kit materialized in the doorway, looking slightly alarmed.

  “What kind of song is that?” he asked, advancing into the room.

  “The kind happy sisters sing when in their cups,” quipped Alec as he put his hand on Kit’s shoulder and led him out, giving Valerie a meaningful look, which made them dissolve in hysterical laughter.

  “He doesn’t know, does he?” Valerie asked.

  “No. Do you think I should tell him?” Louisa had pondered this question for some time, but decided to hold off.

  “Probably not at the same time as telling him you want to stay here and not go back to England with him. It might be just a bit much for him all at once.”

  “How did Alec react when you told him?” Valerie had told Louisa that Alec knew all about her past.

  “Surprisingly well. His grandmother had come from the future, and filled his head with visions of cars and airplanes.”

  “Oh my God!” exclaimed Louisa. “Was his grandmother Erzebet? I read about her online.”

  Valerie nodded. “One and the same. Shall we go to bed? I’m quite drunk. You know, this is the first time I’ve been truly happy since losing the baby. I still can’t believe you are really here.”

  “Get used to it. Now point me in the direction of my bed. I’m exhausted.” Louisa yawned and followed Valerie upstairs.

  “The ‘Honeymoon Suite’ is through there. I can’t offer you a hot shower, but you can have a bath if you like. Breakfast is at eight. Starbucks coffee served with freshly baked bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon, followed by freshly squeezed orange juice. NOT!!!” Valerie was still giggling as she went into her own room.

  Chapter 62

  Louisa woke up with a huge grin on her face. She could hear the sounds of breakfast being prepared in the kitchen; Little Louisa’s voice asking Valerie if she could go say good morning to her aunt and uncle. That almost brought tears to Louisa’s eyes, but they were tears of joy. A lot of decisions would need to be made, but they could all wait for a few days. There was no rush. Today she just wanted to be happy, and now that she had found Valerie, there was something else she wanted to start working on.

  Louisa snuggled closer to Kit, kissing his chest and stroking him gently. She wanted a baby, and she wanted one soon. Meeting her niece and nephew had been very emotional, making her longing for a child stronger than ever. She knew Kit wanted a child as well, so there was no time like the present.

  By the time they came down to breakfast the whole family was already downstairs, waiting for them. Finn was reserved, but Louisa gave them both a hug and a kiss, and asked if she could sit next to her aunt.

  “Christopher, I was wondering what your plans are?” Alec asked as he reached for a hot bun. Will you be returning to England with the Gloriana?

  “That all depends on my wife. I can’t imagine that she would want to return to England having just found her sister, so I am entirely at Louisa’s disposal. I will need to go back to the docks to see to the ship and crew. I left the first mate in charge, but it’s my duty as captain to be there.” Kit seemed reluctant to go back to the ship, but he had no choice in the matter. He had things to do.

  “The reason I’m asking is that one of my captains is ready to retire. The Morning Star sails to England and back, but I’m sure you wouldn’t want to be away from your wife for so long. It would be possible to transfer the captain of the Misty Dawn to the Morning Star and have you take over the West Indies route. Louisa can remain with us while you’re gone. Does that sound like something you might want to take on?”

  Louisa watched Kit with interest. Alec was proposing the perfect solution, and she hoped that Kit would be willing to accept it. He wouldn’t be content just to sit around and do nothing, but sailing to the West Indies would only take him away from her for a month or two at a time; versus the trans-Atlantic voyage which would take anywhere from four to six months to get to England, unload, load the goods, and return.

  “That sounds ideal, Alec. I would very much like to take you up on your offer. I would also feel relieved to know that Louisa is not alone, and safe in the bosom of her family. Thank you.” Kit smiled happily and took a sip of ale.

  “Actually, Alec, I would like to sail to England on the Gloriana,” Charles piped in. “I’ve been thinking of returning to England for some time, and this would be a good opportunity. I’ve asked Miss Gaines’ father for her hand in marriage, and he gave his consent; on the condition that we wait until she is sixteen to marry. I will be back in time for her birthday in the spring.”

  “That sounds like a fine idea, Charles,” Alec answered. “It’s time you saw something of the world. I am sure Miss Gaines will gladly wait for you.”

  Valerie squeezed Louisa’s hand under the table. Louisa couldn’t fully understand the tension she sensed between Alec and his younger brother, but she didn’t need to understand. That was between them, and right now she was just happy to have her domestic situation almost worked out. The thought of living with Valerie made her very happy, and Kit didn’t seem to mind. In time, they would probably want a home of their own, but for now, she would be thrilled to be close to Valerie and her family.

  With breakfast finished, everyone began to file out of the dining room. Alec and Kit retired to the study to discuss Alec’s plan further, and the children left with Charles.

  “Val, have you seen Agnes this morning?” Louisa asked.

  “I told her that she can sleep in this morning. I hope you don’t mind. The poor girl looked so worn out last night. Mrs. Dolly will see to her. I put her in the attic bedroom. Unfortunately, it became vacant recently, but I’m sure Agnes will like hav
ing her own room. I think she will need the space,” added Valerie meaningfully.

  “Thank you, Valerie. The girl was more terrified than tired. She’s pregnant and thinks we’ll throw her out. I keep telling her we won’t, but she is still fearful. The child is her uncle’s.”

  “Poor kid. I wonder if she wants the baby.”

  “She doesn’t, but what is there to do? I think she might change her mind once she sees it,” Louisa said. “It’s not like she can put it up for adoption.”

  “I’m sure it will all work itself out. It usually does. Now, how would you like to take a walk with me? I still have so many questions for you, and they are best answered away from the house.”

  “Lead the way, sis. After being cooped up on that ship for over two months I’m only too happy to go for a walk. Can we stop by the cemetery? I’d like to put some flowers on my nephew’s grave.” Louisa could see the sorrow in Valerie’s eyes when she spoke of baby Alex, and she wanted to do something, anything, to alleviate her pain.

  “Of course. Let’s go.”

  Christmas Eve

  1620

  Chapter 63

  Louisa threw on her cloak and stepped out the door into the frosty December afternoon. Thick snowflakes were silently falling from the colorless sky, twirling in the chilly air, before settling on the ground and blanketing it with a pristine, fluffy quilt. The frozen grass crunched satisfyingly beneath her boots as she made her way to the spring house, swinging the empty can as she went. Mrs. Dolly needed some more butter, and Louisa was only too happy to take a walk.

  Normally, Agnes helped Mrs. Dolly with the kitchen chores, but she was near her time and could barely waddle up the stairs, much less trudge all the way to the spring house over the slippery layer of new snow. She was due any day now, her eyes full of anticipation and fear. Despite everyone’s assurances, she still believed that God would strike her down for her sins, and she would die in childbirth together with her ill-begotten child.