The Colonels Timely Bride (Timely Bride Book 1)

by Dana R. Lynn

  He intended to. But he feared he might be out of time.

  ****

  Derbyshire, The home of Mr. and Mrs. Turner

  “I don’t believe you.” Kenzie swayed. She refused to give in to the grief that threatened to swallow her. “He wouldn’t do that to me.”

  “Guess the colonel’s not the honorable man ya thought he was, now is he?” The woman smirked. “Or maybe he is. Once his lady mother announced he was betrothed to ‘is cousin, ‘e couldn’t ruin ‘er by jilting ‘er, now could ‘e?”

  The old woman had shown up at Sarah and John Turner’s door, claiming to have vital information for Miss James. What she said had made Kenzie’s heart want to shrivel and die. But Kenzie knew Richard would never behave that way. Never. She remembered how determined he was not to marry his cousin.

  “I’m sorry, you need to leave now. I am sure that when the colonel arrives he will tell me the truth of the matter.”

  The smirk left the woman’s face. It was replaced by a snarl. “The old lady thought you might be stubborn. It doesn’t matter. She paid me plenty. And even if your man does return to you, his family will have kicked ‘im out. Would you really do that to ‘im? I thinks if you really loved him, you’d go away. Yer poison to a man in ‘is position.”

  Unable to bear any more of the vile taunts, Kenzie shoved the woman out the door and slammed it shut. She could hear the woman’s ranting in her mind. Over and over. Was she right?

  The woman’s voice called through the thick door. “If you still be here in a day or so, Miss, it might be bad for your health. Or that of the colonel.”

  Leaning her head back against the door, Kenzie fought against the wave of dizziness that swarmed her head. What choice did she have? Already, her heart was shattered.

  “Kenzie, I heard what she said. You can’t listen to her. He loves you. I know it.”

  A sob tore out of her mouth. Kenzie slid down the wall and sank to the floor. The pain … it had ripped her in two. She was bleeding from the inside out. Warm arms surrounded her.

  “Honey, it will be okay.”

  “It won’t,” she moaned. “How can I do this to him? What if he does marry me? And what if it costs him his family? It hurt so bad to lose mine. If he becomes bitter at me for costing him those he loves, I will lose him anyway.”

  Tears were falling in earnest now. “I will lose everything! Sarah, I can’t marry him, but it will kill me to watch him wed another. But I can’t go home.”

  Silence.

  Then, Sarah’s voice, small and broken. “Yes, you can.”

  She couldn’t have heard right. Kenzie lifted her tear-stained face to stare in shock at her cousin.

  “You can go home, Kenzie. I did. I found the way, and I went home.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “The tree we both jumped over is a time portal of some kind. I don’t know how it came to be there. There’s a small metallic brick that is a switch by the tree. It activates the device, then when you jump over the tree, you are caught in the vortex.”

  Recalling the day she arrived, Kenzie recalled hearing the clang as Bea’s hoof struck something.

  “Sarah, did you really go home?”

  Sarah nodded. “I went home. I saw Gran and we talked. But by then, I was so in love with John, I couldn’t stay, so I returned.”

  Suddenly, anger gripped Kenzie. “You never said anything. I came here directly after the picnic yesterday. We sat up talking all night. And you never said anything.”

  “What was the point? You were happy.” Sarah hesitated. “And I was so happy to have you here. I thought I would never see the family again. But seeing you so sad, I couldn’t keep it to myself.”

  ****

  Fitzwilliam pounded on the front door of Pemberley, out of his mind with fear. When the door opened, he pushed past the astonished servant, and rushed into the hall. Where was his cousin? He bounded towards Darcy’s office.

  “Kenzie! Darcy! Egads, is no one home?”

  “Fitzwilliam! Why are you bellowing? Whatever is amiss?”

  He whirled to find Darcy standing in the parlor doorway, confusion wrinkling his brow.

  “Where is Kenzie? I must see her at once. I have not a second to lose.”

  “She is not here.”

  The blood drained from his face. Had his aunt already carried out her diabolical plan? “Not here? I must find her! She is in danger!”

  Darcy shook his head. “She went to her cousin’s house directly after the picnic.”

  He needed to think clearly. Sucking in a deep breath, he released it slowly to calm himself. He may have gained some time. Surely his aunt did not know where she had gone, either.

  “Darcy, I apologize for bursting in on you like this. Please, Anne and Henry are with me. Anne, I fear, is fatigued by the trip. I would be obliged if you will allow her to remain here with Elizabeth and Georgie. And I wish for you to join me. I will explain what has occurred on the way.”

  Curiosity and concern on his face, Darcy agreed with alacrity. No more than ten minutes passed before they were on their way. But to Fitzwilliam, every minute seemed to last an eternity.

  Fitzwilliam strummed his fingers impatiently against his thigh as they travelled. Life without Kenzie was not a prospect he would even consider. She must be well.

  Unfortunately, bad news awaited them at the Turner’s house.

  “She has returned home.” Sarah told them.

  Fitzwilliam groaned. “How is that even possible?”

  “It doesn’t matter. She left half an hour ago. I doubt if you can catch her.”

  Despair rose up inside him. “I have to try. Please, tell me where to go.”

  “Do you have room in your carriage? I will show you where.”

  John and Sarah squeezed inside. It drove Fitzwilliam to distraction when he realized they were travelling back towards Pemberley. What if she had gone? Would he ever be able to reach her again?

  After what seemed an eternity, they entered Pemberley’s woods. Near the very edge of the woods he could see a fallen tree. In front of the tree, two figures were struggling. Kenzie and an unknown man. Kenzie cried out. The man raised his arm, and a knife flashed in the sunlight.

  Fitzwilliam threw himself out of the carriage before it had stopped. Hitting the ground at a run, he raced forward. He did not even take the time to grab his sword. Instead, he rammed his full weight into the man, knocking him from his beloved. Aware that she had fallen, he only had time to spare her the briefest of glances before his opponent was upon him again. A smart blow to the jaw left the would-be kidnapper dazed.

  Darcy and Henry arrived to seize the man.

  Looking about frantically, Fitzwilliam saw a lonely figure standing near the tree, despair in every line of her body.

  “Go to her, Richard,” Darcy urged. “We will keep watch over the kidnapper.”

  “You can’t do nothing with me!” the man yelled. “I was hired by Lady Catherine de Bourgh herself, I was!” The man shrank as three pairs of cold eyes looked down on him.

  “Go!” Darcy ordered again. With a nod, Fitzwilliam moved to the woman who held his heart in her hands.

  ****

  “Would you have truly abandoned me?”

  With a cry, Kenzie whirled and flung herself into Richard’s arms. She felt their strength as they tightened about her. How would she live without this dear, dear man? She tried to put some space between them. No such luck. He wouldn’t budge.

  “Richard, I couldn’t come between you and your family. The thought of you becoming resentful of me was too much. It would destroy me if I had to watch you grow to hate me.”

  “Kenzie, I have made my decision. I choose you. With my whole heart.” When she opened her lips to argue, he stopped her with a finger to her mouth. She stilled. “I know what I would be giving up, but I also know what I would gain. I love you.”

  “Oh, Richard, I love you, too. But I don’t think they would give you up. Not t
hat easily. They would make our lives miserable.”

  He was silent, deep in thought. “Not if we were in your time. They could not touch us there.”

  She sucked in a breath. “You would leave your world, for me? But I told you about my time. There’s a lot more war, and things aren’t always pretty.”

  Richard ran a loving hand down her cheek. “No, but in your time, if I were to kiss you the way I want to, would you lose your reputation?”

  “No,” she whispered, her cheeks rosy. He leaned over and stole a kiss from her soft lips.

  “I have just ruined your reputation in my time. Or at least I would have if anyone who cared had seen.”

  A smile began to form on her face.

  “If we have children someday, which I want, very much, would our eldest son inherit everything, while younger sons were left to fend for themselves?”

  “No.”

  “If we have daughters, would they be dependent on the men in their lives? Would I spend my twilight years worrying about what would become of them if I died before they married?”

  “No.”

  He nodded approvingly, stopping to give her another breath-stealing kiss.

  “And if we have children, would they be forced into roles that society chose, or could they, sons and daughters, decide their own futures?”

  “They would have a choice.”

  Richard pulled her closer. “And so do we. I have lived too many years without love. I wish to live my remaining years with it. What do you say, Kenzie, my love. Will you travel with me to your world and be my wife?”

  “Yes, a million times yes.”

  The silent observers knew something momentous was happening, but Darcy and Henry weren’t sure what. Richard and Kenzie approached the group to say their farewells.

  Darcy watched his cousin and friend solemnly. “I do not understand what’s happening, but I trust you. If you say you are leaving, I will miss you.”

  “Darcy, the Turners will explain everything.”

  “Be happy, Richard.”

  “I will, William. Give Elizabeth and Georgie a hug for me.”

  The hardest one to say goodbye to was his brother. He had never been close to Henry, but his brother had chosen to support him against his family. Kenzie knew that would mean everything to Richard. Reaching out, he embraced his brother. No words were said. None were needed.

  Returning to her side, Kenzie placed her hands on his shoulders and allowed him to lift her up on Bea. She settled in and he climbed up behind her. Drawing the reins into her hand, she directed the mare to circle the tree. After three circles, she heard a clanging noise. The air sizzled with electric.

  “Storms coming,” someone murmured in surprise.

  Bea’s muscles gathered beneath the couple as the horse took the leap over the tree. And they were caught up in the darkness.

  ****

  She couldn’t feel Richard. Panic rose up. She pushed it down. He was there. Wait. Just a few seconds. There.

  The world she was familiar with rematerialized. It was the same as it had been when she left. But it seemed different. No, it hadn’t changed. She had.

  “This is incredible.”

  She smiled, content. Richard was with her.

  “I do hope you will be happy to wed a pauper, my love, because I own nothing in this world of yours.” He laughed.

  She giggled. “Actually, we won’t be poor.” She snuck a peek at her love. “I have a trust fund.”

  Epilogue

  Pennsylvania, USA, Five years later

  “Darling, look what Morgan found!”

  Richard straightened up from his desk as his gorgeous wife ran into the barn. They had used some of her inheritance to purchase a training stables. He discovered he had a head for modern finances. Once they had found someone willing to create an identity for him so he could function as a citizen, that is. The business was doing quite well.

  “Yes, my love? What did your brother find?” Richard had become close to Morgan. They were best friends. Morgan had been told everything, of course. And it had only taken them three hours to convince him they weren’t raving lunatics. Amazing.

  “He found out something about your family history. Do you want to see it?”

  Richard had started to stand. Now he slammed himself back down in his chair. Did he want to see it? Yes. No. Yes? He couldn’t form the words, so he settled for nodding.

  Kenzie handed him some papers, then moved to stand behind him. He leaned his head back against her as he read. The backs of his eyes stung as he read that Henry’s wife had managed to finally conceive and bear a son. And then four daughters. Many times during the past four years, he had considered researching what had become of his brother. He had always decided against it, afraid of what he would discover. But now he knew. His soul had ached for his brother, but now he felt at peace.

  He flipped the page. Georgiana had married well. Another page. A smile tugged at his mouth, even as tears smarted in his eyes. Darcy and Elizabeth had six children. Two of them had been named Richard and Mackenzie. They had probably received many odd looks at her christening. He flipped another page. Ah, Bingley and Jane had been prosperous. Twelve children. Oh my. And … wait a minute.

  “Your grandmother was a descendant of Charles and Jane Bingley!”

  They stared at each other, mouths open, before bursting into laughter.

  “Mama, Daddy, me not sleepy.” They looked across the room. Two year old Sarah Elizabeth stood inside the door, lower lip pushed out in a defiant pout. Her auburn curls were mussed from lying in her bed. Her new baby sister, Georgiana, was still asleep in her crib.

  “Darling, does she look like Caroline Bingley to you?”

  Richard stood up and pulled his wife into his arms. “I dare you to say that again.”

  She opened her mouth, and he silenced whatever she had planned to say with a kiss. Which was what she had in mind, anyway.

  About the Author

  Dana R. Lynn grew up in a suburb of Chicago, but now lives in rural PA with her husband, three children and enough animals to fill a petting zoo. She worked for years as a teacher of the Deaf and hard of hearing, but currently enjoys working as an educational interpreter. Crafting stories all her life, she is frequently seen jotting down ideas whenever inspiration strikes.

  Also from Dana R. Lynn

  Chapter One

  What was the matter with him?

  Darcy scowled as he paced back and forth across the length of the library. He could barely believe his actions of the past few days. To allow his control to slip so badly! And all because of a mere country girl, who was far beneath him. No money, no connections, and that family of hers!

  But in spite of these objections, Darcy continued to find Miss Elizabeth Bennet everything that was fascinating and lovely. Not that he had always thought so. No, indeed. When he had first spied her several weeks ago at a dance, he had barely noticed her. His mood had been too dark. He even allowed himself to make a disparaging remark about her to his persistent best friend, Charles Bingley. He had come to Hertfordshire to help Bingley get his new estate in order, not to socialize with the local beauties. Yet, he found his interest in Miss Elizabeth growing with every meeting. Still, he was able to squelch this unseemly fascination with the second of the five Bennet sisters. Or so he had thought. Then, several days ago, the eldest Bennet sister, Miss Jane Bennet, had become ill while visiting Bingley’s sisters. Of course, she had to stay as their guest until she was healthy enough for travel.

  Although Darcy thought of Bingley as a brother, he didn’t much care for Bingley’s sisters. Miss Caroline Bingley had travelled to Hertfordshire to act as Mr. Bingley’s hostess, for it was one of the unwritten rules of the gentry that a single man could not entertain guests at his house without a hostess. Darcy would have been fine with Miss Bingley if she would leave him alone. But Miss Bingley had decided she wanted to marry Darcy. For his estate, no doubt. She was constantly batting her eyes and com
plimenting him. Louisa Hurst, Bingley’s married sister, was slightly better. Still a snob, but less obvious about it. She had dragged her husband to Hertfordshire so she could keep Miss Bingley company.

  Darcy chuckled as he remembered the expressions on the faces of Bingley’s sisters when Miss Elizabeth had been shown into the breakfast room the next day. They were appalled to learn she had walked three miles to visit her sister. Three muddy miles, judging by the state of her skirt. Darcy admitted that he had enjoyed the past few days in her presence. She was unlike any woman he had ever known. Her conversation was witty and clever, and her playful manner challenged him. She paid him none of the compliments he was used to receiving from young women desiring his attentions. He had even allowed himself to forget his objections against her. Until her mother and younger sisters paid a visit, that is.

  Darcy grimaced as he thought of Mrs. Bennet and her three youngest daughters. Their behavior was thoroughly shocking. It was the first time he could ever recall being in accord with Miss Bingley. She had openly disparaged the family to her brother, trying to point out the disadvantages of the connection. Bingley, however, stood firm in his defense of Miss Bennet, whom he declared an angel. But even Bingley could not defend Mrs. Bennet. He remembered Mrs. Bennet’s taunts as she and her youngest daughters visited Netherfield Park under the guise of checking on “Dear Jane”. She had apparently decided that Darcy was the enemy and aimed poorly veiled barbs his way throughout the visit.

  Miss Elizabeth, however, had tried to defend him, her cheeks scarlet with mortification. Darcy came to a stop as he remembered the agonized, apologetic glance she had shot him with her spectacular eyes. Those gorgeous, sparkling hazel eyes with dark lashes made for flirting…

  Flirting? Good heavens. What was wrong with him? Darcy strode to the window and stared out, not seeing the breathtaking view as dawn softly crept over the landscape. Instead of the trees and the vast array of flora, his mind was wholly absorbed with a beautiful face, its eyebrows arched provocatively as she teased him.