“Yes, that’s something I would love to do,” she told the older woman.
As Halle turned and walked away, Andrew stayed behind. Her heart sank further and she prayed for some kind of inspiration soon.
The duchess explained about some of the well to-do families at the party. There was just too much information for Halle to absorb all at once. The other woman pulled Halle from one person to the next, making introductions. By this time in the evening, she was so full of names in her head she couldn’t keep them all straight…until she met one lady.
“And this,” the duchess said, “is Lady Agnes and her mother Lady Caldwell.” The duchess paused as her gaze swept around them. “But I don’t see Lady Agnes’s fathers or brothers.”
Lady Caldwell smiled. “They do not like to stay and dance, I’m afraid. They would rather play cards with the other gentlemen.” She nodded. “It’s nice to meet you, Miss Chapman.”
As Halle curtsied to the mother, her gaze kept wandering to the daughter, Agnes. Halle nodded and directed her comment to the daughter. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Agnes.”
This is the woman Andrew and his mother thought was only after Edward for his money, yet he still ended up marrying her. She was a lovely young lady, but there was also an underlining haughtiness about her, especially when she practically turned up her nose at Halle instead of greeting her politely and with a curtsy.
“I hear you are staying with the Harringtons,” Agnes said.
“I am.”
“Are you related to them?”
“No.”
The duchess lifted her chin a little higher and squeezed Halle’s arm. “Miss Chapman will be staying with us until we can locate her family.”
Agnes arched an eyebrow. “Your family is lost?”
“In a way, yes.” Halle flipped her hand. “It’s a long, boring story. I fear if I tell it I’ll put you and your mother to sleep.”
“Oh, but I beg you to tell me anyway.”
Agnes smiled, but Halle could tell it was fake. “I appreciate your interest,” Halle began and looked at Andrew’s mother, “but the Duchess of Harrington and I were on our way to the other side of the room. So I hope you’ll excuse us.”
“Certainly,” Lady Caldwell nodded, but her daughter threw Halle a glare.
What on earth had made that woman so upset? Halle wanted to ask, but didn’t dare.
As she and Andrew’s mother turned to move on, Edward had snuck up behind them. Halle figured he would move past them to see his almost-fiancée, but instead, he stepped in front of Halle.
“Miss Chapman, could I interest you in another turn around the dance floor? You are such a remarkable dancer.”
“Uh, well…” She switched her focus to Agnes just in time to see the woman’s glare darken. That’s why she gave me crusty looks.
Halle really should deny his request, but then again…women weren’t supposed to refuse an offer to dance. She smiled and nodded. “I would be delighted.”
This time when she danced with Edward, he didn’t want to talk much. Curiosity grew inside her. Edward was up to something, and she wished she knew why he insisted on keeping her to himself. Perhaps next time she wouldn’t be as polite as she’d been tonight.
* * * *
The steady rhythm of the carriage ride home lulled Andrew and made his eyes droopy. He’d chosen to ride with his brother instead of with the family. He couldn’t think straight when he was close to Halle, and for certain, he needed to think tonight.
Thankfully, his brother wasn’t talking much during the ride, and the silence was most welcome. Andrew led them ahead of the family’s carriage, and through the stillness of the night, his mother’s chatter, and the occasional laugh from the others kept him alert, regardless. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only thing keeping Andrew awake. How could his mind rest when it was so full of such confusing thoughts?
Throughout the remainder of the evening, he stood back and watched people converse with Halle with wide smiles and joyful laughter. Good grief, even Edward acted as if he enjoyed Halle’s company entirely too much. But of course his brother would. She was a delightful woman, and very easy on the eye. And so passionate…
Andrew shook his head, trying to get that out of his memory. He didn’t want to think about how incredibly good she felt in his arms, and how fervently she’d kissed.
Grumbling under his breath, he rubbed his forehead. Why couldn’t he forget about that kiss? It had literally left him breathless…and apparently, it had also made his brain stop working.
If only she wasn’t insane.
Halle Chapman was just the sort of woman who interested him, and not entirely in the sexual sense, either. He enjoyed her intelligence, and he especially liked how kind and giving she was—and unselfish.
Yet, she was insane, and there wasn’t anything he could do about it.
“You are much too quiet, Andrew. What’s on your mind?”
His brother’s voice snapped Andrew out of his thoughts. He peered at Edward. “There’s too much to talk about this evening.” Andrew shrugged and looked ahead. “Besides that, I’m tired.”
“Tired? How could that be when I only noticed you dance a few times? You certainly didn’t join the card games, either.”
Releasing an irritated breath, Andrew shook his head. “What do you want, Edward? I’m really not in the conversing mood tonight.”
“Then I suppose you will just have to listen to me rattle on, won’t you?” Edward chuckled. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about Miss Chapman.”
Andrew arched a curious eyebrow at his brother. “What about her?”
“She was such a delight tonight, and I think she was a hit with society.”
If Andrew wasn’t so confused about everything, he would have laughed at his brother’s comment. If society had heard some of the baffling words from her mouth as he had, Halle wouldn’t have been such a hit. “Indeed, I noticed that, too.”
“In fact,” Edward scratched his chin, “I found myself watching her most of the evening, and the more I watched, the more I couldn’t help but adore her very presence.”
The irritation building inside Andrew changed to anger. He tightened his grip on the reins. “You don’t say.” He swallowed the bile rising in his throat. “What about Lady Agnes? I thought you were going to propose to her.”
“Actually, I’ve decided to wait on that. Miss Chapman is far different than Lady Agnes, and I do like the differences.”
“I thought you suspected Miss Chapman of being involved with Uncle Nimrod.”
“I’m rethinking that idea, as is Father. There are things she’s done to prove to us that she cares about our family. Isn’t she so adorable?”
As Andrew watched the road in front of him, he caught himself nodding in agreement. Even if she was insane, she did care about his family. “So does Father still want us to keep a close eye on her?”
“I’m not certain,” Edward replied, “but I can tell you one thing, I’m not going to mind that request at all now. In fact, I’m hoping to spend more time with that adorable creature in the next couple of days.”
Andrew gripped the reins tight. And he really needed to quit gnashing his teeth. That couldn’t be good, either. But if he heard his brother use the word adorable one more time when referring to Halle, Andrew would certainly lose his temper.
“Is that all right with you?” Edward added.
Andrew threw him a glare. “Why should I care?”
“Because she has become more attached to you than to anyone. And, I believe you might have the same interest in her.”
Rolling his eyes, Andrew tried to dampen the anger rising hotter and hotter inside him. “The only interest I have is to see out Father’s request,” he snapped and looked back at the road.
“Splendid. Perhaps I’ll take her on a picnic tomorrow.”
Andrew’s breathing quickened and he couldn’t understand the panic growing within. Worry escalated, maki
ng his head pound. Deep down inside, he knew the reason. Plain and simple, he did not want to think about her in Edward’s arms kissing him passionately as she’d done to Andrew earlier.
Should he warn his brother the woman was not in her right mind? As much as he wanted to do anything to make it so Edward wouldn’t pursue Halle, telling him about Halle’s secret wouldn’t be wise. Knowing his brother, he’d think Andrew was the one insane and not Halle.
“Do whatever you like. I don’t care.” Andrew urged the horse faster, wanting to get home so not to listen to Edward any longer.
Thankfully, Edward chose that moment to stop the conversation. They were nearly home anyway, so he just hurried ahead of the group and rode to the groom, climbed down, and threw the reins to the servant. Before the others caught up, he hurried inside the house and straight to his room. It was best if he didn’t see Halle again tonight. Too many emotions run amuck through him, threatening to turn him into a blithering—and sappy—idiot.
After discarding his coat and waistcoat, he paced the floor like a caged tiger. He couldn’t remove Halle’s image from his head…and what was worst was thinking of her with Edward. There was no way Andrew could allow her to be succumbed to his brother’s possessive clutches. Yet at the same time, he didn’t figure Halle the type of woman who would fall for Edward’s faux charm. Halle was a strong-willed woman, and although she had remained polite to Edward earlier at the party, Andrew could tell she wasn’t fully enjoying herself.
So perhaps it wasn’t Edward’s heart Andrew should try to protect. Should he try to shield his own?
Grumbling, he loosened his cravat and shucked it off, then removed the stiff collar. He sat on the cushioned stool and removed his boots, feeling much better and more relaxed now. A small fire burned in the hearth, and as he stared at the flames licking up the stones, dread washed over him. He needed to release this strange hold Halle had over him, but at the same time, he didn’t want to. Watching her dance with one man and move quickly to another, made jealousy sneak into his heart, and blast it all, but a feeling of protectiveness smothered him, and all he wanted to do was be her rescuer.
A bowl of grapes sat on the small table, and he quickly plopped a couple in his mouth. Usually food helped him think better, but it seemed the grapes weren’t enough to sustain him.
He sighed and buried his face in his hands. Was her mind so far gone that he couldn’t try to help her? Perhaps if he helped her grasp reality, then maybe, just maybe, she’d become the woman he had thought she was…had hoped she’d be.
How much time passed as he stared mindlessly into the fire, he did not know, but soon his eyes became weary. The decanter of brandy sitting on the corner of a shelf tempted him, but he knew that foul drink wouldn’t totally wash away his feelings—and especially his memory.
Sleep was the best thing for him, although he feared he wouldn’t be able to rest once his head hit the pillow.
He stood and stretched the kinks out of his arms and back. Perhaps he’d been sitting on that stool and staring into the fire longer than he thought. As he took a step toward his bed, the floor in the hallway right outside his door squeaked. He stopped and listened closer. Another squeak came until he was sure someone stood in front of his room. Seconds later, a knock vibrated lightly on the door.
Who could be coming to his room at this hour? If it was Edward coming to tell him again how he was going to woo Halle, Andrew would not stand for it. In his frame of mind right now, he would certainly tell his brother to leave her alone.
Andrew ran his fingers through his hair and marched to the door. Taking a deep breath, he swung the door open, prepared to give his brother a sound lashing. But it wasn’t his older sibling who stood in front of him, but an angel swathed in a white wrapper that covered her from her neck to her wrists and down to her ankles. On her feet were matching slippers. Her glorious golden-brown hair was long and flowing over her shoulders—just the way he liked it. Wide green eyes stared up at him in silent appeal as she twisted her hands against her belly.
Oh, dear Lord! Please help me resist her!
“Miss Chapman? Is something amiss? Why are you not in bed?”
“Shh,” she whispered, stepping closer and laying her finger on his lips. “I don’t want anyone to hear us.”
Confusion swam in his head—pretty much the way it had been doing all evening. And once again, his emotions were all over the place. Half of him wanted to order her to leave, and the other half wanted her to stay, because in her company he felt complete.
He grasped her wrist to move her hand away, but instead of pushing her back, he found himself pulling her inside and closing the door behind her. His heartbeat knocked in a fast rhythm against his ribs, and heaven help him, he would keep her in his room as long as possible.
Gone was the weariness that had crept over him only a little while ago, and in its place was anticipation of how much enjoyment he would have being awake and talking with her. And yes, if a kiss were to follow, that would only enhance their time together.
Indeed it would be scandalous if someone from his family knew Halle was in his room, but for the life of him, he couldn’t make her leave.
With an unsteady hand, she swept her palm over her hair and shyly glanced at the floor. “Please forgive me for my appearance, but I knew I must talk to you tonight.” Hesitantly, she lifted her gaze to his. “I wouldn’t be able to sleep any other way.”
“I understand.”
She took a step closer, her hands still twisting together. “Andrew, I know you think me insane, but I want to try to prove to you I am not.” She took a deep breath. “Please, will you allow me to tell you what I know?”
He really didn’t want to hear what she had to say…or did he? Perhaps if he allowed her to speak, she would say something that would let him know she wasn’t insane. At this point, he wanted to believe she had a sound mind, even if she did have a vivid imagination.
Nodding, he motioned to the chair. “Would you like to sit?”
“No, I prefer to stand.”
“As you wish.” He moved to the fireplace and leaned against the hearth, staring down into the flames. Tightness knotted his stomach, and he prayed he would be able to listen to her with an open mind.
“Andrew, I know how you must be feeling, because I was in your shoes when you first tried to convince me you were from the past.”
A slight pain crept in his head. She’d mentioned the same thing to him earlier this evening, and he just didn’t understand. “So you are telling me that I came to see you in the future?”
She laughed lightly. “Not exactly. You were already there when I arrived at Buckland Manor—the bed and breakfast that your house was turned in to. You had already been there nearly a month.”
He looked directly at her. “And pray tell, what sent me to your time?”
“I’m assuming it was the tree.”
“The tree?”
“Yes, the large one in the front of your house. You had told me that in the spring your mother used to plant flowers under the tree.”
“And that is what brought me through time?”
“Yes—and it’s what brought me back in time.”
He rubbed his forehead. “So tell me why the tree did that to me.”
“That’s a good question, but unfortunately, I don’t know the answer. I have my own theory, though.”
“Which is?”
“I think by running to the tree, it saved your life by bringing you to my time.”
The slight pound in his head grew slowly. “Yes, I recall you had mentioned that my family’s manor was attacked.”
“It was—or it will be.”
“And my family perished?”
“All except Georgiana and Lady Agnes.”
“Lady Agnes?” He arched an eyebrow. “She isn’t part of my family.”
“Actually, she was—or will be. On the day Edward marries Lady Agnes, December 20, is when the attack occurs.”
&nb
sp; Grumbling, Andrew pushed his fingers through his hair and moved away from the fireplace. The heat must be damaging his brain. It was impossible to think.
“Andrew, please forgive me for causing you confusion.” She came toward him but stopped mere inches away, reaching her hand to touch him. However, before her fingers reached their mark, she quickly pulled it back.
He took a deep breath, hoping to control the threatening headache. “So then why do you think you came through the tree to my time?”
“I think it’s because I’m supposed to help stop the attack.”
“And how will you do that?”
She shrugged. “I wish I knew.” She took another hesitant step closer. “But I’m the only one that knows what will happen, so there must be a way to stop the evil men out there who want to bring harm to your family.”
He wished the dull pain behind his eyes would leave so that he could make more sense out of all of this. He moved away from her and sat on the chair by the small table. Taking deep, slow breaths, he hoped to calm the panic growing inside his chest. “Tell me how these people will attack my home.”
She stepped to the table and sat on the chair across from him. “They have fiery arrows, and pistols. There are many men, but you never told me how many. You called them a mob.”
“What time of the day?”
“Evening. I don’t know the exact time.”
Groaning, he closed his eyes as his fingers continued to work his forehead. Maybe he would have believed her if she was a gypsy soothsayer, but…time-travel? “Miss Chapman, do you realize how hard this is for me? I just cannot grasp the concept of you—or anyone for that matter—traveling through time.” He opened his eyes and met her stare. “It’s impossible.”
“I had said the same thing, myself. Even in my day when there is so much technology, I still did not believe you were from the past.”
Love Lost in Time (Victorian Time-Travel) Page 17
