Deep in her core, Ashley knew it didn’t matter where she lived or who she pretended to be. All that mattered was the kind of person she was. She was Ashley Bennett, and she accepted her past, embraced this better version of herself, the woman in love with a man who was more than six hundred years older than she. A man she loved so deeply that she was willing to sacrifice her heart for his happiness. Somehow, she’d found the strength to let him go.
“I will never let you go. You are the other half of my soul. And you may not believe I would change my mind, but I know in my heart I do not need children. I only need you. Now say you will marry me.”
She looked into his eyes, saw the love for her reflected within, and felt peace flow through her.
“Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Christian swung her around. “I will love you for the rest of my days. Together we will be our own family.”
He captured her mouth, bruising her lips, claiming her as his tongue traced her lips and met hers in a dance as old as time. Their souls joined, the light banishing the darkness. Ashley had come home.
Could her life get any better? Today she was getting married, and tomorrow was Christmas Eve. She stood in the chamber letting the girls dry her off after her bath. Never in a million years was this how she would’ve imagined her wedding. Of course, she’d never thought of her wedding at all, but it certainly wouldn’t have taken place in medieval England in a castle.
Anna had given her herbs to put in her bath, and Elizabeth had given her some lotion. Ashley begged for the recipe, and Elizabeth laughed, saying it was one of Aunt Pittypat’s—the sisters had figured out how to replicate it with what they had on hand, and would share it with her.
For the first time in her life she had sisters, or would soon have. Ashley choked back a sob at the thought. Women she barely knew felt like family, and they were all here to see her marry Christian.
There hadn’t been time to have a new dress made. They wanted to marry while everyone was here. With a critical eye, she looked at her dresses. Any of them would do, so which one should she wear? The sound of the door opening made her almost drop her cup of wine. All six women came in, their hands full.
“You don’t think we’d let you get ready without us, did you?” Charlotte said.
“We’ve all brought something.” Lucy smiled.
Melinda added, “You know, something borrowed, something blue.”
Ashley willed herself not to cry. “I don’t know what to say. You all have been so kind to me.”
Anna held up a pair of shoes. “I think we’re the same size, and these would look so pretty on you.”
Elizabeth held up a dress. “When we were leaving, I packed this. Not for Christian’s other bride. I didn’t know why I did, but now I do. It should fit if you’d like to wear it. And I think we’re the same size in dresses, so this should fit if you’d like to wear it.”
The dress was exquisite, pale velvet, covered in pearls and other semiprecious stones.
“It’s the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen,” Ashley said.
Jennifer held up a pair of earrings. “I bought these at the last market day. The emeralds will match your eyes.”
Lucy handed Ashley a bundle wrapped in fabric. “Go on, open it. I finished it late last night.”
Ashley sat on the bed and opened the bundle. Inside was the most beautifully crocheted cape. It was a soft gray wool, thick and heavy. It looked like something she would have paid thousands for back in New York. She pulled it over her head and hugged it tight. She’d never been a crier, but the past few days? Nonstop tears. Of sadness and joy.
“Thank you, Lucy. I think it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever owned.”
Charlotte handed her an embroidered handkerchief. “Don’t cry. Your face will get all red, and Christian will wonder what we’ve been doing to you.”
Ashley dipped it in the cold water and blotted her face and eyes.
“I’ve come to realize that home isn’t a place. Home is made up of the ones you love. They are your home no matter where or when you are.” She blew her nose. “It isn’t just Christian. I know it’s only been a short while, but I consider all of you family. You have made me feel like I belong. I can never thank you enough.”
“Now you’re making all of us cry,” Anna said as everyone wiped their eyes.
Charlotte took something out of her pocket and held up a necklace. “I want you to have this.”
Ashley shook her head. “Charlotte, I can’t. That’s Aunt Pittypat’s necklace. The one you guys were talking about.”
“Then borrow it for the ceremony. I know she would be so happy you’re wearing it.”
Ashley nodded and let Charlotte put it over her head.
The women formed a circle around her. The comments came one after another.
“You look beautiful.”
“The perfect bride.”
“We’re so happy you’re here and part of the family.”
Ashley thought this had to be the most perfect day ever. She took a deep breath. “I think I’m ready.”
“Great. Let’s get you married and celebrate.” Melinda laughed. The door opened, and they preceded her down the hall. She was actually getting married. Ashley Bennett, the girl who thought she would never marry, had finally found a man she not only adored as a friend, but loved with all her heart.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The doors to the chapel opened. She heard the sound of a harp, and smelled juniper and beeswax from the candles. The scent of cinnamon and cloves filled the air. The chapel looked like something out of a fairytale, covered with greenery and candles. The wedding was to be family only. Afterward, they would join the rest of the castle in the hall for a feast with music and dancing.
Her soon-to-be sisters were dressed in beautiful gowns of every color, their jewels sparkling in the candlelight. And the men… Though all were handsome, she only had eyes for one.
Everyone was watching her. Ashley stumbled and straightened her shoulders. Somehow she made it to the front of the chapel where the priest waited. Christian mouthed, I love you.
“Tonight we come together, celebrating two souls joining together. Without love, life is meaningless; without love, death has no redemption.”
The priest nodded to Christian as a rumble of thunder sounded outside.
“Join hands. Above you are the stars, below you the earth. As time passes, let your love be as constant as the stars, as firm as the earth. Be close to one another, have patience and understanding, for the storm will come. Together you will bend, not break.”
She was so full of emotion she felt the earth rumble.
“What was that?”
Ashley thought it was Charlotte who spoke. So it wasn’t just her. Everyone was looking around and at each other. And Ashley noticed each of the women were pale and watching her very closely. But she’d already survived a storm, and nothing had happened. It was fine.
The priest cleared his throat. “Place the ring on her finger.”
She felt something cool slip over her finger, a momentary pain and warmth. She looked down to see a gold ring with an emerald. It had hit a scab on her knuckle, as she watched, a drop of blood welled up.
Then the priest handed Christian a cup. “Drink and bind yourselves to one another.”
The wind screamed. There were nervous looks, but no one said a word. Christian drank and handed her the cup. She looked at her hands, the ring from her mother on her right hand and the gold band with the emerald from Christian on her left. She’d felt awful she didn’t have a ring for him, but he told her not to worry; she could surprise him later. Ashley drank from the cup and handed it back to the priest, yet it was if she were in two places, here and back in New York. She could see it all so clearly, hear the sounds of cars honking and people shouting, the subway as it rumbled down the tracks, taste the food from her favorite restaurants, and see her apartment with its big windows.
The priest adjusted his r
obe and looked to Christian, nodding. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. May your love endure any storm and serve as a guiding light in the darkness.”
The rumbling came again, and she heard thunder. It was like she was half awake and half dreaming as she saw her new family surrounding her, the man she loved in front of her, and yet she could see her home. The streets filled with traffic, the smell of the exhaust, overlaid with the smell of the greenery and beeswax here in the chapel, made her nauseated. She heard a scream, but wasn’t sure if it came from her or someone else. She felt like she was floating, and Ashley looked down to see that she seemed to be shimmering. Was she dreaming?
She reached out for Christian, and from far away heard him call, “Come back. Don’t leave me.”
She tried to focus on him, but the sounds were so loud. She turned her head to look.
Someone called out, “Ashley. Focus on Christian.”
But she wanted one last look.
Christian had been pleased with himself for getting Ashley to agree to marry him. They were almost to the end of the ceremony, and he had finally convinced himself she would not run at the last moment, when something odd happened. He had taken the ring and slipped it over her finger. But when he did so, it hit where she had scraped it against the stone wall yesterday, and he watched as a drop of blood welled up and fell to the floor. It was then that the earth rumbled, and as he took hold of her hand, trying to comfort her, he watched his hand vanish.
He would not let go of Ashley even as he felt a great pull. His arm vanished, and Christian heard terrible sounds. He saw everyone in the chapel, but also saw something else.
Strange horseless carriages he knew must be cars. It was as if he had one foot here at Winterforth and the other with Ashley in her world. He looked down to see he was still holding her hand. Yet when he looked up at her, she was still, like the stone walls of the castle.
“Ashley? Do you wish to stay?”
She looked at him, tears streaming down her face. “What do you want?”
“I want to be with you. I care not where. If you wish to go home, I would follow. I would follow you anywhere. Without you, I have no home.”
She turned her head, listening. “They’re calling for us. I’ve never had sisters or a big family.” She took a deep breath and one last look, as if she were committing every sight, sound, and smell to memory. The sound of the great horseless carriages and the smells made Christian clench his jaw.
She took his other hand in hers and looked up at him, love in her eyes. “You are my home. Shall we?”
Christian came to sitting on the floor of the chapel, Ashley in his arms. He looked up to see everyone standing around them and the priest on the ground beside him.
“He fainted,” Edward said.
“We’ll tell him he had too much to drink before the ceremony,” James said as William and Robert helped the priest to his feet.
Christian pressed his lips to Ashley’s. “Wake, my wife.”
She blinked a few times and focused on his face, smiling. Christian felt his heart open wide. They had each other, the love of their family. Nothing else mattered. They were complete, and Christian would spend every day of the rest of his life telling her how much he loved her.
“Thank goodness we only have family at the wedding,” Lucy said.
Melinda added, “Can you imagine trying to explain what happened?”
William clapped Christian on the back. “Watching you vanish, I was more scared than when I fought my first battle. We could hear the sounds but could not see what made them. All I could think was that this is what Lucy had come through to be with me. You are a brave man.”
Christian was overcome. He wiped his eye. “Dust. I have dust in my eye.”
“You can put me down now,” his wife said.
“Nay, I wish to keep you close.”
“Well, as long as you put me down when we get inside. I’m starving.”
Christian laughed, carrying his wife out of the chapel and into the hall, where they would begin their new life together.
Ashley laughed as Christian kicked open the door to the bedchamber. Candles flickered around the room like some kind of fairytale. There was juniper tied with ribbon and wine waiting for them. Her sisters had outdone themselves.
“My Lady Winterforth.”
He laid her down on the bed, staring down at her, and while Ashley had boyfriends in the past, being in love made everything feel like it was the first time.
“Not only are you beautiful outside but you have a beautiful heart, my love.” He removed her shoes, smiling when he saw the embroidery on the tops of her stockings.
“Melinda thought it was funny to embroider little swords and hearts on them.”
He kicked off his boots and climbed up on the bed, stretching out next to her.
“If you ever left me, I could not breathe. When you started to go, you took the air with you. You are the air to me, Ashley. Don’t ever do that again.”
“I saw you there with me. And I knew we belonged here, with our family. I will never leave you. We’ll grow old together.”
He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I will keep you safe, treasure you, and love you.”
She wiped her eyes. “Don’t make me cry. It makes my face all red.”
“As you wish.”
And they spent the night loving each other, knowing they had the rest of their lives together to learn what made them both sigh with pleasure. As the night deepened and turned to dawn, Ashley curled up next to her husband and fell asleep, perfectly content.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Two Years Later
Ashley couldn’t believe two years had passed. Lucy’s son had another child, her eighth grandchild. It was only a few weeks until Christmas, and they had traveled to Somerforth to celebrate the birth of Jennifer’s first baby. She had a boy, and Edward had been strutting around before dragging his brothers, William, and James out in the cold to cross swords in the lists. Which was better than them wrestling in the hall. The last time they’d broken a chair and Jennifer had shouted at them.
She and Christian had taken Merrick in as their own. He was now eight years old, and with his brother and sister they made a nice, happy family. The year after they took in Merrick, they’d met a girl at a market where her father was beating her. He’d offered to sell her for a paltry sum, and Ashley had been horrified. Christian paid the man and they took the girl, Mary. It was only a few months after that they came across Arthur, he had been in a shipwreck with no survivors. While Ashley had never thought she wanted children, she had never been more fulfilled.
As much as she loved her life when she was single, she finally understood what her friends had been trying to tell her back in New York. She had always thought she wasn’t meant to have children. Some people were meant to be single. While she still believed that was true, she also knew the love she had for Christian had profoundly changed every cell, her DNA. Maybe it took the right person to change. Seeing how happy Christian was playing with his sons and his daughter, showing them how to swing a sword, to go riding and hunting, made her smile every day.
At first she had been appalled he wanted to teach his daughter to use a sword, but she’d quickly given in when she saw how much Mary enjoyed spending time outside with her brothers and her father. The children, when they weren’t following Christian around, trailed after the guards, asking a million questions. Ashley was happy they had not gotten into as much mischief as her sisters’ children.
She remembered the stories of how they had taken Elizabeth and Jennifer’s paints and painted the dogs.
Though Mary had come in last week with a basket full of kittens. She’d traded a basket of eggs for them. Ashley simply laughed and told her she was responsible for taking care of them. She guessed that at least when the black plague came, they’d have plenty of cats to keep the vermin away.
She and her new sisters had talked a great deal about what was to come
and what they could do to prepare.
They had also talked more about Connor. They speculated on where he might have ended up. So much had changed. Her life before had been empty, and she’d floated through life existing but not living.
Christian had teased her the other day about the time. Ashley couldn’t fathom how she had been so obsessed with what time it was. What did it matter? The day dawned; life went on. She was so grateful to whatever power had brought her to the past and given her a chance at love.
Her husband had hired men from Italy to build them a conservatory, where she was growing tea and citrus. The men had done the same for his brothers. They had all decided they would not sell any, and only use what they grew for household purposes. Together they had decided it was the least risky way to impact history.
She was in the conservatory, looking at the plants, when Lucy came in. Ashley wondered how it must be for Lucy to see her sisters, knowing they were twenty years younger than she. Though Lucy said she still woke feeling as if she were in her twenties.
Ashley wished she could capture time, put it in the box and lock it away. To keep it from moving forward. For she wanted this time to go on forever. To savor every moment of every day. But even she had learned it was impossible to hold time in her hand. So she would live each day as though she might not wake to have another. Never again would she take anything for granted. Ashley had a home, she had family, and she had a love that would last until her dying breath and beyond. There was nothing else she needed.
Books by Cynthia Luhrs
Listed in the correct reading order
THRILLERS
Last Knight: Thornton Brothers Time Travel (A Thornton Brothers Time Travel Romance Book 4) Page 19
