by M. J. Putney
But sex was definitely part of the torrent, and his desperate urgency and tenderness and passion terrified her. Gasping, she broke away and retreated until her back was against the wall. “This is a really bad idea,” she said, her blood hammering through her veins. “We should be thinking about traveling to the past. What should I wear? What do I take? And what can a novice mage like me do to help?”
Rather than follow her across the chamber, he stood still, his hands clenching and unclenching. “My head knows you’re right, but my heart is doing backflips at the realization you care for me as I care for you.”
She briefly thought of denying that but decided not to try. He wouldn’t believe her when she couldn’t believe herself. “I do care for you, but we are in very different places about this.”
“I know, which is why I’ve done my best to keep my distance, but it’s been hard. From the first time I met you, I’ve felt that you’re ‘the One.’”
She stared at him. “I’m not sure if that’s romantic or alarming. You didn’t even know me.”
“Not in the usual way. But I felt that in some deep way, we were connected. I’ve felt that all along, and I knew it was only a matter of time until those feelings came roaring out. The knowledge that you’ll be going into great danger set me off.” He shook his head. “I wish you weren’t so intrepid.”
“No, you don’t,” she said. “I’d be someone else if I was a coward, and probably it would be a girl you didn’t much like.”
“There you go, being rational again.” His engaging smile lit his eyes.
“That’s part of me also,” she said wryly. “A part you don’t much like.”
“Not true!” He caught her hand, though he didn’t try to draw her closer. “I like everything about you. Like and admire both. Even your extreme rationality.”
She gently disengaged her hand. “Which says it’s time to think about time travel.”
“Yes. But what about us?”
She gave a very French shrug. “I have no idea. I’m not even sixteen for another month. I’ve never had a boyfriend. I’ve barely been kissed. I’m a French refugee in a foreign country, and the fact that you like matzo ball soup doesn’t mean there are no religious issues. I just … don’t know where to go from here.”
He took her hand again and pressed a kiss on the back before letting go. “Where we go from here is 1804. And we stop trying to pretend there is nothing special between us, because that pretense was fraying fast.” He shrugged. “As for the rest, we take it as it comes, and I’ll try not to be too intense and romantic. If I am, just tell me to slow down.”
But how would Rebecca slow down when Nick dazzled her mind and senses? He was right. They would have to take this amazing, alarming relationship day by day. Since they were living under the same roof, it would be hard to keep their hands off each other. They wouldn’t want to. She must hope that her common sense and, yes, rationality, would keep her from doing anything really stupid.
“Day by day,” she said. “Moment by moment. And the question of the moment is whether you have a pencil so I can write a return message for Tory.”
“Indeed I do.” He pulled a dull pencil from an inside pocket.
Rebecca wrote, “Nick will bring me through the mirror as soon as we inform Mrs. Rainford. See you soon. Should we bring anything special?”
Nick saw the message as he tied it to the stone again. “Tory has an unnatural passion for fish and chips, but I don’t think they’d travel well.”
“What’s unnatural about a passion for fish and chips?” she asked indignantly. “One of the first things you did was take me to the Codfather to try them!”
He laughed, and the tension between them eased. “Fish and chips are good for the soul, and I hope they’re never rationed. As for the trip to the past, it would probably be best to wear trousers in case it’s necessary to climb cliffs or crawl through tunnels or something else unladylike. Your dresses would look out of place there anyway.”
“I don’t have any trousers.”
“We’ll find you something.” He held the message stone between his palms and closed his eyes as he visualized when and where he wanted it to go. As he did, the mirror shimmered to silvery life on the other side of the chamber.
Rebecca shrank back against the wall, intimidated by the sheer raging power of the portal. Nick tossed the stone. When it hit the mirror, silver turned night black, then both mirror and stone vanished.
“Time to go home.” He waggled his brows at her. “You said that you’ve never had a boyfriend before, thereby implying that you have one now. Therefore, as your boyfriend, may I hold your hand as we walk home?”
By way of reply, she extended her hand and his warm fingers closed around it as they navigated their way back to the surface. Burning passion and intense emotion were too much for her now.
But holding Nick’s hand felt exactly right.
CHAPTER 26
Mrs. Rainford was in the kitchen putting together supper when they returned from the walk to Lackland Abbey. As soon as she saw Rebecca and Nick, she wiped her hands and turned to face them. “What has happened?”
“Tory has asked Rebecca to go back in time to help,” Nick said. “I’ll take her. She’ll need to borrow a pair of trousers.”
Mrs. Rainford’s face tightened. “I was afraid of this. Your luck had better not run out, Nicholas Rainford! I expect you and Rebecca to return safe and sound because I do not want to explain to her parents or your father that you’ve run into catastrophe.”
“You are a mum in a million,” he said affectionately.
Mrs. Rainford studied Rebecca. “You look worried. You don’t have to go.”
“Yes. I do.” Rebecca swallowed. “If I look concerned, it is partly because Nick and I have admitted to a … a romantic interest in each other.”
“It’s about time! To anyone who has taught as many years as I have, the mutual interest was obvious.”
“You don’t mind?” Nick said, his expression pleased.
“I don’t think I get a vote on how you feel about each other.” Mrs. Rainford’s gaze was sober. “That doesn’t mean I’m not concerned. You’re living in the same house. You’re traveling back in time on a dangerous, exhilarating mission that will draw the two of you even closer. Perhaps when you return, Rebecca should go to her family.”
“No, Mum!” Nick said, horrified. “Quite apart from our feelings for each other, Rebecca needs more training for her magical abilities, and she won’t get that in Oxford.”
“She has learned quickly and can continue growing on her own if necessary.” Mrs. Rainford shook her head. “During a war, it’s easy to forget tomorrow and live for today, and young passions burn with special fierceness. Please, promise me you’ll both use your excellent minds and behave with good sense. The future may be uncertain, but you’ll probably have one, so don’t throw it away in the heat of the moment now.”
“I promise,” Rebecca said, her voice almost inaudible.
“Nick?” Mrs. Rainford prompted.
“I promise.” He gave his mother a wry smile. “Even if I forget a gentleman’s honor, I know darned well that you’ll skin me alive and feed me to the Channel fishes if I hurt Rebecca.”
“You are so right!” his mother said feelingly. Turning back to the stove, she said, “You need a decent meal before you race into the past, so time to put food on the table.”
No wonder Nick liked her, Rebecca thought. His mother was also a very rational woman.
* * *
It didn’t take Rebecca long to prepare for—whatever lay ahead. Polly lent her a pair of trousers and a warm knitted jumper to go over her shirt. With the addition of her jacket, hat, and sturdy shoes, she felt ready to scramble around on cliffs and woods if that was required.
She also wrote a letter to her family that she hoped would never be sent.
Dearest Maman, Papa, Joel—
Don’t blame Mrs. Rainford for letting me go on what
could be a dangerous journey. You know why I must answer this call. If I do not return, know also that I love you with all my heart.
Shalom,
Rebecca
She also scribbled short notes to Andy, Dr. Gordon, and Sylvia Crandall. Sylvia in particular needed to know that Rebecca had valued their brief friendship. The notes apologized for not saying good-bye in person, but family duty called her away. It was a kind of truth.
All three Rainfords were waiting for her downstairs. It was dark by now, and they spoke little as they hiked out to the abbey again. All four of them created mage lights when they entered the Labyrinth. Rebecca’s was the weakest. She wondered wryly if she could really be a vital element in saving Britain from a French invasion.
Even if she wasn’t much help, she’d try. At the least, she’d be glad to see Tory and the others again.
They reached the mirror chamber, and the lights revealed two large, irregularly shaped packages lying in the middle of the floor. “These are too large for message stones,” Polly said as she scooped one up and unwrapped part of the fabric covering.
Inside was something hard and white. Polly touched it gingerly, then dug in a nail and licked her finger to taste it. “Sugar loaves!” she said with delight. “We’ll be able to make a splended birthday cake for you next month, Rebecca.” She looked warily at her mother. “You aren’t going to consider this black market, are you?”
Her mother laughed. “I consider it a generous gift from friends. I have a sweet tooth, too, you know.”
Polly set both loaves by the exit, and the mood turned serious. Nick faced the end of the chamber where the mirror burned invisibly. He raised his right hand and concentrated. The energy of the portal coalesced and the mirror shimmered into sight, as alluring as it was menacing.
Time to say good-bye. “Mrs. Rainford. Polly.” Rebecca gave each of them a swift hug. “Thank you for making me part of your family.”
“Thank you for becoming another daughter so quickly,” the older woman whispered.
Polly’s embrace was intense. “When do I get to go on exciting adventures through time?”
“I think you have to be at least fifteen,” Rebecca said with a lopsided smile. “That’s what it says in the Adventurers Code Book.”
“And you’d have to go off without your brother,” Mrs. Rainford said. “I still haven’t recovered from the terror of both of you sailing off to Dunkirk.”
“But we returned in triumph, Mum!” Nick hugged his mother. “We will again.”
“See that you do.” Mrs. Rainford’s voice was stern, but there were tears in her eyes as she released Nick. “Rebecca, look after him. Young men forget they’re mortal.”
“I’ll try my best.”
“Off we go, Rebecca.” Nick’s smile was cheerful, but his eyes were serious. Traveling through time could not be taken lightly. “This will be more uncomfortable than traveling through the mirror from France to here. You’ll feel like you’re being torn into small pieces, but don’t worry. You’ll be reassembled.”
“You are so comforting, Mr. Rainford!” Rebecca took his left hand, holding on hard. She didn’t even want to think about the chance that she might be lost in time.
He smiled encouragingly. “Don’t worry, I’m almost as good at this as Tory.”
“Still more comfort!” Rebecca’s smile was strained, and she was starkly aware that she might never return to her own time and place. But Nick had made this trip before, and she trusted his power and protectiveness to take her to their friends. “Lead on, Mr. Rainford!”
Through their clasped hands, she felt Nick’s power and concentration intensify. The air in the chamber thickened with magic and dangerous possibilities.
Nick reached out his free hand toward the shimmering mirror—and suddenly they were being dragged into hell. Rebecca wanted to scream, but she had no voice, no strength, nothing but dissolution and despair.…
Normal awareness returned with a jolt. She realized that she was on her knees on cold stone, her body folded into a trembling knot. Darkness was absolute until a mage light appeared to illuminate the empty stone chamber.
“Rebecca, are you all right?” Nick’s voice was urgent in her ear, and his arm wrapped around her with warmth and strength.
“You said it would be bad, but this was even worse than I imagined,” she said unsteadily. “No wonder no one makes the trip without a really good reason!”
His other arm came around her and he cradled her head against his shoulder. “It gets a little easier with time.”
“Easier, or you just know better what to expect?”
He chuckled. “You are ever the scientist, Mademoiselle Weiss. Maybe I’ve just become experienced. I do know that the farther the jump in time, the harder the passage. We land at the end of the journey exhausted and ravenously hungry, so it is wise to always have food available.” His embrace tightened. “You may be affected more badly because you’re still too thin from being imprisoned. I’ve brought bread and cheese. Would you like some?”
“Oh, please!”
Nick created another mage light and tossed the pair of them in the air so his hands were free to open the book bag he’d brought. He pulled out a paper-wrapped package. “Good English Cheddar and some of the challah from the Shabbat.”
He used his pocketknife to slice thick slabs of cheese and bread and make open-faced sandwiches. When he handed the first to Rebecca, she almost swallowed it whole. Nick gave her a second piece before preparing one for himself.
By the third sandwich, her eating had slowed to normal speed and she was no longer shivering from shock. She studied her surroundings and saw that she was in a familiar stone chamber. “Have we come to the right time?”
“I think so. I’ve developed a sort of internal clock and it says we’re where we want to be.” He gestured at the white chalk walls. “It’s hard to say, though. This chamber doesn’t change much.”
He swallowed the last of his third sandwich. “Are you up to walking? We need to head toward the central hall. If there’s no one there now, we wait. Some of the Irregulars will eventually show up.”
Rebecca lurched to her feet, still drained by the mirror passage. “If no one is there, can I sleep for a few hours? A bed on cold chalk would be perfectly fine.”
Nick put an arm around her waist to steady her. “No need. The hall is furnished with old sofas and chairs so you can nap in comfort. The upholstery in this time isn’t as soft and comfortable as what we’re used to, though.”
Her curiosity flickered to life. “What was it like to come to a different time? Did you find it very confusing?”
“Actually, I’ve never been out of the Labyrinth.” He grinned as they walked from the chamber. “I’m hoping to remedy that this trip.”
“Having been shot at by the Nazis, do you now want to be shot at by the French?” she asked dryly.
“I don’t mind as long as their aim is bad.”
Footsteps sounded in the tunnel in front of them, and a moment later the petite and swift-footed Lady Victoria Mansfield tore around the curve ahead. Despite her ankle-length gown, her speed was impressive.
“You’re here!” Tory exclaimed. “I felt the mirror energy surge when you arrived. I’m so glad to see you!”
Nick released Rebecca and gave Tory a hug. “It’s good to be back! Are you going to let me out of the Labyrinth this time?”
“Absolutely!” Tory turned and caught Rebecca’s hands, her gaze searching. “How are you? The first trip through time is particularly difficult.”
Rebecca made a face. “An understatement! But Nick got me here safely.”
“You’re looking well. Less thin than you were.” Tory frowned. “But you feel cold. Let me give you some hearth witch magic.”
Rebecca hadn’t realized how cold she was until warmth flowed through her limbs, bringing comfort to every cell of her tired body. “I wish I could do that! Hearth witch magic, you say?”
“Yes, hea
rth witchery is several related abilities to control temperatures and keep a household running well,” Tory explained as she released Rebecca’s hands. “Most women have a touch of this kind of magic. It’s not common in men. Cynthia is very strong in hearth witchery. We can give you some training in it while you’re here.”
“I’d love that.”
As they started walking back the way Tory had come, Tory asked, “How do you like life in England?”
“I hate living apart from my family, but the Rainfords have been wonderful, and I love being back in school again.” Rebecca frowned. “But I don’t know how a novice like me can help you.”
“Perhaps you can’t,” Tory said soberly. “But we’re desperate because time is running out.”
CHAPTER 27
Lackland, 1804
When Tory had last seen Rebecca, the other girl had been gaunt and strained by the months of imprisonment and their dangerous escape. Now Rebecca was slim and composed, her dark hair sleek and her large gray eyes wise beyond her years.
Tory could also feel that Rebecca’s magic was much stronger and more focused now that she was receiving training. That didn’t necessarily mean she had the power to change a dictator’s mind … but it was grounds for hope.
They entered the central hall, where dozens of Irregulars were working in groups of half a dozen or so. Tory explained, “As you can see, it’s a class night, but the usual subjects have been suspended. We’re all working to maintain the magical wards that have been helping to hold off the French.”
Rebecca’s brows furrowed. “I can feel a great pressure. A … a kind of tug-of-war between invisible opposing forces.”
“That’s it exactly.” Tory scanned the room, catching the eyes of Allarde and Elspeth and the other time-traveling Irregulars. “Before we have our briefing session, do either of you need something to eat or drink?”
“We had bread and cheese as soon as we landed, but I could use a mug of hot tea,” Nick said. “And if there are any of Mrs. Rainford’s cakes, that would be even better. Rebecca, would you like the same?”
