Love's Past: A Twickenham Time Travel Romance

by Laura Bastian

  Jem shook his head. “You know that’s not true. You’re so fun and loving and kind to everyone you meet. You have a whole lot more to offer the world than just being a womb, like Reese likes to say.”

  “I love her,” Kaitlyn said. “She’s so blunt and straightforward. We’ve only had a few minutes every night to talk, but it seems like she’s not hating this world as much as she did when she first got here.”

  Jem nodded. “She’s warming up to it just a little, but there is no way she’d ever want to stay here. She can’t wait to get back home.”

  Kaitlyn chuckled. “I know. She was telling me how hard it is to get in her regular exercise. She tried to do it in her room but was too afraid of having all the servants come pester her. I doubt she’ll be able to last long if she can’t get some serious cardio in.”

  Jem smiled. “Yeah, she really likes her exercise.”

  Kaitlyn lifted her skirt just a little. “I feel like I get tons of exercise just walking around, carrying all this extra weight. And the daily rides help. But there really is too much sitting for my preference.”

  “So you don’t think you’d ever choose to stay here, would you?”

  Kaitlyn turned to her brother. His tone was too serious for her to take his question lightly. “Why do you ask that?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve heard some of the fae servants mentioning a couple of travelers who didn’t go home. They fell in love with someone and stayed.”

  “In a month?” Kaitlyn asked. “How could anyone ever fall in love that fast?”

  Jem shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess it happens to some.” He looked at her again. “You’ve been spending an awful lot of time with Sir Hughes Von Maughanhoe. And he is titled. A baronet, even. For some women, that would be a huge enticement for them to stay.”

  Kaitlyn sighed. “Jem, you should know me better than that. I’m having fun, and Jack is a perfect gentleman. He shows me all the proper respect required of a young woman in this time, but he has shown no interest in me personally. He’s this way with all the women he’s around.”

  Jem tilted his head to the side.

  “No really, Jem,” Kaitlyn continued. “And I have things to do at home. I just finished my vet tech program and I’m going to be working with Dr. Kameron with Dad’s horses. I have a life I don’t want to give up. This is just fun.”

  Jem gave her a side hug, pulling her close and squeezed her shoulder. “Glad to hear it. Because I don’t think Mom and Dad would ever forgive me if I let you stay here in the past.”

  Kaitlyn shuddered. “Can you imagine? Mom would come barging into Aunt Nellie's house, demanding she give me back. Nellie would probably cower in fear.”

  “Do you think anyone can come and go to visit someone in the past?” Jem asked after they stopped chuckling at the idea of their mother taking on Nellie.

  “I don’t know. Nellie is sure she can get us back. And we came here through the portrait in the first place. Maybe once we travel somewhere, we could come and go again if the magic reaches out and touches us again.”

  The sound of crunching gravel caused the two of them to turn around. Kaitlyn saw Cyrus and smiled. “Hello, Cyrus.”

  “Kaitlyn.”

  “Now, now, Mr. Manning, I must insist you refer to my sister in the proper manner. Miss Taylor to you, otherwise I’ll think you have an interest in my sister and will have to have a talking to you to determine your intentions toward her.”

  Kaitlyn snorted at Jem’s words, but Cyrus didn’t think it was funny. He gave Jem a look that Kaitlyn thought meant he wanted to strangle her brother.

  “Whatever, Jem. There’s no danger of anything from Cyrus. He has no interest in me. Cut him some slack.” She turned away, knowing Cyrus was probably annoyed at having to keep acting like a chaperone. Maybe she should ask Aunt Nellie to find him someone else to spend time with so he wouldn’t have to tag along with her. She knew he thought the whole thing was a bunch of nonsense.

  Ever since arriving in the past, things had seemed so much different than the fun and easy-going friendship they’d enjoyed at Nellie’s immersion week. She wished they could have gone back to that comfortable companionship. She missed being able to just hang out with him. Now he’d turned back into a protective older brother and she was reminded of how he’d never want more than that kind of relationship with her. Even with all the time they’d spent together, he had never moved past the cousin role. It would be best if she’d just push him out of her mind and stop pining for him. If she could find something to interest him, then maybe she’d be freer to just have fun and get over her stupid school girl crush.

  “Jem, Cyrus,” Kaitlyn said, turning back to the two men. “I was wondering... Do you think we might be able to convince Aunt Nellie to let us go into London?”

  The two looked at each other and she smiled at the surprise in their faces at her abrupt turn of thought. “Why?” Jem asked.

  “I just think it would be fascinating to see the differences in things from when we saw it last. The plays and operas are all very fancy things. I’d love to see all that happens in London in this time. What do you say? Should we see about going there?”

  She turned to Cyrus, who looked skeptical. “We could even let you check out all the buildings. Can you imagine being able to see them before they were restored or changed? Didn’t you tell me they were all a different color? You can see firsthand how different it really was.”

  “Don’t try to turn this on me,” Cyrus said with a frown, but he ruined the serious delivery when a crooked smile broke the corner of his lips. “You just want to go so you can have a chance to slip into one of those massive dances at some big events to say you’ve actually been to the London Season.”

  “Whatever,” Kaitlyn said. “From what I’ve heard, the Season is over.” Of course, the high and mighty in London always had something going on. The thought of being able to go to a huge ball with the actual Peers of England gave her the familiar flutter of anticipation.

  Jem chuckled. “I’m not sure about going. I’ll have to see if Reese is up to something of such magnitude. You could definitely check with Aunt Nellie and see if it is an option. She might have to get you some special invitations to go to that kind of stuff, wouldn’t she?”

  Kaitlyn nodded. “Possibly. I’ll ask her.”

  ***

  Returning from their walk, they found things at Nellie’s home in a frenzy. Even outside standing on the grassy side lawn and looking toward the huge manor, Cyrus could tell something was different. All the servants bustled about, preparing for something. Small carriages as well as large ones were being loaded with baskets, chairs, and umbrellas. Cyrus turned to Kaitlyn because Jem had left to go find Reese. “What’s happening today?”

  “The picnic.” Kaitlyn turned to look at him, and he knew she was probably annoyed that he wasn’t more observant.

  “Oh, that’s right. Isn’t that why Cora came back?”

  “Yes.” Kaitlyn turned to him. “I’m a little surprised she just up and left. Like she’s not afraid of anything. And after talking to her last night, she still plans to go back with May.”

  “Kinda crazy how all the people here just go hang out at each other’s homes.”

  “And they do it all the time. If you get bored of your place, you just go to someone else's.”

  “Do they invite themselves?”

  Kaitlyn chuckled. “Oh no, that would be totally rude, unless of course you were specifically invited by a close friend to drop in any time. Mostly the guys do it. The ones who went to school together and became close friends. But if you were a woman, you had to be invited by the lady of the house and have a chaperone and all kinds of stuff.”

  Cyrus listened as Kaitlyn explained some of the nuances of the time. He was glad he didn’t have to deal with it in person. But since he wasn’t rich in any way, he’d never have to deal with it. Everyone they had seen at these events had wealth or titles. Some had titles but needed money, so tha
t’s why they hung around all the rich young women looking for money.

  His thoughts went immediately to Jack. Cyrus didn’t know if he was poor, but from what he’d overheard there was definitely a need to revitalize his estate. If the guy spent some time at home, working on improvements instead of wasting his time on looking for a rich wife, he could probably do something on his own instead of trying to win Kaitlyn over like some insurance policy.

  As if thinking of the man sent out a bat signal, Sir Jack Hughes Von Maughanhoe turned the corner of the house and made a beeline for the two of them, where they stood watching the servants.

  “Miss Taylor, Aunt Nellie was wondering where you’d gotten off to.” He looked at Cyrus as if accusing him of stealing Kaitlyn away.

  Kaitlyn smiled and answered with ease, apparently not thinking the same thoughts that Cyrus had toward the man. “My brother Jem and I took a walk in the gardens, and then Cyrus joined us after a while. We’ve just been enjoying the bustle as everyone prepares for the picnic. They work like a well-oiled machine.”

  Jack nodded. “Aunt Nellie has mastered the art of efficiency. It’s like she’s been doing this forever. She never misses a single detail.”

  Kaitlyn smiled. “One could almost believe she possessed a little magic.” It was said quietly, but Cyrus heard it and smiled in return. Before she could return his smile, Jack offered his arm to Kaitlyn, effectively cutting him out of the picture.

  “Miss Taylor, may I escort you back inside to Aunt Nellie? She asked if you could help her with something. I cannot shirk my duties to make sure she sees you are safe and well. Then perhaps you’d like a few minutes to prepare for the day. Take a little refreshment before the carriages are to leave.”

  “I thank you, Sir Hughes.”

  She placed her hand on his arm and walked with him, leaving Cyrus behind to wonder if he would ever be able to think quick enough to beat Jack. Yet Kaitlyn would think his efforts at being a gentleman were lacking since he was so unused to all of this. Not wanting to follow behind like a lost puppy, Cyrus turned once more to watch the preparations of the picnic, but he felt like he was standing there with his tail between his legs.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Kaitlyn sat on the blanket and leaned against a pillow placed there. A small plate sat on her lap, carefully propped up with a fold of her skirt. Small groups of people sat and visited. A few smaller groups sat on chairs, but the atmosphere was very relaxed and light hearted. The difference of the interactions between those of status and those poorer people who still had earned an invitation from Aunt Nellie at the picnic compared to the formal dinners was well pronounced.

  Everyone was kind to everyone, but Kaitlyn could still see the very distinct line drawn between the classes. The servants standing in the background ready to serve if anyone needed anything almost disappeared until called upon by someone who might need something.

  As she talked with one of the ladies next to her, Kaitlyn had a hard time keeping her eyes and attention away from Jack. He wasn’t seated immediately near her, but as she watched him talk with another young lady, she admired how he was kind and attentive, but he didn’t do anything that indicated he was interested in the young lady. When the realization hit her that she felt relieved about that, she paused a moment, making her miss what her neighbor said.

  Kaitlyn scrambled to remember what they’d been talking about. “That’s too bad about your little dog. I’m glad your servant helped her by wrapping the paw. Tell me again what she put on it. I’ve always been fascinated by what kinds of treatments can be used for injured animals.”

  Lady Cappel scratched her little lap dog behind the ears. “I don’t know what she used, but I can be sure to ask her and I can send a letter to you about it. Do you have a dog yourself?”

  “Not currently. I had been away from home for a while at the university, so my parents didn’t want me to have a dog while I was gone. Once I move back home for good, I’ll get one.”

  “You have attended a university?” Lady Cappel asked.

  Kaitlyn nodded, having forgotten how strange it was that a woman going to school seemed so progressive and foreign to most of the people here. “I enjoyed it so much. I do hope that more women will be given the opportunity to attend schools. It will do so much good for the world. Can you imagine how wonderful it would be for a family if the mother was able to teach her children everything she had learned at school?”

  Lady Cappel seemed unsure of what to answer. “But that is why we hire the best tutors. To give our girls the languages and writing skills they need. There isn’t really a great need to send them away to the university as well as our boys.”

  “I do love how so many young women are taught the finer things. And languages are one thing I feel like I missed out on. How many languages do you know, Lady Cappel?”

  “I’m fluent in French and Italian,” she said. “And I can read and write in Latin.”

  “You truly are well taught,” Kaitlyn said, hoping to make her feel better about her slight against the women in England who hadn’t had a chance to be formally educated. As she glanced around the younger women, she wondered if any of them would get a chance. Would they even want to? Mostly it seemed that a girl’s grandest ambition would be an advantageous marriage. But what about all the young servant girls?

  Kaitlyn didn’t know when the women’s movement would affect these girls, but she hoped that they could someday be afforded some basic rights that had nothing to do with what family they had been born into.

  Lady Cappel’s attention was drawn away by the dog sitting in her lap and Kaitlyn allowed herself to study Jack as she nibbled on a piece of cheese. He spoke to the young lady beside him, who smiled prettily without any inappropriate movements or speaking on her part. She smiled and laughed softly, reminding Kaitlyn of when she’d been entertained by Jack. He was witty and smart and made her giggle more often than she had in a while, even bringing out some boisterous laughter. She’d caught the eye of many women when she laughed like that, so she had been working on being more demure, but Jack had made her feel comfortable and it was easy to enjoy being with him.

  The fact that he wasn’t sitting next to her now saddened her. She wished she had been situated closer to him. Instead she was surrounded by mostly women with a few of their husbands sprinkled around.

  Kaitlyn looked for Jem or Cyrus, but the two of them stood close to one of the carriages, having a conversation. Jem looked a little different than usual. Kaitlyn looked around for Reese, wondering where she was. She was surrounded by a bunch of young women, including Lady Ellen. Reese had taken to the girl and it was fun to see her interact with such a refined lady.

  Jem was probably trying to give them some privacy, but she did wonder why he hadn’t been with her more today. At least Cyrus wasn’t shadowing Kaitlyn. Apparently with all these people here, she wasn’t in any danger and he could ease up on his vigilance and brotherly concern.

  Too bad Jem was so occupied with Reese all this week. It would have been a lot of fun to hang out with him more, like they did before they had gone off to college. Thicker than thieves. He was falling for Reese, and she was so thrilled with the prospect of them getting together that she didn’t want to demand any more of his time than he was willing to give. Maybe that might keep him closer to home instead of all over the world in the traveling Broadway show he’d been with.

  Kaitlyn took another bite of the food on her plate and watched the others. She glanced at Nellie. When the cute old woman beckoned her to come over, Kaitlyn happily got up and joined her on the wicker bench that had recently been vacated by one of Nellie’s guests.

  “I noticed you weren’t talking to anyone for a moment, so I thought I’d ask how things were going.”

  “Wonderful. This picnic is perfect. I’ve always wondered what they were like. It’s so refreshing to see everyone so relaxed and at ease.”

  “They are one of my favorite things to do. I try to have one of them at l
east every few weeks when the weather allows. And today is a perfect day. I do believe we won’t have any rain interrupting us this time.”

  “Does that happen a lot?” Kaitlyn asked.

  “About half our picnics are cut short. Thankfully, very few have had to be canceled altogether. I am not completely adept at predicting the weather, but as I plan out the dates, I often get a sense for when would be a good time.” Aunt Nellie smiled wickedly. “Long ago, I had someone accuse me of being too lucky, so I had to occasionally guess wrong. Of course, I made sure the man who made that vile accusation had been invited as the guest of honor to the picnic that ended in a week-long rainy stretch. And he had to travel back home to his estate nearly a day’s drive in very unpleasant weather.”

  Kaitlyn chuckled. “You are so fun.”

  “Are you enjoying yourself today?” Nellie asked abruptly. “I noticed you weren’t as involved in conversation as I’ve seen you before in large gatherings. Where are your gentlemen friends?”

  Kaitlyn glanced back at Jack, then to her brother and Cyrus. “They are all around. I was talking to Lady Cappel and then had a few moments for eating.”

  “Now that you’ve been with us for a week, what are your thoughts of the area?”

  “I really do love it. It has been eye opening, of course. Many things I didn’t realize really went into the real-life experiences of so many people here. You know in books and movies, only the interesting things are shown. The love stories take the place of everything else.”

  Nellie smiled. “So tell me about your love story.” She nodded her head toward Jack, and Kaitlyn followed her gaze.

  “There is no love story,” Kaitlyn insisted. “I’m not a rich heiress. And I could never fall for someone in such a short amount of time. It’s only been a week.”

  Aunt Nellie patted her hand. “Time has nothing to do with it. Besides, living here, I know time is different. If you wanted, you could stay here as long as was needed for you to find love.”