***
Despite her words, Gillian waited up for him until it was almost two in the morning. When he still hadn’t returned, she gave up and went upstairs to bed. She barely drifted off to sleep when someone shook her awake.
"Aunt Gillian?" Tyler nudged her again.
Still sleepy eyed, it took her a second to realize Tyler was indeed in her room and not a vivid dream. She sat up. "Is something wrong?"
"I was just wondering where Uncle Zachary was?"
"Tyler, it's still dark out.” She didn’t know what time it was, but surely Zachary had come home by now. “Your uncle is probably still asleep."
"We're supposed to go fishing. Remember?"
"I know, but the sun hasn't come up, yet." She tried to lie back down, believing everything was settled, but Tyler was persistent.
"It will be light soon. When we get a chance to go fishing, we always leave before the sun rises. It's the best time to catch the fish."
She sat back up again. "I see. Did you check Zachary's room?"
"I did already. He's not there. I thought…well I thought he might be with you."
Gillian ignored what Tyler implied.
Zachary wasn’t home yet. Fear gripped her, but she couldn’t let Tyler know. “I'm sure Zachary will be home soon and he'll come and get you."
"He stayed out all night," Tyler accused with obvious disappointment.
"Come here.” She scooted over in the bed to make room for Tyler. "Here, lie down next to me and try to get some sleep. I'm sure Zachary hasn’t forgotten about you. I’ll bet he’ll be home any moment."
Zachary didn’t return home to take Tyler fishing, nor did he have the decency to make an appearance all day. As the afternoon eased into the evening, Gillian was frantic. What could have happened to him? Did the man who tried to kill him come after him again? She wanted to go into town, but she had no idea where to start looking.
She went out to the front porch and sat down on the steps to wait. The sun hung low in the sky and the heat wasn't as unbearable as it had been in the afternoon. Gillian had a hunch Zachary wasn’t in danger when she spotted Molly. She trotted over and sat down on her haunches beside her. She wagged her tail, while she basked in Gillian’s affection. “Where is he, girl?”
Molly licked her hand. Not exactly the answer she was looking for.
Gillian glanced up and spotted him in the distance. Relief spread through her, but then anger reared its ugly head, again. Zachary sauntered toward the house, his hat on his head as if he hadn’t a care in the world. She stood with her hands on her hips, determined to give him a piece of her mind for making them worry about him.
***
Zachary noticed Gillian waiting for him, he had a hunch she wasn’t there to greet him with a hug and kiss. Nevertheless, she was a sight for sore eyes even with that scowl of hers. He had been blessed with a profitable night… and day. Cyrus Locke never learned, always thinking he could pull a fast one on him. Zachary’s satisfaction came from proving him wrong.
He reached the porch and met Gillian’s glare head on. She was still angry that much was obvious. She flipped her auburn braid over her shoulder like a whip. "Where have you been?" Her tone was sharp.
He didn’t like it.
"I told you where I was going." He started up the steps. She didn’t move out of his way. Obviously she wasn’t going to let him pass until she had her say.
"You never said you were going to be gone for a day and half. Didn't you think we would worry?"
"I didn't know you cared." He tried to be light hearted by playfully reaching for her hand, but she promptly hit his hand away.
"Stop it. Frankly, I don't care what you do, but you have someone else who depends on you. You promised Tyler that you would spend a day with him and you left him disappointed.”
Zachary looked at her blankly. What was she babbling about?
She was good enough to inform him. “Fishing.”
"Hell and damnation!" he swore, as the awareness of what he had done sunk in. "I forgot."
"Obviously harassing Cyrus Locke took precedence over your nephew."
Zachary hadn’t slept in over twenty-four hours; he was beyond tired and wasn’t prepared to contend with her attitude. "What I am doing is for Tyler. Creighton Manor will be his inheritance."
"Do you think he cares about a house he has never seen? He wants you. He wants to spend time with his uncle. He looks upon you as a father, but you seem all too eager to ignore him."
"How dare you." His eyes narrowed. "You have no right to tell me how to take care of my nephew. We were doing just fine before you showed up."
"Well, I don't see it that way. You’re this close from death.” She pinched her forefinger and thumb together, shaking her hand in front of him.
"That's enough!" His voice thundered. "You have no right to fling accusations at me. It's none of your business and don’t start in with your nonsense of being sent from the future to save me. For all we know, it was nothing more than a freak accident. Hell, maybe you’re here so I can shake some sense into you.”
“What is that suppose to mean?”
“You live in a dream world, waiting for someone who most likely doesn’t exist. If you haven’t noticed, there’s a man here who took you as a wife.” He tapped his chest, his eyes blazing. “I’m flesh and blood, Gillian. I feel dammit! Grow up.” He nudged her as he went up the steps, ignoring the hurt expression on her face. He opened the door and was about to go in, but the iciness of her voice froze him.
"Since we are being so straightforward with each other, maybe you should think about how Tyler worries when you don’t come home. He thinks what happen to his parents is going to happen to you.”
Zachary closed his eyes for a moment. He never dreamt that Tyler would worry about him like that, but he wasn’t going to let Gillian know this. Instead, he opened his eyes and went into the house without uttering another word.
Gillian’s attention was drawn to Molly who whined at her feet. “Well, what do you have to say for yourself? You brought me here and for what? I think it’s time you take care of the fool and send me back home.”
Molly barked and took off in the other direction.
“Chicken,” she yelled after the mutt.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Lotti shook her head as she watched Zachary and Gillian wallow in their own misery with no one to blame but themselves. They addressed each other only with polite tolerance if one could call it that. She was more than a little disappointed. She thought by sending them on an outing together they would realize how much they truly cared for each other. Now all she saw was a bigger void than ever. Tyler in his innocence had let it slip to her that Gillian and Zachary were not even sleeping in the same room. She didn’t care how they ended up married. There was something dreadfully wrong when a married couple didn’t even share a bed. Unfortunately, she was at a complete loss at what to do to help.
***
The day of the wedding reception finally arrived. Gillian would meet prominent people of the town, friends and acquaintances. She was nervous because she didn’t know what social graces were expected of her.
Dora was going to help her dress for the party and fix her hair in the latest fashion. She also volunteered to keep an eye on Tyler. The little boy was so excited. He’d never before been allowed to attend a grown up party.
When they arrived at Lotti’s house, Lotti gave Gillian a grand tour. When the war broke out, the Creighton’s had wisely kept most of their funds in their Northern investments. Unlike some of the other Southern families, they by no means were hurting for money.
The elegance of Lotti’s home left her in awe. The furniture in the library was intricately carved with cartouche decorations. Plush cushions adorned them and rugs rich with colors of red, green and gold covered the wood floors. The parlor was adorned with rosewood furniture made by the famous furniture maker, John Henry Belter. Lotti told her it had been shipped from New York in twenty
different boxes.
In every bedroom, there were pier mirrors positioned between two large windows for the best lighting, and the bedroom she would be staying in had a large four-poster bed, which stood high off the ground. She needed a stepladder to climb onto it. The lace curtains were each tied back with deep-blue satin bows, matching the color of the comforter on the bed. The large dresser was carved with oak leaves. It was situated near the door next to a vanity table that had a large, oval mirror positioned above it.
With all the finery at Lotti's home, she couldn’t imagine what Creighton Manor had looked like since it was supposed to have been even more elegant.
When she heard the knock at the bedroom door, she jumped. She took a deep breath hoping she could calm her nerves. “Come in, the door’s open.” Both Tyler and Dora walked in at the same time. Tyler was all dressed up and his hair had been slicked back for the evening’s festivities. He was grinning from ear to ear. Again, Gillian was struck with the familiarity she saw in his small face. It had to be the smile. He looked like someone she knew, and yet she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
"How do I look, Aunt Gillian?" Tyler asked as he spun around for her.
Gillian loved the sound of being called aunt and was happy that Tyler seemed so comfortable with it. She smiled. "You look absolutely handsome."
"You should see Uncle Zachary. He's been fixing himself up, too."
"Gillian will see him soon,” Dora told Tyler. “Now, be off with yourself. And mind you, don't mess yourself up before the guests arrive.”
"I won’t. I'll see what Lotti is up to." Tyler ran down the hall in search of his great-grandmother.
"Now let's get you into your dress.” Dora shut the bedroom door. "Where’s your corset?"
"I'm not wearing that thing. I got rid of it."
Dora chuckled and shook her head. "I tell you, I don't blame you one bit." Dora looked Gillian over. "Besides, with that tiny waist of yours, you don't need something holding you in." The older woman went over to where Gillian's beautiful dress had been placed. She waited while Gillian removed her robe, then she slipped the garment over her head. The dress was a deep turquoise with beads sewn around the bodice and there were tiny buttons that lined the back of it. It took Dora nearly ten minutes to button every one. "Now let's take a look at you." Gillian turned around to face her. "Oh, you do look lovely. Now, let's put your hair up." She led Gillian to the vanity table. She talked while she did wonders with every strand of her long auburn hair. She twisted, folded and pinned, adding tiny flowers for added color. Gillian looked in the mirror. She couldn't believe the transformation. She actually looked like a woman who belonged in this time. "Do you like it?" Dora asked.
"You did a lovely job." Gillian lightly touched her hair. She looked at Dora’s reflection in the mirror, her eyes misting with gratitude. "Thank you."
"No trouble at all. When you have someone that looks the way you do, my job is all but done. You'll be the prettiest woman here tonight.”
Zachary knocked and asked for entrance. Dora did the honor, but before she let him in, she gave him a stern warning. "You’re in for a pleasant surprise, but no messing up your wife's hair mind you. Now move aside. I have to go check on Tyler and make sure he hasn't gotten himself into trouble.”
Zachary chuckled and moved aside and Dora headed down the hall. Zachary entered the room, shutting the door behind him. He stared as Gillian nervously ran her hand down the length of her dress. His imagination went where it shouldn’t. He remembered how his hands had caressed her body. His gaze wandered over her and lazily appraised every curve. A spike of heat hit him low in the gut and he forgot why he’d been angry with her. All he could think of was embracing her, while he devoured her lusciously, rosy lips.
He covered the spaces that separated them. Now he knew why Dora had made the comment not to mess up her hair. He would have liked nothing more than to ravish her, take every pin out and run his hand through her silky strands. He had to clear his throat before he could manage to articulate what he wanted to tell her. "You are absolutely breathtaking." The huskiness of his voice had to have given him away. She must know he wanted her.
“May I say you look rather dashing yourself?" Her cheeks flushed, only heightening her beauty.
He smiled. "Compliment accepted. You know, I have missed you." He couldn't resist touching her cheek with the back of his hand. "So many times I have tried to apologize to you for my behavior. Forgive me for not doing so sooner." He met her gaze, beseeching her to accept his apology.
"I’ll forgive you, only if you do the same for me."
“Fair enough,” Zachary said as he leaned down and gently brushed her lips with his. He heard the little intake of her breath. He wondered why she continued to deny them being together when he could sense she felt the same strong attraction that he did. “I have something for you.” He pulled out the item from his coat pocket. “My father gave it to my mother on their wedding day." He opened his hand and she saw that he held an exquisite flowered broach. "I would be honored if you would wear it.”
Her eyes misted and her throat seemed to grow thick. “It's so beautiful." She turned the broach over and read the inscription on the back: To my love, Creighton.
"May I?" Zachary asked indicating he would like to pin the broach to her dress. She nodded and he fastened the broach to the material of her bodice.
The task completed Gillian raised her hand to tenderly touch the elegant piece of jewelry. Her eyes brimmed with tenderness. "Thank you, Zachary."
He was about to kiss her again, but Lotti walked in. They both immediately took a step back from each other.
"I didn't realize you'd be in here, Zachary. I hope I wasn't interrupting anything.” Lotti’s brows lifted slightly in question as she eyed both of them.
"No Lotti,” Zachary answered. “You weren't interrupting anything."
"Hmm.” She shook her head and then turned her attention to Gillian. “You do look fabulous in that dress. The other women will be green with envy.” Lotti’s eyes sparkled with her obvious pride.
"You look wonderful too." Gillian returned the compliment.
Lotti was indeed a striking woman. Her gray hair was loosely pinned into a bun and she wore a light colored dress that flattered her baby blue eyes. Gillian noticed she had her cane with her, polished and gleaming gold in the light.
"Come on. We must go downstairs and greet the guests. They'll be here any moment," Lotti urged as she headed out of the room.
Zachary took Gillian’s hand. He was ready to follow his grandmother, but Gillian didn’t budge. He looked at her questionably. "Is something wrong?"
"I'm just a little nervous, you know . . . meeting everyone."
"Well don't be. Believe me, they'll all be enchanted." She met his reassuring gaze and forced herself to settle down. She could do this.
Luckily, for Gillian, the first guest to arrive was Ellery. His gregarious laughter would put anyone at ease. "Why Gillian, you look ravishing." He always knew what to say. He took her hand in his and kissed it. Then he went to Lotti. "And you are stunning as usual."
"Be gone with you, now. Flattery will get you nowhere. I'm too old for your Tom Foolery." Nevertheless, she could tell that Lotti was pleased by his compliment.
They went into the large decorated room and waited for everyone to arrive. Within minutes, four other guests walked through the door, followed by the arrival of Cyrus and Josephine Locke.
"Married life has treated you well, Mrs. Creighton." Cyrus bowed.
"I can't believe the transformation," Josephine exclaimed as her gaze traveled the length of her.
"I’ll take that as a compliment." Gillian chuckled. She realized their first meeting had left them with a poor image of her.
"Oh, yes indeed. You are quite fetching and . . . "Josephine touched the delicate broach Gillian was wearing. “What an exquisite piece. Wherever did you find it?”
Gillian smiled. “It was a gift from Zachary.
”
“Well, I say it is . . .” Josephine was unable to continue her conversation for another couple came in and began to monopolize Gillian’s attention.
"This is the angel of the night?” a tall young man exclaimed as he pushed his way through to be introduced, skepticism ringing in his voice. "You are such a little thing. How in the world did you ever manage to pull Zachary out of the river? It couldn’t be possible.”
The man had drawn the other's attention and they gathered around. Gillian looked at the eager faces that were ready to hear more. She looked to Zachary for help, but he had moved away and didn't know what was happening. She stammered at first, but then she saw Ellery. He winked and held up a glass of champagne as a salute. She regained some of her composure and cleared her throat. "I did what any other person would have done. I just jumped into the water, after him. I couldn't very well let him drown, could I?"
"Nobody in his or her right mind would jump into the river in the dead of night,” another man argued. “Don’t you know what lurks below the depths?”
“It was a foggy night, too. I remember that night well,” someone offered his rendition.
Everyone around murmured their agreement and waited anxiously for Gillian to defend herself.
Ellery decided to come to the rescue and broke through the crowd. "Now, I was there. It was a foggy night just as you have said, Daniel.” He nodded his head toward the man who stood at Gillian’s right elbow.
Zachary realized how quiet the room became and moved closer to hear.
“Gillian saw, as did I,” Ellery continued, “that Zachary, after his struggles with an unsavory sort had tumbled backwards into the roaring water below. I, at the time was preoccupied with one of the hooligans that had decided to jump me. I saw Gillian run toward the edge and dive into the deep waters below. I’ll tell you, I thought it was over for the both of them. Now by this time, others heard the commotion and yelled for help. So desperate was I to get to the water’s edge that my attention was not on the man that attacked me. Unfortunately, he escaped unnoticed.
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