TABLE OF CONTENTS
Another day to begin an adventure
The battle has begun
Illusions of Grandeur fade quickly
If dreams could come true
First Impressions
Throwing caution to the wind
If you spy, you better do it right
Mixed Signals
Some things never change
Hasty Decisions
The Past Collides
What comes around goes around
A new day, another dawning
Some dreams do not fade
Wandering Minds
Treachery has many Faces
When opportunity knocks
Watch where you are going
There’s no time like the Present
Beware of the green-eyed monster
Second Guessing
Desperate Measures
Split in Two
Desperation
Twisted
TIME TO REMEMBER
A Ravenhurst Series Novel
Book Three
LORRAINE BEAUMONT
Text Copyright © by Lorraine Beaumont
Time to Remember Copyright © 2012 by Lorraine Beaumont
Ravenhurst Series Copyright © 2012 by Lorraine Beaumont
The Ravenhurst Series Copyright © 2012 by Lorraine Beaumont
All rights reserved. Except permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976., no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Owlet Press
First Edition 2012
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.
Editor: The Editing Fairy, Teri Gibson Copy Edit/Proofreader: Second Look Editing, L Jones Copy Edit/Proofreader: Ivy Post
Poem: Windy Blye
Beaumont, Lorraine,
Time to Remember: a novel/by Lorraine Beaumont‑1st ed.
Cover design-By LD Designs llc.
Interior Formating: LL Freelance
Summary: This is the third book in the Ravenhurst Series. Raven Tremaine has no idea what lays in store for her when she takes a temporary job at a prestigious auction house. Thinking one of her dreams is coming true she enthusiastically accepts an assignment from her employers to document the contents of Ravenhurst Estate, and ancient edifice where the girl who was formerly in her position had supposedly disappeared from, not to mention has an ominous legend attached to it. Not one to be deterred she ignores all the warning bells and accepts the job in spite of it all. She is not going to let a silly legend to stand in her way of becoming an appraiser, her ultimate dream job. However, little does she know that within the walls of Ravenhurst are secrets long since buried and when she finally has a chance at her very own happiness will she risk everything to help another and may inevitably loose everything she has ever dreamed of in the process.
Printed in the United States of America
For Christina
*fingers crossed*
Another day to begin an adventure
PRESENT DAY
“GET out of here!” Raven nearly shouted and then quieted when she saw the questioning glance from one of her co-workers as they walked past the front reception desk. “Seriously?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at Cecily, one of the top appraisers at her temporary job.
“I swear I am not kidding. I overheard the Double Bs talking and they mentioned your name,” Cecily gushed out just above a whisper.
The Double Bs, Frank Biddle and Lawrence Bailey, were the owners of the auction house where Raven was temping. They set the bar for auction houses, bringing finesse and discretion into the world of resale for the insanely rich. They handled not only the finest antiquities in the world, but also the homes, clothes, jewelry, etc. for the wealthy. Biddle & Bailey had earned a reputation unlike any other. If you had your possessions were consigned with them, you were one of the elite and would definitely make bank off the sale of your stuff.
If you were a buyer, you were not only guaranteed fine merchandise, but also an experience you would remember forever. Their auctions were an event, comparable to the Golden Globes. They were by invitation only and always catered by some fabulous, renowned restaurant or up and coming chef. Gilded chairs placed around small intimate tables with settings of the finest china, silver, and crystal…
Cecily tapped her vampy red, perfectly polished nails on the top of the desk, bringing Raven back from her mindless tangent. “Well? Are you going to do it if they ask you?”
“Ah, yeah,” Raven said resolutely. “I’d be insane not to.”
Cecily leaned in. “Even though the last girl who worked here went missing while she was there?”
Raven waved off the comment, flicking her wrist. “Well who really knows what happened to her? For all we know she took off with some rich guy from the party and is now whooping it up on his private island out in the Caribbean somewhere. Like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.”
Cecily laughed. “Raven, Julia was a prostitute in that movie. And she wasn’t on some island either; they were in California—Hollywood, to be exact.”
“Whatever.” She made a face. “You get what I am trying to say.”
“I was there remember?” added Cecily. “I didn’t see any Richard Gere’s floating around.” She stuck out her lip in a pout. “No, not even close. I was stuck prying a short balding windbags hand off my ass all night.” She made a face, shaking her body in disgust.
Raven laughed. She loved Cecily. She was crazy. She had men falling all over themselves to take her out. She wore only Tiffany jewelry and had a sweet tattoo on the back of her neck, which you couldn’t see unless she lifted her hair up. Today her short brown-layered hair had streaks of bright red highlights in it. She just had it done by some up and coming hairdresser she liked to use. Her wardrobe was another story; she was always dressed to the nines, very professional and put together, but super stylish at the same time. Thank goodness, she was not standoffish like so many other women in this profession. No, Cecily was fun and didn’t care about getting a little nasty.
Cecily tapped the desk. “Earth to Raven…”
“Sorry.” She lifted her shoulders apologetically.
“Besides,” added Cecily. “She had a date.”
“Who was her date?” Raven asked, leaning in.
Cecily inclined her head towards the elevator.
Raven looked past Cecily at Ned as he sailed across the reception area floor. Raven suddenly wished she had a stopwatch to time him. He was flying, his body following his head. He reminded her of a goose taking off.
“Hey Ned,” Cecily called, ending Ned’s flight in an abrupt halt.
Ned smiled and turned towards the desk, his pace noticeably slower than a moment before. “Well hullo, ladies.”
Cecily smiled at Ned in a conspiratorial way. “So I heard the Double Bs are thinking of sending someone out to the Ravenhurst estate to take inventory of the house’s assets. You hear anything?” she questioned raising her perfectly arched brow.
“What?” Ned’s eyes widened significantly. “Are you serious? Who in the hell would want to go there? They had better not ask me! I’ll refuse, I swear I will!” he replied adamantly.
“Calm down Ned. They aren’t going to ask you,” she assured him. “I heard they are going to ask Raven.”
N
ed’s eyes got even bigger. “Oh no, not you Raven. You don’t want to do that,” he warned just above a whisper.
Raven sat up further in her chair. “Why wouldn’t I? It’s a freaking castle, isn’t it?” she asked, thinking it may be the coolest thing she ever got to do. Ned looked mortified. She tried to console him. “Besides Ned, how else am I going to be able to secure my job here? It can’t really be that bad, can it?” Raven asked, not even caring what his answer was.
“Well, the house itself is phenomenal, but what happened there is a bit… um… creepy.” He shivered for effect.
Raven sighed. “Ned, it can’t be that bad. You just don’t like it because your date left without telling you. That doesn’t mean the place is creepy,” she replied callously. Ned’s face went pale from her harsh words and immediately she felt terrible. “Bedsides, Ned, didn’t she take your dress, too? How rude!” she said, stressing the rude part, hoping anger would pull him back from Depressionville. She raised her brows up and down like Groucho Marx, trying to lighten the mood.
Ned recovered his color and tapped his chin. “Yes, she did go missing and with my latest acquisition as well.” He lowered his voice. “I’ll tell both of you something in the strictest confidence,” he said, leaning in closer. “Katherine was wearing a consignor’s necklace too. I know I saw it on her. She wore it to the party.” He shook his head sadly. “And I have to say we were having an excellent time before she left me standing with Amelia and went off to use the ladies’ room. I never saw her after that; she simply disappeared,” he said with an ominous tone.
“Oh please, Ned.” Raven said, even though his tone made gooseflesh rise on her arms. “You are too hard on yourself.” She rubbed her arms. “She probably met someone and just ditched you with Amelia. It’s too bad she took your gown and a consignor’s necklace with her though.” Raven had to wonder why the Double Bs weren’t freaking out about that little piece of information.
Ned pressed his thin shoulders back. “Oh no, Katherine would not have left me without saying something. She had impeccable manners, you know,” he stated adamantly.
Raven had no idea if Katherine had impeccable manners or not. She was too busy trying to keep a straight face and not laugh at Cecily, who kept making faces. “I know!” She lifted her finger in the air. “Maybe she stole the necklace and pawned it. I bet she took the money and is off on some island right now, enjoying Juan, the towel boy, and a delicious Margarita, soakin’ up some rays on a white sandy beach.”
“That’s what I’d be doing,” Cecily reaffirmed.
Ned’s face started to turn red. “I tell you, something untoward happened to her. Thieving was simply not in her makeup. Katherine was a sweet, lovely girl. Ask anyone.”
Cecily made a circle over her head like a halo for an angel.
Raven bit her lip, trying not to laugh.
“Fine, Ned… calm down,” Cecily admonished. “We believe you.” She shook her head behind him, making her hair flip back and forth.
Ned looked relieved… poor Ned. Apparently, he took Katherine deserting him pretty hard…or was it the dress he was having a cow over? Either way, from what she heard, he and Amelia were a pretty hot item now. She was one of the appraisers dealing in antique jewelry. It was too bad about Katherine though, she wondered what really happened to her.
Cecily looked at her Movado watch, noting the time. She hit the marble top of the desk, making her bracelet and ring clank loudly on the top. “Well, lovies, it’s been real, but I think it’s about that time… I hear a Margarita calling me and maybe I can find my own Juan to do the honors,” she laughed out as she winked at Raven. “If the Double Bs ask you… be careful girl,” she said on a more serious note. Then she patted Ned’s ass and sauntered away. Her sweet leopard Jimmy Choo heels clicked softly on the marble as she made her exit.
Ned’s face flamed with embarrassment. Raven smiled up at him, shaking her head. The phone rang, breaking the silence that followed. It was the Double Bs. She listened for a few minutes and then set the phone back down into the cradle. It seemed she was going to Ravenhurst after all…she could hardly wait!
The battle has begun
THE AGE OF CHIVALRY
METAL rang out against metal, sending jarring ripples across his body as Darias, deflected another deadly blow. This one just missed the side of his head. His concentration was broken as his gaze drifted past his opponent to a distant ridge. There was something jumping up and down, waving its arms… or were they wings? He knew it was not a natural sight. Was it a sign? Had his luck run out? Could it be a witch casting a spell against him and his men? A chill passed over him.
***
Jayce held tightly to his sword hilt, swinging madly as he dodged another fatal strike from his opponent. Bastard. He countered his assault. He was going to gut the whoreson and enjoy doing it…until he caught sight of his brother, Darias. He should have dispatched his opponent long ago, but still, he fought. His movements were not as swift as they normally were. What in the hell was the matter with him? Was he wounded? He could not tell from his vantage point.
Sweat ran down the sides of his face, dripping steadily onto his armor as he swung his sword up in an arc, blocking another blow. He nudged his horse forward; he couldn’t get close enough to see if Darias was in need of help or not. Worry was quickly replaced by anger as Jayce wielded his sword with deft precision, hacking away at his opponent. Warm sheets of blood rained over his face and mail, but he continued his relentless assault until there was nothing left of his enemy.
***
Young Milford brushed his long bangs out of his face and looked across the ridge. A chill ran up his spine when he saw the aberration in the distance.
“Oh, no,” he gasped in a voice too small, shutting his eyes tightly. “Please go away, please go away,” he begged, hoping against hope it was deep-seated guilt making him hallucinate for not participating in the battle. It couldn’t be real. Lifting his hand in the air, his palm sideways. North, south, east, and west, he turned slowly in a circle, crossing himself, as he always did to be sure he was covered on all sides. He took a breath and held it until he was on the verge of falling over, and only then did he peer out from under his lashes.
The gruesome creature had vanished. A sense of pride filled his body as he pushed his narrow shoulders back, convinced he had very likely just saved the day.
***
A lone rider watched the battle from the edges of the tree line with mild interest, chewing on a hearty piece of wheat. He scrubbed his hand over his face and leaned forward in his saddle, looking at the battle taking place in the valley below. He could see the way the fight was going. The Raven Knight had swooped in yet again and was close to destroying all in his path. It was a sight to behold, but also predictable. Darias and his men always won. No big surprise there.
Leaning back in his saddle, he stretched his tight muscles from sitting in one place for too long. He was biding his time, waiting for the end of the battle, already knowing who would be the victor this day.
“What the …?” He narrowed his eyes and leaned forward… “Could it be?” No, his eyes most certainly had to be playing tricks on him. But it did look like Darias was taking an exceedingly long time to dispatch his opponent.
“Good Lord man! He is practically a cripple,” he yelled out in irritation, running his hand through his shoulder-length, sandy blonde hair. He did not want to fight, not one bit.
“Darias, move your ass, man!” Bloody hell that was all he needed. He was close to charging his horse down the hillside to help Darias…
“Where the hell is Jayce?” His gaze searched the battlefield for a bright golden head of hair, unnaturally lovely for a man. He spotted him, hacking his sword with deft precision as he split his assailant’s head in two. Blood spurted up like a fountain into the air. Well, so much for that.
At least now, Jayce could help his damn brother, so he, Gaitland d`Mezerach, wouldn’t have to. He was finished fighti
ng. He neither wanted nor needed to fight for someone else’s lands or cause. Self-preservation was the utmost in his mind. Someone else’s spoils were not worth his life… none of it would ever belong to him, anyway. He was not a bitter man; he found he just did not care any longer.
***
The battle was over quickly. The last enemy gurgled out his remaining breath as the fatal wound seeped crimson on the valley floor.
***
“Bloody Hell!” Gaitland groaned out and spat the wheat he was chewing out of his mouth. His shoulders slumped. He spit again onto the ground and reined his horse around, heading down into the valley where the battle had just been fought. Keeping to the edges, he made sure no one was paying him any heed, and quickly dismounted. A soldier lay upon the ground, covered in blood, his eyes staring sightlessly towards him.
“Sorry,” he whispered as he shoved his sword into the fallen soldier’s still form. He pulled it out and wiped the bloodied blade across his mail in a few places, then re-sheathed his sword. Swinging back up into his saddle, he squeezed his muscled thighs, sending his horse into a slow gallop to join Darias and the other soldiers gathering in the distance.
***
The massive warhorse danced sideways, shifting under Darias’s weight. The darkness receded and the sun reappeared with glaring force as he looked across the valley floor with a heavy heart at the fallen men. He silently prayed for their souls. Battle was never pretty… there was no glory in death. It was either he and his men or his enemies; he chose the latter. The sun seared his back as he looked up towards the ridge in the distance.
“Brother, what has taken your attention and held it so completely?” Jayce asked as he rode up alongside Darias.
“I see you have survived.” Darias smiled, seeing his brother was no worse for wear. “Any unsightly wounds you need tended? Or other ailments you care to complain about?”
TIME TO REMEMBER: A NEW ADULT TIME TRAVELING ROMANCE (RAVENHURST SERIES) Page 1
