by Kit Morgan
“Yes, I’m fine.” At the moment. She glanced at Asger again and thought of that morning. Feeling like you’re being stabbed in the breadbasket was anything but fine. Was Asger thinking the same thing? Had Albert suffered anything? “You – how are you?”
He gave Asger a sharper look. “I’ve had better days, but sometimes you’re helpless to do anything about it.”
Mitzi looked at Asger again, then noticed Mildred staring at Albert. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing, dear, I just … well, fancy you two running into each other here.”
Mitzi knew what she meant. Mildred must’ve surmised that Albert was from the future too. “Yes, it’s a miracle.” She looked at Asger, who was staring at them like they each had a third eye. He had no idea they were from another century, did he? She’d have to speak with Albert alone to find out. She turned back to him and found he was giving her a look that said he wanted to speak with her too. “Would you excuse us for a moment?” she asked Asger.
“I’d rather not,” Asger said warily.
Mitzi glanced between them, then focused on Albert. “How did you say you got to the castle?”
Albert frowned. “I didn’t say. The prince’s men found me in the forest and …”
Mitzi thought of the group of guards she saw that morning, the bound man with him, and spun on Asger. “How could you?”
“What did I do?” he asked with a shrug.
“Did you arrest him? I saw a man brought in this morning.”
“What? How could you … oh, yes, you’re in the north tower.”
She pointed at Albert. “And he was tied up!”
“I was,” Albert grumbled.
“Could’ve been worse – he …” Mitzi gestured at Asger. “… hauled me here over his shoulder like a sack of grain.”
Albert’s jaw dropped. “What?”
“Enough, enough,” Asger said, rubbing his forehead. “We didn’t know who either of you were, it’s a dangerous time, you’re both safe, there was no real harm done to either of you and now you’re together again.” He sighed and looked at them both. “I …” he swallowed hard, as if his next words were painful. “I’m sorry for the inconvenience, and I’ll see what I can do to get you home.”
Mitzi stared at him. For some reason, his words stung. Literally – she suddenly hurt all over. How could this be? Still, she said the only thing she could. “Thank you.”
Chapter Seventeen
Asger nodded at Mitzi and tried not to glare at Albert. Why was he so angry? He should be happy he’d reunited her with her friend, but every nerve felt as if it were on fire. He wanted to hit something – why? Had he made a mistake? He couldn’t imagine what. He knew Albert was no more a spy than he was. Why was he becoming so upset?
No, it wasn’t Albert that was the source of his unease … it was Mitzi. A gnawing deep down in his core warned him that if he let her go, something terrible would happen. But what could he do? King Bjorn was arriving tomorrow with Velta, and … “Mitzi?” he heard himself whisper.
She turned to him. “Yes?”
He shook his head. “It’s nothing.”
“Are you quite all right, Your Highness?” Lady Mildred asked. “You don’t look well.”
He closed his eyes, opened them. What was happening? He swallowed hard. “I must prepare for tomorrow.” He nodded at Albert. “I’ll have a room prepared for you.” He turned to Lady Mildred. “In the lower part of the north tower. You’ll show him?”
Lady Mildred curtsied. “Yes, Your Highness.”
He turned to leave.
“Asger, wait!”
He stopped but didn’t turn around. He felt something slipping away and wasn’t sure what.
“Asger.” Mitzi went to stand in front of him. “What’s wrong?”
His eyes widened as he studied her. She looked upset. “I’m not sure,” he whispered. He glanced toward the others. “Are you feeling all right?”
“Well, no, now that you mention it.” She put her hand on her belly. “But it’s not like this morning. It’s …”
“… Empty.”
Her eyes met his. “Yes.” She glanced over his shoulder at Albert and Lady Mildred. “He’s not a spy. Neither am I.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you acting so funny?”
He laughed weakly. “As opposed to what? You don’t know me.”
“No.” She looked away. “I don’t. But …”
He stepped closer, and the emptiness lessened. He swallowed hard. “But what?”
“Never mind. It’s silly.”
“Is it?” He took another step, then another, shattering propriety. He was surprised Lady Mildred hadn’t said anything yet. He met Mitzi’s gaze again and his heart pounded. “There’s nothing you can say that would be sillier than what’s already happened.”
She smiled. “You don’t know me very well either.”
He liked the way her eyes brightened when she spoke, when she smiled. He liked being close to her, and wanted to be closer. “Mitzi …”
“Asger?” She looked into his eyes, and he felt her reach into his soul, the most frightening, heart-wrenching, yet exhilarating moment of his life. This woman whom he’d known less than twenty-four hours had not only gotten under his skin, but into his heart. He didn’t know how, or why, but he couldn’t deny the sensations pulsing through him: new life, new love, a presence he couldn’t describe. It was as if she’d stepped into his mind, sat and was now waiting for him.
“Asger?” she said softly. “Are you okay?”
He swallowed hard again, his mouth suddenly dry. He wanted to kiss her … but that was insane. He didn’t dare, especially not with Lady Mildred nearby – and Princess Velta a day away. “I should go.” The words physically pained him, a stab to his liver. “No …”
“Asger?” she repeated, alarmed.
He didn’t answer. He had to get to his chambers. Father would want to brief him on tomorrow’s happenings – the most important being how he’d be presented to Velta and her father. He stumbled off, both hands at his belly.
“Asger!”
He stopped and turned, saw Mitzi holding her stomach as well and gasped.
“Mitzi!” Albert ran to her before he could, took her shoulders and turned her to face him. “What’s wrong?”
She looked at her friend, then at Asger, and shook her head.
Asger swallowed the lump in his throat. She couldn’t explain what was happening either, but it was obvious it was happening to both of them. This wasn’t from something they ate. This phenomenon he couldn’t explain, nor why he felt better every time he drew near her and worse when leaving her. “Mitzi,” he said gently. “We will speak later, understood?”
She nodded despite the fear in her eyes.
“Mitzi?” Albert said.
“Not now, Al.” She stumbled over to Asger and groaned quietly, “I think … we have a lot to talk about … don’t we?”
“Yes,” he rasped. “I don’t understand why this keeps happening.”
“Neither do I. But there has to be an explanation.”
He nodded, took a step closer and felt the pain lessen. Out of curiosity, he took her hand, squeezed … and it faded further. He also noticed she looked relieved. “Is it going away?” he inquired.
She nodded and glanced at Albert and Lady Mildred. “You should go.”
“I think we both know what’ll happen if I do.”
“But you must.” She looked at their hands, shut her eyes tight, then pulled hers from his grasp.
“Mitzi?” He felt the pain hit him, and knew it hit her too. He was at a loss as to what was happening. Heaven knew what he’d do tomorrow when he was presented to Velta and her father. He had a terrible sense he was falling in love – with the wrong woman. Could that be why they were hurting so?
As painful as it was, Asger turned on his heel and marched away. He had to sort everything out as best he could, and wasn’t sure he had tim
e to.
“Mitzi!”
She turned, saw the stricken look on Albert’s face and sighed. “What is it, Albert?” She hated the sound of her voice – like she was getting over the flu.
He pointed at Asger’s retreating form. “You tell me. What was all that whispering about? And are you sick?”
She turned and glimpsed Asger rounding a corner and disappearing behind a hedge. Thank Heaven his sister and brother hadn’t come along. They’d have a hard time explaining what just happened between them. She’d have a hard time explaining it to Albert, especially since she didn’t know what had happened.
“Oh, you poor sweet child,” Mildred said. “You’re not feeling well, are you?”
“I’ve been better,” she admitted.
“I thought you were fine,” Albert said with concern. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know!” she snapped.
Albert took a step back. “You don’t have to get angry at me – I’m just worried about you.”
She rubbed her forehead and sighed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to get testy.”
“Perhaps you should return to your chamber and go to bed, dear,” Mildred suggested.
“No,” Albert said. “Mitzi and I have to talk. In private, if you don’t mind.”
Mildred gave Mitzi one last look of concern. “Fine. I’ll just go find a guard to chat with.”
Mitzi and Albert looked around. She didn’t see any guards, had forgotten all about them, but they had to be lurking in the shadows somewhere. “Thank you, Mildred. We won’t be long.”
“Very well, then, my dear. I won’t be far.” She vanished into the surrounding shrubbery.
“Well?” Albert said. “What’s going on? Where the heck are we?”
Mitzi began to pace. “When you told me how you got here, did you leave anything out?”
“Of course not. I told that prince and his goons the same thing. Your story matches, unless you left something out.”
“No.” She continued to pace. She had left out the part where she landed in Asger’s lap, because Albert would never let her live it down, but it wasn’t really germane. “All right, have you been told where and when you are?”
“When?” he said, perplexed.
She nodded. “Yes. Because apparently we’re in 1889.”
Albert blinked a few times. “What?”
“Al, look around!” She waved her hand in the air. “That’s a freaking castle over there! There’s the Queen’s Woods and a Victorian-era village nearby. For crying out loud, look at how they dressed us! The technology you’ve seen! Make that the lack of, and poof! We’re in a minor European principality in the 19th century!”
Albert glanced at their clothing, then at the surrounding shrubbery and flowers, and finally the castle. “Sweet chocolate ice cubes.”
“Not exactly the words I used when I finally accepted it.”
He spun to her. “How did you figure it out? I’ve heard of small countries in Europe that look the way they did a hundred years or more ago. What makes you think this is that?”
“Because I didn’t ‘figure it out’ – I was told by the queen and prince consort themselves.”
“That prince?” he pointed at the path Asger used when he left.
“No,” she said with a sigh. “His dad, the queen’s husband.”
Albert gaped at her. “So there really is a queen? And her husband, is he like Prince Philip is to Queen Elizabeth?”
“I think so, a prince consort.”
Albert whistled. “Wow, okay. So we wound up in the past, is that right?”
He was grasping it far better than she had. “I know it’s hard to believe, but what other explanation is there?” She paced some more. “And there’s something else.”
He was watching her, his head moving back and forth like he was following a tennis match. “What?”
“Something’s happening between Asger and me.”
“Asger? I keep wanting to call him ‘Asgard.’ You two are on a first-name basis?”
“What do you care?” she barked. “Oh, never mind. I don’t know what this is other than a stomach ache.”
“What?”
“I said, never mind. Look, Andel and Maddie …”
“Who?”
“The queen and the prince consort. Anyway, Mildred told me …”
“Mildred … is she the redhead who dresses like a Doctor Who character?”
“Yes. She told me that strange things happen when certain of the queen’s friends are around. Specifically, that good-looking couple that came into Java King a few days ago – the Scotsman and his wife?”
His mouth fell open. “You mean Dallan and Shona?”
“The same. They must be some sort of time travelers. I know, it’s bizarre, it’s loony, but it’s the only explanation I’ve got. Maybe we stepped through some sort of weird portal.”
“A TARDIS would be cooler.”
“Enough with the Doctor Who, okay?” No wonder Albert was handling it better – he read and watched science-fiction stuff all the time, the nerd. “This is serious – what do we do? Back in our time, we’re missing. And here, we don’t know how everything works. We could screw things up big time.”
He nodded. “I guess the only thing we can do is find Dallan and Shona and demand they take us back.”
“Yes, but where are they?” She crossed her arms. “First, we’ll have to talk to Andel and Maddie. They think they’re the reason we’re here too.” She looked confused. “Do they know you’re here?”
He shrugged. “Dallan and Shona? I have no idea. So far only your prince and a Captain Kolbeck know.”
Mitzi got a tingle up her spine at the words “your prince” and hoped nothing showed on her face. “I haven’t met a Captain Kolbeck.”
“Lucky you.” Albert rubbed his face a few times. “Okay, so let’s talk to the queen and her hubby. Then we’ll find Dallan and Shona and make them take us home.”
“Albert?”
“What now?”
“Aren’t you wondering why they brought us here in the first place?”
He bit his lip as he thought. “I don’t think I’m supposed to be here.” His eyes met hers. “I think they meant to bring you, and I stumbled in by accident.”
Mitzi nodded. “That makes sense, but it still doesn’t answer the question. Why would they want me here?”
Dallan, Shona and Lany followed Captain Kolbeck to Andel and Maddie’s private sitting room. “Her Majesty will be with you shortly,” the captain said. “In the meantime, please enjoy some tea.” He turned to a footman, who poured.
Dallan watched the captain leave and close the doors behind him. “He’s a man of few words.”
“I wonder if he doesn’t like us,” Shona said.
“How long has he been here?” Lany asked.
Dallan watched the footman prepare their tea. “I couldna tell ye, Master Lany. We havena been here for some time.”
“One more reason you shouldn’t have dumped poor Mitzi in the woods,” Lany chastised. “I’m angry at myself. We really should rethink how we’re doing this”
“We haven’t got this down yet,” Shona said. “We will in time.” She picked at a fingernail. “I hope.”
“I’m sure it took the heathen a couple decades to get the hang of it,” Dallan added.
“But Kwaku was mostly busy preventing wars, famines and plagues,” Lany said. “The only matchmaking he ever did was you two.”
Dallan pointed at him. “Ha! Then I’d like to see him do better.”
“I’d just like to see us do better,” Lany said dryly.
Shona took the cup of tea offered. “Should we be talking about this now?” She eyed the footman, whose hands were shaking.
“Aye, ye’re right,” Dallan agreed. “We’ll wait for Andel and Maddie.”
No sooner had he said it than the couple entered through another set of doors. “Dallan, Shona!” Maddie called. “Thank goodness you’re here
.”
Andel went straight to the footman. “Leave us.”
He nodded and scurried for the doors. As soon as he was gone, Andel turned to Dallan. “What are you doing?”
Dallan tried to look innocent. “What d’ye mean? Can we no come for a wee visit?”
Lany facepalmed. “Living stars, you really do sound like Kwaku.”
Dallan waved him off. “To be serious, Your Highness, I might ask ye the same thing. What’s this I hear about a war?”
“What?” Andel cleared his throat. “Wherever did you hear that?”
“It’s all over the street,” Lany clarified.
Shona and Maddie sighed at the same time, looked at each other, then hugged. “How is your mother?”
“She’s in France right now, visiting friends. She’ll be sorry she missed you.”
“That’s too bad,” Shona said. “I would have loved to have seen her and Anton.” She sighed. “I’m afraid we’ve come on a serious matter.”
“Involving one Mitzi Fine?” Maddie said with a knowing smile.
Shona nodded and turned to the men. “There, see how easy that was? Stop blustering and let’s get down to business.”
Dallan and Andel stared at their wives, then at Lany.
“Hey, you guys started it,” Lany argued. “I suggest you listen to them.”
“Thank you, Lany.” Shona took a sip of tea. “Yes, we brought Mitzi.”
“But why?” Maddie asked. “Is she in danger? Did you need us to look after her? Why didn’t you tell us?”
Dallan took the cup and saucer Shona offered him, went to a chair and sat. “Because there’s more to it.” He took a sip and sighed. “I suppose the best way to convince ye we have both Mitzi and yer son Asger’s best interests in mind is to show ye.”
Lany blanched. “Dallan, that’s exactly what Kwaku would do …”
Dallan shrugged. “There’s no other way, Master Lany. Now I understand why the heathen did what he did when he had to tell me.”
“Tell you what?” Andel asked. “What are you all talking about?”
Maddie looked apprehensive. “We’ve never asked how you do … what you do. To tell you the truth, it scares us to death. But Grandma and Doc Waller from Clear Creek have written us, as have Colin and Belle. They’ve told us about Lorelei Carson and how she married Jefferson Cooke.” She swallowed hard. “And that you brought her to Clear Creek from … another time.”
