Love Lost in Time (Victorian Time-Travel) (20 page)

Groaning sleepily, she shifted in her bed—mainly for show. It worked because she heard their footsteps shuffle back into the other room. Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked toward the door. They’d kept it open, thank heavens. From the other room she noticed the fire in the hearth. A small amount of heat
crept into her space, but not enough to keep her warm. Thank goodness her anger was keeping her blood boiling right now.

“Hello? Is anyone in there?” she called out, groggily. “I’m hungry. Are you going to feed your prisoner or let her starve?”

A shadow moved from within the other room, and soon she heard footsteps again. The man carrying a tray of food was her father, but he wore his mask.

“Did you have a good rest?” he asked.

“What do you think?” she snapped. “I had no pillow, no cover over me, and I slept in my dress. Not only that, but my stomach is empty and growling for a decent meal. Pray tell, would you have had a good sleep under those conditions?”

The corner of his mouth lifted in a smile. “Actually, no. I suppose I would not.”

“Then why in the blazes did you ask such a ridiculous question?”

He shrugged. “I’m just trying to make conversation.” He set the tray of food on the bed beside her. “I hope you like stew.”

“At this point, I’ll eat anything.” She picked up the bowl and the spoon. The first bite wasn’t so bad. In fact, it was quite tasty, so she shoveled in a second spoonful. “Thank you,” she mumbled with food still in her mouth.

“You are welcome.”

He stepped back and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. He didn’t speak, but his obnoxious stare would drive her insane if he didn’t remove his gaze.

She hurried through her meal, keeping her eyes downcast through most of it. Just as she was finishing, he handed her a linen napkin. “Thanks,” she mumbled in between mouthfuls.

“You are welcome.”

When she finished and wiped her mouth, she set the bowl, spoon, and napkin on the tray and handed it to him. “Thank you for feeding me. It’s good to know that you weren’t going to starve me.”

He took the tray from her. “I told you earlier that we didn’t want to harm you.” He set the tray on a table just outside the door before coming back to lean against the wall.

“So,
what made you decide to become a criminal?”

His chest shook with a silent chuckle. “You think I’m a criminal?”

“I don’t think. I
know
you are. You have kidnapped me for money, and you are after the Merrick’s family treasure. That tells me all I need to know—that you live a life of crime.” She shrugged. “So tell me why you decided this was the life you wanted.”

The smile on his mouth disappeared as a frown claimed it. “You have no idea what I’ve been through in my life.”

“Then enlighten me.” She moved her gaze around the room quickly. “What else have we to do but talk?”

He stared at her for several long minutes before stepping into the other room and pulling in a chair. He placed it next to the bed and sat, facing her.

“I grew up very poor,” he began sadly. “My parents stole in order to live. When I reached the proper age, I started working for money. I didn’t want to become like my parents and live that kind of a life. Earning my own money made me feel like a man. I enjoyed the responsibility.”

“What made you change?”

He leaned back in his chair and swiped his fingers through his hair…hair, the same color as hers.

“I met the most beautiful woman in the world, and as luck would have it, she returned my love. I would do anything to make her happy. We had a child together, a beautiful daughter with eyes as green as the forest in the summer, and hair the color of wheat
when the sun hits it just right. I thought my life was going to change for the better, but…” He paused and turned his head away from her.

Sorr
ow clenched her chest, knowing he was talking about her and her mother. “What happened?”

“I lost my job. I couldn’t bring in enough money to support my wife and child. Out of desperation, I
returned to my first instinct…what my parents had instilled in me.”

“You became a thief,” she whispered brokenly.

“Yes. I never told my wife, but deep down inside my heart, I knew what I was doing was wrong. My wife suspected something, and I was too ashamed to tell her the truth. So one night while she and my baby daughter were asleep, I took the few belongings I had and left without a word. Since then, I’ve stayed many places, but I always used a different name because the law was after me. My wife and child never knew.” He hung his head and gripped his knees. “I couldn’t bear to see the look on her face when she found out what I’d been doing.” He took a deep breath and raised his gaze to Halle. “So I never kept in touch.”

“How long ago was that?”

“Many years. My daughter has grown into a lovely young woman now.”

“So what
’s stopping you from changing your life again? You did it once before, so why can’t you do it again?”

“Because I’m afraid
my daughter will not forgive me. I won’t be able to see that look of rejection in her eyes.”

She rubbed her wrist, still sore from the rope burns. “
Do you want to see her look upon you with admiration?”

“Of course
.”

Halle
couldn’t understand how the hatred and anger that had consumed her moments ago was slowly slipping away. She actually started feeling sorry for her father.

Hesitantly, she
scooted to the edge of the bed and laid her hand on his arm. “Then do the right thing and stop being the bad guy. If your heart is telling you to change, then do it. Money isn’t everything you know, and it certainly doesn’t bring happiness. Stop letting it rule your life. Allow love and kindness inside your heart, and you’ll be surprised how well all the pieces of your life will fall together. Besides,” she gave a one-shoulder shrug, “do you know what they do to criminals here?”

“Hang them.
”

“Yes, or they cut off your hands. I don’t think you’ll find much work without your hands.”

His lips twitched into a half smile again. “No, I suppose I won’t.”

The floor shook as Nigel walked briskly into the room and nudged her father’s shoulder. “I think we have company.” He motioned his head to the other side of the house.

Her father nodded and stood. “Miss Chapman, it was a pleasure talking to you. If you’ll excuse me, I need to greet our guests.” He picked up the chair and the two men left the room, closing the door behind them.

Hope blossomed in her chest. She wanted her father to change his attitude on life, yet at the same time, she hoped Andrew and his father were here to rescue her…and that they caught Nigel and her father so they couldn’t form the mob to attack Harrington
Manor.

She rose from off the bed and
took quiet steps to the door. She listened intently for more voices, but couldn’t hear any. Pressing her ear to the door, she closed her eyes and prayed she’d detected something on the other side—anything to let her know what was going on.

Oh, Andrew? Where are you?

* * * *

Andrew
rode his horse hard, pushing the animal to the very limit of speed. He had to save Halle. Why would they take her and not Georgiana? None of this made sense.

He’d been outside waiting for
Halle and his sister to return, and when the coach came careening toward the house at a speed too fast than was necessary, fear sliced through him and he knew something wasn’t right. His sister had jumped out of the coach before it was fully stopped. Her face white as snow and tears streaming down her face. She ran and fell into his arms. Her body trembling violently. It took her several seconds to speak, and when she said the words—Miss Chapman had been kidnapped—he thought his heart had stopped beating.

Mr. Simmons, the driver, had given Andrew
a note penned by the kidnappers. They wanted the Merrick’s family treasure.

Andrew fisted his hands, crinkling up the paper.
This needed to stop. Now! Once he found Halle, he would have a long talk with his father.

Mr. Simmons gave Andrew
directions to where they had taken her, and between the driver and Georgi, described the men the best they could.

Andrew mounted his horse and took off. Once he arrived at the spot of the kidnapping, he stopped his horse and dismounted. Almost ten years ago he’d been with the military
, and he’d learned how to track. He never thought he’d use it again, but now he was grateful for the training.

Once he
noticed the men’s footsteps—and hers—he swung back up on his horse and followed the trail. Remarkably, it led him to a vehicle. Probably a coach by the size of the wheel tracks. It led him on a different path away from the main road. A good hour later, a rundown cottage came into view. He slowed his steed and studied the place carefully. Smoke billowed up from the chimney although the place looked deserted. Indeed, this was where they were keeping Halle.

He jumped off his horse and tied the animal to a tree. He took quiet steps toward the house, keeping alert to any movements or sounds. The couch wasn’t anywhere to be seen, and Andrew hoped they hadn’t gone elsewhere.

When he came to the cottage, he flattened himself against the wall and slowly slid to the window. First he took a quick peek inside before jerking away. Then slowly, he looked again. The drapeless window let him see the empty room. Obviously the kidnappers didn’t have Halle in there.

They would hold her in the back of the house where it would be easier to make a quick getaway. He crept around the house, still not seeing the coach they’d traveled in. He did a quick scan of the trees around the
area, looking for where they could have hid the vehicle.

The smoke billowing from the chimney was closer to the back of the cottage, anyway. This must be where she was.

He reached the door and pressed his ear against the wood. He couldn’t hear voices, but that didn’t mean they weren’t inside waiting for him.

Not far from the door was a pile of wood, freshly cut. He reached over and lifted a log. Since he didn’t bring a weapon, this would just have to do.

He carefully rested his hand on the latch and slowly pushed the door open. Quick footsteps thudded on the floor, and he lifted his wooded weapon, ready to use it.

Slowly, he pushed the door open wider and raised his arm. Holding his breath, he lunged into the cottage.

Chapter Eighteen

A man—almost as tall as Andrew—ran past him. Without a second thought, he raised the piece of wood and hurried to bring it down on the man’s head. But stopped short. Immediately, he recognized the shape of the other’s shoulders and the color of his brown hair.

“Edward!”

His brother stumbled and dove to the floor. His wide-eyed stare swung to Andrew as his mouth hung agape.

“Edward, what in all that’s holy…” Andrew grumbled and shook his head, helping his brother to stand. “What are you doing here?”

“I should ask you the same.” Edward puffed his chest and stubbornly lifted his chin.

“I’m here to find Miss Chapman.”

Edward gaped again. “Wh—what are you talking about? Why would Miss Chapman be here?”

Growling, Andrew folded his arms, still holding the piece of wood. “Because she was kidnapped, and I followed the tracks to this cottage.” He swung his gaze around the room that looked to be the kitchen. “Who lives here?”

“Nobody does.”

Andrew threw his brother a glare. “Then what are
you
doing here?”

Although his brother tried to look calm and collected, a noticeable blush crept up Edward’s face. “If you must know, I’m meeting someone here.”

“How long have you been here?”

“Only a few minutes.”

Andrew took a step closer. “Have you inspected the rooms yet?”

“Of course not. There was hardly time.”

Andrew pointed to the fireplace. “Then why is there a fire burning?”

“Uh…uh…” Edward looked toward the hearth and the pots hanging above it. “I don’t know.”

Swearing under his breath, Andrew marched past his brother and moved to the closest room. The door was shut. He knocked softly and listened on the other side, but couldn’t hear anything. He strode to the other door and repeated the same kind of knock. Shuffling of feet was detected, so he placed his hand on the latch, raised the piece of wood, and opened the door.

The room was dark and he stood still to adjust his vision. But from within the room, a loud gasp rang out.

“Andrew!”

He’d never heard a sweeter sound
in his life.
Halle!
Finally, he could see her scrambling off the bed and rushing toward him. He dropped the wood and took swift steps to meet her halfway. Just as she opened her arms for him, he wrapped her in his embrace and held her tight against his body.

Relief flooded through him and he sighed. Burying his face in her neck, he
breathed in her scent…which unfortunately, wasn’t the lovely flowers he enjoyed smelling. In fact, she smelled too much like dust and mold—like this room.

“Andrew, I prayed you would come for me.” Her voice choked on a sob as she pushed her face into his chest.

He tightened his hold. “There was no way I could not come.” He kissed the side of her head.

“Pardon me…but what is going on?”

Inwardly, Andrew groaned. How could he have forgotten his slow-minded brother was here? Keeping Halle in his arms, he turned toward Edward. The shocked expression splashed across the man’s face was almost comical. Apparently Edward didn’t know she was here after all.

“I told you Miss Chapman had been kidnapped,” Andrew said, trying to keep his frustration at bay.

“But I didn’t believe you.”

“
Which is quite apparent.” Andrew shook his head. “But now I insist you tell me how you know about this place and who you were coming to meet. Was it one of the men who kidnapped her?”

Another blush darkened Edward’s face. “I did not come here to meet a man,” he said almost too quiet.

Andrew almost laughed out loud, but refrained. “Are you telling me this is all coincidental?” He shook his head. “That’s hard to believe.”

“Well it must be. I highly doubt the woman I was planning to meet here would have known about Miss Chapman’s kidnapping.”

“Who was the woman, Edward?” Andrew asked with authority.

“I don’t have to answer that.” He huffed and folded his arms.

“Probably not, but if you don’t answer me, you shall answer to our father. It could have been Georgiana kidnapped instead of Miss Chapman,” Andrew growled. “These men took Miss Chapman for ransom…for
us
to pay them money to get her back.”

Edward shook his head. “I cannot believe that. Why would they think Miss Chapman was that important?”

“Andrew?” She looked up into his face. “Your brother is right. Although they asked for a ransom, I don’t believe they really expected to get one from taking me.”

Confusion grew thick in his mind. He brushed the dirt off her cheek and tried to give her a smile. “Then why did they take you and not
Georgi?”

Sighing heav
ily, she straightened which pulled her body away from his. “Let’s talk on the way home. I don’t want to stay here another minute.”

He nodded. “Do you still have your cloak?”

“Yes, it’s on the bed.”

He hurried back in the room and found the garment then brought it back out to wrap Halle in it. He threw a glare at his brother. “Don’t think for one minute our conversation is over. Father will hear about Miss Chapman’s kidnapping one way or another, and because you were here…” He took a deep breath. “We’ll discuss this at home.”

“I’ll be home shortly. I’m still going to wait here to meet…um, my lady friend.”

Andrew
figured he knew who the woman was, and he wanted to lash out at his brother for his stupidity. “Do whatever you want. Halle and I are returning home.”

He tugged Halle back into his arms and hurried outside to his horse. After lifting her up in the saddle, he mounted
and sat behind her. Flipping the reins, he urged the animal forward as he adjusted Halle in front of him to make her more comfortable. She sat sideways with her legs draped together over the left-side of the horse, which made it easier to pull her closer to his lap. She cuddled against his chest and clutched to his overcoat.

“I wonder where the kidnappers are,” he wondered aloud.

“I don’t know, but from what I could hear, you’d just barely missed them.”

“I’ll find them. Mark my words.”

“Andrew, I must tell you, something.”

“What is it, my sweet?”

“I met someone… The kidnapper.” She took a deep breath. “One of the men is…my father.”

The news startled him, but he didn’t want to slow the animal down. He glanced at her and arched an eyebrow. “Your
father
? I thought he left you and your mother.”

“
He did, but I’ve been corresponding with him through letters this past year. I don’t remember him from when I was a child.” She paused, searching his expression before continuing, “He was the main reason I’d gone to Buckland Manor…the bed and breakfast. My father had been working there, but a month ago he’d disappeared.” One of her hands loosened on his coat and she gently ran her palm up his chest. “Before I came here—to your time—I stumbled across something he had taken from the bed and breakfast’s museum.”

“What did he take?”

“It was one of your father’s journals.”

Shock vibrated through him and he stared at her with wide-eyes. “My father keeps a journal?”

“Several of them, but the one my father took was the last one he’d written in before his death.”

“What did it say?”

“He mentioned his family quite a bit. He loves you all so much and would do—and give—anything to make you happy. His journal didn’t mention anything about the ancient jewels, but he wrote a lot about your mother’s favorite tree.” She took another pause as she studied his face. “Andrew, I think your father knows about the tree—how it takes people through time.”

“Do you really think so?”

“I do. When Edward first found me and took me inside the house, your father was there. Edward mentioned I was by the
tree.
” She shook her head slowly. “You should have seen the way your father and brother gave me curious glances after that. Your brother might know about the tree, too…but I honestly believe your father knows.”

Andrew’s head pound
ed…the same way it always did when things were getting too complicated in his life. Yet, he mustn’t allow this complication to get the best of him. He had to figure it out. “What does this have to do with your father?”

“When I was at the bed and breakfast, I didn’t know what it had to do with anything. But now…” She shrugged. “Now I know. My father read
the duke’s journal and realized there was something special about the tree. Because now my father is here in 1848.” She licked her lips and exhaled a sigh. “Earlier today I had a talk with my father in that room where he’d locked me up. He didn’t know that I knew he was my father. Anyway, my father hadn’t lived a very exemplary life. He was a criminal…a thief. He and Nigel—”

The familiar name had Andrew hitching a breath.

“Yes, Nigel,” she continued. “They are after the treasure. That’s why my father came here through the tree…to get what he has no right in taking—your family’s ancient jewels.”

He growled, gritting his teeth as he tightened his grip on the reins. But at least they knew who the men were in charge of gathering the mob.
“Why would your father kidnap you—and leave you there for me to find?”

“I wish I knew, Andrew.”

“I shall tell my father what is going on.” He stared straight ahead at the path and urged the horse faster.

“Tell him…about what, exactly?” she asked warily.

“That the men are after the treasure. That they will kill for it. And if he doesn’t try to stop them, I will.” He clenched his jaw. “Even if it means killing those men myself!”

* * * *

Halle worried not only that Andrew would try to kill Nigel and her father…but that they wouldn’t be able to stop the attack no matter what they did. What if the Merrick family was supposed to die? What if there was no way to stop history from repeating itself?

Then again…why else had she traveled back in time? It couldn’t be to meet her father.

Or could it?

Was her father the reason she was here? Gads, she hoped not. She wanted Andrew to
be the reason the time-travel gods had sent her back to this very location at this very time.

She and Andrew didn’t talk much
after that, and she figured he was probably thinking about how to approach his father. Hopefully, Andrew would be able to make some sense with his parent, and they could count on the duke to help them.

Just as they reached the house, he kissed her head on
e last time, then stopped the horse and dismounted. He lifted her down slowly. Her stare stuck to his, and worry washed over his expression. Her heart sank. She wished she could take his confusion and worry away. She wished that this would all be over and they could live happily-ever-after.

But…was there such a thing? If she helped stop the atta
ck and save his family, would she then be whisked back to her time? If that happened, there would never be a happy-ever-after, because she was madly in love with Andrew and wanted him in her life forever.

Her name was called, and she turned toward the house. Georgiana ran to her with open arms. Halle took the girl in her arms and hugged her as
Georgi sobbed.

“Oh, I’m so happy you’re safe.”
Georgi lifted her head and gazed into Halle’s eyes. “I can’t believe you gave yourself to them and saved me.”

Halle really should tell her the truth, but…maybe later. She smiled and patted the girl’s cheek. “We can thank Andrew for coming to my rescue.”

“I did what you told me to.” Georgi nodded, her ringlets bouncing around her face. “And Andrew hurried out of here as if fire was on his boots.”

“I’m so glad.” A chill ran through her and she shivered. “Let’s get inside. I think I need a nice warm fire to sit by.”

“Oh, yes!” Georgi hooked her arm through Halle’s and hurried them toward the house.

Halle glanced back at Andrew who had taken his horse to the stable but was now walking back. She prayed
when he talked to his father that it went well. But what scared her was wondering if the subject of where she
really
came from would come up. And if it did…would she be able to convince him that she was from the future or would he think her insane and send her away from his family?

Once inside the house,
Georgi began instructing servants on how to assist Halle. She was ushered upstairs to her room straightway and stripped from her clothes only to dress in warmer garments. As the maids fussed with her attire, another servant brought in some food for Halle. She didn’t realize how hungry she was until she took a bite of the fresh homemade bread.

Another servant stirred the fire in the hearth and added more logs. Soon heat filled the room, and Halle didn’t feel as cold. Yet
, her heart was. Images of her father flew through her head. She couldn’t see his face. The whole time she’d talked to him, he wore that ridiculous mask. Would she even be able to spot him if she saw him in a crowded room? She would definitely recognize his voice. But she really needed to find him. She needed to try to convince him that what he had planned with Nigel was wrong. And if needs be, she would confess to knowing that he was her father.