Hawthorne Manor, impossible but probable

 

When Sadie came back to her senses she was sure she must have been dreaming, however when she opened her eyes, she was still in the past. In the past? The thought made her feel a mixture of emotions. On one count, she felt happier than she had ever felt before, but then her common sense kicked in, and she stressed over the thought that she was possibly losing her mind. Had she actually lost her ever-loving mind?

“Thank goodness you are awake,” Devlin said, sitting next to her, taking her frigid fingers in his own.

“Devlin, I need to tell you something.”

“Yes.”

Sadie took a breath, and held his hands tighter. “I know this is going to sound …well, you will probably think I am crazy…” She contemplated what to say to him. “Who knows, maybe I am.”

“Do not say such things.” He released her hands and picked up a glass of Brandy. “Drink this,” he instructed.

Taking the glass, she took a sip.

Devlin rubbed his hand on her back. “Feeling better?”

“Yes, I guess so.” She handed the glass back to him. “Thank you.”

Devlin set the glass down on the table. “Now what is troubling you?” His piercing black eyes were full of concern.

“Perhaps you should get your own drink?” she suggested. “I think you may need it when I am finished.”

“Do not be silly.” He brushed a piece of her hair back from her face.

“I don’t want you to think… differently toward me.” Her eyes started tearing up. No matter how she was going to say this, there was no way she was going to sound sane.

“You can trust me on this…” He took a breath, bracing himself. “I can assure you there is nothing you can say to me that will shock me.”

“Don’t be so sure,” she muttered. Sitting up, she fixed her gown and took a breath. “Well…”

“Wait.” He held up his hand. “I believe I will get that drink after all.” He was postponing the inevitable for surely she would tell him that she too was another ghost or worse, just a figment of his imagination. And he wasn’t sure he could bear either. Taking his time, he poured an ample amount of Brandy in a glass and then replaced the stopper. He walked back over and sat down beside her on the sofa.

“Now what is so dire?” he asked.

“Would you like to take a drink first?” she asked, stalling. “Perhaps you should drink the entire glass and then go and get another for both of us.”

Devlin pulled on his cravat. “That bad, is it?”

“I hope not, but one can never be too sure.”

“You want us to get sotted?” he asked. “If that is your intention I can assure you it will take some time, for me. I find I have built up a tolerance over the years from attempting to drink away my own troubles.”

“How has that worked out for you?”

He chuckled. “Well…the problem is my troubles were always still there when I sobered up.”

“What are you saying?”

“I suppose I am saying you may as well spit it out, for I fear the truth will come out anyway.”

Sadie shifted uncomfortably. Her gown suddenly felt too tight. “I guess you are right.” She smoothed a wrinkle from her gown and picked at a thread.

“I am sure it is nothing…”

“I am from the future,” she spit out, cutting him off before she chickened out.

Reaching out he took his drink and tossed it back in one gulp. He set the glass back down. “I knew you were too good to be real.” He pressed his palm to his forehead and shook his head. “What truths have you come to enlighten me about this time?”

Sadie frowned. “What truths?”

“You are here to tell me I am dead are you not, Ghost?”

“What?” She gaped.

“I keep seeing ghosts, so I am assuming I am dead. You are the third one that has come to visit me this day.” He laughed, and rubbed his hands over his face. “Bloody Hell!” he exclaimed.

Sadie blinked stupidly. “Devlin,” she said and reached out to touch his arm. “I am not a ghost.”

“How are you not a ghost?” he asked, lifting his haunted gaze to hers. “Why else would you be here?”

“I am not sure…exactly.” She shrugged. “But I am real.”

“Well, I do not believe you,” he said, a pained expression appearing on his face.

Sadie went with her gut. “I will prove it to you,” she said, needing to prove it to herself, as well. She leaned forward to the point that their faces were almost touching and then she kissed him. Once again she felt a burst of what felt like fireworks lighting up the night sky on the fourth of July as her lips touched his. Boom, boom, boom, her heart pounded, kissing him for all she was worth. Snaking her hands around his neck she moved closer.

“Surely you are an angel sent from above,” he murmured against her lips, smoothing her hair away from her face.

She wasn’t going to disagree. Not now. Mrs. Flint’s words echoed back to her. “A heart wants what a heart wants…all you need to do is believe.” Oh, she believed. Now all she needed was for him to believe as well. Reluctantly she pulled back.

“See,” she said, smiling. “I am real.” She pressed her hand to his chest, feeling the warmth under his crisp shirt.

He covered her hand with his own. “If this is a dream I have found myself in, I do not want to wake,” he murmured.

“Oh, Devlin,” she sighed. “I am not a dream. And I know this is a lot to take in, but somehow, someway I managed to travel from the future into your past.”

“You did what?”

“I know,” she exhaled. “I know it sounds out there, like really out there but as it turns out, as ludicrous as this sounds, it is also the sanest answer I can come up with.”

“I don’t understand.” He rubbed his hands over his face. “How is that possible?”

Sadie took a breath, reached down inside her gown, and pulled out the necklace. “This did it.” She held out the necklace so he could see it. “I think.”

Devlin looked at the necklace and his eyes widened. He had seen that very same necklace before. Katherine had one, not to mention the woman on the street so long ago. “Where did you get that?” he asked, his heart beating faster.

“A gentleman gave it to me by accident… I think or I did, but now I think he may have intended for me to have it all along.”

“Why would he do such a thing…for me?”

Sadie did a double take. “I am not sure.” She frowned.

“Tell me exactly what happened?” Devlin took her hands in his own, holding them.

“I ah…” She didn’t want to tell him about Bryon. She cleared her throat and began again. “I was visiting this um person, and ah..,”

Devlin gave her an expectant look. “And…” he prompted.

“And I ran into a gentleman and asked if he knew any knights in shining armor.” Color bloomed to her cheeks.

“Yes, and what did he say…exactly?”

Sadie swallowed hard. “He said he was afraid the only one he knew of was already taken.”

Devlin laughed, and shook his head. “Then what?” he asked.

Sadie had no idea what was so funny but she continued her story anyway. “He said the holidays were just around the corner and asked if I wished for anything. I didn’t give it much thought at the time.” She paused, only now remembering what she had asked for. “I asked him if he knew anyone else, from another century, and if any were available. I said he didn’t need to be perfect but workable.”

“And what did he say to your request?” His face was unreadable.

“He said nothing at first but then he um, said he may know someone.” She took a breath. “I didn’t give it much thought at the time, but when I was leaving, he gave me this and said for me to have a Merry Christmas.”

Devlin frowned. “That is it. He didn’t say anything else?”

“Well no, he kind of disappeared.”

“Did he?” He grinned.

“Yes.” She snapped her fingers. “Poof. Just like that.”

“That sly devil,” Devlin said, shaking his head.

“You know the man that gave me the necklace?”

“I am not positive of course,” he said, “but yes, I believe I do.”

“How is that possible?”

“Now, that is a very long and sorted story.”

“And this isn’t?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“So I am really in the past?” she asked feeling faint again.

“Yes.”

“And you are okay with that?”

“Yes, I am.” He smiled, and squeezed her hand. “But the better question is, are you?”

“I hadn’t given it much thought, actually.” She chewed on her lip.

“Well, I don’t know how this works.” He lifted the necklace and looked at the bright red stone. “I fear if you want to go back to your own time you may not have much time here.” He released the necklace.

“What?” She gaped. “I just got here. I don’t want to leave so soon.” It was the truth. She didn’t want to leave, not now… maybe not ever.

“Well I know someone who may know a bit about the necklace. Her name is Katherine Jamison. Have you heard of her?”

“No.” She shook her head. “Who is she?”

“She is a good friend of mine and she too mysteriously showed up here last year. She saved me… in more ways than one.”

“Oh.” Sadie suddenly felt a surge of jealousy. “You care for her?”

“Oh yes, she is like a sister to me. She is now married to the Earl of Ravenhurst, Sebastian de Winter.”

“So she was able to stay here, in this time?”

“Yes.”

“How?” she asked feeling a bit better hearing the girl he cared so much for was married.

“I am not sure,” he said. “We will have to speak with her.”

“Where is she?”

“Since the snow has let up, I suppose she will be here later.”

“Oh no, is the Duke going to be here as well?”

“Yes, I believe so.”

“Well, I am not his niece.” She pressed her hands to her heated face.

“I gathered that.”

“What will they think of me?” Lifting her hand, she smoothed her hair.

“You look beautiful… to me,” he said.

“I do?” She didn’t believe him and tried to fix her hair once more.

“Yes, you do,” he said, gathering her hands into his own.

“Do you think Katherine will know what to do?” she asked staring at his handsome face, wanting nothing more than to kiss him again.

“I believe so.”

“Oh no, and I ate all the confections too.”

He chuckled. “There are a few remaining.”

“Should I change before they arrive?”

“If you like,” he said.

“All right,” she exhaled and stood up. “I am going to freshen up a bit and then I will meet you back here.”

“That sounds like a good plan.” He smiled and stood as well. “I will freshen up as well and meet you back here.”

She ran up to him, placed the gentlest of kisses on his cheek, and then pulled away. “Thanks for believing me.”

“Not a problem,” he said, and made himself step away before he grabbed her into his arms and kissed her senseless.

“Be back in a jiffy,” she said and rushed from the room.

Devlin watched her run up the stairs a smile lingering on his lips. “I may not want you to leave either, Sadie. No, if I have any say in the matter you will not leave at all.”