It was as if an avalanche of guilt tumbled over Ariana’s shoulders. She laughed wistfully. “You have no idea.”
“It’s funny we’re not really cousins, but we seem to be a lot alike,” Dahlia said.
Ariana accepted the olive branch. Pushing aside the disconcerting news that her childhood home was now a tourist destination, she smiled warmly. “Yes, like Owen and me. We’ve called each other cousins our whole lives but we’re not related by blood in any way at all. But we can almost read each other’s thoughts.”
“Ooh, is Owen the boy you could be married to if you wanted?” she asked.
Ariana started, feeling her cheeks warming to an uncomfortable degree. She had never once considered being married to Owen and the thought of it took her breath away. She knew beyond a certainty they’d always be together, but in that way? She shivered but couldn’t figure out why the idea shook her so much. It wasn’t bad, not at all, but…
She shook her head and tried to get control of herself before Dahlia got the wrong idea.
“N-no,” she said, a great sadness sweeping over her. Was it certain she and Owen would always be together? He might very well despise her, and even if she knew where he was, they were ages apart. “Not Owen. He’s only my best friend, nothing romantic.”
But could there be? She didn’t think she’d ever missed anyone as much, or worried about anyone as much as she did Owen. Her actual intended was heading off into another time and a different country and she could barely muster the energy to bid him a proper goodbye.
“Well, who, then?” Dahlia prodded, pulling Ariana back to the present.
Now was her chance to impress the worldly and confident younger girl with something juicy. And take her mind off her loneliness.
“It’s rather scandalous actually,” Ariana said, certain her face was bright red now. “I live with him, or rather he lives with me. He’s a bit of a kept man.” Bit of, she thought sourly. Completely was more like it. She shook off those unkind thoughts, knowing he was right now probably crossing the sea to get to Italy to try and make his own money.
Dahlia’s eyes widened. “That is scandalous,” she said. “Your upper crust Earl father is okay with that?”
Shame made Ariana look away. “I’m not promiscuous, mind you,” she stammered. “I haven’t— he only lives at my country estate along with the other … never mind that.”
“Never mind what?” Dahlia instantly asked. “If you don’t tell me, I won’t show you what I came here to show you. And believe me, you’ll want to see it.”
“Impertinent girl,” Ariana scolded. “I’m certain I have no interest in anything you could possibly show me.”
Dahlia smiled and shrugged. “Not even pictures of your mum and Dex when they were young?” Her smile grew wider when she saw Ariana was about to burst with curiosity. “Well, whatever, then. Let’s go to sleep.”
Ariana knew she could wait until morning and ask Cousin Dexter to show her, but would he be as forthcoming as this wee brat might?
“Very well,” Ariana said. “I suppose you probably already know since you know about the portal. The people who live at my estate are witches.” She waited for a gasp but Dahlia only nodded. “Real witches.”
“I didn’t think you meant fancy dress witches,” Dahlia said. “I mean, you came through a cursed portal from however many hundred years ago. You think I’m going to be shocked by witches?”
“I didn’t use the portal. I used a spell.”
“Oh, I do beg your pardon,” Dahlia said, voice dripping with sarcasm. Then she leaned close. “Wait. Does that mean you can go to different times without being in Belmary House?”
Ariana nodded slowly. “I like to use the house because so far that room is always shut up and it feels safe.” She shuddered at her fear of turning up in a crowd of people, or underground, or underwater. The list of places she didn’t want to end up during time travel got progressively worse. She noticed Dahlia’s glowing face which cut the phobia short. “Don’t get any ideas,” she warned.
“I’ve already got the idea. You have to take me back in time.”
“Absolutely not.”
“I want to go to a ball and wear a corset and oh my goodness, I’ll bet five quid could buy me some amazing jewelry. I could probably get a horse and carriage with a tenner.”
“Not even close. And no. I do not have to take you back in time. What a ridiculous idea.”
Dahlia screwed up her face into a terrible pout. “Then I’ll make sure you never see any of the pictures I was going to show you. I’ll hide them until Dex makes you go back.”
Ariana sighed in disgust. Was this what she had been like when she was fourteen? She was probably worse, spoiled as she was by her father. Before she could start missing her father, she twisted the ruby ring off her finger and tossed it into Dahlia’s lap. “That’s probably worth a fair bit. Now, will you show me the pictures?”
Dahlia’s pale cheeks flamed and she handed back the ring. “I was only teasing.”
Ariana waved off the bauble. “Ah, keep it. I don’t much care for it. I’m sick to death of rubies.”
“But it’s so pretty. And massive.” She put it on her first finger since it was too large for her ring finger and admired it. “If you’re sure?” She giggled. “I suppose I’m doing you a favor since you’re sick to death of it. What must that feel like?”
Ariana wanted to tell her it was quite an unhappy, empty feeling but stayed silent. “The pictures?” she prodded.
“Oh, right.” Dahlia, reached behind her and pulled several unwieldy books off the shelf. “My mum got this bee in her bonnet to start scrapbooking so that’s why we have them all printed. Dex says it’s an awful waste of paper but I rather like them.”
She scooted next
