She swallowed. “I’m fine.” She quickly explained to him what Julianna had planned.
“She and I came to an agreement. No more going rogue missions,” he said wryly. “But at least we eliminated the mother’s dagger. So, it’s definitely the one at Huntington Park.”
“I guess we’re not going home tonight.”
His smile was sad. “No, not tonight.” He grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “Don’t worry, Elise, we’ll find it. We’re much closer now than we were yesterday.”
She was glad he was feeling positive. Someone had to be in this situation. “You’re right.” She squeezed his hand back.
“Only one hundred and eighty rooms to search.”
She laughed. “One hundred and eighty?”
“That’s what Reed said. Huntington Park has one hundred and eighty rooms.”
“Well, we better get started soon,” she said wryly.
“Elise, if Reed tries to get too close—”
“He won’t,” she bit out. “I mean, he’s not going to be there, remember?”
“True.” He let go of her hand and stepped back. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“See you.”
As she watched him dematerialize, fatigue began to set in. She was so tired. All she wanted was to go home to her own bed and her own time where things made sense. And, if she were really honest, she was eager to put as much space and time between her and Reed Townsend, before he made her feel things she had no right to feel.
Chapter Six
Elise hadn’t dreamt of the incident in years.
She thought it was all behind her by now. But maybe it was all the years of bottling it up inside her that now it was threatening to explode.
He’d been her first crush. Her first love.
It was in first grade that she had first met Chris Lopez, when he scared away some bully trying to steal her lunch money. Since that day, she never left his side. Lara and his mom thought it was cute the way Elise would follow him around with that puppy-dog look in her eyes. They became best friends in second grade and were inseparable until they turned sixteen. She confessed her love for him the night of prom.
And then she nearly killed him.
It was so clear that it was like she was living it again and it wasn’t a dream. The sequence of events was captured in her mind so fully, it was like it was yesterday and not fourteen years ago.
His car stopping just outside the gates of her house.
Telling Chris that she loved him.
Him, leaning down to give her her first kiss.
Her hands going up to cup his jaw.
The white-hot shock of electricity that shot through her lips and hands as a thousand volts of electricity flowed into Chris.
His body going limp.
“Miss, miss!” Came the frantic cry that woke her up from the nightmare.
Elise sat up in bed, her vision still blurry. “Sorry, what time is it?”
The indistinct shape beside her bed came into focus. “It’s still early, miss,” Melinda said. “But it sounded like you were havin’ a nightmare.”
“I was,” she confessed. “Thank you for waking me up.”
“I have some breakfast for you,” she gestured at the tray on the bedside table. “After you finish eating, I can help you get ready for travelin’ today. I have your gown all pressed and ready.”
“That would be lovely.”
Her hands were still shaking from the vivid dream, but she pushed those thoughts aside. Food might help, she thought as she reached for the tray.
Despite the fact that the toast tasted like ash in her mouth and the tea was like dank water, she gulped it all down. Then Melinda helped her put on the fine cream muslin gown and traveling jacket plus the matching boots. By the time she came down, everyone was already downstairs and ready.
“The coach is ready, my lady,” Holden informed them.
“Excellent, thank you, Holden,” Eleanor said.
The trip to Huntington Park wasn’t bad, Elise supposed, and Eleanor said it would only take three hours, and riding inside the comfortable coach was a treat she’d only read about in novels. The inside was spacious and luxurious, large enough to hold Eleanor, William, Cross, Julianna, and herself. William seemed shy and curious at the same time, giving her glances as she sat across from the young boy, which didn’t escape Eleanor’s notice.
“William,” she began. “You didn’t properly thank Miss Henney for yesterday. Would you like to say something?”
The young boy nodded. “Miss Henney, th-thank you.”
Elise thought he was adorable, the way he was so formal. “You’re welcome, Lord William.”
He then turned to his mother. “Are we nearly there yet?”
“Almost,” Eleanor assured him.
She nearly burst out laughing as it seemed being impatient during family trips was a universal thing. “Lord William, would you like to play a game?”
“What game?” His eyes widened.
“Julianna and Cross should know this one,” she said, looking at her companions. “It’s called ‘I Spy’ and it goes like this.…”
The rest of the trip breezed by as they played the game, and Eleanor even participated. When they arrived, the household staff was lined up in front to greet them. After all the formalities, Eleanor led them to the drawing room. “Edwards, the butler, informed me that Bridget is already there and that Grandmama’s coach should be arriving shortly. If you don’t mind, I think it best we all get acquainted.”
When they entered the drawing room, there was a young woman seated in one of the couches, facing away from them.
“Cousin Bridget,” Eleanor greeted. “It’s nice to see you again. Oh my, you have grown up!”
The young woman stood up and curtsied. “Lady Winford—”
“Eleanor,” she insisted. “You’ve always called me Eleanor, remember? Though you were so young then, you probably shortened it to Ellie.”
Bridget’s pretty face broke into a smile and her blue eyes sparkled as her shoulders relaxed. “Ellie, yes. I remember. You were always so nice to me, even though I was a bit of a rambunctious child, always running around and getting my dress dirty.” The lovely lilt of her Scottish accent made her sound like she was singing.
“I remember, all right,” Eleanor chuckled.
