“Bah, that woman.”
“A tragedy.”
“What happened to her was a tragedy,” the duchess said. “But she was a travesty. A disgrace to our name. I was glad my grandson caught her in bed with her lover.”
“Annabelle told me the story in confidence.” Lady Finnerly sounded like she wanted to faint. “But each time I hear it, it still makes my blood boil, what she did to that poor boy.”
“And apparently, she was enceinte with her lover’s child.”
Lady Finnerly gasped. “And she would have let Reed claim the child? What would have happened if the child’s wolf did not manifest?”
“She was not only vain but stupid too,” the dowager said harshly. “The smartest thing she did was to drown on that ship with her lover.”
“The scandal that it would have caused would have destroyed the Townsend name, not to mention that the clan would have been in an uproar.”
“Still, I didn’t wish her any harm. That ship sinking was the real tragedy and I’m afraid that only made this worse for Reed. I only wish he—” She stopped short. “It looks like the musicians are ready. Let’s head back, Eleanora.”
Elise remained rooted to the spot as she listened to the two women’s footsteps move farther away. She opened her mouth trying to draw oxygen into her lungs, but it was like the air was too thick. Her heart twisted in her chest, and she had to brace herself against the door to steady her feet as her mind reeled with the information overload.
Reed’s wife betrayed him. He caught her in bed with her lover, the same man who got her pregnant. Then she died …
She bit the back of her hand to stop herself from crying out. I wish tomorrow would just be here already so I could just go home. But at the same time, that knot in her stomach grew at the thought of what would happen. Emotions like a violent storm churned inside her, knowing what was to come. She couldn’t even bring herself to be jealous of Beatrice, because if she were truly honest with herself, she would rather the other woman have Reed. She would rather he find happiness again in the arms of another woman if that meant he was going to live.
And the thought struck her like lightning. I love him.
And she would lose him.
Tears swelled in her throat, and it took all her strength to keep them from spilling over. She took a deep breath and stepped back inside. If she were around other people, distracted, then she wouldn’t cry.
The hallway was empty, and she saw the last of the guests pouring back into the ballroom. As she hurried back, she saw Cross about to head in. She rushed at him and grabbed his arm.
“Elise?” His eyes searched her face. “Are you all right?”
“Cross, I …” She swallowed the lump forming in her throat. “Cross, isn’t there another way?”
“Another way?”
“I mean … we have all these Lycans here coming to fight the mage. And you … you have so much power …” Her hands were trembling as she clung to him. “Can’t we save Reed?”
He shook his head. “No, that’s unthinkable, Elise. We can’t change the past. Reed’s supposed to die tomorrow, and William will be Alpha someday. Elise,” he gently pulled her hands away from his coat. “Elise, when we get back home, Reed would have been gone for over two hundred years. Just a few days ago, when we were in our own time, he was already dead to us.”
He was right. Before they came to this place, she never even knew he’d existed. “I’m sorry, I just … I feel bad. For … for the duchess and Eleanor. They’ve suffered a lot these last months.”
“Elise,” he began. “I’m sorry.” The swell of music drifted out into the hallway. “They’re starting up again. We should go back.”
She allowed him to lead her inside the ballroom, and as soon as they sat down, her eyes darted straight toward Reed. Her stomach sank, and her heart lurched as she saw his elegant, severe profile. Her impression of the haughty and cold duke melted away, and instead, she felt his pain, thinking of the betrayal and loss he’d experienced in his life.
He must have felt her looking at him, because his head turned back and those obsidian eyes bore right into hers. She quickly turned away and focused her attention on the musicians, trying to keep her emotions at bay.
Chapter Fourteen
It felt like hours since Melinda had helped her undress and get into bed. Elise was staring up at the ceiling trying to sleep, but her mind wouldn’t quiet down.
Also, that damned clock in the corner ticked so loudly, it might as well have been stuck to her eardrum, each tick reminding her of the coming day, of what was to come.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
With a frustrated cry, she threw the covers off and ran to the mantle, reaching for the tiny pendulum in the back to make it stop. She wept with relief at the silence, but as the tears fell down her cheeks, she crumpled to the floor as the hopelessness of her situation washed over her.
If only there was a way to save him without changing the past.
If only she could stop time itself.
If only …
Steely determination swept through her, and she got to her feet. Wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand, she headed for the door, opening it slowly in case anyone was around or awake.
She padded down the hallway, out of the guest wing, and headed for the main wing. Although Hunter House was large, it wasn’t as gigantic as Huntington Park, and thus it was easy to guess which area the rest of the family was staying since the servants had already retired downstairs. Using her Lycan hearing, she tuned in to the sounds of people. The first room she passed by must have been William’s, as she could hear the
