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S arah let the slightest smile creep over her lips while she stood in the back of the dining Hall of Dartmouth Castle, waiting for the duchess, who had been allowed to dine with her husband once again, to retire for the night.

The reason for the joy Sarah could hardly contain was because of the afternoon she had spent alone in her home with Connall Darling.

Memories of their heated encounter fogged her thoughts, dragged her back into his arms, lying on her bed.

He had not undressed her, vowing to bring no scandal to her or her family.

She would admit, there were moments she did not give one wit about scandalous behavior.

Her body wanted something her thoughts did not fully understand.

When she had bitten his lip, she felt him grow tight and hard against her.

For some mad reason it made her feel victorious. Elspeth had told her that a woman had more power over men than she realized. Sarah had never wanted power over Grayson, so she had rejected the idea. She still rejected it, but today, with Conn she had to admit, it felt quite nice.

Even now, she was thrilled by the way his eyes constantly found her from where he sat with the duke.

He liked her enough not to succumb to desire—he almost had, twice.

And then a third time, when they had stopped kissing and left the bed.

She had unraveled her long, messy braid and began plaiting it again when he went up behind her and took the strands from her hands.

He braided her hair! No one but her or her mother had ever touched her hair.

When he finished, he kissed her neck. She had felt the tips of her breasts grow taut beneath her shirt and bodice. He had picked her up out of the chair and carried her back to—

“He is very handsome.”

Sarah blinked out of her reverie and turned to face Gray’s grandmother, Tessa Blagden. “Lady Blagden,” Sarah greeted with a bow.

“He knows me, Miss Gable. Don’t tell him you saw me.”

Sarah straightened and looked at her. “He can clearly see you if he looks over here,” Sarah noted, turning her gaze on him, unable to stop it.

“He can’t see me.”

Sarah returned her attention to the old woman. “You speak like him, like the marquess and Miss Black. You all walk through time.”

“Hush, child or you’ll get us all killed.”

Sarah snapped her mouth shut. But then a horrible thought crossed her mind. “Are you here to bring him back?”

“Not yet.”

Then, she was going to take him back. Why? How? “Was it not enough for you to take the marquess? Must you take him too?”

“He doesn’t belong here, Sarah,” Tessa Blagden said in a hushed voice. “He came through by accident.”

“He came through to save his sister,” Sarah corrected her. “That was not an accident. Was it an accident that he saved my life and William’s too? Should we have died?”

“I don’t know your destiny,” the old woman admitted. “And I can’t change it. I’ve done so enough for me to be thrown where no one wants to go.”

It sounded as if she were speaking of supernatural things. Sarah would never ask her to risk being thrown into…hell?

“You don’t care for him already do you, child? I came to warn you as soon as I heard he saved you.”

“Warn me of what?” Sarah asked, her heart thrashing.

“Not to fall in love with him because he isn’t staying.”

Sarah felt a familiar sting behind her eyes. Yes, it was too late. “Excuse me, my lady,” she said and left her post to hurry off before anyone saw her crying.

I won’t leave you, Sarah . She heard Conn’s voice in her head as she made her way up the stairs and around corridors to the marquess’s private dance hall. When she entered, she lit several of the candles that had only been out for a few days. So much of her life had changed so quickly.

She went to sit on a small step facing the dance floor.

She closed her eyes to remember Grayson dancing but Conn stepped into his place, lying next to her, staring into her eyes, promising her things she believed he meant.

He was ready for the police force. After he married her he would support her and help Will find a career.

Her mother could live with them in the city.

It meant she would have to see the marquess from time to time.

But he (Conn) would be there at her side to help her stand tall again.

She loved him. Of course Harry would not have approved. Sarah was unsure if their mother would disapprove if Sarah told her. Would her mother want to come with her? Sarah wasn’t sure she would go without her.

Tessa Blagden had said nothing about where she had been since her grandson disappeared through a hole in the wall, in the sight of all.

She had mentioned though how Conn did not belong here.

Sarah had not asked her if that meant she would not be able to travel forward with him.

Somehow her heart knew the answer and she felt the need to cry stronger than she ever had before.

In her sobbing, she did not hear the door opening, or the footsteps entering the dimly lit hall.

“Sarah.”

She opened her eyes and then swiped away her tears to look upon Conn with unblurred vision.

He kneeled on one knee in front of her and gathered her hands in his. “What’s the matter? Why are you crying?”

“How did you find me?” she sniffled.

“I followed you. What is this place and why are you sitting here alone crying? Tell me, love.”

Would you think me foolish if I called you my love?

Is that what I am to you?

Yes.

Then no, I would not think you foolish.

He had kissed her after that in her bed back at her house. His lips had intoxicated her more than the most costly wine. She swiped her sleeve across her nose. She wished Conn would kiss her now.

He sat on the step beside her instead and waited for her answer.

What had made her cry? She could not tell him about Tessa Blagden.

She was not sure why the old woman had asked it of her, but she was almost certain Lady Blagden was a witch…

or something of that nature. She had disappeared from Grayson’s life for seventeen years and returned as if out of nowhere a few nights ago.

Sarah was certain she had not aged a day.

“Do you know Tessa Blagden?” She asked him.

Do you mean Hester Blagden? “Mrs. B.? Crazily enough, she’s a friend of Aria’s. She’s done much for my family. Why? Did you see her?”

Torn between granting Lady Blagden’s request and being deceitful to Conn, she lowered her gaze and nodded.

“What did she say? Did she mention me?”

Again, she nodded. “She said you could not remain here but she would not take you back yet.”

He made a sound like a huff and Sarah could not resist looking at him.

“So, then, she was the one responsible for all this. Well, at least we know now she’ll take us home.”

“Us?” She asked in a quiet voice.

He gazed at her and smiled. “Of course. Do you think I say what I don’t mean?”

She smiled at him, relieved, and shook her head.

“Have faith in me,” he asked her.

She nodded, and they both laughed, not really sure why they were laughing. He leaned in and she closed her eyes waiting for him. She remembered him kissing her wrists and arms while they had laid together. His lips on her pulse, his warm breath over the column of her neck.

His mouth covered hers now for a series of soft, slow kisses that made her lightheaded. He asked her to have faith in him, and she would. Why was she ready to follow him through time?

“Conn…” she said, withdrawing to stare into his eyes. “I—”

Someone called out her name. Her mother!

She leaped to her feet and ran out of the dance Hall following her mother’s voice to the hall where Grayson’s chambers were.

“Sarah,” she said, then looked over her daughter’s shoulder at Conn. “You were in his dance Hall. I thought you would be here.”

Sarah blushed four shades darker and did not look at Conn. “Mother, what happened? Is William all right?”

“Oh dear, yes! He is awake!” She laughed at herself. “That is why I was looking for you. Our William has awakened!”

Sarah raced past her and burst into the room where William was lying in bed. When she entered, his eyes opened and he smiled when he saw her. She immediately began to cry.

“If I knew you would weep, I would have kept my eyes closed, Sister.”

“I will not forgive you for making us worry!” She cried and ran to kneel at the side of the bed. She took her brother’s hand in hers and held it to her cheeks. She heard her mother and Conn entering the room next.

“This must be the ‘strapping’ Mr. Darling my mother has told me all about.”

Sarah turned two shades of scarlet at her brother’s declaration. But the truth of it was, Conn was indeed quite strapping. Her mother had it right.

“It’s good to see you awake, brother,” Conn replied, making her brother’s and her mother’s eyes widen at the use of his family term.

“Is there something between you and my sister?”

“N—” Sarah began, but Conn cut her off.

“Yes, there is. I would have spoken to you about it but you were unconscious.”

“Was I out for a month? A fortnight?” Will asked, sincerely surprised.

“A few days,” Conn supplied without a shred of shame over the speed of it. “I’ve come to save her from a lifetime of unrequited love.”

Sarah blushed, her mother blew out a sigh of relief, and Will swallowed the smile trying to form on his lips.

“My mother assures me your sister is safe,” Will began.

“Thanks to you,” Conn said quickly. “I’m in your debt.”

Will shook his head. “I am in yours.”

“We’re even then,” Conn laughed.

“We may be even,” Will told him, his smile fading, “But that does not mean I will give you my sister. Give me a few days to get to know you, at least.”

“Of course,” Conn agreed.

“What about when it is time to go home?”

“I’ll take her with me,” Conn promised her mother and brother. “Her and both of you.”

Sarah was thinking of what to say to soften the shock, but someone outside the door was calling her and Conn’s name.