Page 31 of Every Hour until Then (Timeless #5)

31

November 11, 1888 London, England

The day was cool, but the sun was bright as I slipped through the hedge between our courtyard and Austen’s. My heart was thumping with anticipation and joy, knowing that I would see him again—and knowing all that was in store for us.

I’d spent hours the day before thinking about what Austen had said and what he hadn’t. I knew that we would have at least fifty years together, and I prayed for many more after that, but he hadn’t told me what those fifty years would contain. Would we have children? Would I continue my work here in 1888? Would we travel?

I could look up those answers in 1938, but I didn’t want to. I’d learned that God’s timing was best and that He would reveal the answers to me when I needed them. I didn’t want to know a moment sooner than necessary.

It was liberating to be free of worry.

I didn’t even bother to knock on the back door, but slipped inside and walked down the hall to the breakfast room.

Austen sat at the head of the table with a newspaper before him, while Brinley stood at attention near the sideboard. The smell of fresh croissants, bacon, and eggs wafted with the steam from the serving dishes.

Had it only been two months ago that I entered this same scene after Austen’s return from Italy?

Only this time, Austen lowered his newspaper, his blue eyes filled with pleasure and anticipation as he watched for my reaction.

I couldn’t help but grin, which caused him to grin.

“Brinley,” Austen said as he set his paper down and rose from the table, walking around it to join me. “I thought I told you to put a guard at the door.”

“Sir?” Brinley asked.

“A guard at the breakfast room door,” Austen said as he gathered me in his arms. “Miss Kelly and I do not want to be bothered.”

“Yes, sir,” Brinley said with a smile as he slipped out of the room, leaving us alone.

“The news is good?” Austen asked as he held me in his arms.

“The news is very good.”

“Your father is safe?”

“Papa is home, in perfect condition, and Sir Rothschild is in jail, where he will most likely stay for the rest of his life.” I placed my hands on either side of Austen’s dear face. “And we owe it all to you.”

He frowned. “Me?”

I stood on tiptoe, not able to wait another moment for a kiss.

He didn’t protest or ask for an explanation as he returned my kiss, pulling me close, his hands sliding from my lower back to my upper back and then into my hair, loosening the pins that Duffy had taken great pains to secure.

When he pulled back, he said, “I have so many questions.”

“And I have all the answers.” I laughed. “At least, I have some of the answers. I don’t know everything.”

He touched my nose with his, joining in my laughter. “Who are you, and what did you do with my Kate?”

I hugged him again and then said, “I’m famished. Can we eat?”

He grinned and let me go so I could fill a plate with the tantalizing food.

When we were seated, he asked, “What do you mean, you owe it all to me?”

“You came with the police not long after Sir Rothschild arrived. The surprise put him off guard, and the police were able to arrest him with little trouble.”

“You saw me again?”

“Yes.” I reached across the table and took his hand in mine. “And you told me all about the portrait and how this all came to be.”

He frowned, clearly confused.

“You’ll understand more later.” I couldn’t help but smile as I said, “You also told me the best news of all.”

He placed his free hand over mine. “What is that?”

“In 1938, we’ve been happily married for almost fifty years.”

Austen was quiet for a long time as he regarded me.

I couldn’t read his emotions, so I finally asked, “What? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” He pressed his lips together as emotions overcame him. “I’m just amazed that I get to have breakfast with you every day of my life.”

Tears gathered in my eyes, and I left my chair and sat on his lap as I put my arms around him.

“You also told me that I’m your greatest adventure,” I said.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and shook his head. “You’ve always been my greatest adventure, Kate.” He looked down as he took a deep breath, and I knew he was collecting his emotions. When he finally looked up at me, he said, “Everyone I’ve ever loved has left me. When I thought you would leave me, too, a part of me died. The part that has come alive again these past two months. I can’t help but be awed that God would promise me at least fifty more years with the woman I adore and love more than anyone else on this planet.”

“It’s a gift.”

“A priceless treasure,” he said.

I was quiet a moment as I marveled at that treasure with him, then I wrapped my arms around him. “I know this isn’t the way it’s done, but my father has secured a special license for us and arranged a date for a wedding at St. Paul’s—”

“Yes,” he said. “I’ll go now, if they’re ready for us.”

I shook my head in wonder. “We’ll have to wait until Saturday.”

He groaned as he pulled me closer.

“It’s only six more days, my love.”

“It feels like a lifetime.”

“No.” I laughed. “A lifetime is what we have to look forward to after the wedding.”

A smile tilted his lips, but then he said, “Will I see you every day until then?”

“You won’t be able to get rid of me.”

“Is that a promise?”

“That’s a promise.”

“Then I will find a way to make do.”

He kissed me again, taking all the time in the world.