Page 24 of Last Knight (Knights Through Time #7)

He snatched up the trencher from the table, and she followed him into a bustling room.

It was warm in the kitchen, and fascinating watching what everyone was doing.

Everyone had a task, and she wondered if they were born to it.

She made a note to ask when she had a chance to speak with one or two of them alone.

She didn’t want everyone gossiping about the weird girl.

Ashley finished her wine while Quinn finished his meal. When he was done, he led her up to the battlements and took up his customary place against the wall.

At the far end of the wall was another guard.

The moon was out tonight, and she’d never seen so many stars.

Content to just be, Ashley figured it would only take days after she returned home until she was back to her obsessive self, always needing to know what time it was and frantically crossing items off her list. What else would she do?

Move upstate and start a farm? No, she’d meet her goals and forget the past…

and a man with blue eyes who had touched her soul.

Quinn was talking to another man—they had their backs turned away from her and the other guard wasn’t paying attention, so it was now or never.

Ashley looked at the moon, closed her eyes, and made a wish. For good measure, she tapped her heels together three times, hoping maybe the person who had written one of her favorite books had been a time traveler like herself.

But when she opened her eyes she was still standing on the battlements, and there were still men with swords.

What was she going to say to the authorities when she made it back?

Would she show up the same day and time she’d left?

Or would the days missing be the same? If she returned at the same time, she’d simply go on her way to the party and beat Mitch out of the promotion.

But if it was later…she better come up with a story to tell.

Because there was no way she was telling everyone she’d landed in medieval England, not unless she wanted to find herself locked up for evaluation.

On that thought… Were all the mentally ill people really ill? Or we re some of them time travelers who’d made the mistake of telling what they’d experienced?

While she walked back and forth, she thought back to how she’d found herself here.

There was nothing that stood out in her mind other than the storm.

She’d been digging up something golden. Ashley rubbed her thigh, the cut now a scar.

Then again, what did she expect—flashing lights with a sign saying Time travelers enter here ?

So if there wasn’t anything that stood out, wouldn’t it reason that she could easily go back? Was it a matter of will? Ashley knew she was stubborn, to her detriment at times. She had to do things herself, couldn’t take the word of others.

And so she sat on the wall pressing her hands against the stone, and thought of home.

Summoned up the inside of her apartment.

The food truck that sold lobster rolls on the corner, the aroma of melted butter so strong she swore she could smell it, and the sounds of the city.

The honking, yelling, all the different cultures together in one place. She could see it clearly in her mind.

“I want to go home. I’m back home where I belong.”

She opened her eyes and slumped on the wall. She was still here.

“I could’ve told you that wouldn’t work,” Christian said.

“Well, I had to try, didn’t I?”

He sat down beside her. “My brothers may know the way for you to go home.”

“You said that before, but how could they?”

“You can ask them.” He fidgeted and wouldn’t meet her eyes. “Do you know I’ve never seen my betrothed?”

“How can you marry someone you’ve never seen?”

“James and Melinda arranged the match.” He turned to face her. “I have been betrothed five times. This is the sixth. They all run away.”

“Why?” Then she remembered. “Oh, because of what’s being said about you? But I thought it wasn’t true? ”

“It isn’t.”

And he went on to tell her the story.

“And so that is why every lass in the realm will not wed me.”

“Well, that’s just ridiculous. And I agree with your brother Edward. You should’ve gotten someone pregnant then married her.”

“That is what they all said. But I told you why I would not.” He fiddled with the hilt of his sword. She noticed he had another very similar to the one that was stolen.

When he spoke his voice was low, and she smelled the wine he had with dinner and the scent of spices from the meal on him.

“I wished you to know I do not love her. I hope she and I will like each other in time. Marriage is the natural progression of life. We marry and have babes, continue our name. ’Tis a duty.

My brothers wed for love, but I have not been so fortunate.

My only hope is that my wife and I will care for each other in time. ”

“You said your brothers married for love. Don’t you want to as well?”

“Of course. But none will have me. And in truth, love is not necessary for marriage.”

“You know, it’s funny—I used to think the same thing about relationships. But it must be something about this place, because I’ve changed my mind.”

“’Tis late. I will see you to your chamber.” As they passed Quinn, Christian paused. “Seek your bed and guard the lady in the morn.”

At the door to her chamber, he opened his mouth then closed it.

“I wish…”

“Don’t. Wishing doesn’t change anything.”

He nodded and turned to go.

“I never had regrets until I met you,” she whispered as she closed the door behind her.

It wasn’t until she was in bed that she realized she’d never gotten an answer.

She pulled the covers up under her chin and thought about it.

Why hadn’t Christian explained why he thought his brothers could help her?

Had they met someone else like her? She planned to find out tomorrow.

Because there was no way she was sticking around while the guy she was in love with married someone else.

Until she could get home, she would hide her feelings and pretend they were friends.

Was she really in love? She never had been, so maybe this was just a remnant of him saving her. She’d heard about women falling for cops or firefighters who rescued them. This was the same.

Wasn’t it?