Page 30 of Twin Flames

‘Are you suggesting I escort your codpiece upstairs, my lord?’ Cara fluttered her long eyelashes and flashed him a coy smile. ‘When in Rome and all that.’

‘When in Rome? I’ve no idea what you’re talking about, but my codpiece definitely wants more attention. Let’s make haste upstairs. Madame Alicia has kindly arranged a room in her private wing for us so we should be comfortable.’

They left the parlour, hand in hand, glowing as only lovers do. No one would suspect they had King Henry’s army seeking their heads except perhaps the two bounty hunters who sat at the opposite side of the parlour watching their every move.

CHAPTER 9

York, present day

Cara opened the front door.

‘Wow. This is a surprise.’

‘A pleasant one, I hope.’ George flashed Cara a self-deprecating smile. ‘I’m sorry. I should have called first.’

Cara blinked. ‘No, it’s okay. I didn’t expect you, that’s all. You’ve been very quiet.’

‘I had to see you,’ he said.

‘How did you know where I live?’ She’d begun to think it must be over. Three whole days had passed since Seville. She assumed he must be confused so she had decided to back off and leave it to him. His silence had been painful, but what else could she do? And yet suddenly he was here. Her heart stirred and began to clatter as their eyes met.

Here we go again.

‘You mentioned your street and cottage name so I thought it would be easy enough to find you if I drove over here.’

‘I’m pleased you came.’ She gulped and looked away, not knowing what else to say.

‘How have you been?’ said George.

‘Oh, you know—okay. Up and down.’

‘I’m sorry I’ve not been in touch. It’s been mad at work. The York Gallery contacted us and asked to commission the manuscript for a special exhibition.’

‘How fabulous.’ Her reticence dissolved, and she smiled.

‘That’s better,’ he said. ‘Do you think you might invite me in or are we going to stand here all night?’

‘Oh, God. Sorry. Come in.’ Cara stood aside and gestured for him to enter the hallway. ‘Go through to the kitchen, and I’ll make us some tea.’

George admired the Tudor style beams in the kitchen, looked around and said, ‘There’s something about this room. I feel as if I’ve been here before. It’s weird. Do you know what I mean?’

‘Funnily enough, I do. I had that sensation in the bookshop the first time we met. I thought I knew you. It was like deja-vu. I didn’t mention it—I was worried you would think me crazy!’

George laughed and shook his head, an expression of mock denial crossing his features, as he raised his palms upwards.

‘What a beautiful kitchen.’ He looked about with obvious appreciation.

‘Joking aside, I keep having this feeling that I’ve known you forever. I can’t quite explain it.’

She motioned for him to take a seat and then she put the kettle on and busied herself making tea. It was something to do besides look at him. She was so nervous she thought she might spontaneously combust at any moment.

I wonder if that’s what causes me to time travel.

Sometimes, the feeling between them was so intense that it made her jumpy. She searched for something to say to lighten the mood. ‘Time is such an unpredictable quantity. I’ve never thought much about it before, but over the past few days, I’ve been reading some of Einstein’s work.’

Nice job, Cara. Quantum Physics. Light indeed. . .

‘Einstein believed that time is an illusion. It certainly seems like it sometimes, doesn’t it? The past three days have been long,’ she continued.