Knight Moves: Merriweather Sisters Time Travel (Merriweather Sisters Time Travel Romance Book 2) (21 page)

“Are you going to talk to William? Do you think he’ll listen?”

“I do not know. If it were me, I would fight first then talk.”

One of Melinda’s curls escaped from the ribbon where she’d tied her hair back. James wanted to reach out and take it between his hands. But he had endured enough teasing today from his men.
 

“If he is holding my sister against her will, I will run him through.”

James smiled at her, feeling the laugh deep within his belly as it spilled forth.

“He would be wise to fear you, my lady. You are very ferocious.”

The closer they got to Blackford, the more Melinda’s nerves stretched tight until she thought she would snap back like a rubber band. Finally. She’d see her sister. Find out what happened. Every moment in the past, every experience, had brought her to this moment.

As they came around the bend of what passed for a road, Melinda let out a gasp. Blackford Castle. Last time she saw the castle, the entire place was a ruin. Now it stood in all its glory. Talk about impressive. Melinda cast a critical eye over the castle. Falconburg was bigger and more forbidding. Though Blackford certainly came in a close second.

Looking at the castle made her think of its owner. Could Lucy be here with William of her own free will? Melinda hadn’t thought that far ahead. She’d only thought of finding Lucy and going home.

But now things were different. She wanted to be with James. And James lived on the opposite coast. In her own time it wouldn’t be a big deal, she’d drive to see her sister, but here? It was a big undertaking to travel back and forth. All the Merriweather sisters made time for each other. They’d never been this far apart. Sure, Charlotte went on her trips, but it wasn’t permanent.

She looked at James. He’d found out news that rocked his world, but it didn’t mean he’d be up for being friends with William.

What would she do? Would she stay in the past with Lucy? Go back to Falconburg with James? Or would she travel back to her own time and make sure Charlotte was okay?

So many decisions, and none of them easy.
 

The closer they rode to the castle, the more Melinda’s nerves pulled everything inside her tight. It was surreal to be here. Seeing the castle as a working home, not a ruin. The place in her time where her sister was presumed dead.

A man met them in the courtyard. James dismounted, throwing the reins to him.
 

“See to the horses. Where is Lord Blackford?”

“My lord is visiting his cousin and will return on the morrow. Lady Blackford is here. I will inform her of your arrival.”

Melinda fidgeted, her breath coming in short little pants. She couldn’t believe she was actually here. James squeezed her shoulder.

“Easy. Do not worry.”

The tone of his voice, the touch of his hand, calmed her enough that she could breathe normally. The doors to the great hall opened and a woman stepped out. Melinda couldn’t move.

The woman was about the right height, but even from here Melinda could see her hair was silver. Her heart sank.

John was wrong. It wasn’t Lucy. Her vision blurred, and something wet dripped down her face, landing on her hand with a splat. Dejected, Melinda turned away.

“Mellie!”

Melinda spun around. No one else called her Mellie. She ran. Lucy threw her arms around her.

“It is you, Mellie. How on earth did you manage to get back? Did you find my letter?”

Lucy cried. Melinda cried so hard she could hardly get the words out.

“What happened to your hair?”

Melinda touched the silvery strands, really looked at her sister. Lucy had aged. And not just a couple of years. She looked a lot older. Old enough to be their mother. Things started to go dark around the edge of her vision, the dark taking over, Lucy growing smaller and smaller until she was nothing more than a tiny pinprick.

“What happened?” She was sitting on the ground, her head resting against James’ chest.

Lucy squatted down beside her. “You fainted, Mellie.”

James ran his fingers through her hair. “You had quite a fright.”

“Bring her inside. Your men will find food and drink in the kitchens.” Lucy looked back and forth between them, a slow smile spreading across her face.

“So that’s how it is. You might as well join us…”

James bowed. “James Rivers. Lord Falconburg.”

Lucy looked to Melinda. “Oh, dear. I think we have a lot to talk about.”

“Boy, you’re not kidding.”

Lady Blackford insisted they eat first. James looked around the lady’s solar. It was colorful and soft. The two sisters had not stopped talking since clapping eyes on each other.

“Your letter fell apart, Lucy. You should’ve tried to protect it better. When I found it and opened it, the paper crumbled to dust. The only word I could make out was
safe
. And I recognized your handwriting. You always put a smiley face in the bottom of the S.”

Lucy took her hands. “I’m so sorry. I thought it would last. Salt air destroys almost everything. I should have known better.”

James thought Melinda and her sister had forgotten he was there. He sat back, watching them together. The moment Lucy knew her sister was the moment he knew her story was true. Both sisters had traveled through time. More than seven hundred years.

James kept looking between the two sisters, listening to the strange words. The way they spoke. Hearing them talk, he realized how Melinda must have thought about her words before she spoke. He did not understand some of the words, but followed the conversation, understanding the meaning.

“So you actually married Simon? That jerk tricked you. Well, you aren’t married now. I mean in the future. Crap on toast. In 2016.”

Lucy put down the small pastry she was nibbling.

“What do you mean?”

“The church and all the records were burned to ash. Apparently the old priest kept everything on paper. He hadn’t computerized anything. It was supposed to be his project for the next year. So there’s no record of your marriage.”

“Who owns the castle? Is it still a ruin?”

“It is, and get this.”

Melinda paused. James found himself leaning forward, wanting to know what she would say.

“The Grey family never owned Blackford. The Brandon family owned the castle. The last Lord Blackford died in the fifteen hundreds. He was named Winston Brandon…let me think…some old guy said it was 1564. Winston was the last Brandon. The castle went to the National Trust.”

“Winston. After Dad?”

Lucy looked as if she might faint. James set his cup on the table in case he needed to catch her. He touched his leg. The herbs the healer gave him were working. His leg still ached and trembled, but not as much.

Melinda nodded. “I know, right?”

James was glad this Simon was dead. For if he wasn’t, James would’ve killed him. To trick a woman into marriage was a cowardly deed.

Lucy told Melinda about a curse.
 

“So Simon said I was Lucy Brandon. Which at the time didn’t make a lick of sense. But I am Lucy Brandon…now.” Lucy shook her head. “I know. It doesn’t make sense. I don’t know how it’s possible, only that it is. Maybe you get a new life when you go back in time? I thought and thought about it, but it just makes my head hurt trying to figure it out.”

Melinda leaned forward in the chair.

“So where is this husband of yours? I’m dying to meet him.”

Lucy glanced over at James. “He’s visiting his cousin, Edward Thornton. He should be back tomorrow. You must stay. I can’t believe you traveled all the way from Falconburg in this weather. How long did it take?”

“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you all about it later. Let’s just say it took us a few weeks to get here and it was a very eventful journey.”

James looked at Melinda, saw the question in her eyes, and nodded. “We’ll stay.”
 

Melinda smiled at him. She looked so happy he wanted to pull her in his arms. Tell her how much he cared for her.

A servant brought more food and drink. James had to allow that the food was very good. The “sandwich” Melinda had created was also something her sister knew of. James took a bite and chewed. He lifted the bread to see what was inside. Content to let the sisters talk and learn more about the woman he cared for, James took another bite.

“So what year did you come through?”

Lucy touched her hair.

“1307. Twenty years ago. Gosh, I can’t believe it’s been twenty years. What year was it when you left?”

“2016. I planned to leave sooner, but the man Simon hired tried to kill me.”

“No! He said both of you were dead. You don’t know how many years I agonized over it. Felt responsible.”

Melinda hugged Lady Blackford.

“You are not responsible for what that evil man did. He was already dead, but the wackjob English guy he hired—”
 

She looked at James. “Sorry. I don’t mean all Englishmen are crazy, just a few of them.”

He shrugged. “Evil finds a home when men invite it in.”

One of the copper curls had come loose from her braid, and James watched as she tucked it behind her ear.