Amelia's glance went to the table where a wedding ring shone in the glow of the candle. For an illusion, the flame seemed very real. She felt that if she reached out, she would feel its heat. And yet she was sure it was a dream.
She suddenly felt dizzy from the potent mixture of knowledge and confusion swirling through her. She knew much about Katherine, but was aware she hadn't completely taken on this new self. Inside she was Amelia Smith, the second daughter of Sandra and David Smith. That was why she was sure it was all a dream. She must have read all this in one of the historical romances she couldn't get enough of, or maybe seen it in an old movie, and now her subconscious was recalling it in this weird dream.
Well, whatever it was, it all felt strange that it was creeping the hell out of her for it was so real. She needed to get a grip on herself. The real Katherine must have been dead by now considering the wedding ring on the table.
To her astonishment, a voice interrupted her thoughts. " Your grace? " A young woman asked with uncertainty. She was twenty-seven or twenty-eight and petite. Her clothes were poor, a white apron and a hairband or cap of some sort. She was probably a maid.
Amelia just stared at her, not certain of what to say or how to react. Was she referring to her as Your Grace?
" You have finally woken up! I knew you would wake up. Thank goodness! I was so scared something bad might've happened when the physician said he didn't feel any pulse. Are you okay? " Her voice was very English. She looked relieved as she said those words which made Amelia wonder what might have happened to Katherine for she never read any of this part in the history book.
Who was this woman? Was she Katherine's maid?
She knew she was waiting for her to respond, but she didn't know what to say. In a situation as incredible as this, the cat had more than gotten her tongue!
Her silence perplexed the woman. " Did you hear me, Your Grace? "
" Yes. I did. " Her voice was no longer modern Now York, but British and reserved. What the hell. It was her voice.
" I would go and inform His Grace that you're awake. "
" N..no, wait. What happened to me? "
Amelia was curious as to what happened to Katherine, but referring to herself as Katherine made her feel weird.
The woman was stunned, but replied with a bow. " Show me mercy, Your Grace. It was all my fault. I shouldn't have left your side. The guards found you in the lake and rescued you. "
" The physician checked your pulse but you had none. Everyone thought you were dead because you didn't wake up for a whole day. "
Amelia raised a brow. " And I woke up now? " The woman nodded her head.
Katherine committed suicide by drowning which means…?
" What year is this? " She blurted out the question and the woman raised her head to look at her in confusion.
" Two years after Napoleon Bonaparte's defeat at Waterloo. "
" 1817? " Amelia muttered. " What is your name? "
" I'm Abigail Walker, Your Grace. " Abigail replied even if the questions her master was asking her came as a shock to her. Is it possible that her master had lost her memories due to the fall in the lake?
"Her surname is Walker? As in, Noah Walker's great grandmother. What the hell! " Amelia thought. There was a slight resemblance between the woman and Noah.
Almost immediately the sound of a carriage disturbed the night. Amelia looked to the window and saw it pull up at the end of the lane. It was a gleaming maroon vehicle drawn by four greys, and its lamps shine brightly through the darkness of the poorly lit Street. The door was flung open, and two gentlemen stepped down.
Both were in their mid-thirties, and dressed in formal evening clothes. One was tall, with brown hair and then walked swiftly toward the castle. Amelia saw him to be Doctor Henry Benard, the illegitimate son of the family and possessed an elegant townhouse facing the castle. He was a much respected man, and one of the few men Dane trusted.
Her gaze moved to the other man who she supposed was Katherine's husband. He was tall and arrestingly handsome, with thick black hair and a penetrating glance she could perceive even from a distance. His lean, athletic physique was perfectly suited to fashion day. Amelia's heart tightened within her as she gazed at him, for the feelings that surged through her now were unlike anything she'd ever known before.
He walked towards the courtyard, and the closer he came the clearer she could see his eyes. They were gray, and there was something in them that hinted at dark secrets, something immeasurably exciting. He was the perfect hero, with looks to melt the hardest female heart, and s commanding air she found both arousing and frightening. Each step he took brought desire closer to her. Why was she feeling like this?
Everything about Sir or Duke Dane Barnard drew her like a pin to a magnet.
He reached the courtyard and from nowhere a woman with black long hair and dressed in a white silk satin gown walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek. He held her waist and smiled lovingly at her.
Amelia didn't know why but she felt a pang of hurt in her chest.
" That is Lady Caroline Baker. I'm sure you don't know her. " Abigail smiled, as if reading her thoughts.
" I've heard about her. " Amelia blurted out unknowingly and her eyes widened after realising her mistake.
" It's very simple, Amelia. Solve the puzzle. That is the woman His Grace is in love with. " Abigail said quietly.
Amelia glanced swiftly around. " You know my name? "
" Of course. I do. You're surprised? "
" But this is a dream, isn't it? " Amelia asked, unsure of things. Something about the intensity of the woman's eyes suddenly conjured thoughts of sorcery or maybe ancient magic. Amelia shuddered.
Abigail grinned. " You were brought back in time for a reason. Don't look for answers now, Your Grace. "
Brought back in time? Is this a joke or something?
" If I am Katherine now, I'm supposed to be dead. " Amelia pointed out swiftly.
" Let me put it in a simple way. For a few hours or days, you're Amelia Smith in Duchess Katherines body. Dane never loved Katherine, everyone has a different perspective of her, but they all don't know the truth for certain and that's when you come into the picture. "
" What do you mean? " Amelia asked, turning around to look out the window.
Dane and Caroline were still talking. Her gaze remained on Dane and he seemed to sense she was at the window, for he raised his and looked directly up at her. The hint of latent power surrounding him was like a beacon in the darkness, and when their eyes met, she couldn't look away. She was conscious of the electrifying spell of his gaze. It was as if he knew her thoughts, because his face immediately went expressionless.
" Katherine left a bitter legacy. Her love was never returned and I think you both share almost the same faith. Just be yourself in Katherine's guise and solve the puzzle, that is all you need. Your life might even become a romance. "
Amelia looked at her with disbelief. She was stunned? This is impossible! How could she possibly travel back in time into Katherine's body who was supposed to be dead right now? If this isn't a joke, then what is it?
To be continued...
An irresistible eagerness bobbled through Amelia as she climbed down the staircase to the hallway. Caroline had her right hand linked with Dane's and Henry stood behind them with an expressionless face. Just as she elegantly climbed down the stairs, their gaze darted towards her direction and she could see the look of shock on their faces. Did they really expect Katherine to be dead?! They couldn't believe their eyes as they stared at her in astonishment. How could this be possible? She was confirmed dead a few hours ago, but how come she is…? So alive!A lot of questions ran through their heads as their expressions were beyond that of shock. Caroline stared at her, no less stunned than Henry. Dane, on the other hand, his expression was impossible to gauge. If he was glad or shocked to see her alive, he gave no sign, and if he was displeased, he gave no sign of that either. His face was a mask.Amelia's attention went to the lady in his arms and gasped. She was absolutely beautiful
It was strange how Amelia knew the layout of the castle. From the moment she climbed down the staircase, she was completely familiar with everything about the ancient fortress. But what still amused her except from the scenario from earlier was how could a lovely maid from early nineteenth century England possibly detect that beneath her ladyship's jewelled exterior there was a New Yorker from the future? Indeed, when she caught a glimpse of herself in the wall mirror, she found it hard to believe herself!She walked through the candlelit Great Hall, from where another grand staircase led up to the private apartments. She paused in the vast chamber, and looked around. History seemed very tangible in a place like this. The lower walls were panelled in dark oak, above and painted white, and everything was lit by the candles encircling half a dozen wheel-rim chandeliers suspended from a hammerbeam roof. A long table ranged down the centre of the stone-flagged floor, and on its highly pol
" Yes. " Dane replied, his gaze still on her. Amelia was suddenly startled when she saw them and that made her stop the horse when she got to their front." Good morning. " She greeted, biting her lower lip as she had forgotten how a maiden was supposed to greet in history." Good morning to you too. " Dane replied. He was giving her a strange look that she couldn't understand so as Henry." Good morning, your grace. " He responded to her and that's when Amelia realised that this was the first time he was talking to her directly. " How come you know how to ride on a horseback? "His questions seemed to have surprised her as she stared at him in confusion. She thought Abigail said, Katherine knows how to ride a horse. How come they were surprised to see a woman riding a horse? Could it be possible Abigail lied to her knowing that Dane and Henry would be riding a horse at this time? No wonder she…How dare she! How was she going to explain herself to these two men who were waiting for
Caroline raised a delicately etched eyebrow as she saw Katherine and Dane alone in his study. She stared hard at Katherine almost incredulously, her eyes sharp and immediately hostile. She noticed that Dane and Katherine were in an intimate position, and for a minute, she seemed to lose a little of her pulse. Then she smiled, almost as if by force of will, because there was no joy in her dark eyes.So, when Dane had pushed Katherine and told her to leave, there was a smug expression on Caroline's face but she couldn't help but wonder what had occured between them. The Dane she knows would never go as far as touching her." What was she doing here? " Caroline asked eventually." I don't know and I don't care. " He replied and put his hand lovingly to her cheek." I don't trust her with you. She is deceptive and can do anything to get what she wants. " She said quietly. " She only wants you! "" To me, she will never be anything more than a wife I took to oblige my father's long-standin
The next few hours, in the evening during supper Katherine decided to confront Caroline of taking her family's heirloom. Why would she do that? What right does she have to go into her chambers and take one of her properties? Katherine noticed Caroline standing at the other side of the dining room talking to her maid, Molly. She made her way towards them as slow as possible without creating a noise in the quiet dining room. Though she didn't look around, she knew Dane had guests to come have supper with him in the castle.At the head of the table sat Duke Dane, next to him on the other side were Sir Henry, and Lord Ethan who kept Dane and Henry company as they conversed. Lord Ethan was also a friend to Dane but not very close. Next to Lord Ethan sat his fiancee, Lady Charlotte and Sir William.The table was long enough to accommodate ten more people.They didn't notice Katherine's arrival as the men were too engrossed in their conversation.When Katherine got to Caroline's side, " Car
Caroline was in her room, sitting on a chair and in front of the dressing table mirror as she admired her flawless features. She reached up swiftly to pull out the jewelled comb and countless hairpins keeping her coiffure firmly in place. Slowly she picked up a tortoiseshell-backed hairbrush and began to draw it gently through the long black curls." Caroline, you can bring any man to his knees with your beauty. " She giggled in her thoughts.Her moment was soon to be distracted as a young lady with curly brown hair quickly entered the room. " My Lady, "Caroline frowned at the sudden interruption and was about to give her a lashing, but seeing the expression on her face she knew something was wrong and she was here to gossip about it to her." What is it? " She asked." You wouldn't believe what I just saw! I saw Katherine in the kitchen. " The young woman said, making Caroline frown, but after a while she started to laugh. Was this some kind of joke?" A woman of Katherine's social
" Denham Manor? And who is Carissa? " " Carissa Denham is betrothed to the prince. She would soon become a princess. " Abigail told Amelia.The following day.Amelia and Abigail were on their way to Denham Manor.Her green eyes looked outside the window, seeing the trees pass one after another as four horses pulled the carriage through the forest. Her tongue peeked out to wet her lips that had turned dry. The air blew against her face. " It is a very different city from the one I'd seen when I just moved into Denham Manor. " She said to Abigail, who was sitting next to her in the carriage." I wonder what the city would be like in the future. " Abigail whispered." Old, quiet and secluded. That is how this city would be like in the future. " Amelia stated. " How come you look so young but know too much? " Something about Abigail conjured thoughts of sorcery and old magic. She seemed to know too much.Abigail smiled. " My great grandmother was a witch, so was my grandmother, and then
" J…Jacob" She thought.He had the same eyes as Jacob. His black hair was partitioned at the side and neatly combed. " My apologies for not looking ahead. " The man apologised in a deep voice, and Amelia stared at him. He looked so much like Jacob.Not wanting to make a fool of herself, she quickly composed herself and said. " I should have been careful. I thought I was the only one up here because I didn't see anyone. " She apologized.But then it wasn't just her who was staring. When her eyes fell back on his hands that had not let go of her, the man seemed to realize, and he quickly let go of her arms as if he had touched a burning iron. Was he disturbed by her?When he started walking, Amelia couldn't help herself but step as if she was giving him space, when in truth, the passage was wide enough to let more than five people pass at a time. The man disappeared without uttering another word. Amelia continued looking at where he had disappeared to.Whilst she was on the same floor