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 polished surface there was a vase beautiful arranged flowers from the castle gardens.
Amelia continued toward the staircase, but paused again, this time to look around the hall. Was she really here? This was so real, it was.
Gathering her skirt, she went on up the staircase. She reached the door of her apartment, and paused again, her glance moving along to the door of Dane's rooms a little further on. They were married but don't share the same room.
" What was I thinking? This was history. The fact that a man and his wife occupied separate apartments had never signified anything. It wasn't uncommon. " Amelia thought, entered her chamber, and found Katherine's maid, Abigail waiting.
" Your Grace, " Abigail curtsied.
" Abigail. " She glanced around the room. " It feels so real. "
" Because it is. I'm sure you've met Dane. What do you think about him? " Abigail asked, taking a lighted candle through to the dressing room, and soon Amelia heard the chink of porcelain as warm water was poured from a large jug into a bowl. The thought of being attended to by a maid was odd, she was used to doing all the house chores herself when and before she was married to Jacob.
" He's breathtakingly handsome although he gives me goosebumps, but in a good, sensual way. " Amelia turned to Abigail.
" Goosebimpps? What is that? " Abigail asked, confused. It was obvious she was just hearing that word for the first time.
Amelia almost chuckled but swallowed it back. " I meant cold shivers. I find him both arousing and frightening. The mere gaze of him makes erotic sensations quiver through me. " She explained as she followed Abigail to the dressing room and Abigail smiled a little.
Abigail unhooked the delicate emerald silk gown, removing all her clothing, including her undergarments. She found herself standing completely naked. She felt awkward but decided to go through it and wonder how it would feel being attended by a maid.
She washed her face and hands, but as she did became aware that there was something very important about Katherine that was being withheld from her. She sensed it more than actually knew it, and the feeling was unsettling. What was it? Another skipped chapter or yet again history was wrong.
Abigail brought a lace-trimmed cream silk nightgown and slipped it over Amelia's head. " You should go to sleep early because Her Grace likes going on a ride very early in the morning. I'm sure you know how to ride a horse? " She said quietly.
Amelia furrowed her brows. There was nothing like that about Katherine or any woman riding a horse in the early nineteenth century. But who was she to question Abigail? She was Katherine's trusted maid and knows everything about her, even the ones that weren't written in history.
" Yes, of course. I know how to ride a horse. My dad taught me at the age of 6 when we were still living in…"
" I know. " Abigail interrupted with a smile.
Clearly taken aback, Amelia decided to ask. " Do women ride horses in the early nineteenth century? "
Abigail didn't reply. This woman was keeping something away from her.
Amelia eyed her. " You're Katherine's maid, and so know her very well indeed, right? "
" Yes. "
" So you must know the reason why Dane despises her? " Amelia said and the woman nodded.
" But I'm not going to tell you yet until the time is right. "
Amelia was beginning to feel annoyed. It seems she wasn't going to tell her anything just yet. " Why do say that? "
" For there is a reason I used my powers to bring you here. I have the sight to see into the future. " She replied after a moment.
Amelia was dumbfounded. Whatever she'd expected, it hadn't been this. This woman just said she used her powers to bring her here which was very hard to believe. Was there such thing has second sight?
Seeing the expression of doubt on Amelia's face, Abigail smiled. With time, she would understand.
***
The following day. Around 6 in the morning.
Amelia's eyes flew open. For a moment she didn't know where she was, but then the memory returned. Katherine. She was in the body of Duchess Katherine.
" Blessed morning your grace, your bath is ready. " Abigail said to her with a bright smile.
Amelia got ready, dressed in a pink silk gown embroidered with daisies and in a black full length hooded robe and long velvet cape, with the help of Abigail, and they both stepped out of the castle towards the barn.
As they walked to the barn, she mumbled. " Do I have to choose a horse or does Katherine have her own personal horse? "
" No, she doesn't. " Abigail replied.
" If I take a horse as mine, I'd rather no one else rode it. " She told her firmly.
Abigail glanced over at her with a smile but didn't say anything.
The two went into the barn. Amelia asked, pointing to the Hackney. " That horse. Who owns it? "
" No one owns it. It had never let anyone ride on its back and no one had gotten its attention, as far as I know. " Abigail explained, staring curiously at Amelia.
Amelia and the horse observed one another, and it was she who went to the horse. It was steady and waiting. And Amelia brought out a sugar cube from her pocket and gave it to the horse.
The bribe made Abigail smile. Amelia's hands went over the horse, getting the horse familiar with her. She ran her hands over the horse and talked to it. It was interesting for Abigail to watch and was impressed by how she got to see her get that close to a horse so quickly.
" Theo. That would be your name. " She turned to look at Abigail. " It likes me already. "
" Yes, it does. It's time to go for the ride, your grace. "
…
Amelia climbed onto the horse and sat astride on it, then grabbed the reins in a light but steady pressure. As the horse move its head, her hands follow the movement. She gently squeezed her legs and the horse began trotting away.
It's been a while since she had ridden a horse.
She remembered what her father told her when he was teaching her how to ride a horse, "Horses can sense fear and may tense up. The first motion you can build up with your horse is trust. " And that was what she was doing. To her, to ride on a horse is to fly without wings.
The speed was exhilarating. Feeling the weight of the horse underneath her, being carried by each graceful stride, and the wind whipping around as they raced around the barnyard- it was a taste of paradise.
It just so happened, at the very time Dane and Henry rode into the barnyard and were both astounded to see her riding. The two men witnessed this and their breath was taking away.
Amelia could feel the wind blasting through her hair, it really does feel like she was flying. She felt just as strong, capable, and elegant as her steed, and it shows in how she carried herself during the ride. Her smile was broad and her eyes were bright and a giggle escaped from her lips as she listened to the wind. She was free and there was no sense of fear in her.
Meanwhile, the two men looked stunned and at the same time their heart skipped a beat as they watched her ride with such grace.
Dane's eyes were on her, and he couldn't look away. His heart jolted when he saw her smile. His narrowed eyes lingering on her flushed cheeks as the wind blew her long golden hair. His jaw tautened and he desperately wanted to look away but couldn't. He had seen her smile before, but this was different. There was an unknown spark in his eyes as he continued to stare at her so intently.
How could a woman possibly ride a horse? This was his first time seeing a woman ride on a horseback in all his years in life. How was this possible? Where and when did she learn how to ride on a horseback?
He could even hear her giggle from afar and they sound like sweet Melody in his ears.
" Can you see what I'm seeing? Unbelievable! " Henry said to Dane.
To be continued...
" 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
The rain was still falling. " George Denham. " Amelia stated. She didn't look surprised when Abigail told her because she already had a suspicion. No wonder Simon said those things. She could still remember his words after she had introduced herself. *If you are his wife, he couldn't have allowed you to come here* It was obvious that Dane didn't like the Denham family because of George's affair with his mother. " Yes. The Denhams are bound to cheat on their partners or have secret affairs. It runs in their blood. From generation to generation. " Abigail continued. Amelia gasped. It's just like a curse. So Jacob was bound to cheat on her even without her losing the baby. Losing the baby was just an excuse he used to justify his wrongdoing. He was following in his ancestor's footsteps. History was just repeating itself. The next morning. As soon as Amelia stepped out of her room, she noticed some movement to her right, and her gaze fell on a maid. She was just exiting Dane's apar
Amelia regretted the water incident once she was back in her chamber.The following day." I haven't been able to get another flashback of Katherine's memory ever since we went to the kitchen. " Amelia confessed.Abigail hummed, thoughtfully. "I believe that meeting the same people who were present at the same place and time as Duchess Katherine is the only method of getting Katherine's memories."Amelia smiled a little. "You're right. If I could get to the lake, I could find out what happened on the night Katherine died.""Indeed." Abigail agreed.Amelia went mute for a few seconds then announced. "I'm going tonight."A few hours later.Amelia got into her nightgown, a pale pink antron nightgown, and went out of the castle towards the lake.The moonlight shone down on the lake, reflecting off the surface and lighting everything up, making it so magical. So this was where Duchess Katherine's dead body was found by the guards. Amelia stood at the edge of the lake and watched the water