Chapter 14
Millard was grumbling as he made his way back home from the bank. First there was that small matter of a mistake on his bank records, which, he had found out, was never there to begin with.
What he was really upset about was his nephew, the Duke of Albany. Leopold never acted like royalty and never wanted to be royalty. Then there was this woman who he had never met and had never seen before, this poor common street wench that he had picked up out of nowhere and pronounced his undying love for. Why, that boy needed to learn some manners. There was no excuse for his behavior, none at all. He should just march right up to the house and give him the tongue thrashing he deserved, then throw that Kate what’s-her-name right back into the street from whence she came.
He would force him to marry someone of his own choosing, someone with money and refinement, someone with splendor and gracefulness, not some yellow haired floozy he’d picked up on the street the night before.
And then he remembered how Leopold’s eyes lit up when he saw her enter the room. His whole personality had changed. What had impressed him about her even then was the way she held herself, well, before she tripped over herself anyway. Her face was as beautiful as the new gray gown she was wearing. From the little he could get from Otis, they had met a few days ago at the house of an acquaintance both known to them. Leopold had fallen head over heels in love with this woman and she wanted nothing to do with him until they had had an argument. He had walked out on her and she went chasing after him to tell apologize, to explain to him that it had all been a mistake. Otis said he let her in because he thought that they were strong, rebellious and independent and would suit each other well. They needed one another, this was obvious, and they were both very much in love.
He hadn’t seen Leopold that happy since he had been a small boy in England.
She said she was from Massapequa, which was out in the country of all places. What was out there anyway besides a few houses and a new hotel? What was her last name anyway? McKay? Wasn’t that it? The McKay’s of Massapequa, Leopold had announced. Well, think, Millard, who was out there. He knew of the McKay brothers, the ones who started the general store out there where there was none before. Sean Patrick and Daniel Joseph had become millionaires several times over with their store and that was just in the first five years that it had opened.
So she did have money, if indeed those were her relations.
He smiled and stopped. Maybe he had been a bit too harsh. Maybe he could accept her as she was. Maybe the men last night who had joined him later in the smoking room were right after all.
“Oh, come, come Millard, of course they should marry. Do not ruin his happiness. Why, you ask? You do want him married, don’t you? You don’t want him living with you forever, especially with a miserable old bachelor, now would you?�
Well, they had been right. His own arranged marriage had been a disaster from the start. He had hated Millicent from the very beginning, even her name bothered him. She had never given him any children, none whatsoever.
Is this what he really wanted to give his nephew? Did he want Leopold to share his fate? The answer was a resounding no.
Millard quickened his step and headed toward the mansion. He must get there quickly to explain his sudden change of heart. He needed to give them both an explanation and apologize for his behavior.
He was not going to deprive Leopold the happiness that was due him.
Chapter 15
Stuart was making the final calculations when Amber walked in. He picked his head up and smiled. “Well, how was the first day?�
“It went very well, I think,� she said. J.J. was so impressed that he wants me every day and full time as well.�
“And?� Stuart asked, getting up.
“I told him I couldn’t,� Amber said, “and asked him to find a replacement as quickly as possible. I told him I might not stay as long as I promised.�
She hung up her light spring jacket and walked inside to start dinner, but Stuart stopped her.
“You don’t have to make dinner, I ordered in a pizza.� He walked closer to her. When Amber turned around, she found him staring at her. “About the not staying part, is there a reason that you’d be going so soon?�
Amber looked in his eyes and smiled. “I can stick around if you want me to, Stuart. I thought the longer I stayed here, the more I was messing up the time continuum.�
She waited for Stuart’s reply and when none came, she changed the subject. She walked over to his desk. “What is this you are working on?�
Stuart smiled and walked back to join her. “That, my lady, is just one of the time portals you found. It leads to New York in the 1920’s. Haven’t figured out exactly what year it is yet and some other things need tweaking, but it looks as if we might be able to experiment with it.�
“Shouldn’t Kate and Leopold still be alive? Maybe we can go and visit�…She stopped and stared at him. She frowned. “What’s wrong with you?�
“How do you know about Kate and Leopold?� Stuart asked. “I don’t think I’d ever told you about them.�
Amber frowned. “Of course you did, Stuart. Don’t you remember last night when the cops came here trying to pin Kate’s murder on you and Charlie?� Don’t you remember what I told them?�
Stuart stared at her. “You told them that she was off visiting relatives and that she wasn’t coming back anytime soon.� He looked up at her. “I’m sorry, Amber. I guess I’d forgotten. Just tell me one thing, how did you know?�
Amber looked at him. “Come on, Stuart. They are all over the place. All you have to do is look on the Internet and in books. There are photos everywhere of Leopold, Kate and their two children…� She stopped in mid sentence and put her hand up to her lips. “Now I should apologize to you.�
“No, no, that’s not necessary,� Stuart reached out and took her hand away from her lips. “It’s good to know that she reached 1876 safely. It was so close, Amber. Another second and the portal would’ve closed.�
Amber nodded. She moved toward him. “Yes,� she answered, “the timing must be precise. One more second and you’d be stuck in the wrong time period.�
Stuart smiled. He was close to her now that he could feel the heat coming from her.
“You are so smart and beautiful,� he whispered as he moved his head closer to hers. He pulled her towards him and she put up no resistance.
Then the doorbell rang.
Chapter 16
“Must be the pizza,� Amber whispered as they broke apart reluctantly. “I’ll see how much the charge is.�
“No,� Stuart said, getting up, still looking in one another’s eyes. “I’ll do it. He got up and walked to the door.
“How much do we owe you?� he asked opening up the door. He expected the delivery boy, not a brown haired girl standing there with a pizza in her hand.
“Hi, “ she said politely, holding out her hand. “You must be Charlie’s friend, Stuart.�
“I might be,� Stuart asked “and who might you be?�
“I’m Patrice, Charlie’s friend.� She peered over the Stuart’s shoulder. “Is Charlie here? He left a note on the apartment door that he’d be up here if anyone needed him?�
“Did someone call for a delivery?� a voice called from the back. Stuart sighed. Now there was the pizza boy.
Amber stood up now and started toward the door when she heard a voice coming from the rooftop.
“Stuart, Amber,� Charlie called from rooftop door, “you’ve got to see this and you won’t believe it. I don’t and I am holding it in my hand.�
“What is it?� Amber asked, walking toward Charlie. Stuart was now paying the delivery boy for the pizza.
“It’s a letter from Kate all the way from 1876.� He was smiling. “ And look, I’ve got a safe deposit box key,� he said, holding it up. “Apparently she thought..�
“Hi ya Charlie,� a voice called from the door, “forget all about me?�
Charlie looked over and his eyes widened. He smiled. “Patrice!� he called excitedly. “You found it after all.�
“I told you I’d have no difficulty finding this place. Now what about 1876?�
“Pizza’s here,� Stuart called as he carried in the pie. He kicked it closed and set the pizza down on the dining room table next to Patrice’s. “Any takers?�