Beth through time, p.18
Beth Through Time, page 18
The constable lifted his head. “Yeah, just let me tie her up too. Don’t want her thinking she could run.”
The Bow Runner pushed me towards his partner. My feet slipped, and I stumbled into Henry.
“She has nothing to do with this. It is me that you are after.” Henry gritted his teeth. “The girl does not even know who I am.”
“Is that so?” The constable smirked. “Then why was she calling you Henry?” He lifted his hand and pushed Henry’s head forward. “Thought you was going by Edmund, havin’ a little turn at playing a duke.”
Henry seethed as the man tied my hand to his.
“My brother will find us,” I whispered to Henry while the constable pulled the knot tight enough for the fibers to burn my skin. I hissed at the sharp pain.
The constable straightened and checked the road. “I’ll put them on a cab. Graves, you go warn the others, and I’ll meet you at the office.”
Perhaps sixty feet away there were a couple of Hackney cabs parked and waiting for customers. My eyes met Henry’s; my brows scrunched up in worry. What were we supposed to do now? His fingers untangled and reached for the hand that was tied to his. Thumb skimming the outside of my palm, he mouthed one word.
Wait.
His eyes implored me to listen. I nodded, determined to follow his lead. There was no other option.
The other Bow Street Runner ambled away, returning back into the bowels of the theater. Short notes of music drifted out as the back door opened and closed.
“Walk,” the remaining constable said without feeling. When I did not react fast enough, he pushed me into the street. His grip tight, we loped around a passing carriage. “I should thank you for returning to London.” The constable sneered behind us. “With you finally caught, we’ll receive a large sum of money. Much better prospect than any sole thief finder nabbing you in the countryside.” He punctuated his words with another shove.
Henry stifled a groan. I could tell the rope was digging into his skin, but he remained stoic. “I would have rather stayed in the country, fresher air and all.”
The constable snorted. “Get your last words out now. Before long, you’ll be sitting in a jail cell. Where do you think you are going next, hmmm? I bet your little light skirt here knows.”
The Bow Street Runner was ogling me with an evil grin. I turned my chin, refusing to look at him.
“No? I’ll answer for you then. That one’s a piece of gallows bait.” He pressed us onto the sidewalk across the street. A group of men walked in our direction.
Henry stopped and threw his head back, hitting the constable square in the nose.
“Now. Run.”
The constable’s grip on the rope loosened as he lifted his hand to clutch his nose.
“Bugger.” Blood spurted down his chin.
Henry pulled me along, ripping the rest of the rope from the constable’s hands.
“Now’s our chance.”
With his hands still tied behind his back and my right fastened to his, we ran. Feet pounding down the pavement, we pushed past the men.
“Stop them!” the Bow Street Runner gurgled.
“Do not look back.” Henry kept running, urging me forward.
One of the bystanders grabbed for my sleeve, but I shrugged him off. I could not stop. My wrist ached and my heart thudded at the back of my throat. We needed to get away and hide. The first turn, we veered left into a back alley.
“Is he still coming?” My breathing had gone ragged and my stomach turned, ready to spill its contents.
“I do not think he will let us go that easily.” Henry’s face whipped back and forth, looking for the next route. Brick walls loomed on either side of us. We swerved around broken crates left in our path.
“Doors.” He lifted his chin towards the alley exits.
We rushed towards the first entrance. I pulled the handle, but it was locked.
There was a shrill whistle and a man yelling, “Where’d they go?”
I grabbed at the next handle and was luckier. The handle turned and the door creaked open. Henry and I burst into the back of a kitchen, kicking over a stack of pots.
“Apologies,” I shouted as we maneuvered past the cook and scullery maids manning the stoves.
Sweat dribbled down my spine. The front of the eatery was packed with couples and men dining and conversing.
“We have to keep going,” Henry urged.
A barrel-chested man sidled from behind the counter and stepped in our way. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Move.” Henry shoved past him. The man teetered on his legs and stumbled into a table, toppling the contents onto the diners.
I gaped at the sight, but Henry did not stop to look. He pulled me with him as he pushed against the main entrance.
We had reached the main Covent Garden Square. Unfortunately, since the sun had started to dip, the place was no longer filled with throngs of people. Only a handful of men were traversing the cobblestones at this time of day. We would not be able to hide in a crowd.
Henry was pulling me to the right when I spotted a short woman with a big head of brown curls in the distance. She waved at me.
Melinda.
“Henry, follow me.”
His eyes seemed wary though he made no objection as we ran straight across the square. Shouts and whistles behind us turned louder. My legs ached, but I pushed through the burning in my calves.
Breathing hard, I yelled for Melinda. “Do you have a way out?”
The bookshop owner pulled out a pendant from beneath her dress’ bust-line. “Grab my hand.”
“What?” Henry frowned, an incredulous expression on his face.
The same constable shouted, “Stop,” though more men had joined him in his pursuit and were also raising their voices, filling the ever-darkening sky with the sounds of feet slapping against stone and the angry tones of men.
“Do what she says.”
I bumped against Henry, turning to face our pursuers so Melinda could take a hold of our hands.
Nearing fast, a toothy grin covered the Bow Street Runner’s face. He reached out his hand as he ran towards us.
“Got ye,” he said as I felt Melinda’s hand touch mine and everything turned black.
24
The Magical Bookshop
My back hit the floor with a thud and my tied-up hand crushed beneath my and Henry’s combined weight. Hissing, I rolled to my side while Henry blinked, dazed from the impact, my hand still pinned beneath me. He groaned and after a bit of fumbling managed to sit up.
Henry motioned his head down, gesturing towards his lower body.
“My left pocket.”
With what little slack I had, I scrambled onto my knees and dug my free hand into his pocket. My fingers curled around a cool, oblong shaped item. I pulled it out to see that it was a pocketknife, its shaft a pretty amber and brown tortoise shell.
I did not need Henry to spell out what I needed to do.
One handed, I lifted the folded knife up to my face and pried it open using my teeth.
“Where in the world are we?” Henry muttered.
“You are in my bookshop,” Melinda answered as I cut through a piece of rope. “The both of you found yourself in quite a situation.”
Henry’s bindings fell away, and he gingerly rubbed his wrists, angry red marks marring his tanned skin. With the tension on the rope gone, I managed to cut away the twine around my wrist as well. My wrist throbbed and ached.
Henry stood and turned around to gaze at his surroundings, gaping at the rows of bookshelves and books. “How did we get here?” His brows puckered as he looked questioningly at Melinda.
Melinda spread her arms, swiveling from side to side. “You are currently standing inside my magical bookshop.”
I swallowed, pressing my palm against my chest, hoping my breathing would even out. “Did we move through time? Is this what happened to Rose and William?”
Melinda smiled and shook her head. “No, this time we have merely moved through space. This place functions a bit like a holding area. At this moment, we are not really anywhere but at the same time we are everywhere.”
Henry bent towards me and helped me off the ground while keeping a suspicious eye on Melinda. “What is this talk about moving through time and space?”
Holding on to his arms, I steadied myself. I chewed my lip. Henry must be overwhelmed with the new information bombarding him. When Rose first told me, I had been too baffled to respond at all. Now, while knowing time-travel was real, I was still shocked to see the magic for myself. “Melinda is a time-traveler.” I paused to gauge Henry’s reaction.
“Time-traveler...? How do you —” He stopped, shaking his head.
“My brother’s wife is from the future. She showed up at our estate and fell in love with John; that is how I also met Melinda. There is more which I can tell you later if you’d like.”
Henry’s eyes narrowed. “Will we be able to return home? Are we stuck here?” He let go of my body and paced the floor.
Melinda walked to a wooden register topped with a device that looked like a cash register though it hardly resembled any that I had seen before. She turned around the corner, bending and disappearing from view before she popped back up holding two clear bottles in her hands.
“Some water,” she said, thrusting them towards Henry and myself.
I examined the strange material that crinkled in my hand as I pressed it.
“You twist the cap.” Melinda pointed at the blue lid.
I did as she said and opened the bottle. Sticking out my tongue, I carefully tasted the clear liquid. It was indeed water. Grateful for something to drink, I threw back the bottle, cool water soothing my parched throat. My lungs still strained to catch up as my body returned to resting. I swiped my forehead.
Observing me, Henry soon followed suit, draining his bottle.
“Thank you,” I told Melinda. My eyes flitted to the ceiling; a strange light lit up the inside of the shop.
“That is electricity.”
The words were new, and I decided to inspect the shop, walking past the shelves, my fingers trailing the spines of books.
“Beth, Henry,” Melinda addressed us. Henry pushed back the book he was holding and turned his attention to the book shop owner. “Take your time to catch your breath. I will let your family know that you are safe for now. Be back in in a bit.” She pulled out the same pendant and disappeared in front of our eyes.
Henry dropped the empty water bottle. “Is that what happened to us?”
I nodded.
Henry scratched his head. “This is a lot to wrap my head around. I do not know what to say.” He exhaled, dropping his arms to his side.
Now that it was just the two of us, it hit me that we had made it. We had escaped the Bow Street Runners. Henry was safe.
My chest deflated and I sprinted towards him, throwing my arms around his waist. “I thought they caught us, that we were going to prison.” I pressed my head against his chest.
“You were so brave.” Henry caressed my hair and rested his chin against my temple. His arms tightened around me, warming my skin. “Brave but foolish.”
I pulled back to gaze into his brown eyes. “I could not let them take you.”
“Despite pushing you away?” Henry’s eyes darkened.
“Despite everything.” My chest heaved. “I was so worried when I found out the Bow Street Runners were after you.”
Henry lowered his head and kissed my temple. He let go of my arms to cup my face. “I cannot explain how grateful I am that you came for me.” He pressed his forehead against mine. “From the moment I saw you at that ball I could not stop thinking about you. You plagued my every thought and dream. Guilt for deceiving you gnawed at me very core every moment we spent together. I wanted to confess the truth and beg you to take me as I am while I was under the assumption you were Willa. I do not care that you lied about your identity; I did the same.” My heart leaped at his words. Henry’s breath heated my cheek. “Can you forgive me for lying?”
“Yes.”
Henry crushed his lips against mine, my body molding itself to his. The adrenaline still coursing through my veins urged me on. I raked my hand through his soft, curly hair.
Henry nipped at my lips. “Will you run away with me?” he asked in a deep, hungry tone. My skin tingled and I kissed him, breathless. His question seemed to echo a similar question I was once asked by Mr. Danby. Then, running away had been a terrible mistake, but this time my mind was clear. Running away with Henry could never be a mistake. I was his equal, and I loved him.
“I will go anywhere with you.”
Henry placed a tender kiss upon my lips. “I do not have much to offer you, but everything I have is yours, if you will have me.”
I smiled tenderly. “Everything you have will be enough. However, we cannot stay in London.”
Henry grabbed my hand and caressed the rope burns on my wrist; he fluttered a soft kiss against my skin. “We shall leave for Ireland. I suppose I should introduce you to my brother, the real Duke of Cashel.”
“The real duke?” I stepped back. “I thought you were impersonating a stranger. Why would you do this if you were the brother of a duke? How does no one know?”
Henry glanced off to the side, shoulders rising as he breathed in before launching into his explanation. “Edmund is my half-brother. My mother was a scullery maid working at the castle when our father seduced her and got her with child. He turned her out and refused to acknowledge me. Edmund was still young but aware enough to realize we were related. Of course, gossip spread in the town as well. My mother was treated as a pariah and lived hand to mouth while caring for me until she passed.”
Henry’s gaze turned inward, his expression pained as he recalled his past.
“What was her name?” I took his hand in mine.
“Moira.” A wistful smile appeared on his face. “She is why I do all of this. The previous duke threw my mother away like she was garbage, and she is not the only person discarded by society. I want to give us regular folk a voice and a chance to thrive. Why should these predatory noblemen hold all the power?”
“That is a commendable objective.”
“My brother sent out solicitors to find me once our father passed away. While I have not been officially acknowledged, he has given me a family and a place to live. He is a good man and has taken it upon himself to change the lives of his tenants for the better.”
“I would love to meet him.”
Henry’s eyes darted around the room. “As long as we can leave this...shop.”
“Melinda will return, and we will leave.” My eyes drifted to a nook in a corner of the shop, outfitted with a padded bench. “Let us take a seat and wait.” I sidled up with Henry and rested my head on his shoulder. He drew slow circles on my arm with his finger, murmuring sweet words against my ear. “Henry...”
“Mmm?” his voice reverberated against me.
“Will we be able to visit my family once this is all over?”
“Not immediately, no. The Bow Street Runners do not know my true identity, but it is better to be safe and lay low for a while. Though, your family could visit Ireland.”
I cleared my throat. “That is a relief. I think you would like my brother and his wife. John has a good report with his tenants, and Rose even runs a school for the children. Perhaps, once we can return, I could show you Hawthorne.”
“I would love to see your home.” Henry lifted my chin and kissed me. “I wish we had—"
“What?” I angled my face more towards him, eager for him to finish his sentence.
His lips skimmed mine, yearning in his eyes. “I wish I could kiss you into a stupor until your lips are swollen a bright red and you would beg me to touch you. I want to gaze at your body and revel in your beauty.” He pulled me into his lap, his eyes flitting to my injured wrist.
Heat from his chest radiated against my back. My cheeks burned and my pulse raced.
“But you are hurt, and we are in a strange place with no idea when that woman will return.”
I arched my back, leaning in to Henry and running my palm up his chest. My fingers arched around the edges of his shirt, touching his silky skin and playing with the dark hairs growing there.
Henry closed his eyes and groaned. “Beth, you are testing my patience.”
His obvious distress sent shivers down my spine. I wanted this man more than anything. My body ached for his touch.
He ran his hand through my blonde hair. “You cannot imagine how badly I want you, mo ghrá, but we have a long journey ahead of us, and I want to do this right. I need to do this right.”
I trailed my finger lower down his chest. “As long as it is with you, it will be right.”
Henry’s eyes drifted across the front of my body until he gazed deeply into my eyes. I darted forward, tasting his lips. He deepened our kiss, tongue exploring my mouth while I turned to liquid against him.
The floorboards creaked, and I broke our kiss.
Clearing her throat, Melinda stepped into view. My face flushed as I untangled myself from Henry, heat still running through my limbs. Henry composed himself beside me, straightening his shirt.
She quirked her brow, flashing me a knowing smile. “Are you both ready to return?”
I nodded.
“Let us not dawdle then.” She took a hold of her pendant. This time I took my time to stare at the emerald stone that was cradled inside a cage of fine metalwork. The stone emitted a faint glow as Melinda gripped it in her left hand. Henry and I reached for her other hand.
25
Farewell
“Beth.” John strode towards me. “Are you alright?”
I nodded, disoriented from the sudden shift in location, my vision still focusing on my new surroundings. Though the sky was dark, cloaking the world in shadows, I recognized that we stood in the enclosed back garden of our rented London town home. Their faces lit by a lantern, Tom and Estelle peeked from the stables together with Anne and Willa.
Once John ascertained my safety, he turned his attention to Henry, scowling. “What is the meaning of involving my sister in your dangerous schemes?” He shoved his hand against Henry’s chest. “You are incredibly fortunate you managed to escape. If it had not been for Beth’s pleading, we would not have troubled ourselves with your affairs.”
