Love's Past: A Twickenham Time Travel Romance Page 2

  She’d stepped closer to him. Her presence there made it hard for him to concentrate on the building anymore. He itched to put his arm around her, but he kept it to his side. “Years for most of them, and then they would have to do repair work, or sometimes rebuild after the different wars and skirmishes they experienced.”

  “A lot of them have similar styles. Like they were all done by the same people.”

  “Not always the same people, but they did like to pattern some buildings after a particular builder or style.”

  They walked down the sidewalk, each lost in their own thoughts as they looked at the buildings. Kaitlyn paused to take a picture. He studied her as she got the camera at just the right angle. She had changed a lot in the last few years. He’d seen her often enough when he’d gone home to visit his parents, and then when they were stationed overseas again, he was given ownership of their house near Kaitlyn’s family home.

  When she’d graduated from the university, he’d been invited to her house a week later to celebrate and to see her brother Jem when he got back from his two-year tour with his acting company.

  When Kaitlyn had told her parents of her plans to tour England with a few of her college roommates, her mother had about come unglued that she was planning on going without some men to protect them.

  Cyrus chuckled at the memory of the way Kaitlyn had rolled her eyes at that, but she hadn’t argued with her mother. Instead, she begged Jem to come with, but since his passport had expired, he had to get one rushed to him, yet would still miss out on the first week of the trip. It had been an easy decision for Cyrus to offer to come.

  He had promised Kaitlyn’s mother he would keep track of her, making Mrs. Taylor more willing to consider the idea of her adult daughter taking a trip. But that wasn’t the only reason he was there. It wasn’t even the excuse of studying the buildings and the architecture of the city like he’d told Kaitlyn. He wanted a chance to spend a little more time with her before they all went their separate ways. And if he was lucky enough, he might manage to convince her to give him a chance.

  Her brother James, or Jem as he liked to be called, had been his best friend after his family moved back from New Zealand during his sophomore year. Like a typical teen, he’d ruined his chances of a relationship by treating Kaitlyn like an annoyance, but now that she’d graduated college and turned into an amazing woman, he was kicking himself for his youthful stupidity. The more time he spent with her, the more he knew she was exactly the kind of woman he wanted in his life. But she only thought of him as her brother’s friend.

  He’d hoped by spending time with her on this trip, getting involved in her hair-brained scheme to pretend to be in the Regency time period and do all the silly things she thought were so fun and romantic, that she might see he was serious in his interest.

  As he contemplated the ways he might be able to get her to warm up to the idea of them, he found himself inside Westminster Abbey. Kaitlyn walked around, studying all the things in there and looking like she wanted to take out her phone to snap some pictures in the building, despite signs everywhere indicating it was not allowed. He smiled at her enthusiasm.

  He would never admit it to her, but he was actually looking forward to watching her get dressed up in the old clothes and learn the dances. He was just glad no one knew he had watched a couple of the Jane Austen movies and a few other romances dealing with the whole era to get a heads up on what would be expected of him.

  Jem would have it easy since he was into theatre. He’d have studied it all before and could easily put on the airs, acting the part like he was born in the 1800s. Cyrus would most likely end up looking awkward as he tried to do the simplest things. If it gave him a chance to spend more time with Kaitlyn before they went their separate ways, he would do whatever she wanted.

  Including wearing a cravat and breeches and leather boots. He just hoped they weren’t hard to put on.

  Chapter Two

  After hours of walking around the city the night before and seeing her get giddy about the simplest things, Cyrus was relieved when they finally got back to the neighborhood where the rented apartment was. They’d grabbed a few grocery items from a little store tucked along the outer edge of another building utilizing every last inch of available real estate. When they’d got to the flat, he’d crashed hard the moment his head hit the pillow on the sofa. He didn’t even notice the couch was a few inches too short.

  He’d been up and showered for an hour before Kaitlyn dragged her cute self out of her room and blearily got a quick breakfast burrito and heated it in the microwave, eating it in the dark with her eyes closed.

  “What’s the matter, sunshine?”

  “Jet lag,” Kaitlyn groaned. “It’s way too messy.”

  “We have less than an hour till we need to leave to catch the tour in time.”

  “I know. As soon as Reese is out of the shower, I’ll hop in. Now leave me in peace to mourn my sleep.”

  Cyrus laughed. He loved to see this side of her ― less than perfectly dressed and no makeup with her gorgeous dark hair a mess around her head. It was fun to see she wasn’t as bright eyed and bushy tailed as he’d come to believe, given her excitement of being in England.

  She soon disappeared into the bathroom and took a lightning quick shower. She was dressed and ready to go, seeming a little more energized. They walked to the underground, caught a train to another station, made their way to a bus tour company, and stood in line for their reservation to be called.

  Cyrus paused at the bus door, allowing the girls to enter first. Kaitlyn went right before him. He followed her up the few steps and down the small aisle to their seat. She slid in next to the window and rolled her jacket up into a pillow. She glanced at him. “If we go past anything cool, wake me up?”

  “You got it,” Cyrus said, knowing he wouldn’t dare wake her up. Jem had often mentioned she turned mean when woken too soon from a nap, and the tour bus would have to drive more than an hour to get to the city of Bath. She might as well rest since they were up at such an early hour. A 7:00 a.m. departure time for a tour seemed a little excessive to him, but she was the one who scheduled it.

  She was asleep before they had left the city limits. Cyrus smiled at the peaceful look on her face. If it were him, he’d probably have his mouth open and be snoring, but she looked cute, almost adorable. He focused his attention outside the window, looking at the sights. The closely built buildings soon gave way to more rural areas. He watched that more often than he stared at her, but when she shifted a little in her seat to get more comfortable, his eyes strayed to her and he smiled.

  Knowing he could never tell her what he was about to do, he got out his phone and turned the setting to selfie mode. Leaning closer, he made sure to get a picture with her mouth hanging slightly open. Teenage him would have posted it on every social media account he had, but he would keep this one to himself. The mature him appreciated everything about her, even silly little things like sleeping on the tour bus.

  ***

  Hours later, Cyrus found himself standing at the bus door once again, waiting for Kaitlyn to enter first. When they reached their seats, he asked, “What did you think of Bath? Was it everything you imagined it would be?”

  “I can’t believe how nasty that water was,” Kaitlyn said as she got settled. “How could anyone stand to ever get in it?”

  “It wasn’t that bad years ago,” Cyrus said. He’d spent most of his time reading all the information and plaques around the bath houses while Kaitlyn, Reese, and Cora went on the walking tour to see all the places Jane Austen had lived or visited while she was alive. “They had a roof over it that kept the sun from making the algae grow unrestrained.”

  “That’s good,” Kaitlyn said. “But seeing the town in person, it makes me wonder why Lydia Bennett and all of Jane Austen’s characters were so obsessed with Bath. There really aren’t all that many things to recommend it.”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Cyrus said, s
miling inside at the use of her words. It reminded him of the movies he’d watched. “The buildings really are beautiful. And though we didn’t have time to go look at it today on the tour, the building where they had the dances is magnificent.”

  Kaitlyn nodded. She turned to him, pressing her legs closer to him. “Have you noticed how in some of these older places, where the buildings have been for hundreds of years, that they are either really plain or over the top decorated?”

  “It’s typical of the differences in the classes. The rich could afford to go all out. And often times, each generation of the new titled son would build on it, making it grander than the last.”

  Kaitlyn tilted her head and raised an eyebrow at him. “Why, Cyrus, it almost sounds like you’ve studied up on all this old-fashioned girly, romancy stuff.”

  Cyrus winced at the words he’d once said to her when he’d first learned of her obsession with Jane Austen and Regency stuff. He didn’t know it had bothered her enough she still remembered it. “Well, I thought maybe if I was coming, I might as well educate myself.”

  Kaitlyn chuckled and squeezed his arm, leaning close for a moment. His chest tightened a little with her nearness. “I’m glad I could help give you a little culture, then.” She released his arm and looked out the window of the bus. He missed the touch and wished he dared take her hand, but it was too soon. If he didn’t find a way to gather his courage, he might run out of time.

  He would have to plan it right. The ball that they’d be preparing for at the end of next week would be a good time to show her. He hoped that, in the magic of the night, he would have a chance.

  Chapter Three

  Kaitlyn stood in front of Twickenham Manor, looking up at the beautiful white building with the Gothic architecture. So different than a lot of the other buildings in the city, but it seemed to fit the place. Something felt magical as she stared at the building. All the excitement caught up to her, because as soon as she stepped across the threshold into the large entryway of the mansion house, her skin broke out in gooseflesh.

  A small adrenaline rush spread throughout her body. She smiled. “Isn’t it amazing?”

  Cora nodded. “You know, I wasn’t sure at first about coming, but I think this will actually be a lot of fun,” she said. “I’ve got a good feeling about this.”

  “Me, too,” Kaitlyn said.

  “Do you think we’ll be getting fitted right away or will that be tomorrow?” Reese asked, looking a little nervous.

  Kaitlyn nodded. “I think tonight is mostly about getting the lay of the building, having dinner, getting our measurements taken, and reading up on some of the rules and the customs of the time. Tomorrow we’ll actually be trying on all the clothes.”

  Just then, a cute little woman, probably somewhere in her early fifties, walked into the foyer. “Welcome to Twickenham. I’m Nellie Milton, but everyone calls me Aunt Nellie. You must be the group from America.” She looked over all the girls and nodded with a mysterious smile. “Oh yes, it’s you. I’m so glad to see you a… to see that you’ve arrived safely.” She moved closer to them and searched each girl’s face. “Cora, I’m delighted you’ve come. You’re going to have such a wonderful time.”

  She turned to Reese and looked around the group as if searching for someone. “Reese, such a pleasure to see you. What a wonderful heart you have.”

  Nellie turned to Kaitlyn, and she felt as if the woman was reading her soul. Nellie glanced at Cyrus and smiled a warm smile that took over her entire face, making her look younger than her gray hair indicated. “Kaitlyn, thank you for choosing Twickenham. I know you will all have such a wonderful time here. You’ll do things you never dreamed of and leave here changed forever. There is much to do to prepare you for your trip into the past.” Her eyes twinkled.

  “What do we do first?” Kaitlyn asked.

  “Most of the preparation was done when you sent in your questionnaires and photos. We’ve already gotten most of the clothes prepared for your stay. We’ll just need to take some final measurements and do a few quick fittings to see if we need to make any alterations. And make sure the fabrics and colors we’ve chosen will work with your complexions.” Nellie reached for a dainty silver bell on the wood table lining the wall.

  Moments later, a few men and women entered the room and waited along the side of the room. Nellie nodded at them, looking at Kaitlyn and her friends. “If you’ll follow these dear friends of mine, they will show you to your rooms and help you get settled. Don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything. For this week, they will be your ladies’ maids or the men’s valets.”

  The servants moved closer to Kaitlyn and her friends as if picking which visitor they would be working with. Nellie nodded and smiled. “Starting in the morning, they will come wake you and guide you through the ins and outs of the time period, teaching you the proper behavior and assisting you in preparing for the ball we’ll hold at the end of the week. By the time Saturday night arrives, you’ll feel like you’re living in the past.”

  Her smile brightened again and her eyes sparkled with mirth. Kaitlyn bubbled with excitement. She looked at the others. Cora seemed interested in the prospect, but Reese looked a little hesitant. She hadn’t actually complained, but Kaitlyn knew Reese was quieter than normal.

  As for Kaitlyn, she couldn’t wait to dive into it all. It was only for a week, and she would live each second to the fullest. The brochure indicated they would invite locals who were into reliving the past to the ball where they would dine, dance, play games, dance some more, and eat again. She turned to Cyrus and smiled. He returned her smile, but she doubted it was all for the prospect of becoming a gentleman. She wondered how he would look dressed in the clothes from the early 1800s.

  Though he looked good in the clothes he wore, he was never one to really live up to the current style. It would be fun to see him in something other than the t-shirts and jeans he always wore.

  ***

  Cyrus entered the room behind the man servant assigned to him and immediately felt awkward as the guy turned to him. “I am Harvey and I will be at your service during your stay. If there is anything you need, don’t hesitate to let me know. If you’ll forgive me for saying, I can tell this isn’t something you came for on your own accord, but more as a support for another.”

  Cyrus chuckled. “Yeah, that’s true.”

  “Is it the young lady with the light brown hair?”

  “I’m good friends with the family. Her brother is coming soon, but he had to get his passport renewed. For now, I get to act as her chaperone, I guess you’d say.” Cyrus thought back to the movies he’d watched and was glad he lived in a time with more freedom. He couldn’t imagine being bound by all these crazy rules.

  “Ah, you actually know a little of the time period.” Harvey moved over to the bed and picked up a thin book. “If you’ll read through this, I think it will prove helpful. Although you’ll have a week to prepare, it will be good to know as much as possible before the night of the ball. You will feel more at ease in the activities you’ll experience over the next few days.”

  “What’s all on the agenda?” Cyrus asked as he flipped through the book, skimming sections on the rules and requirements of men at a dance. One phrase caught his eye. If you don’t intend to dance, you should not attend. Cyrus doubted he’d have any say in the matter.

  “Aunt Nellie will go over the schedule with you once you’re all settled and join her for dinner. But you can expect a few outings, visits from neighboring estates, dinners, card games and the like,” Harvey said as he opened the ornate wardrobe and started to unpack Cyrus’s bag.

  “I can do that,” Cyrus said.

  “Not to worry, sir. It’s part of my duties, and most of it you won’t really need since all of your wardrobe will be supplied to match the time period.”

  “Please tell me I can wear my own underwear and not any of your crazy stuff.”

  Harvey chuckled. “I won’t ask what’s under as long as
you look proper on the outside.”

  Cyrus sat on the edge of the bed and flipped through the book. The different section headings made him shake his head. “What do women see in this stuff?”

  “I don’t know, sir. I really don’t,” Harvey said. “I much prefer what today has to offer.” He brought over a pair of dark breeches and a long white shirt. “If you could get started with this, I’ll get the rest of the items ready.”

  Cyrus turned to look at the clothes laying across the back of the chair and took a slow breath. He was doing this for Kaitlyn. He could play dress up for a week. And if it didn’t work, then he would know he gave it his best.

  Cyrus stood in front of the mirror nearly thirty minutes later and assessed his reflection. The clothes fit well. He wondered how they had got the fit and cut just right. When he first put the breeches on, they seemed a little long, but after Harvey checked the hem Cyrus didn’t notice the length as much. The leather boots came to his knees and felt comfortable on his feet. The sensation around his calves was a little odd since he’d never worn pant legs inside a boot before.

  “Are you ready, sir?” Harvey asked. “The ladies won’t be much longer, but it’s customary for the gentlemen to await the ladies in the room. Aunt Nellie feels it gives the women a chance to shine right from the beginning.”

  Cyrus turned. “Lead the way.” He doubted the three girls would care all that much about him waiting for them, but he didn’t want to break the tradition. As soon as he walked into the gathering room, he was surprised to see five other men there.

  He looked at Harvey, who whispered in his ear. “There are three groups this week. One is from America and the other is from France.”

  Harvey made the introduction to the butler, who then cleared his throat to draw the attention of the others. “Introducing Cyrus Manning, from the territory of Ohio in the Americas.”