Page 69 of Never Leave Me
Sybil fell silent.
He sounded like a raving madman. But he was too distraught to care.
She cleared her throat. “You’ve seen her?”
Sybil had accepted his explanation about his healing from the holy water without any scoffing. Now that she’d seen its power, would she be more open to the fact that the holy water could cause time crossings? “I’m not sure if you’ll believe me if I tell you what’s going on.”
She spread her feet as though bracing herself. “You should know by now that I don’t rule out any evidence until I’ve proven it wrong.”
“True.”
“I can’t do my job if you’re withholding information from me.”
He finally met her gaze. Her green eyes were as keen and honest as always. And devoid of any mockery. He sat up and leaned back. He nodded to the spot opposite his. “Have a seat. I think you’ll need to be sitting while I inform you of everything else.”
She lowered herself and poised to listen as openly as always.
Even as he tried to formulate an explanation, one thought rose above all others. He had to communicate with Ellen again.
18
“HARRISONISONTHEVERGEOFLOCATINGME,”Ellen said. “Once he rescues me, he wants the two flasks, one to bring me out of the coma and another to keep my body alive in the present.”
“He is now aware that you have crossed into the past and are here at Chesterfield.” Marian reclined against a mound of pillows and patted the baby’s back after nursing. Sunlight filtered in through the open shutters, highlighting the baby’s fuzzy red hair.
After seeing Harrison for a second time last night, Ellen had finally confessed Harrison’s visits this morning to Marian.
“I just wish there was a way to overlap longer so we can communicate better.” But once he disappeared, Ellen hadn’t been able to reconnect like the first night she’d briefly seen him.
“My first overlaps with Will were so short, we hardly had time to exchange but a few words.”
A soft knock sounded on the door. A maidservant poked her head into the room. “Your father has awakened, my lady.”
Ellen stood quickly. She’d checked on their dad only an hour ago in the room where they’d taken him last night and had begun to wonder if he’d ever awaken. She shuddered to think what would have happened if she and Will hadn’t found him when they did. How would he have survived if he’d been exposed all night to the cold and rain?
Cradling her baby, Marian climbed out of bed, her eyes alight with excitement. “How is he?”
Before the maid could answer, their dad stepped through the door into the room. He was attired in dark hose and a long gray tunic that stretched tight across his wide girth. He looked almost comical in the ill-fitting garments, except that his expression was entirely too serious.
“Marian? Ellen?” His brown eyes were wide, almost frightened. “What are you doing here?” He still spoke with his British accent, which had never diminished, even after living in the States for most of his married life.
Ellen started to explain, but he rushed forward. “I’d hoped the servants were wrong when they told me that Lady Marian was my daughter.”
Marian stiffened, and her welcoming smile faded. “I am sorry to disappoint you. But it is I.”
Their dad crossed the room, his tight shoes and garments making his movements stilted. “You shouldn’t be here. This was never part of the equation.”
“Whether or not it was part of your equation, we are here.”
Stopping at the bedside, he reached out and grazed Marian’s face as if to make sure she was real. “What happened?”
Marian softened just a little against his touch. “I crossed back in time a year ago.”
His fingers visibly trembled against her cheek, and his eyes turned glassy. “You’ve been in the past for a year?”
She nodded. “My body in the present is dead.”
He brought his shaking fingers to his mouth. “No.”
