Page 50 of The Austen Escape
His outstretched hand dropped with his nod.
I stepped into the gallery and shut the door behind me.
Chapter 18
Nathan finally stepped from his room. I’d spent the time pacing and was certain that in a half hour I had worn down the carpet more than the previous 258 years.
Military style, I turned on my heel at the gallery’s end to find him watching me. He had chosen the green coat rather than the blue, and I’d been right; it suited him. But he was clutching the waistband of his pants—breeches—in one fist. The pants sagged within his death grip, and I could tell they itched. He fidgeted as if trying to keep the fabric from touching his skin too long.
“You look good.” I walked back toward him as far as the stairs, then headed down.
“Hang on. You can’t just walk away.”
I paused. He had both highly-polished-black-leather-shod feet firmly planted.
“Can we take a second here? These are going to fall down.” He pulled the waistband out a good eight inches from his body.
I came back and pushed his shoulder to shift him around. “Hold these up.” I handed him his coattails as I caught at the backof his breeches. “There’s a cord like a shoelace back here and...” I pulled it and tied a tight bow. “There. All better?”
He faced me and put two fingers under the waistband. “Perfect. Now this.” He flapped at his necktie. “Is this right? It was super long.”
“Almost.” I stepped close and undid his pathetic knot. “Mr. Mueller told me he had to wrap it around three times... Here... Then... Another bow.” I finished and pulled it tight as well. “You smell like bubble gum.”
He lowered his face to mine. We’d never stood so close.
“I’m allergic to mint. Do you want a piece?” Before I could think of an answer, he raised his hand, paused for a second, then threaded his fingers through my hair. My eyes almost slid shut at his touch.
He pulled away my black ring of electrical wire, and my hair toppled about my shoulders. “Sorry. It was falling out.”
I grabbed it. This time, more embarrassed than ever. “I couldn’t find a real hair band.”
He lifted a section of hair and gave it a light tug. “Despite your dress, I’m glad you haven’t forgotten who you are. Though I must say... Something is different about you.”
“What?”
“I can’t put my finger on it yet, but give me time.”
I nodded and led the way to the stairs.
Give me time...Time. Our timing was off. How many times had I read that line? Or heard it in movies? Time was never neutral and often felt dangerous. Either we think we have all the time in the world, or time moves too fast or too slow; a shock can stop time; fear or impending pain can slow it. Time never simplyis... And no matter how much you want to hang on to it, time runs out.I glanced back to Nathan. Our timing was off or it had run out. I had none to give him—so I let him go.
“Time to get you to Isabel.” I wondered if he could wake her. Was she Sleeping Beauty waiting for her Prince Charming? The thought drove me faster. “She’s probably at the stables. It’s becoming her favorite place.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from adding,And Grant her favorite guy.
“Hey... You’re doing it again. Slow down.”
I felt my shawl lift as I raced down the last few stairs. I halted when I reached the hall’s white-and-black marble. Nathan stood right behind me.
He had pulled my shawl off and was fanning it out. He then moved close, flipped it over my head, and settled it on my shoulders. “This was falling off too.” He looked down at me without stepping back.
“Thank you.” I stepped away first and led the way to the front door, down the front steps, and across the gravel drive. I darted my eyes everywhere but at him.
“It’s really beautiful here, don’t you think? I love these trees, and the air has this tactile damp feeling, but not today, or yesterday, which I think is unusual. I thought we were going to get more rain, but Gertrude, she’s the manager, says it’s been dry and is expected to generally remain so, which must be unusual with all this green. But we know dry back home and this really doesn’t feel dry.” I heard myself prattling and stopped.
I tilted my head toward the path. Shadow met us at the copse of trees covering the hillside down to the stream and stables.
“It reminds me of the Pacific Northwest.” Nathan caught up and walked next to me. “Does everyone always dress up here?”
