Page 53 of The Runner
She told him about Sylvia’s strange vision when she touched the book.
‘I’ve decided it’s time to attempt to time travel on demand again. I’ve had enough of observing from my dreams— I must take a more proactive role, or I’ll go bonkers.’
‘I think that’s a smart decision,’ he said.
‘Hmm, I thought you might.’
‘What in particular are you aiming to do if you reach Georgiana?’
She filled him in on the faded pages of text in the family history book.
‘It sounds as though you’ve created quantum time loops and the timeline is resetting again,’ he said.
‘That’s more or less what Sylvia suspects.’
‘Oh yes, what else did she say?’ he asked.
‘She reminded me that when we rewrote the timeline after Ralph Knight’s hypnotic curse, she was careful not to instruct Caroline to marry George, but only to take the position… just because Willow Manor reappeared, doesn’t mean that they lived happily ever after, does it?’
‘Ah, I see. Why didn’t she specify you marry?’
‘Because we don’t know whether we were supposed to marry.’
He clicked his tongue, and she imagined the professor’s brain turning the problem around and assessing it from all angles. ‘I wonder if you might meet me in Georgiana,’ he said after a few seconds of silence that seemed longer as she waited.
‘That would be nice. Have you been having dreams too?’
‘No, it’s only that we are in the other timelines together, so there’s a high mathematical probability we’d be together in this one too.’
Cara chuckled. ‘Maths or no maths, what it really comes down to, is you don’t like the idea of missing out, do you?’
‘You’ve got me. I can’t stand it!’ He paused, and then continued, ‘I also don’t like the idea that you are alone there without an ally.’
‘That’s so sweet, Eddie. I would certainly prefer to have you with me, but I haven’t noticed anyone resembling you in my dreams, but who knows—maybe you’ll surprise me if I manage to travel through the priest hole this time.’
‘Wormhole…,’ he laughingly reminded her.
‘It sounds so unappealing!’
‘Okay, well I will take heart in knowing you are not entirely alone—George will be with you.’
‘Um, unfortunately he’s busy courting another woman, which is one reason I have to go!’
‘Oh lord, not that again.’
They talked a bit longer about the possible vagaries of time travel, and she promised to keep him in the loop.
‘Good luck,’ he said before ringing off.
She felt George’s eyes on her. ‘When are you going?’
Cara walked towards him, and he opened his arms and held her. ‘I think I need to do it soon. Things are moving fast in Georgiana. If I am to stop them marrying and make you realise we should be together, I am up against it.’
‘All right, but please promise me one thing…’
She moved her head from the comfort of his embrace and raised her eyes to his. ‘What?’
‘Promise not to hold it against me if the 1729 version of me does something to hurt you. Remember, I have no control over what he does.’
