Page 54 of The Runner
She nodded, and her eyes shone. ‘I promise—I learned my lesson last time. You’re right, it’s unfair to hold you accountable for choices you made in a different life.’
‘I can say on behalf of all versions of George Cavendish that we never mean to hurt you. Sometimes we are just complete arses!’
She laughed through her tears.
He crushed her tightly against him and they stood as one for several minutes. Cara wished she could stay like that forever, in the safe cocoon of his strong arms. But then she eased away gently, wiped her eyes, and said, ‘I think I should go now.’
George nodded. ‘If you’re sure you want to do this, then yes, we may as well get it over with. Hopefully you’ll retain your memory, and when you return, you’ll know what’s happening there.’
‘I only plan to check what’s going on. I’m hoping things are farther ahead than in my dreams, and something stopped George from marrying Charlotte. If things are going in the right direction for them to fall in love and somehow be together, there’s nothing for me to do.’
George tilted her chin upwards. ‘And if they’re not going in the right direction?’
‘Then I can only hope I’ll have the consciousness and memory to know I have to act to put things right.’
George helped her into the priest hole and handed her the torch. ‘Shall I come in with you?’
She shook her head. ‘Better not—just in case. We don’t want to risk the vortex taking you too, or who knows where we’ll end up? Maybe in ancient Jerusalem!’
She kissed him once more and stepped further into the passageway, before turning her head and calling, ‘I love you.’
‘I love you,’ he replied, his voice echoing through the cold, hollow space.
He waited at the entrance, watching the light from the torch grow dimmer, and after a few minutes he heard the familiar whooshing sound, and a chill touched his skin and he shivered.
‘It’s working,’ she called, her voice faint as the vortex encircled her and the noise filled her ears.
And then she was gone.
CHAPTER23
Willow Manor, York - Georgiana
Cara foundherself sitting next to Olivia on one side and a ruddy faced man she didn’t recognise, on the other. The table was laden with delicacies and judging by the appearance and high spirits of the guests; they were already merry on wine.
She looked around and saw George at the head of the table. He was deep in conversation with Charlotte, but she was seated too far away to catch their conversation. She saw Charlotte touch his hand as she talked, and her red curls fell seductively, framing her radiant face.
Before Cara could remind herself not to stare, George raised his eyes directly to hers and she froze, caught in the act. Surely, he would read her expression and realise she was in love with him. His lips formed the ghost of a smile, and he raised an eyebrow, before turning his full attention back to Charlotte, who was enraptured by his company.
The jolt reverberated through her entire being. Not this again… why did it keep happening? Why must she and George keep performing this heart-breaking dance? If this was to fulfil their Twin Flame mission, why must she be in this position where he was loved by another woman?
Her feelings merged with Caroline’s, causing her mind to swim and her heart to pound uncontrollably. She wished she could flee the room, but that would draw too much attention, which was what she most needed to avoid.
She took a deep breath and told herself she had chosen to come back to Georgiana. She had chosen to time travel on demand, and she knew what to expect, so she mustn’t let her feelings overwhelm her. She had a job to do, and it must begin with seeing what was going on and from there she would decide what to do, if anything.
Stay calm, Cara. George is your husband, and he loves you. This is just a blip in the timelines, and this is your opportunity to fix it.
George’s face loomed in her mind, and she saw the love in his eyes before they parted in the library, and she entered the priest hole. She vowed to pull herself together, even as the trauma of the past stirred in her soul and ripped through her heart, creating a painful conflict which she feared must show on her face.
George’s eyes sought her out again, but she quickly averted hers. He mustn’t see her looking devastated—it could serve no useful purpose now. If he was going to fall in love with her so they could fulfil their Twin Flame destiny and reach union in every timeline, it wouldn’t come from pity and from her seeing her as a shadow of her true self.
‘I understand you are the governess to young Olivia, my dear?’ said the ruddy faced man at her side, raising his glass to his lips, and giving her a lascivious smile.
She shuddered, and out of the corner of her eye, saw George staring at her, more openly this time.
An idea entered her mind, and she leant into the ruddy faced man and whispered in his ear.
The man laughed and moved closer to her, brushing her elbow as he talked and refilled her glass. She deliberately avoided George’s eyes, but she knew they were fixed upon her.
