Page 75 of Twin Flames
‘Not now, please, God, not now. Don’t take me now,’ he whispered.
Cara raised her head to look at him. ‘What?’
But then he was gone.
She made love to him—oblivious.
York, present day, before George disappeared
He woke up in bed a little after six. He turned to see Joanna asleep next to him. A bitter taste of bile rose in his throat and threatened to choke him. So wretched were his feelings of loss, he had to stop himself from crying out like a wounded animal.
He turned over and clamped his eyes shut in an effort to go back to sleep and blot out the pain. It was no good. Images of Cara and pangs of desire shot through every inch of him. He wanted her. They’d been together, she’d been making love to him, and now he was back here again. His marital sheets were warm, but his heart rebelled.
He couldn’t do this anymore. It wasn’t working. He couldn’t keep up this hollow pretence any longer. His chest hammered as he contemplated his life; his lives. What the hell was he going to do? Where was Cara? When would she come back or when would he return to Victoriana? It was torture; having thesweetness of her ripped away without warning. He was weak with longing. He pined for a normal life with Cara. What was wrong with him? He’d never asked for any of this.
He went into the bathroom and peered at his face. He looked ghastly as though he hadn’t slept for days—his eyes were bloodshot. His complexion was a sickly yellow beneath his tan. He was frustrated by Joanna’s presence, and resentment bubbled below the surface. He knew it wasn’t her fault, but that didn’t help him to manage his disappointment in the same way it once had. He used to be able to box up his feelings and get on with things. Not anymore. Before Cara tumbled at his feet in the bookshop, he’d been proficient at controlling his emotions and had resigned himself to a mediocre marriage. Now, his carefully constructed tower had come tumbling down. He was powerless to stop it. He didn’t even want to.
He showered, dressed for work, and left the house before his wife stirred for the day. He didn’t want to be there anymore.
Joanna opened her eyes as the bedroom door clicked shut behind him. She’d been awake for some time but hadn’t wanted to face the awkwardness between them.
Before she turned over and drifted into a light doze, she wondered what was going on with him. She sensed it had gone too far; he was absent even when at home. Whatever he had planned, it clearly didn’t involve her. Their life together was over. She knew it must be just a matter of time, but she dreaded hurting her daughter. How did you tell your child their parents didn’t want to be together anymore?
CHAPTER 23
London, 1536
‘What are you thinking, my lady? You’ve got that look on your face. I can see you’re cooking something up,’ said Edward.
‘I’m running through some possible ways of breaking George out of the Tower.’
‘Oh, I see. Just another of the everyday little challenges we’ve been up against lately then!’
‘Yes, that’s about it.’ Cara smiled.
‘So, what are the options?’
‘Well, no one has ever broken out of the Tower as far as I’m aware. But we won’t let that stop us.’
‘No, quite—go on, although it would appear to be an impossible task.’
‘There’s always a first time. And the first time is going to be George.’ Cara’s face was set. Not much could deter her when her mind was made up.
‘I do admire your fearlessness. But aren’t you at all afraid, my lady?’
‘Afraid? Of course I am. I’m petrified. But I’m more afraid of losing George forever. That makes it simple. We can’t not rescue him. There’s no alternative.’
Edward nodded. ‘You can count on me to do anything I can to help. I feel wholly responsible for this mess.’
‘It’s not your fault, and there’s no point thinking that way even if it was. Although I was rather hoping you’d say you would help. Thank you. I can’t do this without you.’
‘What do we know so far?’ he asked.
‘Swifty brought me word that George is being held in Cradle Tower. If my memory serves me correctly, that tower is close to the outside wall, overlooking the moat. That’s probably the best possible place he could be for an escape.’
‘Is it? However will we get him out of there?’ Edward asked.
‘There’s a wharf below. If George uses a rope to climb across the moat, he can get down to the wharf. We will be waiting for him in a boat ready for a quick getaway.’
