Chapter 30
CHAPTER 30
S eville, 1840
George itched to talk to Edward again, but it proved surprisingly difficult to orchestrate. Over the coming days, they frequently met socially but were never alone long enough for George to broach the subject of Joanna.
He grew more restless by the day. Being in Victoriana with Cara was like a dream come true, but what of his old life in York? He seemed to have gained a sister but lost a wife and daughter. It was disorientating, and he was nervous about what other surprises awaited him on his next trip.
George hadn’t been able to get Edward’s comment about Joanna out of his mind. There was something familiar about him, but he couldn’t figure out what it was.
Could Edward be the missing link between now and then? The more time he spent in Victoriana, the more entangled his memories became.
He’d been to his townhouse and watched from a distance as Joanna arrived home on the arm of another man. He’d waited for Jane, but she didn’t appear.
Where was she? He missed her, of course, but in a strange way, it was as though he’d never lived the old life. He wasn’t surprised to find he was unmoved by seeing Joanna with another man; he felt no jealousy and no regrets. He was relieved she looked happy and it seemed that as if by magic he was released from their marriage.
He had no idea how or why their lives had switched like this, but he was grateful for a second chance. He was now free to be with Cara. But first, he would need to get her attention. He must win her heart all over again. It occurred to him that she might not be single in this strange, new paradigm where all the players had changed position, like a game of musical chairs. That would be a cruel twist of fate.
He wanted to find Jane, but to do that he needed to learn how time travel worked, and he sensed Edward was the key.
He had been amazed to find that almost two hundred years into the future he lived in the same villa he now shared with Cara in Seville. No wonder he was confused.
How could she have been so in love with him both in Victoriana and York, but in this new version of events, not even be interested in seeing him? She hadn’t recognised him when they met, but he was sure there had been a connection. He had begun to fear he might be delusional. What if he had imagined the other lives?
There was so much he didn’t understand; there were empty pockets of time where he didn’t know what had happened. In present day, he didn’t always understand what had been going on, but then suddenly visions and memories would hit him. He hoped Edward could help him to make sense of the chaos. He had no other leads if he was wrong about Edward.
Each time he travelled back to the future, he uncovered a little more of his old life. The most alarming thing was he now knew he was deeply in love with a woman who didn’t remember him. He had been stunned when Cara walked into the Seville villa. Later he realised she was his beloved wife from two hundred years ago, but she had no idea who he was. He’d blown it by moving too fast, and she had run away. What an idiot. He didn’t know what to do; he was desperate. What if he couldn’t find her again?
He wondered whether his sister had managed to speak to her yet. He had been most persistent that Kate call, to the point where she had teased him about having a Cara crush.
He had dismissed the notion in the way only a big brother can and told her not to be such a foolish girl. But he knew he hadn’t hoodwinked her.
One day that week the stars aligned. Cara was busy being a social butterfly at a ladies’ luncheon hosted by a friend of Queen Victoria’s. Carlos was called away from home on urgent business shortly after George arrived for an afternoon visit.
‘You two relax and have a drink while I attend to this unexpected nonsense. I shall be back in no time at all, and then we’ll dine on the terrace,’ said Carlos.
He dashed off to ask the cook to postpone lunch.
‘Are you happy with the progress we have made so far on acquiring your family’s manuscript?’ asked Edward.
‘Yes, it seems to be moving along nicely. The chap was resistant to the idea of selling at first, but last time we talked he was open to a better offer. I feel sure we can come to an arrangement soon.’
‘That’s great news. I’m pleased I was able to be of service to you and Her Majesty.’
‘I haven’t thanked you properly. What a stroke of luck that you were able to introduce me to the collector.’
Edward smiled. He liked George just as much in Victoriana as he did in Tudorville. It was challenging to avoid saying something that might alarm him. He was intrigued to find out whether George had any memory of his other lives, and suspected he did after his strange reaction when he had enquired about Joanna.
‘I was thinking about our conversation the other day,’ said George. ‘You know you asked me about your friend, Joanna?’
‘Oh, yes.’ Edward coughed and attempted to appear nonchalant.
‘I was wondering whether you and I may have met before—in another time,’ said George. He looked Edward straight in the eyes, and held his breath.
Edward paused. ‘We have indeed,’ he said, after a moment, smiling, and returning the direct stare. ‘I’m pleased it’s coming back to you.’
‘Am I right in thinking you are a fellow traveller?’ asked George.
‘Yes, that’s correct. May I ask if you are thinking of a particular destination?’ said Edward.
‘York. What do you know of my life in York? You mentioned Joanna.’
‘Your family has roots going back to before the reign of Henry VIII. There was a George Cavendish who I knew back then in Tudor York. His wife’s name was Cara.’
George sat down. ‘So, it’s true. You also travel. I don’t know what to make of it all. If I didn’t experience it myself, I would think it too incredible. I have to say it’s a great relief to meet you.’
‘Likewise. I wanted to talk to you the other day but didn’t know what else to say. You didn’t respond well to my question about Joanna.’
‘I’m sorry about that. I was unprepared. It’s so much to take in.’
‘It isn’t an easy life. But it gets better when you have friends. Before Cara came to ask for my help at the university campus in the future, I had no idea there were others. I thought I was alone in that timeline, as well as this one. It’s been tough in Victoriana, so it was a relief when you and Cara arrived in Seville. I’m sorry if I startled you. I was impatient and wanted to know if you remembered me.’
‘Thank goodness you said something or I wouldn’t have suspected anything. When did Cara come to see you at the university? What university?’
Edward chuckled. ‘It’s only to be expected you will have a lot of questions. Cara and I are friends in Tudorville, as well as two hundred years into the future or what we call ‘present day’.
‘Cara? You mean Cara is aware that she time travels? I thought it was just me.’
‘You had better sit down. This could take a while. I will begin at the beginning. At least it will be the beginning, according to what I remember. I have no way of knowing when we all started out together. We could have lived in other timelines and not be aware of them yet. For all I know, we may have been together for millions of years.’
George nodded. ‘I knew nothing of any of this until I woke up in a different life. There was no warning; just—bam! Was it the same for you?’
‘Yes, we have no idea until we’re in a new life. And even then, we don’t remember everything. It all depends whether we’re conscious of our travel; sometimes we don’t know what’s happening, as I suspect may be the case with Cara in this timeline.’
Edward brought George up to speed on events in Tudorville: George’s marriage to Cara, their children, and how they were trying to save him from execution at the Tower of London.
George stared at him. ‘Cara and I are married in Tudor times as well as now? How mind-boggling.’
As Edward talked, memories unlocked in George’s mind. It was like watching a movie. He saw snapshots of his time in Tudorville, including Edward as his children’s tutor.
‘Over the coming days, you will remember snippets. It’s like updating your software. You will understand more as time goes on. One day you’ll wake up, and perhaps even be conscious of additional lives,’ said Edward. ‘Memories flood in, and it all starts to make sense.’
‘I’m puzzled about my life in the future. I seem to have lost my old life and now have a new one. I only just met Cara, and she ran away from me!’
‘Oh yes, she told me about that. She said you were being an arse.’
‘Oh,’ said George, looking hurt. ‘Why on earth would she say that? All I did was try to help her with the manuscript and offer to take her to the airport. She was quite cold, which floored me. It isn’t like her.’
‘She said you’re married; this time to a woman called Kate. Oh. . .and that you asked her out. She said she wouldn’t put you both through all of that again.’
‘Oh lord. Oh no,’ said George, shaking his head. ‘If that’s what she thinks, no wonder she didn’t wait for me at the hotel!’ George laughed. Her odd behaviour was beginning to make sense. Thank God for that.
‘What?’ asked Edward. ‘I’m afraid I must be out of the loop on the latest developments.’
‘Edward, you know so much more about how this travelling business works. Is it possible for me to go to the future whenever I want? Like, now, I mean? I must see Cara. I need to clear up this misunderstanding about Kate. I can see why she thinks me an arse and couldn’t get away from me fast enough. I’m finally single, but she thinks my sister is my wife!’
‘What?’ repeated Edward. ‘I’m so confused. You mean Kate isn’t your wife?’
‘No, of course not. She’s my baby sister. And fortunately, rather a fabulous one.’
Edward beamed. ‘Oh, I say, that is excellent news, absolutely wonderful news. There’s nothing more tiresome than you two being at loggerheads. Negotiating Brexit would be more peaceful! The countess was in a terrible state about this new marriage business. I did try to tell her that she had probably got the wrong end of the stick, but you know how stubborn she can be. She wouldn’t listen.’
‘Countess? Is Cara a countess? And what’s Brexit? Sounds like a breakfast cereal.’
‘It’s a long story. Trust me; you’re no worse off not knowing. It will all come back to you in good time. We’ll fill you in as we go along.’
George looked puzzled. ‘Yes, I might have had enough for one day.’
‘Never mind. You’ll soon get the hang of it. We’re only living three simultaneous lives, after all! In answer to your question, unfortunately, we have not yet mastered how to travel to different timelines on demand. It was my meddling, trying to send Cara to the future on a special mission, that disrupted your timeline and overwrote your old life. In the future, I mean.’
‘It’s so confusing,’ said George. ‘So, if I’ve understood correctly, she was only pretending not to know me in Seville?’
‘Yes, that’s right. She didn’t think you would know her. Some people have no clue. Carlos is like that. He’s a sleeper traveller; he has absolutely no memory of knowing me in another life. I’ve given up hoping he will remember. Cara believes you’re the reincarnated soul of your ancestor; her husband from Tudorville—not a time traveller. Mind you, it’s all very new to her too. I admit, I thought that was a bit far-fetched, but who’s to say?’
‘I wish I could go and see Cara now to put things straight in the future. I may even be back in time for lunch. It’s not as if I don’t want to be here.’
‘Quite so, but I’m afraid we have no control over it. I hope to do some more experiments soon, but Tudorville is so fraught with danger, we haven’t had the luxury of time to test my latest theories.’
‘What have you been up to? I’m starving, let’s eat.’ Carlos entered the room, and their conversation came to an abrupt halt.
Halfway through lunch, George signalled to Edward that he was about to travel. The vortex had summoned him. Edward smiled as he ate. It would all be sorted out, and the countess would be happy again.
‘How was your afternoon?’ Edward asked Cara, upon her return.
They made polite chit chat until it was time for Cara and George to return to their villa.
‘Goodnight all. See you again soon, I hope,’ said Cara. Carlos hurried ahead to escort them out, and George followed. Cara hung back before turning to Edward, ‘See you when I see you,’ she said.
Edward stared at her. Her eyes twinkled with a mischievous glint. He couldn’t help laughing.
‘Here you are. I didn’t think you knew me,’ he said.
‘Oh, I’d know you anywhere, Professor.’
She hurried over to him and kissed his cheek. ‘Night, night,’ let’s catch up soon.
Seville was going to be a lot more fun from now on.
London, 1536
‘No. You do it,’ said the king. I haven’t the stomach for any more grand ceremonies. Make the declaration.’
Cromwell hurried out and whispered to the executioner who then moved aside.
Cara struggled to breathe. Something important must be happening. She prayed for a miracle. No one ranked as highly as Cromwell except for the king himself.
The king’s chief advisor extracted a note from the pocket of his black cloak, his face solemn.
‘I hereby declare George Cavendish, accused and found guilty of treason, is to receive a full pardon, this day, by order of our most merciful king and ruler of the Church of England. New evidence has exonerated him, and he is now free to go.’
There was a cheer for the king. It mattered not one way or another to the crowd whether George lived. All they cared for was the drama.
‘Long live the king,’ roared his subjects, entertained by the unexpected turn of events.
People all around the Tower broke into animated conversation.
Cara gasped and stumbled on the sodden grass of Tower Green; her foot caught in the hem of her gown, as she strained to see George. Edward stooped to help her up. Tears streamed down their faces, and they clutched at each other, not believing their good fortune.
Cara ran to George and flung herself into his arms, kissing his lips and face. His skin was ashen, and clammy beads of sweat clung to his upper lip, but she sprang straight into action.
‘Let’s get you away from here. It won’t do to linger.’ Cara steered George away from Tower Green. Edward and Swifty followed closely behind.
George paused and said, ‘I should quickly go and thank the king or at least Cromwell.’
‘No, please, no, George. I beg you let us not delay or take any chance that he may change his mind. Please come away with me now, and we’ll gather our wits and leave for Willow Manor. You can write to him from home.’
Cara touched his shoulder, as if uncertain he wasn’t merely a figment of her imagination. Her eyes implored him to accompany her. He nodded and clasped her slender fingers in his hand.
Cara sobbed all the way back to their lodgings through the rainy streets of London. He soothed her, but the tears wouldn’t stop, and her whole body shook.
‘You’re in shock, my darling. There, there. It’s all over now, my love.’
His filthy shirt was drenched in sweat.
At the lodgings, George washed for the first time in weeks, and they ordered a light meal which they ate beside the roaring fire in their bedchamber. Their tired eyes glowed in the firelight.
‘It feels almost too good to be true,’ she said. ‘It was so close. I nearly lost you forever.’
George kissed her but he couldn’t keep his eyes open, and nodded off.
A few minutes later, Cara roused him from the chair and helped him into bed. He was asleep within seconds.
She removed her heavy blue gown and tucked in beside him, covering them both with the soft bedding. She sank into the mattress and wrapped her arm around him. The emotion and exhaustion had taken its toll.
As she fell asleep, she knew that home was wherever they were together; it mattered not, which timeline, city or country.
They slept undisturbed in each other’s arms for hours. Bliss. They were reunited in Tudorville.