Epilogue
Rayna
Seven months later
Rayna fluffed out the skirt of her sky-blue satin dress, standing on the rounded, silver platform of the POTeM, while an assistant scientist adjusted the black protective band around Dominic’s head.
In the rest of the room, scientists whizzed through practised movements and procedures, typing into screens on the two consoles and preparing for Rayna’s first official journey to the past—other than the test journeys she’d taken with Izzy and River in the past few months.
As the scientist helping Dominic moved on to check River’s band too, Victor strode up to the edge of the platform, a tablet tucked under his arm.
“You’ll arrive on the outskirts of the City of Tanbridge, near an inn where River normally hires his carriages and horses,” Victor said.
“It’ll take you a few hours by carriage to get to the Norland townhouse.
We sent Dominic’s letter with River a week ago, so his family will be expecting your arrival for the Season post the summer recess. ”
Rayna stared laughingly at Victor. “V, you’ve said the same thing every time you’ve come up to the platform.”
He frowned faintly and adjusted his glasses. “I just want to make sure you know.”
No, that wasn’t it. He was worried because she was travelling officially for the first time, and not just for a few hours either.
Her smile softened as she approached him. “I’ll be fine, V. It’s only a few months, and I promise I remember everything you told me and everything we practised.”
Worry still flickered through his ice-blue eyes. “If you don’t want to stay the whole time, you can come back. Just send a signal using the beeper I gave you.”
“If I don’t want to, I will. I promise.” She bent down and hugged him tightly.
When she stood back up, Dominic was already there, loosely looping an arm around her back. “I will protect her and keep her happy at all times,” he vowed. “Above everything else.”
A small smile touched Victor’s lips. “I know.”
Then he stepped away, and the last checks were made before the door was sealed, and everyone put on their black goggles and stood in place.
As the mechanical voice read out the date they were returning to, Dominic leaned into Rayna. “Are you ready, my dear wife?”
With her heart full and her pulse buzzing, she grinned. “I am. Dear husband.”