Chapter 5
Reese stood with Ellen near the front window as they waited for Aunt Nellie. She’d sent word through the Kellworth footman that she would arrive soon. The note said nothing else, so anticipation charged the atmosphere, but it also held a touch of fear.
Nellie had always seemed so wise and confident.
During Reese’s first accidental visit to this time period, the Fae woman had seemed like a bit of a know-it-all, something which had been irritating at times.
But the idea that she didn’t have all the answers left Reese feeling vulnerable. She placed a hand on her abdomen.
With a soft smile, Ellen slid her arm through Reese’s and asked, “Do you hope you are increasing?”
Staring off into the distance, Reese sighed. “I didn’t think I was ready to be a mother, but... yeah. I do. I’m actually excited.”
Ellen continued to face the large drawing-room window. “I truly hope you are, because I would love for us to share this together.” She gave Reese a quick side-eye.
Still thinking a little dreamily about her possible pregnancy, it took Reese a second to register what her friend was saying. Reese gasped and turned to face her. “Are you...?”
“Yes!” Ellen cried with a squeak in her voice. “Michael and I have not yet shared with the others except Catherine, so please say nothing. She warned me that if a woman were to lose her baby...” Ellen’s voice cracked.
“It’s most likely to happen in the first trimester,” Reese finished.
“Yes, that is what she told us.” Ellen wiped the corner of her eye. “So we are waiting to say anything.”
Reese gave her a quick hug. “I’m so happy for you, but don’t worry about keeping quiet about it.
A lot of women in my time wait to announce it for that very reason.
” Reese let out a breath. “I’m still trying to get my head around it, but with so much happening with Beatrice, Jem and I haven’t even talked about it yet. Do you know when you’re due?”
“Catherine believes in July.”
“Will your baby be born in this time?” Reese couldn’t help the worry in her voice.
“Michael wishes us to travel to the future for the birth, as Gareth and Catherine did.” Ellen’s face blanched as she said the words.
Reese understood. “But you’re scared because you nearly died when you time-traveled.”
Ellen nodded with an involuntary shudder.
“Well, you should talk to Aunt Nellie about it. She can tell you how many times someone has set fire to Twickenham,” Reese teased, though the person responsible was now Ellen’s grandfather-in-law.
The jingle of bells outside sent them rushing to the front door. As they stepped onto the porch, a sleigh was pulling up out front, and Reese recognized the head groom from Twickenham. She waved at the Fae man, and he gave her a courteous nod before helping Nellie down.
“Inside,” she declared, gesturing for Reese and Ellen to hurry back indoors. “It is frightfully cold out here. You will both catch your death.”
Once they had handed Aunt Nellie’s coat to the footman, the three women headed up the stairs. Only when they were out of hearing of any servants did Reese explain what had happened.
“The Colonel and Grandmama saw Beatrice step out of the painting,” Ellen added.
“Goodness. That was unexpected. However, I have come prepared for most everything.” Nellie lifted the basket she carried, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “I expected it would only be a matter of time before Evangeline and Arthur came into the fold, so to speak.”
Reese blinked in surprise. “So, you’re not worried?”
“About them? No, my dear. You must not forget that I have done this for a very long time. I am most pleased about Beatrice. I do not like surprises with my guests and friends.” Aunt Nellie nodded at the long corridor.
“Where is she resting? We should take her to Twickenham when she has recovered sufficiently.”
“She refuses,” Ellen said.
“Yeah, and she was pretty forceful about it too.” Reese gave a quick arch of her eyebrows. “Beatrice says there’s too much magic.”
Nellie nodded. “Hmm... Perhaps she is correct.”
“I’m guessing she didn’t know about the magic before. What a shock, having to go it alone.” Reese met Nellie’s gaze. “I’m grateful you were there.”
“I understand,” the Fae woman said, a hint of pleasure in her eyes. “Please know that because of your connection to the portrait, I have been going through old records. Astronomical logs, magical registers, even ship captains’ reports.” Nellie’s eyes gleamed.
“You know something you didn’t before,” Reese stated.
“As you both are aware,” Aunt Nellie said, going into her instructor mode, “magic accumulates over the lunar month until there is a sufficient amount to allow travel through time, but it is only when it’s at its peak that it aligns with the ley lines beneath Twickenham.”
“When it has a magical burp.” Reese kept a straight face, but Ellen covered her mouth, choking back a laugh.
Aunt Nellie gave a long-suffering sigh. “That is a vulgar way of describing it, but yes. When the moon is at its fullest, there is a surge in the magic. Something predictable. Usually. I discovered that on the night Lady Beatrice disappeared, several events occurred at once. The first was the winter solstice, and another was a lunar eclipse. But that combination can occur every hundred years or so, and nothing like this had happened before. So I checked further.”
“And?” Ellen asked, looking enthralled.
“It seems there was a fiery eruption from the sun itself,” Nellie said. “The records say it was of unusual strength, and auroras were reported as far south as Rome.”
Reese blinked. “Ah, I get it. You’re talking about a solar flare.”
Nellie nodded. “Scientists today don’t yet have a proper name for them, but yes, I believe you are correct. It creates a burst of energy sufficient to disturb compasses and can cause interference with the magic.”
Reese opened her mouth and then closed it when Nellie lifted a hand.
“The combination of those conditions most likely created a spike in magical resonance. There was ample power to catch Beatrice, but not enough to take her anywhere.”
“So she was trapped between?” Ellen breathed.
“Precisely.” Nellie gave Reese a considering glance and said thoughtfully, “What I do not yet understand is how you were able to free her.”
“Don’t look at me.” Reese stepped back. “I have no idea. All I know is, if I’d been caged in there, wherever there is, I would have gone insane.”
“She does not speak like a lunatic,” Ellen offered, sounding a little embarrassed but needing to defend her great-aunt.
“And you have seen many?” Reese asked, curious.
Ellen’s gentle face turned serious. “One, during my Season. Catherine said the person was likely suffering from what she called a mental illness. It was quite distressing.”
Aunt Nellie patted Ellen’s arm sympathetically. “I am sure it was. Now, however, we must see what I can do to help Beatrice.”
“This way.” Relieved that the attention was off her, Reese lifted her skirts and strode toward the room.
Even before she entered it, she could hear the men still arguing with the Colonel. She looked back at Aunt Nellie and muttered, “You have your work cut out for you.”
The Fae woman’s expression turned sly as she whispered, “Oh, my dear, the gentlemen are always easier to bring around than the women.”
“There’s one more thing you should know.” Reese explained the phasing out and the portrait.
Nellie narrowed her eyes, looking thoughtful. “It appears coming out of the painting was only the first step.” Then she swept into the room.
“Dear me.” Ellen hurried after her.
Reese followed and went to lace her fingers with Jem’s while Ellen joined Michael.
Catherine stepped back beside Gareth as Nellie moved gracefully to the bedside.
Sitting in a chair on the other side and holding her sister’s hand, Evangeline watched hopefully.
The Colonel, his face a contrast of doubt and confusion, stomped near the window where he took up pacing.
“Lady Beatrice,” Aunt Nellie said kindly, “what a blessing that you have returned. I would love to learn more about how it came about.”
Beatrice’s eyes fluttered open, but then she blanched.
“Have no fear,” Nellie assured her. “You are safe.”
“How can you know it won’t force me back?” Beatrice’s voice trembled as she glanced at the empty portrait. “It’s trying to whenever I’m any distance from that.” She turned haunted eyes to the Fae woman. “Please don’t let it take me again.”
Nellie lifted a hand, and a Twickenham servant Reese hadn’t noticed stepped forward with a tea tray. Aunt Nellie took a teacup from it and said, “Serve the others.” She then moved it to Beatrice’s lips.
She closed her eyes and, a bit resignedly, sipped some of the liquid.
Reese knew very well the benefits that came from drinking the magical potions. Ellen and Michael also accepted cups with no hesitation. Finally, only the Colonel remained without one.
Gareth cleared his throat, somehow making it a challenge. The older man gave a harrumph. After testing the temperature, he downed it in a single swallow before glaring at them all defiantly.
Reese bit back a laugh. This was the best part, and she knew exactly when the magic took effect.
The Colonel’s expression softened, and his shoulders relaxed.
It wasn’t so much that the tea removed his questions and disbelief.
It simply mellowed his mood, so he wasn’t concerned anymore, something she understood well.
He moved to Evangeline’s side and clasped her free hand, apparently now ready to support her.
Jem had to bite back a smile. As a modern man, he’d always held a firm belief in scientific explanations for everything. If it seemed unbelievable, it was either fake or science hadn’t discovered an explanation yet.
But then he and his friends had visited Twickenham on that night two and a half years ago. If Reese and his sister had planned their trip on a different week of the month, they would have missed out on all of this.
And what a loss that would have been.