Chapter 22 #2
“Quinn, stop,” she said as forcefully as she could muster, her voice only cracking a little. “You won’t find her.”
He turned and covered the ground between them in two long strides. Clamping his hands onto her shoulders, he leaned down to look at her, his eyes blazing with anger. She didn’t cower, and tried to make him see how sorry she was, how much she loved him.
“Tell me what ye know,” he growled and she saw the fear beneath the anger. Lizzie glanced over at Oliver, not wanting him to hear what would sound like outrageous gibberish. Quinn shook her. “Tell me.”
“The story you told me about your brother,” she said, not knowing how to start. “I know it’s true.” He didn’t answer, but the fear flickered brighter in his eyes. She lowered her voice. “I’m not from here. I’m not from this time.”
He dropped his hands from her shoulders as if she’d burned him and shook his head. “No, ye’re lying. I dinna know why ye’re lying, but ye must stop. This is worse than what ye did to Catie.”
She waited for him to calm down, knowing he believed her, though he didn’t want to.
“There’s a man,” she said, trying to take his hand to get him to focus on her.
He took another step back. “I don’t know if he’s a witch or how he does it, but he’s from another time as well, and he was trying to get me home.
That man who attacked me in the alley, he’s somehow linked to it all.
He was trying to get information from me that night.
” She took a breath, far off track, not sure how to get back to the point.
“What’s any of this to do with my sister?” he asked.
Lizzie wanted to hug him to take away the pain he must be feeling. Really she wanted him to hug her, feeling a good amount of pain herself. She didn’t deserve it, not now that he knew the truth about what she’d done. The steps she’d taken to make it right had been too few and too late.
“The man was due to meet me this evening at Belmary House. He gave me a very specific time. I was late, because Catie had Lew called away on a bogus errand, and because I spent too much time saying goodbye to you.”
He blinked slowly. “That was goodbye?” he asked. “Ye were leaving?” He looked at her long and hard before smiling sadly. “But ye chose to stay?”
The next words she said would be the end for her, and she kept her eyes on his face. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she struggled to get a breath.
“I was too late,” she said, finally dropping her chin to her chest and sobbing when the knowledge that she hadn’t chosen him registered in his eyes. She’d never be able to make him understand how sure she was now, how certain she was that this was where she wanted to be.
“Ah,” he said softly. “But still, what’s that to do with Catie?”
“I think she found the instructions and went in my place. I don’t know why. I’m so sorry.” She helplessly wiped her tears and wrapped her arms around her middle.
Quinn paced away, shaking his head and swearing. He turned back, distraught. “Ye’re saying she went through your things?”
Lizzie nodded. “It’s the only way she could have known. But I have no idea why she’d want to go.”
He grimaced. “She always was a wee sneak,” he said, almost to himself.
He looked at her, glanced quickly at Oliver, who still stood by avidly listening, his mouth open in befuddlement.
“She must have gone through my things as well.” He stepped closer to her and her heart leapt with joy, but it was only to speak so that Oliver couldn’t hear.
“I had a letter from Lachlan, instructions he left me. She may have sussed out that he’d gone …
and if she found something similar in your things— Ye say this man had a way to get ye back? ”
“Yes, the same way I got here,” she explained, glad he was close to her, had stopped looking at her as if she was the enemy.
“It’s something to do with that house. It’s on a schedule or something, and he was meant to come back for me tonight.
” She looked up at him, trying to make him understand at least a little why she’d done the things she’d done.
“I didn’t choose it like your brother. I was ripped from my time.
I didn’t know what to do, had no money or proper clothes. It’s nothing like when I came from.”
His dark frown returned in force, obviously not buying her excuses. “It’s so verra different in your time?” She nodded and he looked over her head, deep in thought. “I shall have to go after her,” he said finally, not looking pleased. In fact, looking downright sick at the notion.
Lizzie sobbed again and touched his arm, ignoring his icy cold demeanor. “He won’t be back for a year,” she said. She didn’t think it possible, but the look on his face grew harsher.
“I know another way.”
She barely heard the angrily muttered words as he jerked his arm away from her. She had to repeat them several times to herself before she comprehended them.
“What other way?” she begged. He smiled down at her, a hateful smile, nothing like the ones she loved, and shook his head slowly.
“Please, Quinn.” She couldn’t stay here without him.
If her broken heart didn’t kill her, she’d die a pauper on the streets.
“Whatever you think of me, if you know another way, you have to help me get home.” Lizzie refused to look away, trying to make him show that he still felt something for her beneath the sting of her betrayal.
His eyes never showed the faintest flicker of the love that had been there a few short hours ago. Only dark blue emptiness. He closed them briefly before answering.
“We leave at dawn.”
Before he could go, Oliver suddenly piped up, having been wholly forgotten by the both of them. “I’m going with you,” he said.
Quinn stopped. “Like hell ye are.”
“Wherever Catie is, I’m going with you to find her.” He wiped his hands on his coat and cleared his throat. “I’m in love with her.”
“Holy Jesus,” Quinn said, raking his fingers through his hair.
He stared at Oliver as if he were a newly discovered species, then chose to ignore his declaration altogether, turning back to Lizzie.
“I shall be at the Fox Inn, ready to leave for Scotland at first light. Dinna be late.” He pointed a warning finger at Oliver.
“If ye are there, I shall break your nose.” With a last glare at both of them, he stalked to his horse and mounted, thundering away into the night.
Lizzie sighed. Quinn had barely been able to look at her, but he’d agreed to take her with him and help her get home. It wasn’t much. It could have been the same kindness he’d offer a stranger, but she had to have hope.
She looked around, her eyes settling on Oliver, who chivalrously didn’t seem to want to leave her alone.
“I’m going,” he said stubbornly. “I love Catie, and need to see she’s safe.”
“I think he was serious about breaking your nose,” she said.
Oliver traced his finger down the bridge of his aristocratic nose. “My mother always says I’m too handsome, anyway.”
Lizzie shrugged and followed him to his carriage. “Then I guess you should be ready at dawn.”