Read Online Love Lost in Time (Victorian Time-Travel) by Marie Higgins - Free Book Online
Authors: Marie Higgins
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sleep.”
“Neither could I.”
He nodded. “I can imagine since what I told you earlier today.” His gaze moved over her gown again. “I’m so relieved the gown fits.”
She giggled and fluttered her hand over her chest. “Me, too. At least I hope it fits. I can’t fasten the buttons in the back.”
“Will you accept my offer to assist? I’m no lady’s ma id, but I can assure you I am quite proficient at fastening buttons.”
She laughed. “ I’m sure you are, but no thanks. I won’t be wearing this long before readying myself for bed.” She stepped closer to him and touched his hand. “Thank you so much for getting this gown for me. It’s perfect.”
His gaze darkened. “It’s perfect on you , as if it were made just for Halle Chapman.” His eyes moved to her shoulder. “There is a small rip. I shall have Beatrice sew it for you before the party on Friday.”
“Thank you.” She scanned his clothes again. He really did look better wearing these than he did wearing his working clothes. “You look exceptionally good. I’ve never seen a more handsome gentleman.”
“This is what I wore when I came through time.” He touched the hole in his sleeve. “This is where the musket ball grazed me.”
She gasped and jerked her hand back. Taking more time, she studied his clothes. The way the stitches were done; the fabric and design told her this was no remake either. “Andrew, where did you get my gown?”
“From upstairs in one of the locked rooms.”
“Really? Is that why those rooms are locked because they hold items like this?”
He nodded. “I think so, but I cannot be certain.”
“ Perhaps I shouldn’t wear this, then.”
“On the contrary, my dear. This was in my family’s house, and because this is still my family’s house no matter what century we are in, the gown is my gift to you.”
Strange, how he said that with such conviction, and even stranger that she wanted so badly to believe.
Confusion clogged her mind once again, and she turned away from him and walked toward the bureau. Taking deep breaths, she placed a hand on her chest. Unfortunately, this was upsetting her more than she was prepared for. Didn’t Andrew know how ridiculous his story sounded? “Oh, Andrew. I wish I could believe you, but it’s so hard.”
Silence hung heavy in the room for a few earth-shattering minutes, only the thud of her heartbeat against her ribs rang through her ears. Finally, heavy footsteps echoed behind her mere moments before the lamp dimmed. Gasping, she swung around. “Why did you do that?”
“I don’t want you to look at my face with your eyes. Look with your heart.”
He walked closer until he stood a breath away. The skirt of her gown brushed against his trouser-legs. Gentle fingertips stroked the side of her face then trailed down her neck until his whole hand rested on her shoulder. Warmth cascaded through her and she shivered.
“Close your eyes if you must, but I’m going to take you back to the day of my brother’s wedding. I will describe every detail in the room, every stitch of clothing worn by my family and the other guests.” His thumb rubbed her collarbone. “I shall answer any questions you have about that night or anything else you would like to know. Halle, I will do anything to make you believe I’m telling the truth.”
Up this close and in the shadows, it was easy to believe he was twenty-nine. It was easy to think of him being back in 1848 because of his dress and mannerisms. Heaven help her, she wanted to believe he was that man who she’d day dreamed so much about since staring at his portrait.
She took a deep breath, trying to think of a question to ask —something men wouldn’t usually know unless they were back in those days. “Tell me about Lord Brimhall’s wedding.”
Through the shadows, she noticed a smile tugging on the corners of his mouth, and as he started talking, his voice relaxed her, slowly
“Neither could I.”
He nodded. “I can imagine since what I told you earlier today.” His gaze moved over her gown again. “I’m so relieved the gown fits.”
She giggled and fluttered her hand over her chest. “Me, too. At least I hope it fits. I can’t fasten the buttons in the back.”
“Will you accept my offer to assist? I’m no lady’s ma id, but I can assure you I am quite proficient at fastening buttons.”
She laughed. “ I’m sure you are, but no thanks. I won’t be wearing this long before readying myself for bed.” She stepped closer to him and touched his hand. “Thank you so much for getting this gown for me. It’s perfect.”
His gaze darkened. “It’s perfect on you , as if it were made just for Halle Chapman.” His eyes moved to her shoulder. “There is a small rip. I shall have Beatrice sew it for you before the party on Friday.”
“Thank you.” She scanned his clothes again. He really did look better wearing these than he did wearing his working clothes. “You look exceptionally good. I’ve never seen a more handsome gentleman.”
“This is what I wore when I came through time.” He touched the hole in his sleeve. “This is where the musket ball grazed me.”
She gasped and jerked her hand back. Taking more time, she studied his clothes. The way the stitches were done; the fabric and design told her this was no remake either. “Andrew, where did you get my gown?”
“From upstairs in one of the locked rooms.”
“Really? Is that why those rooms are locked because they hold items like this?”
He nodded. “I think so, but I cannot be certain.”
“ Perhaps I shouldn’t wear this, then.”
“On the contrary, my dear. This was in my family’s house, and because this is still my family’s house no matter what century we are in, the gown is my gift to you.”
Strange, how he said that with such conviction, and even stranger that she wanted so badly to believe.
Confusion clogged her mind once again, and she turned away from him and walked toward the bureau. Taking deep breaths, she placed a hand on her chest. Unfortunately, this was upsetting her more than she was prepared for. Didn’t Andrew know how ridiculous his story sounded? “Oh, Andrew. I wish I could believe you, but it’s so hard.”
Silence hung heavy in the room for a few earth-shattering minutes, only the thud of her heartbeat against her ribs rang through her ears. Finally, heavy footsteps echoed behind her mere moments before the lamp dimmed. Gasping, she swung around. “Why did you do that?”
“I don’t want you to look at my face with your eyes. Look with your heart.”
He walked closer until he stood a breath away. The skirt of her gown brushed against his trouser-legs. Gentle fingertips stroked the side of her face then trailed down her neck until his whole hand rested on her shoulder. Warmth cascaded through her and she shivered.
“Close your eyes if you must, but I’m going to take you back to the day of my brother’s wedding. I will describe every detail in the room, every stitch of clothing worn by my family and the other guests.” His thumb rubbed her collarbone. “I shall answer any questions you have about that night or anything else you would like to know. Halle, I will do anything to make you believe I’m telling the truth.”
Up this close and in the shadows, it was easy to believe he was twenty-nine. It was easy to think of him being back in 1848 because of his dress and mannerisms. Heaven help her, she wanted to believe he was that man who she’d day dreamed so much about since staring at his portrait.
She took a deep breath, trying to think of a question to ask —something men wouldn’t usually know unless they were back in those days. “Tell me about Lord Brimhall’s wedding.”
Through the shadows, she noticed a smile tugging on the corners of his mouth, and as he started talking, his voice relaxed her, slowly
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