Read Online Timeless by Alexandra Monir - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Alexandra Monir
Ads: Link
said.
“Wait … so your mom died too?” Michele asked. This could not be eerier or more unbelievable. “What did you want help for?”
Clara took a deep breath and then told Michele her story. As Clara spoke, Michele could see the words in her mind, written in Clara’s handwriting. She remembered that these were the words on the pages of the October 10, 1910, diary entry that she had been reading when she’d been sent back in time.
“Tonight you see me surrounded by gilt and glamour … but until now, all I’ve ever known is the grime and grit of the streets,” Clara began. “While other girls my age were experiencing their first kisses and first automobile rides, I spent my days at the local orphanage—my home since my parents died when I was little. All I’ve ever had is cleverness. I tutored the other orphans to earn my room and board, and I taught myself through books at the library … my one safe haven.
“Today began just like any other day, but it quickly turned into much the opposite when the butler from the famousWindsor family made a surprise appearance at the orphanage. It happened that the family patriarch, George Windsor, had somehow learned of my existence and insisted on taking me in, as a foster daughter. I cannot understand it, and from what I am told, it sounds as if I am being given a trial family. But who would take in a teenager, and a stranger at that? What do they want with me ?
“I wasn’t permitted to object or question it. I was simply ordered to pack my bags and leave the only home I’ve ever known. I arrived and my new family was waiting for me in the Grand Hall. Now I have a railroad-president father, a socialite mother, an eighteen-year-old brother, and two sisters: seventeen-year-old Violet and ten-year-old Frances. But none of these people besides Mr. Windsor seems to want me here. I do believe the others want me out. So then, what is going to happen to me? Why am I here?”
Clara clasped Michele’s hand and looked at her pleadingly. “Will you help me? Help me learn the truth about why I was brought to live with the Windsors? That is why you came here, isn’t it?”
Michele had no idea what she could do to help—but she was struck by the similarities between Clara’s plight and her own. Both of them, though a hundred years removed, had been inexplicably sent to live in this new world with the Windsors, and both of them sought the answer why.
“I’ll do whatever I can,” Michele promised.
“Michele!”
She jerked her head up, and in one instant, the world returned to normal. She was back in her bedroom in 2010. Clara’sbelongings were gone, except for the diary in Michele’s hands. And Annaleigh was calling Michele through the intercom, asking if she was ready for her dinner to be brought up.
For a moment, Michele was too stunned to reply to Annaleigh. She stared down at the diary, wondering if that exchange with Clara had actually happened … or had it all been in her head? Was she certifiably crazy? And how come the trip back in time had been such a nightmare, while returning to the present was instantaneous? One thing was for sure: Michele had no appetite that night. She slowly made her way to the intercom.
“Annaleigh? I’m actually not feeling well. I think I’ll skip dinner.”
“Are you sure? Should I have medicine sent up for you?” Annaleigh offered.
“No, that’s okay,” Michele replied. “I think I just need to rest. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Michele pulled the skeleton key out of her pocket and stared at it in wonder. Did this mean … that her father was a time traveler ? Had Alfred Woolsey somehow guessed? Was that why he’d given Marion the key? If only there was someone to explain … But Michele was on her own.
T he next morning Michele woke up at the crack of dawn, her stomach churning with nerves. She had been up nearly all night, unable to stop wondering about the key and her unbelievable trip back in
“Wait … so your mom died too?” Michele asked. This could not be eerier or more unbelievable. “What did you want help for?”
Clara took a deep breath and then told Michele her story. As Clara spoke, Michele could see the words in her mind, written in Clara’s handwriting. She remembered that these were the words on the pages of the October 10, 1910, diary entry that she had been reading when she’d been sent back in time.
“Tonight you see me surrounded by gilt and glamour … but until now, all I’ve ever known is the grime and grit of the streets,” Clara began. “While other girls my age were experiencing their first kisses and first automobile rides, I spent my days at the local orphanage—my home since my parents died when I was little. All I’ve ever had is cleverness. I tutored the other orphans to earn my room and board, and I taught myself through books at the library … my one safe haven.
“Today began just like any other day, but it quickly turned into much the opposite when the butler from the famousWindsor family made a surprise appearance at the orphanage. It happened that the family patriarch, George Windsor, had somehow learned of my existence and insisted on taking me in, as a foster daughter. I cannot understand it, and from what I am told, it sounds as if I am being given a trial family. But who would take in a teenager, and a stranger at that? What do they want with me ?
“I wasn’t permitted to object or question it. I was simply ordered to pack my bags and leave the only home I’ve ever known. I arrived and my new family was waiting for me in the Grand Hall. Now I have a railroad-president father, a socialite mother, an eighteen-year-old brother, and two sisters: seventeen-year-old Violet and ten-year-old Frances. But none of these people besides Mr. Windsor seems to want me here. I do believe the others want me out. So then, what is going to happen to me? Why am I here?”
Clara clasped Michele’s hand and looked at her pleadingly. “Will you help me? Help me learn the truth about why I was brought to live with the Windsors? That is why you came here, isn’t it?”
Michele had no idea what she could do to help—but she was struck by the similarities between Clara’s plight and her own. Both of them, though a hundred years removed, had been inexplicably sent to live in this new world with the Windsors, and both of them sought the answer why.
“I’ll do whatever I can,” Michele promised.
“Michele!”
She jerked her head up, and in one instant, the world returned to normal. She was back in her bedroom in 2010. Clara’sbelongings were gone, except for the diary in Michele’s hands. And Annaleigh was calling Michele through the intercom, asking if she was ready for her dinner to be brought up.
For a moment, Michele was too stunned to reply to Annaleigh. She stared down at the diary, wondering if that exchange with Clara had actually happened … or had it all been in her head? Was she certifiably crazy? And how come the trip back in time had been such a nightmare, while returning to the present was instantaneous? One thing was for sure: Michele had no appetite that night. She slowly made her way to the intercom.
“Annaleigh? I’m actually not feeling well. I think I’ll skip dinner.”
“Are you sure? Should I have medicine sent up for you?” Annaleigh offered.
“No, that’s okay,” Michele replied. “I think I just need to rest. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Michele pulled the skeleton key out of her pocket and stared at it in wonder. Did this mean … that her father was a time traveler ? Had Alfred Woolsey somehow guessed? Was that why he’d given Marion the key? If only there was someone to explain … But Michele was on her own.
T he next morning Michele woke up at the crack of dawn, her stomach churning with nerves. She had been up nearly all night, unable to stop wondering about the key and her unbelievable trip back in
Similar Books
