Anne Through Time by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0000000000000
Published: 2024-02-08T13:58:20+00:00

17

A Lifetime

The sun had sunken lower in the sky, indicating to me that a similar amount of time had passed since our departure as we had spent at the bookshop. My stomach still roiled, but I remained upright, which was an improvement over my first traveling attempt.

Willa was the first to let go of Melinda’s arm as well as my hand, spinning around to face her father, but there was no sign of the marquis outside.

“It has been hours,” I told her. “He’s probably gone inside.”

Willa pursed her lips. “I imagined him waiting for us here, fuming and pacing as he wondered what had happened to us.” Her green eyes met mine. “Is it cowardly to want to flee to my bedroom and avoid a confrontation?” Her lip lifted into a smile as she waited for my answer.

I shook my head. “Not at all. If it had been my brother or mother, I probably would have had the same thought. But postponing a conversation because you are worried about the other person’s reaction has never helped resolve a situation. It might only make it worse.”

Willa let out a deep sigh, her shoulders stiffening as she steeled herself for what was to come. “Let’s find my father then. You’ll stick by my side, right?”

“Of course.” I flashed Willa an assuring smile. Leaving her while she was nervous about the conversation with her father would have never crossed my mind.

Melinda nodded and tucked a few flyaway curls behind her right ear. “We’ll all go in. Your father deserves an explanation from me.”

Usually, Melinda moved through the world without caring what anybody thought of her. But to my surprise, I detected a hint of apprehension this time. She must care for the marquis and worry about his opinion of her.

Melinda curled her right arm around Willa’s shoulders. “It’ll be all right.”

We did not need to go far; as soon as we entered the back of the mansion, I heard the scuffling of feet and then the swing of a door. The marquis darted out of the sitting room, his face at first worried, but then—once he’d ascertained our wellbeing—the worry lines on his face deepened into a disagreeable scowl. He stepped forward and straightened; the creases in his jacket from sitting remained. They must have set after hours of waiting.

“What happened?” he asked, gaze sweeping over us. “It’s been hours since you…” The marquis hesitated, more than likely worried he would seem like a madman if he confessed what he’d seen.

“Disappeared?” A small smirk appeared on Melinda's face.

The marquis’ eyes narrowed. “I came to find you and heard noises outside. Then one moment there you all were, and the next,” he swallowed, “the next you were all gone. Like smoke. I need some answers.”

Willa lifted her chin and confronted her father. “Papa, Melinda showed us how to travel through time. She’s offered to teach us how to do it ourselves.”

“Time travel?” The marquis’ face reddened, his gaze flitting between Melinda and his daughter.

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