The Hands of Time: An unforgettable and emotional historical timeslip novel by Irina Shapiro

Author:Irina Shapiro [Shapiro, Irina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Published: 2024-04-29T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-SEVEN

Finlay dug his heels into Dante’s flanks, urging the tired horse to go faster. He was desperate to get home. He’d left Robbie behind miles ago since Robbie’s aging palfrey couldn’t keep up with Dante’s brisk pace. Robbie would get there in his own time, but Finn couldn’t afford to delay.

The lad had found him aboard the Lady Violet, enjoying a drink with the captain and sharing the latest news. Finlay had been in excellent spirits. The unloading had gone without a hitch, and he’d located Father Stephen more quickly than he’d expected to. The old priest had been dining with Lady Beatrice when Finlay arrived and had been pleased to hear news of his betrothal.

Cargo for the return trip had yet to be checked and loaded, but Captain Wally would have to see to the goods himself. Having received Alec’s message, Finn retrieved Dante from a nearby livery, paid his bill at the inn, and galloped hell for leather until he was forced to slow down to give the horse a break. He had to admit he was glad that Alec had dealt with Nell. He would have snapped that scrawny neck of hers had he been at home.

Nell had nearly killed Valerie and their unborn child because of him; it didn’t bear thinking about. Had he done something to encourage her ardor? Finlay asked himself again and again as he trotted along the dusty track. He didn’t believe so. He barely noticed her. She was a child, an irritating, clumsy child who was always in his way. Had she been older, and fair, he might have made advances to her, but Nell was about as appealing as a scorching case of the pox. Clearly, she was as dangerous as the pox as well.

Finlay’s heart constricted with unexpected pain at the thought of losing Valerie. He would have never forgiven himself if she’d died. Thank the good Lord that Valerie had survived Nell’s attack. And the child… Robbie wasn’t supposed to tell him about that, but the lad couldn’t keep such news to himself. Was Valerie really pregnant? He hadn’t expected her to conceive so quickly, but it was a blessing, especially since Father Stephen could marry them as soon as they were ready.

By this time next week, I’ll be a married man, Finlay thought. He liked the idea. He also liked the idea of becoming a father. His heart leapt with joy at the prospect of holding his son in his arms. A daughter would be nice too, provided she was followed by a son. It was quite possible he was a father already, given his sexual history, but no one had ever presented him with a bastard, so he chose to believe this would be his first offspring. His first legitimate offspring, he corrected himself.

He wished he’d had time to pick up a gift for his bride in Plymouth but getting to her quickly was more important than buying her a trinket. There would be time for all that.

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