The Lost Mata Hari Ring by Elyse Douglas

Author:Elyse Douglas [Douglas, Elyse]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Time Travel, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Broadback
Published: 2018-05-01T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

Trace and Edward spent their two honeymoon days in glorious sunshine, exploring the countryside on bikes, picnicking on a mossy green hill, wading through clear, cold streams, and sharing stories of their childhood. It would have been ideal if Trace hadn’t been required to be on guard, to make sure she gave no hint of her “other” identity. Any story she told had to be reset in the early twentieth century.

They avoided any talk about the war or the future. At night they dined locally, strolled under a gray marbled moon, and returned to their little nest to sip wine and make love, while the fireplace hissed and popped, and firelight played across the walls.

During those wandering days, Trace felt torment and ecstasy. She had fallen in love quickly, and her rich love had now deepened. It helped to heal and soothe her. Edward’s kisses softened the anxiety of future and past, and chased away nightmares. His love had a transformative effect and, for a time, all the pieces that had been broken and scattered were mended and whole.

But the cruel knowledge that Edward would soon be flying again, fighting again, rushed the loving hours, and that was a torment. What would she do if he didn’t return? She couldn’t even think the word ‘killed.’ What would she do if he was taken from her? And what would she do if he did return? Could she continue to live a lie for the rest of her life here, constantly in fear that she would make a mistake and say something suspicious? If she managed to find the ring, could she persuade Edward to time travel with her to an uncertain future, where he would have no wealth and no social standing? And what if they had a child? There were no clear answers, no clear decisions, no clarity anywhere.

Edward left on Tuesday, August 1st, on an overcast day—a gloomy day that threatened rain, with moving gray clouds lowering to the tops of trees. The two lovers had returned by carriage to the Hotel de Ville, Edward forcing smiles and Trace struggling to hold back tears.

Edward held her close, looking skyward. “Not good flying weather,” he said. “Lots of wind up there.”

“Don’t talk about flying, Edward. Not now.”

“All right, my dear.”

He looked at her softly and held her eyes. “Trace, I have cabled my parents and written them a long letter about my feelings for you, and about our marriage. I told them that if anything happens to me they are to ensure you are provided for.”

“Edward, I don’t want…”

Edward cut her off. “Shhhh. Let me finish. And they will provide for you. I have included all the particulars for your provision in my will, which I drew up the day before we were married, and I have sent copies to my solicitor and to my parents. Everything will be quite legal. You will never want for anything, Trace. As my wife, you will always have money, property and a comfortable home.

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