A World Apart (The Hands of Time: Book 3) Page 6

  “Louisa, you must say nothing to Bridget. I know she can be a source of comfort to you, but the less people know, the better. I’ll go have a word with Mr. Taylor and advise him of the plan.”

  Chapter 10

  Wispy ribbons of mist wrapped themselves around tree trunks, and pooled in the hollows still shrouded in darkness as the sky began to lighten in anticipation of sunrise. The air was cold, turning their breath to white puffs as they walked in silence down the road to Jamestown. Alec desperately wanted to say something to comfort Valerie, but no words sprang to mind. She walked beside him, silent and distant, lost in her own thoughts. They’d spent the whole night searching the area, but found no signs of Finn, and they both knew what this meant. He could have gone anywhere. Going to town seemed like the most logical idea, since Finn would likely try to find Charlie before realizing that he was in a different time. How long would it take him to grasp the reality of the situation? What would he do then? With no one to turn to, Finn might take to the woods, making him impossible to find.

  They left the woods before the current inhabitants of the house began to rise and go about their business. Alec didn’t really have a plan, but it was vital to make Valerie believe that he had an idea. Her eyes looked haunted in the gray light of the early morning, her face pale and drawn. He hated to admit it, but she had been right last night. They should have gone immediately. The hour it took them to prepare probably made all the difference, although Finn might have already gone by the time Mr. Taylor raised the alarm. They had no way of knowing at exactly what time Finn transported himself. Valerie thought she heard him on the stairs, but it could just as easily have been Minnie. Finn obviously came home sometime after they sat down to supper, which had been a lengthy affair. He might have been gone for as much as two hours by the time they discovered him missing. Alec turned to Valerie, trying to appear much calmer than he felt.

  “Sweetheart, here’s what we’ll do. Once we get to town, I’ll find us an inn where you can freshen up and rest. You need to sleep. I’ll search the town. Someone must have seen him. Are you hungry?”

  Valerie just shook her head. She was exhausted and terrified, her stomach revolting against even the sip of cider she took a few moments ago. She’d like to have argued with Alec, but at the moment, sleep was the only thing she craved, aside from the sight of Finn. She needed to lie down, if only for a short while. Alec must be exhausted too, but arguing with him would be futile. He wouldn’t stop to rest for fear of allowing Finn to get even further away.

  “Why don’t we go over everything you remember about 1775?” Alec suggested. “I know they are in the middle of the Revolutionary War, but what else can you tell me? I must know as much as possible.”

  Alec would never admit it to Valerie, but he was excited about finding himself in the future. This wasn’t the future he dreamed off, but it was still one hundred and fifty years past his own time, and he was more than curious to see how life had changed. The idea that the colonists could take on the might of Britain and win boggled his mind, making him strangely proud of the future citizens of the United States. He only hoped that Finn would stay clear of the conflict, and not set himself up as a target for the revolutionaries.

  Valerie suddenly stopped walking and turned to face Alec. Her eyes looked even more panicked than they did a few moments ago, although as far as Alec could tell nothing had changed.

  “Something’s been niggling at me all night, and I finally remembered what it is. It’s been a very long time since I’ve studied American history, but I seem to remember that at some point during the seventeenth century the capitol was moved from Jamestown to Williamsburg. Jamestown eventually fell into decline and ceased to exist altogether, but I can’t remember exactly when that happened. There might not even be a Jamestown any longer, Alec. What do we do then?” Valerie looked at Alec, her expression forlorn. If Finn wasn’t in Jamestown, they would have no clue where to look for him.

  “Let us wait and see, shall we? It can’t be as bad as all that.” Alec fervently hoped that he was right. What if there was no longer a Jamestown?

  Jamestown eventually came into view, bringing relief and despair. The town had grown since their own time, but it had the distinct air of decline, especially at the outskirts. Alec and Valerie passed several abandoned houses and the ruins of a church on their way to the center. The buildings in the heart of the town were much grander than they were in the seventeenth century, but some of the windows were still shuttered, giving the square a melancholy air. The sun was fully up by this time, and the place should have been a beehive of activity, but it was strangely quiet. A few masts could be seen rising above the roofs of houses facing the docks, but there wasn’t the usual flurry of activity. Several women, some of them colored, passed by, baskets slung over their arms, obviously en route to a shop or a market.

  A wagon rattled past, loaded with barrels of something; the driver wearing a beat-up tricorn, which obscured the upper half of his face.

  “What manner of hat is that?” asked Alec, looking after the wagon.

  “That’s a tricorn. They were very popular during the eighteenth century.” Valerie barely paid attention to their surroundings, tired as she was. Her feet were swollen in her shoes from hours of walking, and she grew more anxious by the moment, seeing the sad state of the town. How would Finn react to seeing this? Where would he go next?

  **

  The bed was lumpy and hard, but Valerie didn’t care. They were lucky to have found this much. There were only two inns, and one of them had been full. The Crowing Rooster was a bit run down and in need of a good cleaning, but at least they had rooms available. The room was on the uppermost floor, small, with a sloped ceiling and a tiny window which refused to open. Valerie poured some water from the pitcher, splashing her dusty face and washing her hands, before sitting down on the bed and kicking off her shoes.

  Alec washed his face and hands, wolfed down a sausage roll and drank the last of the cider, before heading into town to look for Finn. He assured her that it was all right for her to stay at the inn and get some rest. Alec would also find someplace to trade his gold ring for currency. They’d need to buy food and pay for the room.

  Valerie peeled off her gown, used the chipped chamber pot under the bed, and climbed under the covers in her shift. She felt guilty for resting while Finn was out there somewhere, scared and confused, but her body refused to obey any of her commands, forcing her to seek oblivion. She’d been up all night, but it was the anxiety that really wore her out. Her eyes felt heavy, and her mind shut down, refusing to dwell on any more fearful thoughts until it got some rest.

  It was nearly dark by the time Valerie finally woke up, hungry, but rested. There was no sign of Alec, so she stood on tippy toes to try to see out of the window. She couldn’t see much from her vantage point since a ledge from the floor below blocked the view of the street. For a moment, Valerie considered going outside, but quickly changed her mind. Alec would worry if he came back and found her gone. She’d just stay and wait for Alec to return.

  A half hour turned into an hour before Valerie finally heard the sound of footsteps on the creaky staircase outside. She made for the door, yanking it open just as Alec reached the top of the stairs. He looked exhausted, his clothes soiled and smelly. He carried a pot and a loaf of bread under his arm.

  “Alec, where have you been all this time?” Valerie asked, taking in his disheveled appearance.

  Alec sank onto a wooden chair and handed the pot and bread to Valerie as he removed his boots. “I spent the first few hours walking around asking anyone I could find if they’d seen Finn, but no one could remember anyone like him. I decided to go to the docks to ask there. Same result. A vessel was being unloaded, and extra men were needed to help the sailors. I thought it a good opportunity to earn a little money since there was nowhere to trade the ring. I stayed until the work was finished, earning enough to pay for the room and some supper. The proprietress promised to sen
d up some ale to go with our meal.”

  Valerie’s hunger vanished after hearing Alec’s account, but she forced herself to eat the oyster stew, and drink the ale, which had been brought up by a scrawny girl in a stained frock. Alec ate slowly, his eyes heavy with fatigue. Valerie wanted to ask him what they would do next, but decided to wait till morning. In the meantime, she’d wash his shirt and stockings. They would be dry by morning, in case they needed to leave.

  Chapter 11

  “Kit, look – it’s Alec,” exclaimed Louisa as she looked out of the window. The rider was still far away, but she was sure it was him. “They must have found Finn in Jamestown. I wonder where Valerie and Finn are.” She was already on her way down when Kit called after her.

  “Louisa, it’s not Alec. It’s Charles.” Louisa slowed her pace, disappointment filling her heart. Of course. Charles looked a lot like Alec from a distance. What did he want anyway? Louisa would have trusted Alec with her life, but her trust did not extend to the brother. Charles was always charming and polite, but there was something in his jade-green eyes that was sly and self-serving. There was a cool formality between the brothers that had been caused by Cora’s death two years before, when Charles accused Alec of murder. He’d apologized once it came out that Amelia had bashed Cora’s head in, but the relationship remained fractured, Alec unable to forget his brother’s betrayal. One thing that Louisa could say in Charles’ defense was that he wasn’t giving up on mending his bond with Alec. He came as often as he could, offering help around the estate and trying to be as agreeable as possible in the hopes that Alec would eventually forgive him.

  Charles jumped off his horse and tied the reins to a post before jogging up the steps and coming into the house. Up close, he looked tired and pale, his hair coming out of its tie, his mouth a grim line. Charles yanked the tie out, letting his dark, wavy hair cascade onto his shoulders.

  “Good morning, Charles. Would you care for some refreshment?” Louisa asked as she invited him to come into the parlor. She’d never seen him look so agitated.

  “Some ale wouldn’t come amiss,” Charles replied, settling on a wooden settee. “Is Alec here? I’d like a word.”

  “Alec and Valerie aren’t here at the present,” answered Kit as he joined them in the parlor. “Can I help?”

  Charles accepted a cup of ale from Minnie and drained it in one gulp, holding out the cup for a refill. “Perhaps I should wait for Alec to come back. I must speak with him. Where has he gone?”

  “Alec and Valerie went to North Carolina,” Louisa and Kit answered in unison.

  “What on earth for?” Charles drained another cup and handed it back to Minnie without looking at her, his eyes on Kit.

  “They thought they might trade some tobacco for foodstuffs,” explained Kit. “What was it you wanted, Charles?”

  Charles looked at his hands for a moment, as if buying some time before speaking. He tied his hair back and finally looked up at Kit. “I wanted to ask Alec if Annabel and I can move to Rosewood. Winter is around the corner and the situation in town is not a good one. With so much of the crop destroyed during the Indian attack, there are shortages of food. I can’t see how we can make it through the winter without reinforcements. The King is said to have sent supply ships, but there is no sign of them, and if the supplies don’t come, we are likely to starve. There’s plenty of game in the woods, and fish in the stream. We’ll not go hungry here.”

  “I can’t imagine that Alec would refuse,” said Kit thoughtfully. “Would you be bringing Annabel’s father and brother with you?”

  “The old man wants to stay in town. He thinks the supplies will arrive any day now, and we’ll all be saved. Thomas would most likely stay with his father, which is for the best, considering.”

  “Considering what?” asked Louisa, noticing something in Charles’ face.

  “Considering that little Louisa seems to have developed an attachment to him. I told Annabel not to leave them alone at any time. Thomas is eighteen and not to be trusted alone with a young woman.” Charles looked absurdly uptight, his mouth pressed into a tight line.

  “Does Thomas share her feelings?” Louisa had only seen him once or twice, but she could understand her niece’s infatuation. He was a good-looking boy, charming and well-mannered.

  “I think he might, which is why it’s for the better if he remains in town with his father,” Charles replied.

  “When will you come? We need to make room.” Louisa was already mentally rearranging the inhabitants of the house.

  “I thought we might come by the end of the month. Would that suit? Alec and Valerie will likely be back by then. Little Louisa offered us her room. She said she could share with Minnie. You know how close those two are,” said Charles, rising to his feet. “I think that would be ideal.”

  “Yes, that would help with the sleeping arrangements,” mused Louisa. “I’m sure Minnie wouldn’t mind sharing with Louisa for a few months. Mrs. Dolly and Bridget are sharing a room, and we have a guest at the moment who might be staying with us for a while. He’s in Amelia’s old room.”

  Charles merely shrugged his shoulders at the mention of a guest. He was obviously preoccupied with the situation at home. With every day that passed without supply ships arriving from England, the fear of famine loomed ever larger.

  “Annabel will be so relieved. She’s terrified for Harry. He’s still so little. She thinks there might be looting once the supplies start to run low. People will have to trade with the Indians again, despite their feelings. There’s no other choice. Well, I better go home and give Annabel the good news. Charles kissed Louisa’s hand and said goodbye to Kit before leaving them.

  “What if Alec and Valerie aren’t back by the end of the month?” Louisa asked, turning to Kit. It was only the first week of October, but Louisa was scared. Every day that they stayed away meant they hadn’t found Finn and that their chances grew slimmer. Would they come back without him or stay and continue searching?

  “Only time will tell, darling. In the meantime, we have to store provisions for the coming winter. It’s all hands on deck, I’m afraid. Those ships are not coming, and we need to prepare for the worst.”

  Chapter 12

  Finn leaned on the spade and wiped his face with the sleeve of his shirt. It was unusually warm for October, and he was sweating profusely. He was accustomed to walking for hours and tracking game, but he wasn’t used to this kind of work. Him and Jonah spent several days clearing the field, which was tedious, backbreaking work. Thankfully, they finally finished that morning, and had been sent by Mr. Mallory to fill in the old privy and dig a new one. The smell of the privy still lingered in his nose as he sucked in fresh air.

  Finn was grateful not to be wearing his leather doublet. Mrs. Mallory had given him two shirts and a pair of brown breeches, as well as a coat and a tricorn that had belonged to Sam. Jonah kept his silence out of respect for his parents, but Finn could feel his resentment. A stranger was sleeping in his brother’s bed and wearing his clothes. Finn didn’t blame him. He would have felt the same. Thankfully, Jonah’s silence didn’t last long, since he was naturally a chatty lad. Finn encouraged him to talk by asking numerous questions about the conflict between England and the Colonies, and making all the appropriate noises, praising Jonah’s knowledge and patriotism. Questioning Jonah was the best way to find things out and get his bearings in this inexplicable situation.

  “I can’t wait until I turn seventeen,” Jonah announced. “I hope the war won’t be over by then. I’ll join the Continental Army on my birthday, despite what Pa says. He didn’t want to admit it, but he was proud when Sam joined up. Sam is serving with the 8th Virginia Regiment under General Peter Muhlenberg. Even Martha said he looked dashing in his uniform. I wonder if he’s ever seen His Excellency, General Washington. What I wouldn’t give to catch a glimpse of him.” Jonah stopped digging, sidetracked by his fantasy.

  “We will win this war. You’ll see Finlay. We’ll send
those Lobsterbacks crawling back to their King with their tails between their legs.” Jonah began to dig with renewed vigor as if he could dig his way to victory.

  Finn found it difficult to believe that a bunch of colonials could defeat the King’s army, but he kept that opinion to himself. He didn’t feel the need to take sides. His mind often wandered off while Jonah was prattling on, agonizing over his dilemma. Was there any way he could get back home? It was obvious to him that it was the strange object that sent him into the future. If only he’d managed to hang on to it. He would have been at home with his family by now, but without it, his chances of getting back were nonexistent. Finn sighed and began digging again. This couldn’t be it. It simply couldn’t. He couldn’t be trapped here forever, surrounded by strangers, never seeing his parents again.

  Chapter 13

  Firelight flickered on the whitewashed walls of the farmhouse, making it appear snug and cozy. It had been warm during the day, but the temperature began to drop as soon as the sun went down. The evening was cold and crisp, the smell of hay and pine in the air. The women had just finished clearing up after supper, eager to spend some time relaxing by the fire before turning in for the night.

  Finn sat in the corner, wishing he was invisible as he observed the Mallory family. Mrs. Mallory and Martha were talking quietly as they sewed something called a “trousseau” for Martha’s upcoming wedding. That’s all she talked about, blushing every time the name of her intended came up. Finn was curious to see this fine specimen of manhood since Martha made him sound practically god-like. Six-year-old Sarah was showing her cloth dolly to baby Annie, and Abigail sat at the table, reading a well-worn book. She glanced up from time to time, looking away embarrassed when she noticed Finn watching her from his perch in the corner.