Rendezvous With Yesterday (The Gifted Ones #2)(103)

“In truth, Alyssa has never disclosed her brother’s gifts. I believe she has avoided doing so because she thinks ’twill make me fear him.”

“You said he brought me back in time.”

“Sir Geoffrey meets the description of the man you saw after you were wounded. Tall. Dark eyes. Long dark hair. Garbed in the black robes favored by the gifted ones. You said such was uncommon in your time.”

The robes were. “You don’t know for sure it was him?”

“Nay. And I will not until Alyssa confirms it.”

She took a moment to absorb that. “Have you suspected this all along?”

Some of the tightness in her chest eased when he shook his head. “I knew not any of the gifted ones were capable of such an incredible feat. Not until you mentioned the man in black the morning we rode for Terrington. Ere then, I could find no explanation for what had brought you to me.”

“That was three weeks ago, Robert. Why didn’t you tell me then?”

“I knew ’twould trouble you, Beth. I knew you would worry and fret every moment of every day until Alyssa arrived and could answer your questions.”

No sense in denying it. “So, you were trying to protect me?”

He nodded. “If I am wrong… Had I told you, I would have raised your hopes for naught.”

“And if you’re right?”

He sighed and pressed his lips to her fingers. “I needed this time with you, Beth.”

Her throat tightened as he stared at her with his heart in his eyes.

“If Sir Geoffrey can walk through time and agrees to return you to the future, to take you out of my life…” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “I needed this time with you. I needed the memories we have created to help sustain me after you leave, after you return to your home.”



Home.

A tear spilled over her lashes and traced a chilly path down one cheek. Her throat grew so thick Beth had to clear it before she could speak. “The thing is, I’m not sure I know where home is anymore, Robert.”

She loved him. She would always love Robert.

But she loved her brother, too, and had left him bleeding to death in that forest.

Cupping the back of her head in one large palm, Robert pressed a tender kiss to her lips, then wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

Beth fisted her hands in his tunic, pulling him even closer.

They remained thus for a long time.

And though both feared what the future would bring, Robert did not ask her to stay. Not because he didn’t love her, Beth knew. But because he would always place her happiness and her desires before his own.

Burying her face in his warm neck, she wept.





Chapter Seventeen



Beth and Robert made their way down to the great hall, as somber as a funeral procession.

Beth’s anxiety over meeting the wondrously perfect Alyssa had evaporated beneath the onslaught of apprehension spawned by the bombshell Robert had dropped in his solar.

Robert stopped her halfway down the stairs. “Beth, I feel I should warn you…”

She groaned. “Ro-bert.” She really couldn’t take any more bad news today.

His lips twitched. “I only wished to impart that Alyssa’s gifts have grown considerably in recent years and—”

“Grown how?”

“She is far more powerful than she used to be. When she touches you now, she can not only heal you and read your emotions, she can also hear your thoughts as clearly as though you have spoken them aloud and glean images from your past.”

Crap. That was kind of scary actually. Not in a She’s-a-witch!-Burn-her! kind of way. But in an All-your-deepest-darkest-secrets-will-be-revealed kind of way.

“Dillon and I have each learned to erect a shield of sorts in our mind,” Robert said, “so she can only see what we wish her to see. Most of the time. But since you cannot, I did not think ’twould be fair for you to meet her without first knowing this.”

“Oh.” What else could she say to that? “Thank you?”

Nodding, he took her arm and guided her down the remaining steps.

As they entered the great hall, Dillon exited the kitchen with a boy on his hip who looked to be about three or four years old.

As soon as the little boy saw Robert, he squealed in delight, wriggled to get down, then raced toward them, crying out for his uncle Robert.

Beth smiled as Robert picked him up, hugged him, and bussed him on the cheek. Except for the brown eyes, the resemblance was remarkable. Both had jet-black hair. Similar noses. Similar chins, though the boy’s was more rounded.

Anyone who didn’t know better would probably assume this was Robert’s son.

Sadness filtered through her as she thought of the child Robert had lost.

Did he see Gabriel every time he looked at his nephew?

“Beth,” Robert said with a grin, “this fierce little warrior is my nephew, Ian.” He set the boy down. “Ian, this is Lady Bethany.”

Ian performed the cutest little bow.

Utterly charmed, Beth curtsied in response. “Such a strong, handsome warrior. I suspect you shall slay many dragons when you are older.”

His eyes lit up. “Dragons?”

Joining them, Dillon smoothed a hand over the boy’s hair. “’Twill take a great deal of training ere you can accomplish such a feat. Why not hone your skills by sparring with Sir Stephen?”