Page 16 of Promises Made at Midnight
“May I see her?”
Dristan’s gaze practically drilled into him, as though to test his commitment he would leave the lady untouched. ’Twas the last thing he was thinking about. He was only concerned that she was well. Dristan must have realized Ulrick would not harm the woman for he gave a short nod of his head.
“Aye but do not stay long. She has been torn throughTimeand must needs have her rest,” Dristan answered dismally, before raking his fingers through his long black hair yet again. “Merde!When will these women of her kind cease showing up at my gates?”
Dismissed, Ulrick took his leave and made his way down the passageway. When he knocked upon the door, he heard a call to enter. As Ulrick stepped through the portal, he had the distinct feeling he had just sealed his fate.
CHAPTER12
Bridgette turned onto her side, pulled the covers up to her chin, and snuggled into its warmth. Not wanting to awaken as yet, she savored the remnants of one of the most fascinating dreams she had ever had in her entire life. Imagine being pulled through time to enjoy living in a medieval castle, let alone the handsome knight who had stolen her heart with just one glimpse into those incredible blue eyes.
Ulrick… just pondering his name caused her to let out a heavenly sigh. Such an odd name for this day and age but who cared. He had been… well… perfect, at least to her way of thinking. Gorgeous. Chivalrous, too. He saw she was taken care of and treated like a woman wanted to be treated instead of just a one-night stand. There was something to be said for being pampered like a lady, no matter that she had been in costume. A person couldn’t ask for much more than that. Too bad he wasn’t real.
She supposed she should rise, since she and Megan would need to pack up their gear and head home. She rolled over onto her back, threw off the covers, and began stretching before finally opening her eyes. As they came into focus, she blinked, seeing the fabric of a canopy above her head. Bridgette also became aware that, perhaps what was giving her a feeling of comfort was the low baritone of a man humming a tune that halted abruptly with the blankets being thrown from her body. She wasn’t alone.
Startled at being seen, she began to reach for the covers and gasped. She was garbed only in her panties and camisole. Where the hell were her clothes? With trembling hands, she quickly pulled at the blanket to cover herself. Her gaze spun around the room, or perhaps she should call it a chamber, for the walls weren’t her hotel room with plaster and painted drywall. No! They were made of stone. Shaking as if her whole world had been turned upside down, and maybe that wasn’t too far from the truth after all, her eyes searched the chamber and settled on the man who but a few seconds ago had been just a figment of her imagination. He stood, and he seemed to fill up the empty spaces of the room with his presence. This wasn’t a dream at all!
“You have come from afar, fair damsel,” Ulrick murmured, holding her stare.
The soothing sound of his voice was like a calming balm to her soul. Suddenly, her body reacted to his presence by becoming exceedingly warm under all the covers. Bridgette knew this had nothing to do with what she was holding up as a shield or the fire blazing in the hearth to heat the room.
“Yes,” she answered simply, “although I don’t have the vaguest idea how I’ve come to be here.”
“Aye… well… I may have somehow had something to do with that, although ’twas without my consent or knowledge that I would disrupt someone’s life.”
“How could it be your fault I find myself here? Not that you really have any idea of where I truly belong?”
“I know.”
Such an easy statement. Yet how could he have any sort of a clue that she had actually crossed time. His knowing eyes continued to bore into her as though her thoughts had revealed her true identity. “You do?”
“Aye. You are not the first to arrive at Berwyck’s gates from a place that is surely farther than one can travel by horse or boat,” he answered, before his hand rubbed the back of his neck. She gulped, watching his long fingers emerge from under all that gorgeous black hair, and she tried not to lick her lips at the image he presented.
She scrunched her eyes closed only to open them again. There was a more pressing matter at hand than that she came from the future. “Where are my clothes? Please tell me you didn’t undress me,” Bridgette asked, with a warning glare.
Ulrick held up his hands. “Nay, I did not, nor would you ask such a question if you knew me at all. ’Twas Lady Amiria and our healer Kenna who saw to you. They went to see about procuring you another dress that would be more… appropriate for the time.”
“What was wrong with the dress? I ensured every detail was proper for the sixteenth century. The guild makes certain of it before we can be a part of their group,” Bridgette said, louder than she intended.
Ulrick’s eyes widened. “Is that from whence you hail? The sixteenth century?”
“Umm… no. I’m from the twenty-first.”
“I see. Then mayhap you know the Lady Katherine or Lady Jenna. They are also from this place called Sanfran Cisco.”
“Never been to California. I’m from the North East. In Michigan, like I told you at the fair.” Was it her imagination, or was this the craziest conversation she’d ever had? She held up her hand. “Michigan looks like a mitten. She pointed to about the spot where she lived. “I live about here.”
A snort left him, while his brow furrowed in confusion. “You live at the North East coast of this Michigan of which you speak?” Ulrick asked, as he began to finger the hilt of a dagger in his belt. He must have realized what he was doing, since he got a sheepish look on his face and folded his arms across his massive chest in an attempt not to finger the knife again.
“The north east of America,” Bridgette muttered and held up her hand to halt whatever Ulrick planned on saying next. She began dragging the blanket with her as she started to pace the chamber. She was nervous. Not because of him but because of the situation she found herself in. “Maybe we should start over. I’m clearlynotin Michigan so where andwhenam I?”
She waited for him to say something, but he only continued to stare off into space as if he was pondering what he would tell her. She pressed the issue further. Shehadto know! “Ulrick… where am I?” she asked with a raised voice.
“England. Near Scotland’s border. ’Tis the year of our Lord’s Grace 1183.”
Her knees buckled and she fell to the floor. “The twelfth century? You’ve got to be kidding me?” She held her hand up yet again when he made a move to help her from the floor. His arm dropped and instead he went to sit down in a chair set by the hearth, motioning for her to do the same with the vacant seat across from him. Keeping the blanket clutched to her bosom, she did as he asked, and sat with shaking hands.
Once she was settled, he continued. “I would not jest about such a grave matter, my lady. I am most sorry you find yourself in a time not your own, but we will figure out how to return you as soon as we can find Lady Amiria’s grandmother. We are certain she is the culprit who instigated your arrival here.”
