Page 2 of Scandalized by My Prince
She narrowed her eyes and studied him. “Are youdrunk?”
He sighed. “Lady Elizabeth Kendall married the Duke of Whitewood, otherwise known as Captain Jack Morgan, a time traveling pirate from the eighteenth century.” He moved toward her and snatched the journal. “And no, I’m notdrunk.”
She practically danced in place as she asked, “How do youknowthis?”
A movement at the door caught her eye. She turned as Regina, the new Duchess of Weston, entered the room, platinum blonde hair falling down her back in waves. She was heavily pregnant and waddled a little as she walked. She glanced back and forth between them. “What are youdoing?”
“Brie has a keen interest in your niece and her husband.” Trenton jerked his hand towardAubriella.
“Niece?” Aubriella’s head turned toward Regina. How was that even possible? “Lady Elizabeth Kendall is relatedtoyou?”
“In a roundabout way,” Regina said as she rubbed her belly. “I suppose she’s related to Bradford several timesremoved.”
Aubriella had so many questions. She was surprised Trenton allowed her to stay long enough to ask the ones she had. Did he finally realize she would be a use to him? It was about damn time… Still, she had to understand this new development before she could move forward.Howwas Elizabeth Kendall related toRegina?
“I’m so confused,” Aubriella said. “Can we start at thebeginning?”
“You’re slowing me down,” Trenton scoffed. “I thought you wantedtohelp.”
Trenton had his now famous glower settled onto his face. His impatience was rubbing on her last nerve. If he’d allowed her to help from the start, then she wouldn’t be so far behind with the details. She wanted to hear the tale of Elizabeth Kendall and her pirate husband. Aubriella wanted to know it all and study it down to the last detail. History had always fascinated her and now there was time travel too. It was all of her dreams rolledintoone.
“My parents adopted Alys when they thought they couldn’t have children. I was a surprise blessing. So technically, yes, Elizabeth is my niece, as she is my sister’s daughter.” Regina bit her lip. “I know it is all rather confusing. Alys travelled through time in a similar manner as Genevieve. Trenton’s been studying it for quite awhilenow.”
Aubriella’s mouth fell open. “So you all believe time travel is for real? I thought that, this entire time, Trenton had lost his mind. I honestly came here to humor him and help him accept reality. Genevieve wouldn’t want him to suffer.” She had wanted to believe time travel existed, but a small part of her had thought it was a pipe dream. One she’d never have the chance of discovering, let aloneparticipatingin.
“I deserve it,” Trenton said adamantly. “I failed her, and until I make that right, it isn’t fair for me to have anyhappiness.”
His emotions hit her like a wave crashing to shore. Hard, fast, and consuming—pain, longing, and sorrow mixed into one big ball of regret. Aubriella blocked them with a wall before they brought her to the ground. Sometimes her gift was more of a curse. She hated that other people’s emotions ruled her attimes.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Regina said. “I think Aubriella is right. Torturing yourself is not the answer, and you can’t tell me that is what Genevieve would have wantedforyou.”
“She wouldn’t.” Aubriella nodded. “She loved—loves—you. If she is truly lost in time, that wouldn’t have changed.” She tilted her head a moment and then reached for the journal in Trenton’s hand. “Give that to me. Something I read makes me think I know how the mirrorworks.”
Trenton handed it over reluctantly. She flipped through it and was scanning the pages. She glanced up at Regina and said, “This doesn’t make sense to me. You told me Alys traveled to the nineteenth century. What does that have to do with the pirate duke? Are you certain it’s thesameman?”
“My mother confirmed it,” Regina said. “When she saw his portrait in the gallery. They met when he and his pirate crew plundered a ship she wassailingon.”
Her mouth fell open. Aubriella closed the book and looked at Regina. “Does everyone in your family travel through time?” Why couldn’t she be thatfortunate?
“Um, no,” Regina said sheepishly. “Well, almost all of them. I’m the one hold out. I’m happy where I am. My father found my mother in 1722 and brought her back to his time. Alys—well, you knowabouther.”
“And your niece has the ability too,” Aubriella said. “And herhusband?”
“It’s all convoluted, isn’t it?” Trenton said. “I’ve had a lot of time to study it all, and it still amazes me.” He turned to Regina. “I forgot to tell you. Captain Jack is actually youruncle.”
“What?” She groaned. “Maybe this time traveling stuffisin our blood. How is he myuncle?”
“He’s your mother’s half-brother,” Trenton explained. “A by-blow from their father’s indiscretions—and one he never claimed. Elizabeth put it in detail in herjournal.”
Aubriella studied the journal and didn’t pay attention to most of what they had said. She heard it, but her mind filed it away for examination at a later date. The journal and its contents held her immediate attention. She read a passage several times and something popped outather.
The mirror calls to something inside of me. A part no one else sees but is ingrained in blood—like a song someone like mecanhear.
Did Elizabeth have a psychic gift ofsomesort?
“I think I know how to do it,” Aubriella saidexcitedly.
“You do?” Trenton turned to her and quirked abrow. “How?”
