Page 54 of The Uprising
‘Must you leave so soon?’ said Cara. ‘It’s been brilliant having you with us.’
‘Yes, I’m afraid so. I need to get back to campus, and I pre-booked my return ticket to London.’
Cara nodded.
‘What’s the latest?’ asked Eddie.
Cara wiped her hands on a tea towel and grabbed her car keys and jacket. ‘George won’t be back for a while, so I’ll drop you at the station. We can chat on the way.’
She filled Eddie in on the latest news as they crawled across town in the direction of the train station. The ancient York city walls were an ever-present reminder of Tudorville.
‘It’s all kicking off, isn’t it? Uprisings in two timelines, but so far, from what you’ve said, nothing major has occurred,’ said Eddie.
Cara rolled her eyes. ‘Just as well; I don’t think I can handle another disaster. We’ve only just recovered from the last one.’
Cara turned into the busy train station car park and edged the car into a short-stay spot. Eddie jumped out and Cara followed. They hurried toward the platform and saw they wouldn’t have long to wait. Five minutes later, the London-bound train hissed to a sharp stop on the tracks, and the wind blew Cara’s hair into her face.
Eddie turned to hug her. ‘Thanks again for everything. I had the most wonderful time. Take care and come and see me in London when you get the chance.’
‘I hope to see you in Tudorville before that,’ she said.
He boarded the train and Cara waited for him to be seated.
‘Give my love to George,’ called Eddie, waving, before tucking his head back into the carriage. He sat by the window and blew her a kiss.
She waved him off as the train grunted slowly along the tracks and slid out of the station. She shivered and clasped her thin jacket around her as the storm clouds, which had hovered in the sky all afternoon, opened abruptly and icy rain lashed down on her head.
She made a run for it back to her car and called George as soon as she was on the road.
‘Perfect timing,’ said George.
‘I just saw Eddie off. I’ll miss him.’
‘Me too. Mind you, I’ll probably see him again soon in Victoriana.’ His voice echoed on the car speaker.
‘I think I’m still holed up at Windsor Castle, waiting for news of you in Tudorville. I miss having him around, especially with you in danger.’
‘When will the rebels surrender? It must be soon,’ said George.
Cara paused to think, as she turned the car and joined the busy road. ‘As long as nothing’s changed because of the quantum time loops, Robert Aske will accept the king’s offer towards the end of October and agree not to march on London. You’re about to witness a critical turning point in the history of Christendom. The rebels had the numbers if they had marched, and the papists may well have prevailed and had a good chance of succeeding to restore the old customs.’
‘I only hope I’ve not messed things up,’ said George.
‘If you’ve messed it up it’s my fault. I’m the differentiator in the timeline,’ said Cara.
‘What do you think will happen to Henry if the rebels succeed to take London in this new order of events?’
‘The monarchy could be overthrown, and the Church of England cast aside completely. Princess Mary was the Catholics’ choice for the next monarch so perhaps she would have come to the throne earlier and reigned longer. Who knows what today’s England would look like?’
George shook his head as he talked to Cara from the kitchen back at the cottage. ‘Henry was such a stubborn character, I can’t imagine it coming to that. He would not retire with any grace. I feel sure he would fight to the death even if it meant harming his own daughter.’
The rain hammered on the windscreen as Cara drove slowly through the busy streets, and they discussed what was at stake if things went wrong.
‘What if something’s happened to you at Pontefract Castle? I won’t even know until it’s too late.’
‘I’ll be fine. I must be. I’m alive now so it must have worked out.’
‘Yes, but the timeline could still reset. What about the quantum time loops? All it takes is for either of us to put one foot wrong and we could lose everything—like last time. If we change the course of history it could eradicate our future,’ she said.
