Page 88 of Twin Flames
She needed to end the call. Hearing him talk affectionately about Kate was too much to bear.
‘Oh dear, sorry to hear that. Nothing too terrible, I hope.’
‘Just an unexpected hiccup with a client which I must attend to. I’ll get the first flight out in the morning.’
‘I see.’
George sounded disappointed.
‘Would you like to get together for a quick drink this evening and we can discuss the business you wanted to see me about? I’m intrigued. Will you give me a clue?’
Cara’s heart somersaulted. This was unfair. This was bloody unfair. How was she supposed to resist him? She couldn’t manage to avoid him, even when he didn’t know who she was!
Tears clogged her throat, and her head ached from sobbing. He mustn’t know she was falling apart or he would suspectsomething. And what the hell was he coming on to her for when he was married to gorgeous Kate? Maybe she’d been wrong all along, and he was just an incorrigible cheat. Maybe what they had wasn’t special at all.
‘It’s nothing terribly exciting, I’m afraid. I recently came across a manuscript which belonged to your family and dates back to the Tudor period.’ Somehow, she managed to enunciate the words.
‘Oh yes, of course. I should have realised by your business card. The manuscript is the pride of the family. Not that I know much about it but I’d be happy to help you in any way I can. Kate knows a lot about our family history, but I’m afraid she had to leave for Madrid after the party.’
‘Oh, too bad. Unfortunately, I’ll need to take a rain check as I have a conference call this evening and have to be up early for the flight.’
What a deceitful toad. Kate had only just turned her back, and here he was asking her out for drinks. She was beginning to think she’d had a lucky escape in this timeline.
‘Oh, what a shame. Okay well, no problem. I know how rushed these business trips can be. I have a breakfast meeting at the airport tomorrow so how about I pick you up from your hotel and that way we get to chat in the car? It’s the least I can do. What time is your flight?’
It sounded like a bad idea, but she couldn’t think straight, and a coherent refusal wouldn’t form on her lips. She mumbled her flight time, and she heard him making plans to pick her up at the hotel. It felt as though she was underwater and couldn’t come up for air. Finally, she heard herself say, ‘Okay, great, I’ll see you then.’
Oh my God, what had she done? Was she completely insane? It was as though she’d had no control over her words. She stoodup, brushed the leaves off her jeans and wiped her eyes with a tissue. She must look a right state. All of this was beyond her.
She would see him tomorrow; one last time. There was a renewed bounce to her step as she walked back to the hotel in the gentle evening sunshine. Joy flickered in her sore heart. She could breathe again.
George said goodbye, grateful he’d managed to arrange to see her again. Honestly, he wasn’t interested in the manuscript but he’d not been able to stop thinking about the slim, vivacious brunette who’d disappeared so suddenly that afternoon.
There was something about her which made him feel alive.
The Tower of London, 1536
At first light, Cara and Swifty huddled against the chill wind in the bottom of the small rowing boat. The dark water of the River Thames lapped gently against the stone walls of the Tower. Cara could hardly draw breath, such was the suspense.
‘Can you see any sign of them with your sharp eyes, Swifty?’
‘No, my lady. Nothing stirs at Cradle Tower.
Cara sighed. They should be leaving by now. Every second they delayed increased the risk of them being spotted.
‘I don’t understand. Edward was supposed to exit the window with George immediately. Whatever can be holding them up?’
She could just make out Swifty’s forlorn expression. His face held no answers.
‘Are you absolutely sure you secured the rope in place so they would be able to grab it as they opened the window?’ said Cara.
‘Yes, I did exactly as you and Edward bid. The rope is ready. I can see it being blown about by the wind, from here.’
‘Well, all that is left to us is to wait a bit more. If they’re not out soon, we’ll need to leave, or we’ll be arrested in vain.’
They sat in sombre silence. The plan had seemed foolproof, but something must have gone awry. Cara was frightened that Edward had fallen under suspicion. It was awful enough they hadn’t broken George out, but now it looked as though Edward would be captured too. He’d entered the Tower under the disguise of a priest from York who at George’s request would prepare him to make peace with his impending death. The Tower official had permitted him to send Swifty to bring the priest who waited nearby in the city.
‘Look, look,’ said Swifty, pointing up at the Cradle Tower. ‘Do you see?’
