Page 38 of Twin Flames
She covered the phone with her hand and whispered, ‘They’re trying to locate him now. This is a number he said I’ll always be able to reach him on. They’re transferring me to Royal Holloway. He must be working there now. Oh, here we go.’
‘Eddie? How lovely to hear your voice. This is Sylvia. Sylvia Skye. How are you?’
‘Hello, Sylvia. It’s been ages. I’m well, thank you; very well. I must say, I’m stunned to hear from you out of the blue. What a wonderful surprise. Is everything okay?’
‘Yes, thank you. I know you’d said this number was good in an emergency. I have a rather unusual assignment for you. I don’t want to say more on the phone. Could my client possibly come and see you?’
‘I’m teaching at Royal Holloway. I should be around for the next week or so and, of course, anything to help. I’d be happy to see her. I’ll give her a call later, and we’ll see what we can do.’
Sylvia gave the professor Cara’s details.
‘Cara Bailey,’ he said, rolling the name on his tongue. ‘Ah yes, I’ve been waiting for Cara. She’s certainly taken her sweet old time.’ Sylvia was familiar with the professor’s strange outbursts and let him have his moment.
‘He’s a quantum physics geek and specialises in time-related phenomena,’ she explained to Cara after the call ended. ‘If anyone can help you, he can. The only thing is, he has, how can I say? A loose relationship with time, so don’t be surprised if he calls at an unsocial hour. He’s a good soul and is quite brilliant. You can trust him.’
‘Wonderful, thank you. I’m so grateful. I can’t tell you what a relief it is to discuss all of this with you. I’ll wait for the professor’s call and will let you know what happens.’
‘I should warn you; he says he knows you. Mentioned something about waiting for you. He can be a trifle eccentric.’
Cara smiled at the irony and thanked Sylvia once more.
The psychic tarot card reader thinks the quantum physics professor is eccentric. I couldn’t make this stuff up.
Cara left Sylvia’s office with a renewed bounce to her step. She felt lighter at the thought of the mysterious professor who understood time.
Royal Holloway University, Bloomsbury, present day
‘I’ve been waiting for you, Lady Cara.’ The professor bounced out from behind his desk, grasped her hand and gave her a hearty smile and handshake.
Cara felt a flash of recognition, similar to when she met George, minus the fuzzy emotions. She knew the professor—she didn’t know how. It was like meeting an old friend after years of being apart.
‘It’s coming back to you, isn’t it? I can tell. The minute Sylvia said your name, I knew it was you. Cara Bailey. I knew you must be my dear friend, Lady Cara Cavendish. It’s so good to see you.’ He embraced her in a warm bear-like hug.
We must know each other from Tudorville; it’s unbelievable.
‘Gosh, my mind is blown. I feel like I know you, but I can’t quite remember how. I do have a sense that you weren’t a professor back then. You were, you were. . . Thomas and May’s tutor! I can’t believe it. You are the very person I need to get back to in 1536. The children are in your care at Willow Manor.’ The words tumbled out.
‘Come and sit down, my lady, let’s catch up. I’ve missed you. I hope you’re not in a rush. It’s been about five hundred years,’ he said, a smile playing on his lips.
Her phone rang; it was George. She would call him later. It was probably better she didn’t mention she was with their children’s tutor from five hundred years earlier.
‘Was that the earl?’
‘Yes, indeed. How did you know?’
‘You’ll see soon enough. Or perhaps you’ve already noticed. We know things that other people don’t.’
‘Sylvia said you might be able to help me learn more about how time travel works. I can’t believe I’m saying those words toa professor on the campus of Royal Holloway, but there you have it.’
‘Yes, we need to formulate a plan. I’ve been having vivid dreams. That usually happens when I’m about to be assigned a mission. As I said, I’ve been expecting you. But then that could mean you’d come today or in ten years. Time is a capricious mistress; unrelenting in her march and unpredictable by nature.’
‘I need to get back to 1536, Professor.’
‘Please, let’s drop the formalities. Call me Eddie. In 1536, you were my employer. We became great allies and dear friends in the dangerous days of Henry VIII. I would do anything for you and His Grace.’
‘I’m frightened to ask, but do you know what became of us? Do you know if we got away safely? Were we able to save Thomas and May?’
‘Honestly, I don’t know. But rather than sitting here talking about it, shall we go back there now to find out?’
