Page 91 of The Girl Out of Time
“What are you doing here? Riding, I see—but I didn’t know if you ended up going to London or not—and apparently, you did—did you find work? How have you been?”
He hesitated for a moment. “I’m doing well, thank you. I hope the same goes for you.”
She hadn’t expected a smile in return—they’d parted on rather dramatic terms—but she didn’t expect this kind of coldness, either. Only a basic politeness, instead of a genuine interest for her wellbeing.
But then, she had lied to him. “Can we talk?”
“I must go.” He clucked the horse.
“No, please—”
He stopped again, and she ran another few steps to catch up. “Let me explain.”
“You don’t owe me any explanations. It doesn’t matter anymore.” He kept his eyes on the road, instead, as if looking at her pained him.
Her chest squeezed.Doesn’t matter?Did he care so little about her that he didn’t even want an explanation?
She thought they were friends.
“You should go home,” he said. “A walk in this weather and in this part of the park is hardly safe for ladies.”
Oh, so he didn’t need explanations, but he still wanted to boss her around? “I’ll do what I want with my time, thank you. But you have a pleasant ride.” She turned her back on him and continued on at a brisk pace, pursing her lips, if only to keep the hurt from rising in her throat. She didn’t deserve any better, but Theo snubbing her like that still stung.
Behind her, snow crunched under fast-approaching steps. Emmeline turned in a burst of panic—was this side of the park really dangerous? Wassomeone coming to rob her?—but it was just Theo. He’d tied his horse to a tree across the path and ran to her.
“Emmeline, please. The city ends that way. There’s nothing to be seen there.”
Her heart leaped—he must care if he was this insistent—but she kept her face straight. “Well, you’re wrong. I’m following a clue, and it’s leading me there.”
He lowered his eyebrows. “Lady Scarlet.”
“Yes.”
He fell in step with her. “It’s the Hyde Park clue. But do you have to do this in such weather?”
“My schedule is quite full. I must fit it in where I can.”
He cast a side glance at her. “You just arrived in London, then?”
She bit her lip, torn between shutting him out—to return him for his own reception of her—or telling him everything about the clues and her theories, like in the good old days …
“I have,” she said, restraining her voice. “With Lord Haverston.”
“You two are—”
“Family.” She wouldn’t torture himthatmuch.
“I’m very confused.”
“Will you let me explain, then?”
He sighed. “Fine.”
“I’m sorry I lied,” she started. “When we met, I was in a strange bind. You know my powers—how I could take us to other places, different times?”
“I remember.”
“What I didn’t tell you was that I, too, am from a different time.”
