He had to tell the whole story if he was going to make any sense. Then again, his cousin might still think he had taken complete leave of his senses. “Do you really want to know the complete tale?”
Alasdair nodded.
Right then. Maybe talking to his cousin would be good for him. “Pour yourself a drink. It is a complicated and incredible story. I warn you, you may not believe it. You may even think I’m crazy or lying. I ask that you keep an open mind.”
Alasdair did as asked and went to the sideboard to pour himself a drink. He came back and sat, drink in hand. “I’m ready. I promise I will keep an open mind.”
CHAPTER 69 - Written in the stone
AND SO DALE TOLD HIMeverything. About how he had found Livvy, where she came from, how she got to be here. He told him about the future people and even the part about Eloise. Alasdair listened to everything in silence, occasionally raising his brows or frowning. Looking at Dale wide-eyed but with intense concentration.
“Well, do you believe me, or do you now think I’m fit for the madhouse?” Dale challenged.
“If it were anyone else, I would indeed believe that person had taken leave of his senses. But I know you. You are the sanest, most logical person I know. You also lack the imagination required to come up with a tale such as this,” he added with a wry twist of his mouth. “So it must be true. As impossible as it may seem. Now I understand why Olivia couldn’t stay. But couldn’t you have gone with her?”
“Of course not!” The suggestion, so casually offered, was like a blow to his chest.
“Why not? The future people wouldn’t take you?”
“I don’t know! I didn’t ask. I couldn’t possibly leave my place here and inhabit Olivia’s world.” Couldn’t his cousin see it was impossible?
“Why ever not?”
“Are you daft, or are you purposely trying to provoke me? I don’t know anything about her world! I wouldn’t even have an identity there. From what I learned, citizenship, papers, certificates and such are very important. It would not be easy to drop in on that world and fit in unobtrusively. Besides, I belong here. I am the Duke of Avondale. I have a place here and many responsibilities.”
“Ah, yes. The dukedom. Yet after you pass, someone else will take over those duties. Nobody is irreplaceable.”
“If I were to die or leave right now, those duties would fall on you. Are you hankering for the dukedom, Alasdair?” He needed to strike back at his cousin for suggesting the impossible, for making him question his decisions.
“Don’t be an ass. This is not about me. You know I’ve never coveted your bloody title. I am content with my life and have more than an adequate fortune of my own. But it seems you need this woman to be happy. Can the dukedom bring you happiness?”
“It is not just that. Don’t you understand? Here I have a purpose, a place. I know who I am. I have useful knowledge and abilities. In her world, I’d be without resources or status. I would know nothing. Have nothing. Be nothing. I could not provide for her. Probably the opposite would be true, and she would have to support me. I can not live as her dependent. Surely she would soon lose all respect for me and would see me as the charity case I would have become. Do you think she could love me under those circumstances?”
“Maybe the Future People could have helped you with that. I’m sure you could have adapted and learned what you needed to learn. You used to be an intelligent chap. You are more than your title, Dale.”
Dale knew his cousin was using his nickname for him and not his title to emphasize the point. Could he be right? Was he so caught up in his title and position that he didn’t give the idea of going with her appropriate consideration? Going with her. The way Alasdair put it, it seemed possible. A good idea, even.
