“Well, you don’t seem to use electricity or watch TV or even know what a cell phone is. It is my understanding that Amish people live without modern conveniences by choice. Maybe you don’t call yourself Amish in England. But you practice something similar.”
He now regarded her even more intensely. “Olivia, I assure you, I’m not one of these ‘Amish’ people you refer to, and I have no objection to availing myself of the latest modern conveniences. In fact, I insist upon it.”
“I don’t understand, then.” He was quizzing her. Had to be. Asking her questions just to make her realize something he already suspected.
“What is the date today?” he asked.
“The date?” Her flight had left on the fourth and arrived on the fifth. That had been yesterday, so today must be the sixth. “November 6th, I think. Isn’t it?”
“But of what year?”
“What year? Why, 2022 of course.”
He sat back and looked at her, speechless.
Unease built within her. Something was wrong here.
“Olivia,” he said, “today is indeed the 6th of November... of the year 1872.”
CHAPTER 9 - Escape the madman!
NOW IT WAS HER TURNto look at him, speechless. What the heck was he talking about? Could he be insane? But he sounded so normal! Maybe he was a rich eccentric guy who suffered delusions and lived isolated in the countryside in this humongous mansion, pretending to live in the nineteenth century.
Another horrifying thought occurred to her. What if he meant to keep her prisoner? Make her pretend it was 1872? If he was unhinged, he could be capable of anything. This is exactly how scary movies started. A woman was kidnapped and kept prisoner by a psycho. She had to get out of here, the sooner the better. But she had to be smart, had to think. For the moment, pretend to go along.
“Oh, of course,” she said, smiling to look calm and nonchalant, while she smoothed the napkin on her lap to keep her hands from clenching. “Did I say 2022? Sorry, my mind must still be scrambled from the accident. I feel a headache coming on. I think I need to see the doctor. Could you take me to him, please?”
“I will send for Dr. Roberts right away.” His eyebrows lowered with a worried expression.
Oh god! It was as she expected. He would not let her get out of this house, or see anybody who could help her. Maybe the servants and the ‘doctor’ were his accomplices, too. If he had enough money, he could buy their compliance. Or maybe it was a cult, and he was the cult leader, and they all followed his orders unquestioningly. Her imagination was running away. She needed to consider her options. There had to be a way to get out of here, but she couldn’t let him suspect she was trying to escape.
“Would you like to recline in a bedchamber while we await the doctor?” He asked, concern reflected on his face.
Yes! That was the ticket. Let him think she needed to lie down. She would request to be left alone and then escape through a window.
“Yes, please.”
