“I daresay,” Nathaniel murmured.
“Caught you by surprise, did it?”
“What?”
Jamie leveled a look at him that would have had Nathaniel smiling if he hadn’t felt so ill all of the sudden.
“Love?” Nathaniel asked unnecessarily. “Aye, it did.”
“Love does that,” Jamie said philosophically. “And so you now understand what drove me to my investigations at first.” He considered for another long moment, then shook his head. “I began to understand that there were indeed things I had to do in these places and times, that these steppings between centuries weren’t merely random or even under my control. But I daresay you’ve come to understand that as well, haven’t you?”
Nathaniel held up his hand in surrender. “I haven’t done anything but lend a hand in battle,” he said. “I think that could have been done by anyone with a sword.”
“I imagine there is more to it than that, but perhaps we’ll discover the truth of it as time goes on.” He frowned thoughtfully, then looked at Nathaniel. “Can you let her go?”
Nathaniel looked at him in surprise. “What do you mean?”
“Can you let Emma go,” Jamie repeated slowly. “Could you travel back in time to repeat the first encounter you had with her, then step back instead of stepping forward? Avoid meeting her and allow her to go on past you without seeing you?” He shrugged. “Let her go.”
Nathaniel felt as if Jamie had punched him in the gut. “Why would I want to do that?” he rasped.
“Because I fear you’ll never escape these endless circles until she stops following you.”
“Or going ahead of me.”
“Even worse,” Jamie agreed. “Until she is no longer part of your life, I daresay nothing will change.”
Nathaniel rubbed his hand over his face, finding it almost impossible to even face that thought. “How do you know she isn’t just stumbling on the gates all on her own?”
Jamie shot him a look. “Because she’s using those gates to aid you, isn’t she? Poor gel, I believe she fancies you, though I haven’t a clue why. I don’t think you’re all that much to look at.”
“I could be your brother’s twin.”
“As I said.”
Nathaniel attempted a smile, but failed. “It could have been worse. I could have beenyourtwin.”
“You could only hope to resemble my extremely handsome self,” Jamie said with a snort, “but since that’s far beyond your abilities, my lad, be content with your lack.”
Nathaniel sighed and imagined he should be. He considered, then looked at his host. “Have you ever gone back where you shouldn’t have? Or back to the same time period to change something you did before?”
Jamie looked green, if such a thing were possible. “Aye.”
Nathaniel waited, but apparently details were not going to be offered freely. “Perhaps I shouldn’t ask.”
“I wouldn’t answer,” Jamie said. “At least not willingly. Besides, I’m not certain those tales would serve you in your present business.” He leaned back in his chair. “I think you, my lad, have been given the very great gift of going back and redoing the same experience over and over again until you get it right.”
“Do you think so?”
“I’m trying to look on the positive side of things,” Jamie said dryly. “In truth, I haven’t a clue what time is doing with you. That is my best guess.”
“But what could it possibly matter?” Nathaniel asked. “My going back to the same time, I mean. Worse still, why is Emma caught up in all this?”
“Perhaps she was never meant to go,” Jamie offered.
“Or perhaps she was, because she sees things I’m missing—”
He stopped speaking. He thought that was better than gasping as if someone had just shoved a sword into his gut.
