She pushed her thoughts of Jack away and studied her best friend. Emily looked as beautiful as ever, elegantly attired in a worsted wool navy traveling suit, her hair coiffured fashionably in a Gibson updo. She looked different, though, and it wasn’t because of her clothing. Perhaps it was finding her true love and becoming a mother. Gaby could scarcely believe that Em had two children, but there was no question about it; her friend had a look of maturity she hadn’t possessed before.
Realizing that she’d been lost in her own world and hadn’t responded to Emily, Gaby blurted out. “The painting!”
“Okay, this is the difficult part to explain. Iris Bellerose is real. And she’s also here with us in Tuscany.”
Gaby gasped. This bombardment of impossibilities was getting to be too much to absorb.
“Breathe, Gaby, and listen to me. Iris Bellerose and Marco Allegretto are the reason we time-traveled. Iris wroteThe Time Traveler’s Lover.Everything in the book is true except the ending. We, the three of us, were sent back in time to change the ending. To set things right.
“Jenee and I helped Iris find the first two paintings inThe Three Stages of Loveseries,La SediaandIl Divano.Now we must findIl Letto,the third. Without the painting, Marco and Iris can’t be together for the rest of their lives, and you can’t go home. We need to find the third painting. We need to close the last portal.”
“I think I’m getting a headache. Portal?”
“Drink more tea. As I said, we haven’t much time. A man saw you come into my room, and we cannot explain your presence if you stay here too long.”
“A man?”
“Some gorgeous, big bloke with long golden hair.”
Jack!“Did he say anything to you?”
“No, we merely exchanged a nod of greeting.”
Jack would surely notice if she stayed too long in Emily’s room. “I must go. You’re right, my delay will be noticed.” Gaby rose to leave and then paused. “You mentioned a portal. What is this portal, and where do we find it?”
“Iris explained that the portal resided within the painting and was a passage for traveling through time. The portals were opened by an oracle under pressure from an evil sorceress. The sorceress seduced Marco Allegretto, and he promised to paint a portrait of her, but when he met Iris, he canceled the commission and shunned the witch. Now she is consumed with destroying him, Iris, and his art. That is why the paintings in the Met were fading. She wants to turn Iris into a permanent time traveler and erase her from Marco’s life. Then she will erase Marco’s art from history. We are their only hope of defeating this horrible witch and closing the portals forever.”
“But how?”
“The portal paintingIl Letomust be returned to Marco, and then he will destroy them all.”
“But the world will be deprived of them forever.”
“No, the portal paintings are mirrors of the originals, which the sorceress stole from Marco. Jenee and I found the first two mirror paintings in the series, and Iris traveled through the portals and took the mirror-image paintings with her. Marco destroyed those paintings, and now there is only one left. Which means there is one portal left open. But the Contessa Caterina di Farnese is determined to find the painting before we do. We must prevent that from happening. Only when the last of the portals is closed will Marco be able to deal with the contessa and reclaim his original paintings. The curse will be over, and Iris will cease to be a time traveler. Then she and Marco can live their happily ever after.”
“My God, it sounds like a Brothers Grimm fairytale. So how would I go back if the portals are destroyed?”
“If you decide to return to the future, you must leave through the portal with Iris. Once the portal closes, you will have no other way back.”
“Is the contessa here? Who is she?”
The door to the bedroom opened, and both Emily and Gabriella turned their attention to the man who entered—and Gaby’s question went unanswered and, in the excitement, forgotten.
“Em, my sweet, I’ve seen to everything—” The man stopped and regarded Gaby with a curious expression.
Emily jumped up and ran to him, delivering a kiss, which he returned with an embrace and a smile. “Darling, you will not believe what has happened.”
“There is nothing, my love, in this universe that would surprise me, especially since God has blessed me with you.”
Emily planted another kiss on the handsome man’s cheek. “Gabriella D’Angelo, I present to you Colin Remington, the Marquess of Danbury, father of my children, and the husband I adore beyond measure.”
“Your Grace, I’m pleased to meet you.” Gaby popped up from the sofa and attempted a curtsy.
“Oh, fodder, you must address me as Colin, at least when we are alone. Em has told me so much about you. And without seeming presumptive—and for your information, my formal address would be my lord and not Your Grace—you are exactly as Emily described, and I am so pleased to meet you.” Colin strode to her and, taking her hands, pulled her in for a warm hug.
Gaby was stunned but awkwardly returned his embrace.
“This is jolly good,” said Emily, “to see my dearest friend and my darling husband embracing.” She clapped her hands with approval. “Colin, my love, would you be so kind as to bring Jenee to our room? If I don’t let her share this moment, I will never hear the end of it. But don’t say a thing; I want to see her face when she sees Gabriella.”
