“Ah, yes, it would be my pleasure.” Colin strode from the room and closed the door gently behind him.
“He’s bloody marvelous, isn’t he?” Emily’s face reflected her love and adoration for her husband.
Gaby laughed. “What he is, girlfriend, is hot. You really struck the mother lode. If I wasn’t so happy for you, I’d be jealous.”
A compassionate smile lit Emily’s face. “You’ll find your forever love, Gab. I feel it in my heart—be patient.”
Gaby had thought her tears over Jack had all dried up, but it seemed her eyes hadn’t gotten the memo, because her vision blurred with tears.
“What is it, Gaby? Tell me, what is troubling you? Best friends don’t keep secrets from each other.”
The door flew open, and Jenee burst into the room. “What is going on? I told Colin to keep Xavier company and to give us a few minutes alone.” She was so caught up in her objective that she didn’t register Gaby’s presence. Her mouth suddenly froze as cognizance came to her. Her eyes widened, and she squealed like a child seeing a puppy under the Christmas tree. “Oh, mon Dieu,am I dreaming?”
Gaby wiped her tears on her apron and pointed to the blemish on her chin. “Do you see this zit on my face? You’re the pimple expert. What have you got in your bag of tricks? I need it gone now.”
“Oh my God, oh my God.” Jenee ran and threw her arms around Gaby. Emily joined the hugging reunion, and the three jumped up and down like cheerleaders at a Friday night football game.
When they finally broke apart, “All for one and one for all, united we stand, divided we fall,” Emily declared—Alexander Dumas’s famous quote fromThe Three Musketeers, which the three women had often toasted with during their Zoom chats.
“Oh, I wish we could sit here and gab the day away. But we must be careful not to alert the household. Jen, I’ll explain everything to you after Gaby’s gone back downstairs, but something must be discussed before she goes.” Emily turned to Gaby. “Fess up, girlfriend. You had an emotional breakdown a minute ago, and it wasn’t because of time travel.” Her eyes narrowed as if she were divining a mysterious phenomenon. “It’s a man, isn’t it? You’ve met someone, and he’s done something to hurt you. Who is it? I’ll lop off the bloody arse’s ’ead.”
Jenee looked from Emily’s piercing gaze to Gaby’s damp cheeks. “Would someone care to fill me in on what is going on?”
Gaby’s words poured from her like a rush of water freed from the spillway of a dam. “I’ve fallen in love with someone I can’t have. I acted out my fantasy with him, and now I’m paying the price.” She covered her face with her hands, and her shoulders shook with her sobs.
Jenee wrapped her arms around Gaby and hugged her. “If he’s not a pirate or a thief, what could be so bad about loving him?”
“It’s Jack, and he’s all but engaged to another woman,” Gaby blurted between sobs. She looked up, embarrassment warming her cheeks.
Emily frowned. “Who is this Jack bugger? Please tell me it’s not Jack the Ripper.”
“Lord John Henry Langsford, the Earl of Whitton, and Marquess of Bainbridge.”
“Lady Darling’s nephew? That doesn’t sound so terrible,” Emily said. “Wait a sec. Is Jack that blond hunk I saw down the hall?”
Gaby nodded.
“Good one, girlfriend!”
Gaby couldn’t help but laugh through her tears.
Jenee patted her on the back. “Surely he can break his engagement or whatever he shares with this other woman?”
Gaby shook her head. “She’s an heiress, and he needs her wealth to reclaim his title and lands, which his cousin stole from him.” She sucked in a deep breath and explained as quickly as possible Jack’s circumstances, ending with his offer to keep her as his mistress.
Emily looked as if she was ready to blow a fuse. “Why, he’s nothing but a bastard. This is entirely out of the question. The lout needs to be put in his place, and I have a good mind to—” She turned to the door as if contemplating doing just that.
“You mustn’t say a word. I would die if he knew I told you. But there’s one more thing I failed to mention.”
Emily and Jenee replied as one, “What?”
“I found the painting.”
Chapter Fifteen
Maremma, Italy
October 19, 1902
