“So, you were at Osborne House?”I do need him to finish this story first.But he’s still a little distracted by my boobs.
He clears his throat.“Yes.For the official unveiling, even though she sent me my copy in advance since she knew how much I missed you.Then I got quite emotional seeing you again.Her painting is quite large, larger than the one she sent me.And accurate, after my advice on your décolletage.”
“Yes, we get it.I have boobs.”
“Boobs?”
Oh, yeah.There’s a lot I need to update him on.Things I was trying very hard not to say when I was in Victorian England, but now I’ve slipped right back into old patterns.
“I was upset.”Leo gets back on track without the modern English lesson.“And I enjoyed some of the drinks provided for the party.And then before I knew it, I was intoxicated.And, perhaps this was related, but I fell down the stairs in the garden.Then I woke up in this time.Did you know Osborne House is a museum now?With guards who get mad when you are in the garden after closing.Intoxicated, still.I did not realize what happened until it was too late.Until I demanded to see Queen Victoria.”
“Do you have a court date?Do we need to get you a National Insurance number?We need David back to coordinate everything.”I look to the door and think about getting up, but Leo tightens his hands around me.
“David is the one who rescued me.The guards thought I was lying when I told them exactly who I was, quite truthfully, might I add.”Leo sounds very aggravated at the fact.“They sent for the constables, who took me to a very strange-looking jail in a very strange conveyance.I told them to contact the trust, hoping it still existed, and thankfully they did, even though I did not know the address.But everyone has telephones now, did you know that?They were such a novelty during my time, an expensive one.At any rate, the constables used theirs and David came to the constabulary to free me.He said he would get all the necessary documents for me.And that I was a ‘period actor’ whatever that means.”
“Your great-great-nephew or whatever, is a fantastic attorney.”I’ve seen the trust’s books; this house museum is doing well.
“Meera, have you been in a car?I’ve been in cars in my time, but they arenothinglike these.”
I snort.“I lived in Southern California, so yeah, I know what a car is.Wait till I get you on a plane.”
“What is a plane?”
“I have a proposition for you,” I say instead of answering.
Leo quirks an eyebrow and I smooth my hand over it, still half not believing he’s here.
“What is it then?”Leo asks.
“I’ll show you, former Lord Basildon, I’ll show you everything you need to know in this time.But first, I have a question for you.”I get off his lap to squat down in a kneel.
“Absolutely not.No matter what century I am in.”Leo grabs my arms to halt my progress and slams down hard on his knee, getting to the ground first.“Meera, I love you.I crossed time to get back to you.Will you marry me?”His eyes are tearing up a bit, and I don’t think it’s love driving it.I think I’m going to need to introduce him to ibuprofen first and foremost.
“No.Because I was asking you to marry me first.Because I love you.”In case he didn’t hear me while I was yelling it at him during my fall.“I’m so glad that the universe sent me to you.And then you to me.Even if I have no idea how this all happened.And woman can do anything in this brave new time you’re in.”
“This will take some getting used to.But when in Rome.”He shrugs.“Yes, I will marry you.”
I launch myself at him, taking him down for the second time in a minute.
He grunts when he lands.“I’m in for a curious adventure, aren’t I?”
“The adventure of a lifetime.Even if no one will ever believe it happened.”
And then we don’t talk for some time.
EPILOGUE
“What about [email protected]?”
“That’s not even accurate, because the title went into abeyance,” I say, yawning as my fingers hover over the computer keyboard.It’s been exhausting giving Leo a crash course in the twenty-first century, but satisfying having him and my family in the same time.I’m working on getting them to move so we’re all in the same place, but asking them to leave Southern California weather for the British rain has been…a process.
Leo’s been adjusting as well as can be expected.He’s fascinated by every new technology he sees, and it’s been a special experience seeing this all through his eyes.I already hugged various appliances in appreciation when I returned from my time in Victorian England, but seeing him interact with all the things I’ve mostly taken for granted (well, up till my trip) has been fun.I think his favorite item has been the streaming services.The “plays” on demand have kept him enraptured far into the night, many nights.To be fair, that would probably be my favorite too.
Although he is still shocked every time women wear shorts, kiss their partner, or have jobs.Shocked, but not mad at it.He loved the first time I wore leggings in front of him.So much that we did not make it to our errands that day.And he certainly loves being able to hold my hand and kiss me whenever he wants.All without a chaperone watching over my virtue.
It hasn’t all been wonder and excitement and love though.I know he misses his sister and family and friends in the past.He’s been getting to know his descendants, which has been wonderful, but they won’t ever replace the sister he grew up with.Sometimes I’ll find him staring at the paintings in the house of Lydia and his family, and there are a lot of them even for nobles, as if she knew he would need them one day.I’ve also caught him hunched over the tablet I got him, absorbing every bit of information on them that he can find.He says he doesn’t regret giving it all up for me, and I have to believe him and hold him a little closer when he gets melancholy.
We’re planning a trip to California soon, which should be fun and terrifying (for him).But maybe seeing my family, and feeling the welcome and love they already have for him, will help a little.
