“I’m not a lady.”I’m getting sick of the lying to him, even though it’s an important component of my survival in the past.
“You are in my eyes,” Leo says, putting his hand on his chest.
I roll my eyes.Charming rake, even if it is an act.
Then Leo extends our winnings out to me.
“No.You take it.”I push the money back to him.He did spot us the original amount, and I don’t need any money right now.What with the Queen of England sponsoring me, living in a palace, and wearing a princess’s clothes.
He divides the amount.“At least take half.You never know when you will need cash.I speak from experience.”
I accept this time.He’s right.I should have a little bit of money, especially since that letter is making its way back to the Queen while I get no closer to finding out how to get home.
“Thank you.”I tuck the money in my purse.
Leo’s brown eyes get brighter.Or maybe they just get closer and I can see them better in the dim light of the night, only illuminated by the flickering candles on the exterior of the house.“I enjoyed?—”
“Good evening, Lord Basildon.Lovely night.So glad you could come.”Victoria sweeps between us, forcing us apart as she gets into the carriage.
“I should go.Can’t keep the Queen of England waiting.”I just said that without any irony.
“Probably for the best.I will call on you tomorrow.”
“I look forward to it.”
As the carriage gets going, I peek out the window to see Leo still standing outside the house, watching us get eaten up by the London evening fog.
Which happens after about twenty feet, because the London evening fog is no joke.
“He’s a good boy, that one.Shame about his father.But a lovely boy.”Victoria drags my attention inside the carriage instead of trying to see through fog to catch a few more glances at Leo.
“Yes.He is rather lovely.”But I don’t want her to think badly of him when he inevitably dumps me and marries an heiress.So the least I can do is some preemptive damage control.“But he does have responsibilities to his title.I won’t be surprised if he ends up with…well, you know.”I hope she can pick up on my subtext while I avoid saying “a rich bitch.”
“I do know.But I do not like it.Any of it.You two get along so well, and you are perfectly matched.”I’m reminded again of how lonely Victoria felt throughout her life, after Albert’s death of course, but even before she met him.It’s hard to have friends when you’re meant to be above everyone, I guess.
“It’s probably better this way.”What with me being a future-lady.
“Hmm.Well, we will not give up.I am certain we can find someone for you.Victor, Duleep Singh’s son, is unmarried.That would be a good match.”
I laugh nervously.“That is incredibly generous, Your Majesty.”But he is going to marry Lady Anne Coventry in three years, and I think that would qualify as changing history if I married him instead.Also, she knows nothing about him other than we’re both Indian and sort of royal, which might be enough for these people, but I would like to get to know my partner better than that.Maybe share some interests.Maybe enjoy spending time with them, before I marry them for life.
Like I have been with Leo.But no, that is not an option for so many reasons.For one thing, he needs money and I have nothing.For another, any interest he has in me is solely because I’m so different from everyone else he knows.There’s nothing special about me.
I’m going to have to have to avoid matchmaking, while not offending Victoria who is housing and feeding me.
She smiles at me, the same smile I’ve seen directed at me that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.It probably gets closest to a full smile around Abdul.The way it probably did around John and Albert.
The way I’m worried mine does around Leo, damn it.
* * *
The next morning,I wake up with a plan.I need to walk around London.
Okay, it’s not the most specific of plans.But I defy anyone else to come up with a more specific plan on how to figure out time travel.
Maybe I can find someone who won’t think I need to go to Bedlam.Maybe this is something that happens more than everyone thinks.Of course, no one knows about it, so any time travelers are good at hiding their secrets.That’ll be a hard point to get around.
But I have a plan which, despite how vague it is, is more than I had last night.And if I get to see some more of Victorian London, then the trip won’t be a waste no matter what I find.Or don’t find.
