Richard leaned against the wall, unable to grasp what he heard. When he took a step toward the door, his legs gave way and he found himself breathing heavily, sitting on the stone floor.

He had come to fetch the women, heard them talking, and listened at the door like a servant hungry for gossip after he had scolded Chloe for doing the same.

What he heard astounded him. His Chloe, the woman he was in love with, had traveled through time.

’Twas as if he could now believe faeries would arrive at his gates. She was from the future and so was Melinda. By the saints.

The many things Chloe said and did, things he thought odd, were because she was from another time. Almost seven hundred years. He could not fathom the things she had seen. He heard them telling tales of fantastical metal beasts much swifter than horses, flying birds, and endless hot water that was like rain in a bathing chamber.

Fury filled him that she would keep such a secret, betray him after all he had told her about himself. Why would she wish to stay with him when she had such wonders in her own time? She would leave him. He had heard her ask her kin how she could go home. Would she tell him, or would he wake one morn to find her gone?

She had family in her own time who would miss her, and family here. Powerful family to care for her. She had no need of him. James Rivers could arrange a match for her with a proper lord, not a beastly bastard.

All this time, she had not cared for him, only stayed until her family could fetch her. Had made him believe she cared for him. With mere words, she had destroyed him, no sword required. Panic rose in his gorge at the thought of losing her. What it had cost him to risk his heart and love her only to have her rend him in twain. His heart wrenched inside his chest.

There had been so much to tell Melinda, and so many stories to hear, that Chloe hadn’t seen Richard since her family had arrived yesterday.

James joined them in the solar for supper. They had decided to take their meal alone so they could keep talking without fear of being overheard. Melinda told her it was a serious thing to be accused of being a witch.

Superstitions ran deep, and Chloe had to be careful of what she did and said, especially with the Hundred Years War beginning and the plague coming. Difficult times made people take actions they might not during times of peace.

When she’d gone looking for Richard to talk to him, to come clean and tell him who she really was, one of the boys said he had gone to see to the men. She was disappointed he hadn’t kissed her good night but planned to remedy it this morning. There was so much news to tell him.

“Did you find Richard?” Melinda asked.

Chloe was spitting mad. “He won’t tell me what’s wrong. All day long he’s been stomping about, grumbling and being mean.” She refilled the goblet again, blinking at the brightness in the hall. A hiccup escaped. “I finally get to meet you and James, and this is how he acts?”

Melinda covered her hand. “James said he went through the men in the lists and then about wore James out as well.” She winked. “But don’t tell him I told you. Men are full of pride and he would be embarrassed.” She touched Chloe on the shoulder. “Do you think he’s worried you’ll leave? It’s obvious he’s in love with you.”

“Why would I leave? Bainford is my home. I only asked you if I could go home because I was curious, not because I want to.” Chloe blinked blearily. “Do you really think he loves me?”

“Hasn’t he told you?”

Chloe shook her head, which sent the room spinning. She gripped the table and took a few deep breaths to make it stop. “No. But he’s kissed me. Oh my, that man can kiss.”

Melinda grinned. “I remember those days.” She helped Chloe up. “Let’s go for a walk on the battlements and get some fresh air. I’ll tell you all about how I met James.”

The cold air had done Chloe a great deal of good. But holy cow, she’d had way too much to drink. Melinda and James had gone to their chamber, as they had to leave in the morning. Chloe’s great-aunt had invited her to come with them. Her daughter, Emma, was three, and they’d dared not bring her. A nanny was watching over her, along with a dozen ferocious guards, but Melinda missed her terribly and wanted to be home before Christmas.

Christmas. It was less than two weeks away. Wait until Richard saw his gift.

Then she scowled. If he got over whatever was bothering him and talked to her. Otherwise, he was getting rocks.

Unable to sleep, Chloe wrapped her cloak tighter and paced the battlements. No way was she ever drinking that much again. Merry had given her a disgusting concoction to drink, but between the potion, the fresh air, and movement, she felt a lot better. Bet she’d have a terrible headache in the morning. Lost in thought, she turned and ran into a wall. A warm wall.

“Sorry.” She looked up. “Oh, it’s you. Why are you mad at me?” She hiccupped.

Richard looked like he’d been running his hands through his hair. He was rigid, the tension rolling off him.

“You lied to me,” he snarled.

She blinked and took a step back, out of the warmth of his arms. “What? I did not.”

“The Year of Our Lord 2017,” he snapped.

“I meant to… That is… I planned to tell you.” She leaned against the wall, glad the guard was at the far end. “It’s not exactly something you blurt out. You wouldn’t have believed me anyway.” Chloe glared at him. “You would have had me burned as a witch.”

He leaned down, his gaze burning through her. “I would have listened. I took you in, knowing there was much you had not told me. This…this tale… I told you everything about me, gave you my trust, and you betrayed me with untruths.”

“I heard you tell your kin you wish to go home.” Then he said softly, his voice choked, “You ripped out my heart with the sharpest of blades. I should have known you are like the rest: you could not love a beast.”

The coldness in his face made her flinch. “Richard.” She reached out, but he pulled away. “Please. I—”

“Why would you want such an ugly beast? All I have is this pile of stones, a title of the lowest order, and a small amount of gold. What I have, I use to care for my people and repairs to the castle. You could have riches and a match with a husband who is not deformed.”

She had just about enough. “Honestly. Listen to yourself. James has a terrible scar and he doesn’t go around feeling sorry for himself.” Chloe was so mad that she paced back and forth. The guard, seeing her face, turned around and went back the way he’d come.

She poked Richard in the chest. “You call yourself a beast. It’s utterly ridiculous. A beast wouldn’t care for others. Wouldn’t give a flying flip if there were holes in his roof or if those he was responsible for were warm and fed through the winter.”

Chloe whirled around and stormed to the door. He followed her down the stairs to her chamber.

“Get. Over. Yourself. Everyone has flaws. Issues. So what if yours show on your face?” Chloe paced back and forth in front of the hearth then whirled around, her hands shaking.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but think about it from my point of view. I had no idea if my only family would get my message and come for me, or if you would throw me out like you did before. Flying metal birds? Metal horses that require no rest? You would have thrown me in the dungeon and never thought on me again.”

Richard reached out. “I have been a fool.”

“No. I’m tired of apologies.” She went to the trunk at the foot of the bed, opened it, and rummaged around, coming up with a fabric-wrapped bundle. She unwrapped the mirror and handed it to him. “Look.”

He paled, his lips pressed tight together. “Nay.” Richard turned away from her.

A long moment passed, then Chloe laid the mirror on the bed.

“I want to go home. Take me to the stones.”

“As you wish,” he said quietly, and left the room, shutting the door behind him.

Chloe let the tears fall, sobbing until dawn.