Page 69 of No Place in Time

Panic coiled inside Cecily’s chest. The time machine.

“Benedict was close enough to overhear him muttering. He heard your name, and then something about the machine, something about the future.” Isabel took Cecily’s hands. “He knows you plan to escape with him.”

Cecily pulled away and sank into a chair. “What did Julian say?”

“He said they had to take it. The machine. They talked for hours about what they could do with it. Investments. Lands. He needs your marriage money. He thinks with the machine he could have even greater wealth. And Benedict is pulling his strings.”

The machine. Finn. Julian. Benedict. The words kept colliding in her head.

They knew about the machine. Which meant they would try to take it. Finn had it, so they would have to get rid of Finn.

“Where is Finn, the soldier, now?” Cecily asked.

“I don’t know. I suppose he’s still at the widow’s cottage,” Isabel said. “But Julian is sending men there today to get the device.”

“And Finn? What will they do to him?”

Isabel’s silence was answer enough.

Cecily stood. “I have to get to him.”

Isabel studied her for a long moment. Then she nodded. “My carriage is outside. I’ll tell your uncle you’re coming back to Veyron with me. To learn your duties as future lady of Veyron Hall.” Isabel moved toward the door. “Meet me downstairs. We need to leave now.”

Money—she would need money. Cecily’s hands trembled as she fumbled through her things to find her coin purse. She grabbed it and turned to leave. Her gaze caught on the blue silk of her wedding gown, a shroud draped over a chair. A final, desperate hope surged through her: if she could reach Finn, she would never have to wear it.

She met Isabel in the hall. Her uncle was nodding along to whatever Isabel had told him.

“I think it’s an excellent idea,” he said to Cecily. “You should see what you’ll be managing. Isabel can teach you everything you need to know.”

“Thank you, Uncle.”

He kissed her forehead. “You’re a good girl, Cecily. Julian is a fortunate man.”

She forced herself to smile, then followed Isabel outside.

The carriage lurched into motion. Cecily gripped the seat, staring out the window as her home faded away behind them.

“Why are you helping me?” Cecily asked her.

Isabel was quiet for a moment. “I know what it’s like to be forced into marriage. To have no choice.” She looked at Cecily. “I won’t help him destroy another woman’s life the way he and Benedict destroyed mine.”

“Benedict,” Cecily whispered, understanding dawning. “It was him.”

“It’s always him.” Isabel’s voice was bitter. “Julian is just the puppet. Benedict holds the strings.”

They rode in silence for a while. Then Isabel leaned forward.

“The cottage is near the forest on our land. I’ll bring you close, but you’ll need to walk the rest of the way.”

Cecily nodded.

“What will you do?” Isabel asked.

“I don’t know. Finn has a plan. We’ll use the machine, maybe go forward in time. Somewhere Julian can’t follow.”

“Are you telling me there really is a machine that can travel through time?”

Cecily didn’t answer.