Page 93 of No Place in Time

“Thank God I found you,” the woman breathed, and Finn recognized her.

Lady Isabel.

She hurried into the cell, carrying a candle set in a large brass candlestick. Finn could see her face properly now. She looked pale, frightened, but determined. She had a small knife in her free hand and a satchel slung over her arm.

Then she saw Cecily.

Isabel stopped, the knife lowering slightly. Her gaze moved from Cecily back to Finn.

“Saints above,” she whispered, her voice catching. “Finn, you’re… and she…” Her gaze flicked between them, wide with terror and confusion. She stared at Cecily—healthy, whole, and so unlike the dying woman in the manor. “How can this be?”

“There’s no time to explain,” Cecily said. “Please, Isabel.”

Isabel shook her head, as if trying to force the pieces into place. “I heard them talking,” she said. “Benedict said something about two versions of Cecily. A machine that travels through time. I thought he was mad, or I’d misheard, but…” She looked at Cecily again. “You’re her. But you’re not. You’re… the right Cecily.”

“I know it makes no sense, Isabel,” Cecily said softly.

“None of this makes sense.” Isabel’s hands were shaking as she moved toward Finn. “But right now, we have to go.”

She sawed at the ropes binding Finn’s wrists. Finn held as still as he could.

“How did you find us?” Cecily’s voice was a hoarse whisper.

“I overheard them in the study.” Her words came in a frantic rush as she sawed at Finn’s ropes. “They’re bringing the machine to this tower. When I left, they were calling for guards and a cart. We have to go. Now.”

The ropes parted. Finn pulled his raw wrists free as Isabel rushed to cut Cecily’s bonds.

“I came as fast as I could once I heard them,” Isabel said. She helped Cecily to her feet. “There is something wrong, something ominous, about those two. They are always plotting, always scheming.” She shook her head.

“How did you get past the guard outside our cell?” Cecily asked. She swayed, and Finn caught her elbow.

“I told him Lord Julian sent me with food for the prisoners. He believed me.” Isabel patted her satchel and moved toward the door, glancing nervously up the stairs. “But he’ll realize soon that no one sent me, that I lied. I don’t know how we’re going to get past him outside. I didn’t think that far ahead. But here, Finn, take the knife.”

Finn nodded and took the knife. His legs were stiff from sitting in the cold cell, but he forced himself to move. He and Cecily quietly followed Isabel out the door and crept up the narrow stone staircase.

At the top, the guard stood with his back to them, looking out at the forest. He turned at the sound of their footsteps. Finn was already moving, knife up, closing the distance fast, giving the man something to focus on.

“Ho there. What’s tak—” The iron candlestick connected with the guard’s head with a dull thud. He crumpled without a sound.

Finn whirled around and realized Cecily, now holding the candlestick, had struck the blow. She was breathing hard. “What?” she said, meeting his eyes. “You were taking too long.”

A smile tugged at Finn’s mouth despite everything. “Well done.”

They dragged the guard inside and pulled the door shut behind them, latching it.

Outside, Isabel’s horse was tethered to a tree. Near it, the guard’s mount stamped restlessly, still saddled from his ride to the tower.

“His horse,” Finn said, relief cutting through him. “Isabel, take yours. We’ll take the guard’s.”

Isabel mounted her horse. Finn helped Cecily onto the guard’s horse, then swung up behind her.

“Where is the machine hidden?” Finn asked.

“I heard them say the old chapel,” Isabel said. “In the crypt beneath it.”

Finn knew the place. He kicked the horse into motion. Isabel did the same. They rode hard through the forest, branches whipping past.

“What if we’re too late?” Cecily hollered back to him.