For All Time (Nantucket Brides 2)

On the second day, Daire asked Graydon what he was trying to see.

“When the door to that old house opens by itself, it’s an invitation to enter, and I want to be ready to accept.”

That afternoon, Daire and Lorcan left Toby’s house and walked across the lane. When they returned, they reported that every window and door of the old house was shut tight.

They’d jiggled the front door, and Daire had rammed it with his shoulder, but it didn’t budge. There was no way that door was going to open by itself.

They told their future king what they’d seen, but that didn’t stop Graydon’s vigilance. As doubtful as they were, they joined in watching the house. While Graydon was busy helping Rory and Toby was involved with the minutiae of Victoria’s wedding, Daire and Lorcan kept watch. At night Toby and Graydon stayed in the house and waited for it to invite them back into the past.

“I have to go,” Lexie said. “Roger wants …”

“What does he want?” Toby asked.

“Nothing, it’s just that …” Lexie didn’t think she should talk to Toby of what was becoming the happiest time in her life, when her friend was so obviously unhappy. And she was frustrated by Toby’s lack of confiding in her. But then, she wasn’t exactly forthcoming about her and Roger.

“You sound like you have problems. Is everything all right?”

“Yes. Very much all right. Roger isn’t like I thought he was. The outside of him doesn’t allow a person to see the inside.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’ll tell you later, but I have to go now. Send me emails, okay?”

“Sure,” Toby said and they hung up.

“We’re failing, aren?

?t we?” Toby said to Graydon from her mattress. They were physically close to each other but as far apart as two countries separated by oceans could make them. It was dark in the old house, and there were often creaks and groans, but they’d grown used to them. Moonlight came through the uncurtained windows so they saw each other in silhouette.

Graydon didn’t know which failure she was referring to. That he was in love with a woman he couldn’t marry? Yes, that was a complete failure. That he’d begun to doubt what his true purpose was in life? Yes. Or was she thinking about how they had changed history so three innocent people died and others had had their lives destroyed? Yes to that too.

“I’d say we are,” he said. “Toby, I never meant—”

“Please don’t apologize. I can’t take any more guilt.” She took a breath. “What are you going to do after the ceremony?”

He knew she was talking of his coming engagement. Before he could think of an answerless reply, she said, “And how is Rory going to stand seeing you marry the woman he loves?”

Graydon’s heart seemed to stop. “How do you know that?”

“When I was unpacking his luggage, I found his wallet. Danna’s photo was in there. A man doesn’t usually carry a picture of his sister-in-law-to-be.”

When Graydon didn’t answer, Toby wanted to shake him. “Don’t shut me out! We have so little time left.” She lowered her voice. “Please.”

It wasn’t easy for Graydon to talk about such a deep secret. From childhood he’d been taught to keep things to himself. As it was, he knew some diplomatic secrets that could cause, if not wars, certainly some ferocious battles.

“Honestly, I don’t know how to handle any of it. I saw them,” he said softly. “When I went back in time, before I found you, I saw Rory with Danna. I haven’t done any research on them, and I didn’t ask Caleb, but I assume they lived a long and happy life.” He smiled in the moonlight. “My brother wore an earring in his left earlobe. If Dr. Huntley told me Rory did a little pirating on the side, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

“He’s not suited to being a king,” Toby said, and they both knew she was talking about the endless trouble Rory’d had over the last weeks. “But you are.”

Graydon rolled over onto his side to face her. “I’ve missed what I do. This time away from it has shown me what Rory has always said, that the job suits me. He finds diplomacy and having to talk for hours about things like trade agreements boring, but I …” He trailed off and turned onto his back.

“It makes you feel like you’re doing something for your country, for the world even.”

“Yes,” he said, then gave a great sigh. “I love my work, but I dread going home. How do I keep my brother from hating me? How do I leave you?”

Toby wanted to tell him she had the perfect solution, but she had none. Graydon was going to leave, marry another woman, and eventually become the king of a country. There would come a time when this moment, of the two of them alone in an old house, would become a distant—and beloved—memory.

The air between them seemed heavy with their gloomy thoughts and Toby wanted to lighten the mood. “Your brother will probably be so bitterly unhappy that he’ll turn to drink.”