Saved by My Blackguard (Linked Across Time Book 1) (5 page)

The dress finally came loose. Evelyn moaned as he pushed the bodice down. He had to lift her up so he could take it completely off. Her head lopped backward onto his shoulder. Poor thing was completely exhausted. He felt like a cad undressing her while she was unconscious. It couldn’t be helped though. She’d freeze if he didn’t get the wet clothes off her. Once he removed the dress he laid her back down. His undershirt was a little wet, but it would dry fast. He took his other shirt off and draped it over her sleeping form. It was thin, but would offer a small amount of warmth. She had too many clothes on. What was with all the underclothes she had on? Everything she wore was still damp and prevented her from getting warm. He laid her dress on the other side of the cave near the fire to dry.

Evelyn moaned again. Paul turned around to check on her. She shook uncontrollably. He had to do something to help warm her. He rushed over to her side and picked her up, then carried her closer to the fire. With her nestled in his arms he sat down with her directly in front of him. Her head fell back and rested against his shoulder. Paul wrapped his arms around her and used the combination of their body heat and the fire to warm her.

“Easy sweetheart, it won’t take long for you to get warm,” he whispered. He hoped and prayed she made it through the storm. He wouldn’t know what to do if she died on him… he didn’t even want to think about.

He picked up a few more sticks and tossed them into the fire while he studied it. After a few moments after making sure it would burn for a while so he rested his head against the cavern wall and let his eyes close. He could use a bit of sleep himself.

***

She was finally warm. The cold had gotten so bad it seemed to seep into her bones and made itself a home. Evelyn’s eyes fluttered open. It took a few moments for them to clear from the haze of sleep. A small fire was in front of her, probably adding to her warmth. Awareness filled her senses in slow degrees. She took in her surroundings, all the sounds, and sights. It was then she realized she was wrapped in someone’s arms and screamed.

“Was that really necessary?” A droll voice uttered from behind her.

Evelyn leaped from his arms and almost fell into the fire. Her arms swung outward to help gain her balance. It would be disastrous to add burns to her already bruised body.

“Easy, sweetheart. I didn’t work so hard to save you for you to die of self-inflicted burns.”

“Who are you?” She scooted to the other side of the cavern and crossed her arms over her chest, after she realized she no longer wore her muslin gown. “Did you undress me?”

She could barely make out his features in the firelight. He was handsome and familiar, but she couldn’t place him. How did she know him? Her body warmed as she perused him. It tingled in places it never had before. The man was gorgeous, but clearly a blackguard for taking advantage of her while she slept.

“Relax, I’m not going to attack you.” He rubbed his face with his hands. “It’s been a long day, and it is well into the night. I don’t know how long this storm is going to last, and I’d rather not deal with a histrionic female.”

“I will have you know I by no means ever give into hysteria.” She held her chin up in defiance. Her father never would have allowed it. She was to be a proper lady at all times, with a calm and cool demeanor. “But I will not stand for a man I’m not remotely acquainted with seeing me in my shift. What did you do with my gown?”

“I already introduced myself if you recall. We’re on a first name basis.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Look Evie, I don’t know how I came to find you. The last thing I remember before I saw you on the beach was falling to my death outside this cave. It’s why I knew where to find it. Nothing has made sense since I stumbled upon you. All I want to do is ride out this storm and book the first flight home. This vacation has to be the worst one ever recorded.”

She tilted her head and studied him. Was he insane? That made things a little different. She would have to give him a wide berth. It was hard to tell what someone who’d lost their mind might do. Book a flight? How did he expect to fly anywhere? Everyone knew that was impossible. Clearly he’d taken leave of his senses. She might be able to forgive him taking liberties with her person—but she doubted it.

“Have you escaped from an asylum?” She glared at him. “And my name is not Evie.”

“All right. But since you don’t recall my name let me remind you. I’m Paul Dewitt.” He shrugged and laughed. “Explain this nonsense you are spouting? Are you insinuating I’m insane?”

How dare he mock her? She wasn’t the one losing her mind.

“Everyone knows you can’t fly. If you want to get anywhere it has to be by horse, carriage, or ship.”

He fell over in uproarious laughter. What had she said that was so bloody funny? She wasn’t the ridiculous one. She didn’t suggest they could fly anywhere.

“I don’t know why you are laughing, but I’m tired of it. If you can’t have a reasonable and normal conversation at least stop rolling around as if you heard a joke. I don’t find any of this funny.”

“Oh sweetheart, you wouldn’t.” He wiped the corners of his eye. “Please tell me you’ve seen a plane. They are more than capable of flying us anywhere we want to go.”

She had no idea what he was referring to. “You’re serious?”

“Lady, it’s 1987. Planes have been a reality since the Wright brothers first flew at Kitty Hawk in 1903.” He shrugged. “They’ve come a long way since that first flight, but they are commonplace these days. How have you not seen one?”

She opened her mouth and closed it several times. How does one respond to that? He clearly had a very active imagination. Whoever these Wright brothers were, they must be geniuses to build such a contraption. What was she thinking entertaining his delusions? She shook her head to clear that rubbish away. He thought it was 1987 and these brothers flew in 1903. She had to tell him he was misinformed.

“You’re wrong.”

“I assure you I’m not.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s not 1987. It’s not even close to 1903. Why would you believe it was?”

“Because I was born in 1958 and I will be 30 in less than 3 months. I flew over here on one of those planes because my doctor ordered me to take a vacation or I’d have a heart attack before my birthday. I agreed to humor him since he is a family friend.”

His delusion went further than she thought. The poor man. “I’m afraid I must inform you it is in fact, the year of our lord, 1722.”

He started to chuckle so hard he had trouble breathing. His penchant for laughter was starting to irritate her. Why did he find everything she said so damned funny.

“It all makes sense now,” he spat out. “Your dress, the storm, and even not remembering how I ended up on the beach. I’ve died and this is my hell.”

“I seriously doubt God would punish us both with the same hell. I don’t even know you, or how you ended up here, but I can assure you we are both very much alive. I didn’t fight so hard to make it to land to give in now.”

“Why do you believe it is 1722?”

“Because I was born at the start of the century on December 17, 1700. My father is the Earl of Ashland and owns a plantation on St. Kitts. I was sailing, with my maid, back to England to marry the Duke of Southington when our ship was attacked by pirates. When the storm hit, one of them thought I had caused it and threw me overboard. If we’d not been so close to shore I wouldn’t have survived.”

It was his turn to open and close his mouth. He stared at her with a baffled expression on his face. He stayed silent for several minutes, picking up a few sticks and tossing them on the fire.

“I can prove I’m from 1987. Can you prove you’re from 1722?”

“Other than my clothing I have nothing,” she replied. “What do you have that would prove you’re not from my time?”

He lifted his hand and tapped at something on his wrist. “This is a Rolex. Do you know what that is?”

She shook her head. Part of it was shiny and glinted in the firelight. The other part wrapped around his wrist, the band was perhaps leather. “I don’t believe so.”

“These weren’t even available until 1905. It is a watch, a fancy one. This doesn’t prove that I’m from 1987, but it does prove I’m not from 1722. I have one other thing that will aid my case.”

She wanted to look closer at his watch. It looked fascinating, but she didn’t ask. What other proof did he have? This was all rather fascinating. “What?”

Paul reached into his pocket and pulled something out. He leaned over and handed it to her. “Don’t drop this. It is one of the things we need to survive through this storm. The other is food and water. When the storm lessens I will look for something to eat or drink.”

“What is it?” She rubbed her fingertips across the little square.

“It’s a matchbook. You might have had something like it in 1722. I’m not sure when the first matches were invented. It’s what is stamped on the front that proves my case. Can you read?”

She snorted. “Of course. I’ve been well-educated.”

How dare he imply she was ignorant?

“Flip it over and read it, but remember do not drop it in the fire.”

She rolled her eyes. How many times did he have to tell her not to drop the infernal thing? Evelyn leaned closer to the fire and read the inscription, Port Royal Hotel and Suites, 75
^th
anniversary, 1912-1987. “How can this be?”

“It seems one of us has done a bit of time travel, and I’m afraid it might be me.”

That couldn’t be good news… What was going to happen to them and was any of what he said possible? Evelyn couldn’t wait for the storm to pass so they could investigate and uncover the truth.

SAVED BY MY BLACKGUARD

CHAPTER FIVE

Paul pushed through
the wet vegetation in search of food. They’d been holed up inside the cavern for a couple of days as the storm passed over them. What they were experiencing could be the eye of the storm. If it was, he was afraid the storm was far from over. It wasn’t as bad as a full blown hurricane from what he understood of the storm surges, but it was still a devastating tropical one. He needed to get supplies and fast. He didn’t know how much time they had before the second part of the storm hit.

“Ouch,” he shouted as his foot hit something on the ground. He looked to see what had caused his injury and smiled.

The intense wind speed of the storm had knocked some coconuts from the trees. He grabbed as many as he could carry and headed back to the cavern. He’d make a couple of trips to gather a few more. Not a diverse diet, but they would provide them the sustenance they needed to survive. They could drink the coconut water and eat the nut meat. The shells could be used to keep the fire going. It was a life-saving find. The good news was he had his Swiss army knife in his pocket too. He’d held back from showing it to Evelyn. He hadn’t wanted to frighten her. She was already too skittish. The knife would make it easier to break the tough shell open.

“Honey, I’m home,” he called out as he entered the cave. He rather enjoyed teasing Evelyn. She reacted differently each time he did and he awaited each response with an inner glee.

“Did you hit your head while you were out?”

Paul smiled. He’d gotten to know her rather well over the past few days. She was prickly by nature. The more he discovered the more he liked. She had a backbone and didn’t put up with anything he dished out. Under different circumstances he might consider dating her.