AllFreeNovel
Share Us
1704
When Quinn opened her eyes it took her a moment to remember and when she did she actually felt embarrassment tint her cheeks. She had fainted -- never in her life had she fainted -- and yet she had and really with no sound reason for doing so. Oh man, she was glad her brothers weren't here or she would never live it down, ever. She happened a glance to her right but where the castle should have been was instead a thick patch of trees.
"What the hell?"
She forced herself to sit up but the sight that greeted her had her wondering if her head had taken a bit of a hit, maybe on one of the river rocks when she dropped like a potato. Standing before her was a man, a beautiful man, with long blond hair and bright blue eyes. He was tall and powerfully built, though dressed oddly, like he was going to a Renaissance Fair. She took her time admiring his form but when her attention moved to his face, she saw that he was looking at her with complete disbelief and a touch of fear.
"Where did you come from?" he demanded.
Quinn started to stand, her jeans were coated in mud and her t-shirt wasn't much better. "Damn it," she muttered.
"What manner of dress is that?" he asked nervously.
The man was taking a step back but his focus was moving between her denim-clad legs and her chest.
"Me! You look like you just stepped out of a Jane Austen movie," Quinn declared.
"A what?"
"Cute." She didn't realize the villagers had a sense of humor. Did they play this prank on everyone who came to visit?
"You have the most unusual way of speaking," he said.
Quinn ignored him and was about to walk away when she caught a glimpse behind the dashing English Lord which caused her feet to stop moving and bile to rise up her throat. There was Whispering Winds and based on all the activity around it, it was still very much under construction. The craziest notion entered her head, impossible actually, but as Quinn stared at both the man and the castle she couldn't help but blurt out: "What year is it?"
"Excuse me?" he asked skeptically.
"The year?" Quinn barely whispered.
"'Tis the year of our lord 1704."
At that announcement, Quinn almost fainted again, but after a few deep breaths she pulled herself together. Clearly, she had hit her head and was suffering some type of brain trauma since time travel wasn't possible, yet. She examined the man before her and realized that what he was wearing was no costume based on the exquisite detail and superb quality of the fabric. Quinn had studied this time period extensively so if she was dreaming, her dream would be historically accurate, right? It was the castle in the background, though, that really sealed the dream idea for her. She had spent seven long years trying to learn everything she could about the place and now she was here, in the time when the castle was under construction, more over it was occupied. Yes, she was dreaming but it was a damn realistic dream and one she intended to fully enjoy. Her attention returned to her imaginary English Lord and she congratulated herself on her attention to detail because the man was beautiful.
"Are you unwell?" he asked kindly but warily.
Quinn took a moment to appreciate his lovely accent before she replied, "I'm fine. Are you okay?" She wanted to ask what happened, how she had appeared before him. But dream or not, she was afraid further inquiry would bring forth the torches to light her on fire for being a witch.
"Who are you?" he asked after a moment's hesitation.
"Quinn Shaughnessy."
"Quinn, odd name for a girl."
"My parents love all things Irish. I'm rather fond of it."
A smile flashed over his handsome face. "I like it, too. Where did you come from, Miss Shaughnessy?"
"I don't think you would believe me if I told you."
The man regarded her for a minute before he said, "One minute you were not there and the next you were."
She was afraid of that but she looked at him squarely when she answered, "I honestly have no idea how I got here but I will say that I am very, very far from home."
He seemed to ponder that non answer for a moment before he walked over and offered her his arm.
"I do not understand your dress and it will make others suspicious."
Quinn looked down at her Calvin's and knew, despite being in a dream, that her English Lord was right. The words tumbled from her mouth without much thought, "I haven't any other clothes to wear."
