Kate stood quietly, gazing out at the rain slicked cobblestone paths
of 1876. No blaring horn, yelling, or screeching tires pierced the air. All
she heard was the steady clopping of hooves and occasional murmurs of out
side greetings. She shifted slightly in her dress, wishing for a moment she
was in her apartment donning a pair of sweats and eating straight out of a
Hagaan Daaz in front of her TV. She closed her eyes and imagined Charlie
bursting through the front door, exclaiming about his latest date.
It was incredible! Charlie would enthuse. She was totally hooked on me! Chicks really dig that 18th century hooplah Leopold fed me! Kate opened her eyes. Leopold. That was why she was here. She remembered when they first officially met. Frustrated, she'd headed for her ex-boyfriend's, Stuart, dogs leash. Leopold teasingly blocked each step she took. She recalled the time she was mugged and Leopold, in all his grace, galloped up on the carriage's white horse and demanded the thief return her purse. She closed her eyes again and giggled as she pictured him blaming the General of Electric for the toaster's mishap.
"I trust there is something somewhat amusing that I should know of?" came a gentle, deep voice. Kate turned and gazed into the sparkling eyes of Leopold. She dipped into a quick, somewhat clumsy curtsy, and looked up at him. Leopold, Duke of Albany, stood before her, and offered his arm. Kate took it and they walked to the airy ballroom.
"You were in deep thought, again, Kate," Leopold observed. "Is there something troubling you?" his handsome features creased with concerned. The pianist struck up a quick waltz and in a moment, Kate was floating around the room. Leopold was gazing down at her.
Kate smiled reassuringly at him. "I was just thinking of Charlie, that's all," she said quietly. Charlie, with his contagious enthusiasm, sparkling wit, and kind nature, was the sole person Kate missed from 2001. She missed Stuart…somewhat. She had to give her ex-boyfriend credit; without him she wouldn't be here with Leopold.
Leopold tilted his chin and smiled. "Ah, Charles," he chuckled lightly. "I miss him myself. I hope all worked out with him and that girl, Patrice." He kissed the top of Kate's head. "I hope they turn out as well as we did."
"Leopold, Charlie won't be born for another 100 years. Or Stuart, or anyone. They don't exist yet, Leopold. And if you mention this to anyone, the city will think their Duke has gone mad. And as Duchess of Albany, my reputation wont stand for it!"
the Duke smiled and chided back, "They already think I'm mad with the lifting car idea. They are convinced it will never work." His face lit up. "but they are wrong, aren't they, Kate?"
Kate smiled. "They are wrong for a short period of time, Leopold." The waltz ended, and Leopold escorted Kate to the dining room. He held her chair out until she sat, and pushed it in. He then took his seat at the other end of the table, and the two began their meal in silence.
Kate kept looking in Leopold's direction, sensing something different. His posture was still rim rod straight, and his fork and knife made neat little incisions in the meat. Instead of his normal, animated talk, Leopold was silent. Kate chewed her fingernail, despite the fact that her maids admonished her lightly when she did it.
Kate stood, quiet as possible, and worry nagged her when Leopold remained seated. Leopold's eyes wandered over to her spot, noticed the empty chair, and he shot to his feet.
"I apologize, Katherine," Leopold murmured softly. He despised himself at that moment. He'd let his intentions wander from those of most importance, Kate. He was deep in thought, and he realized Kate noticed as well. Kate was exceptionally smart…that was one of the reasons he loved her so.
Leopold took Kate's hand, which was shaking slightly, and led her to the sitting room. What he was about to tell her would most likely going to shock her, maybe even frighten her. He hoped she wouldn't faint…that could cause a problem.
"Kate.." he began slowly. He saw worry in her eyes. "Kate, how do I say this…"
Kate bit her lip. "Just say it Leopold, please!"
Leopold took a deep breath. "Kate, love, Stuart gave me some paperwork…a just-in-case kind of thing…"
Kate's eyes narrowed suspiciously. Stuart giving Leopold papers? "What kind of papers, Leopold?" she questioned calmly.
Leopold leaned forward. "the papers to the next portal, Kate. And the ones after. They are quite accurate. Think of it Kate! You could see Charles again!" his eyes danced happily.
Kate sat frozen in shock. "WHAT?!" Her eyes locked with Leopold's, and as always, his eyes spoke the truth.
It was incredible! Charlie would enthuse. She was totally hooked on me! Chicks really dig that 18th century hooplah Leopold fed me! Kate opened her eyes. Leopold. That was why she was here. She remembered when they first officially met. Frustrated, she'd headed for her ex-boyfriend's, Stuart, dogs leash. Leopold teasingly blocked each step she took. She recalled the time she was mugged and Leopold, in all his grace, galloped up on the carriage's white horse and demanded the thief return her purse. She closed her eyes again and giggled as she pictured him blaming the General of Electric for the toaster's mishap.
"I trust there is something somewhat amusing that I should know of?" came a gentle, deep voice. Kate turned and gazed into the sparkling eyes of Leopold. She dipped into a quick, somewhat clumsy curtsy, and looked up at him. Leopold, Duke of Albany, stood before her, and offered his arm. Kate took it and they walked to the airy ballroom.
"You were in deep thought, again, Kate," Leopold observed. "Is there something troubling you?" his handsome features creased with concerned. The pianist struck up a quick waltz and in a moment, Kate was floating around the room. Leopold was gazing down at her.
Kate smiled reassuringly at him. "I was just thinking of Charlie, that's all," she said quietly. Charlie, with his contagious enthusiasm, sparkling wit, and kind nature, was the sole person Kate missed from 2001. She missed Stuart…somewhat. She had to give her ex-boyfriend credit; without him she wouldn't be here with Leopold.
Leopold tilted his chin and smiled. "Ah, Charles," he chuckled lightly. "I miss him myself. I hope all worked out with him and that girl, Patrice." He kissed the top of Kate's head. "I hope they turn out as well as we did."
"Leopold, Charlie won't be born for another 100 years. Or Stuart, or anyone. They don't exist yet, Leopold. And if you mention this to anyone, the city will think their Duke has gone mad. And as Duchess of Albany, my reputation wont stand for it!"
the Duke smiled and chided back, "They already think I'm mad with the lifting car idea. They are convinced it will never work." His face lit up. "but they are wrong, aren't they, Kate?"
Kate smiled. "They are wrong for a short period of time, Leopold." The waltz ended, and Leopold escorted Kate to the dining room. He held her chair out until she sat, and pushed it in. He then took his seat at the other end of the table, and the two began their meal in silence.
Kate kept looking in Leopold's direction, sensing something different. His posture was still rim rod straight, and his fork and knife made neat little incisions in the meat. Instead of his normal, animated talk, Leopold was silent. Kate chewed her fingernail, despite the fact that her maids admonished her lightly when she did it.
Kate stood, quiet as possible, and worry nagged her when Leopold remained seated. Leopold's eyes wandered over to her spot, noticed the empty chair, and he shot to his feet.
"I apologize, Katherine," Leopold murmured softly. He despised himself at that moment. He'd let his intentions wander from those of most importance, Kate. He was deep in thought, and he realized Kate noticed as well. Kate was exceptionally smart…that was one of the reasons he loved her so.
Leopold took Kate's hand, which was shaking slightly, and led her to the sitting room. What he was about to tell her would most likely going to shock her, maybe even frighten her. He hoped she wouldn't faint…that could cause a problem.
"Kate.." he began slowly. He saw worry in her eyes. "Kate, how do I say this…"
Kate bit her lip. "Just say it Leopold, please!"
Leopold took a deep breath. "Kate, love, Stuart gave me some paperwork…a just-in-case kind of thing…"
Kate's eyes narrowed suspiciously. Stuart giving Leopold papers? "What kind of papers, Leopold?" she questioned calmly.
Leopold leaned forward. "the papers to the next portal, Kate. And the ones after. They are quite accurate. Think of it Kate! You could see Charles again!" his eyes danced happily.
Kate sat frozen in shock. "WHAT?!" Her eyes locked with Leopold's, and as always, his eyes spoke the truth.