April 1816 On the road to Penzance

Tommy and Barbara skirted around Nanrunnel. "It's the closest village but we might be mistaken for Thomas and Elizabeth," Tommy said.

They had been walking for nearly three hours along a dusty track and Barbara was getting tired and a little footsore. "I don't suppose there's a pub nearby? I wouldn't mind a pint."

"No but amount ten minutes ahead is forest. It has a stream and scenic glen. We could stop there for a while."

Barbara sighed heavily. "Hardly the same but it sounds good."

The spot was more beautiful than Tommy had described it. Spreading oaks surrounded the secluded spot and a trickling stream ran over low, grey rocks beside a green meadow dotted with wildflowers. Barbara stood and waited.

"What?" Tommy asked.

"I don't want to ruin my only dress with grass stains."

Tommy started laughing. "Oh Barbara."

"What's so funny?" she demanded.

"That's one phrase I never thought I'd hear from you."

She rolled her eyes. "Just spread the blanket Tommy."

He obeyed and she hitched up her dress and sat down. With her dress around her knees she stretched out her legs. Tommy lay down beside her and rested his head in her lap. He watched the clouds drifting by overhead. "It's nice not having to worry about the estate or work."

Barbara stroked his face lovingly, brushing that lock of hair from his forehead. "Don't get too used to it. We have to worry about finding our way back."

"I know but for the moment we can pretend we haven't a care in the world."

Barbara bent down and kissed him. "Yeah, we can."

Later as they walked through the forest Barbara was daydreaming about the way Tommy had made love to her by the stream. The practicality of a Regency dress made it extremely easy. She thought it might be something she could replicate once they got home. She could wear more dresses; not to work of course but when they went out or here in Cornwall.

"Penny for them."

"Oh, you don't want to know," she said wickedly.

"Yes, I do."

"I was thinking when we get home I might wear more dresses, in a practical way."

Tommy grinned at her. "I like that idea. Very much." He leant down to kiss her and let her know how much that concept appealed. His lips were only an inch from hers when they heard the scream. It was loud and terrified. Instinct kicked in and they both ran towards the sound. Another scream filled the air. Frightened birds flew past them. Tommy put his hand on Barbara's arm. "Let's not rush in until we know what we're facing."

They rounded a bend in the track and saw two horses tethered to a tree. Tommy noticed one bore a side-saddle. Another scream then a pitiful plea for mercy reached their ears. Tommy followed the sound. In a small clearing a large man had a woman pinned to the ground. Her dress was forced up around her chest and her wrists her held above her head. She was thrashing her head to avoid the man's attempts to kiss her while he was trying to couple with her. Her eyes caught Tommy's then she closed them in shame.

Tommy rushed over. "Unhand that woman," he demanded as he pulled the man away. The man rose to his feet and took a swing at Tommy who ducked then punched him squarely on the chin. The man collapsed at his feet.

Barbara helped the woman to her feet. She was shaking badly and winced when Tommy put the blanket around her. Barbara frowned at him to hint the woman was scared of men. Tommy nodded. Barbara handed him her bonnet. "Use this to handcuff him."

Tommy knotted the bonnet straps tightly around the unconscious man's wrists. "He's still breathing."

"More's the pity."

"The last thing we need now is a murder charge."

Tommy spread the blanket a short distance away and left the women alone while he fetched the horses. He brought them back and tied them to a tree. Barbara came over. "Her name is Sophie. She says the man is a local landowner who was courting her but after she refused his proposal he well..."

"Tried to rape her."

"Yes."

"We should take him in. We can double back to Nanrunnel. It's not far. He can't be allowed to get away with it."

"Is there anything in the family history about saving a woman from attack?"

"No, only Thomas saving the King's youngest daughter in a riding accident."

"Good then we're not changing history. We should ask her first though Tommy. She might not want it reported."

He nodded. "Do it but we have to take them back somewhere. If we leave him here he might be attacked by wild animals."

Barbara looked alarmed. "Like bears and wolves?"

Tommy laughed. "No, we haven't gone that far back in time, although I wish England still had bears. There might still be wild boar in these parts."

"That's not comforting. Can we lift him over the horse and tie him on?"

Fifteen minutes later the odd band was heading to Nanrunnel. Sophie rode side-saddle while Barbara sat awkwardly in the saddle of the other horse with the villian strapped over the animal's rump. Tommy led the horses on foot.

The journey was slow and silent. Sophie said nothing and with Tommy leading the horses Barbara thought talking to him was too intrusive on the poor woman's thoughts. The man had come to once but Barbara had jerked so hard in the saddle when he spoke that it hit him and knocked him out again. Tommy studied the woman. She looked vaguely familiar. She appeared to be in her mid-thirties which was old to be courting. He wondered if perhaps there was more to her story.

"Please take me to my brother," Sophie said suddenly as they came over the hill above Nanrunnel.

"Certainly. Where does he live?"

"We are guests at Howenstowe."

Tommy and Barbara exchanged concerned looks. She shrugged. What choice did they have? "Of course," he said grimly.

They arrived just as twilight was beginning. Tommy knew they would not make it back to Nanrunnel before nightfall. As they came down the drive the butler they had seen the night before appeared.

"What happened to the Master?"

Tommy looked up at Barbara and smiled reassuringly. It dawned on him that of course Thomas had not yet saved the King's daughter and so was not yet the owner. The oaf on the back of the horse owned Howenstowe. He sighed with relief, they would not run into them.

"Fetch my brother! At once!" Sophie ordered.

The butler nodded and ran to the house. Tommy raised his eyebrows but only so Barbara could see. He untied the man and lowered him to the ground just as a middle aged man came blustering out of the house.

"Sophie! We have been frantic with concern. What happened to Trevathick?""

Sophie slipped off her horse and ran to her brother. Barbara expected them to embrace but instead she slapped him hard across the face. "You attempted to marry me off to that brute! He attacked me when I refused. He tried to violate and shame me saying I would have to marry him. You are not fit to be king!"

Tommy looked at Barbara with alarm. As the man turned he recognised the Prince Regent, the future George IV. His history came back to him. Sophie was the youngest daughter of the insane King George III. He grabbed Barbara by the arm and hissed, "we have to leave, now!"

Barbara was perplexed but trusted him. She started to back away slowly, following his lead. "Wait!" Sophie called. They stopped. Sophie turned to her brother. "If it were not for this brave man I would be ruined."

The Prince Regent came across to them. "We are grateful Sir. And to whom do I owe my gratitude?"

Tommy did not answer directly. He simply bowed courteously. "It was only what any decent man would do Your Royal Highness." He heard Barbara gasp.

"And your name Sir?"

"Thomas, Sir."

"And yours madam?" George asked as he turned to Barbara.

"Barbara Your Royal Highness," she replied with a movement she hoped was close enough to a curtsy.

"Baa-baa? As in little lamb? What is your real name madam?"

"Elizabeth Sir." Tommy frowned at her.

"And you are from where?"

"London Sir," she replied feeling her face flush.

"Why were you in the woods?" The Prince asked suspiciously.

"Collecting botanical specimens Sir," Barbara answered confidently, "my husband takes an interest in these matters."

The Prince looked back at Tommy. "Your husband who refuses to give his King his name."

"Does it matter George?" Sophie interrupted. "They should be rewarded not interrogated. It's Trevathick that should be questioned."

"Of course my dear. Hammett, see to your master and bring him to the drawing room in one hour."

Hammett bowed obsequiously and picked up his master and slung him over his broad shoulders. They disappeared into the house ahead of the Prince Regent.

"What do we do?" Barbara whispered to Tommy.

"I don't know," he said trying to think through the possibilities.

The inside of the house appalled Tommy. The house had originally been built in the late 1400s and remodeled in the 1600s but it was dim and characterless. It was not the Howenstowe of Tommy's memories. Barbara sensed his reaction and took his hand as they walked into the drawing room which in modern times was the library. The ornate timberwork was dull. The house was dusty and in disrepair. Whitewashed plaster was peeling from the ceiling which was discoloured by the smoke from poorly tuned oil lamps.

"Hardly fit for a King," Tommy uttered.

"An accurate observation Sir," George replied. "I acquired this property from Trevathick in repayment of a wagering debt. He has let it run down severely since his father's day. Do you have an estate secretive Thomas?"

"No Sir. I am a simple man."

"I see that to be a lie Sir. You hide something from your King which does you a disservice."

Tommy took an unseen deep breath. "I beg your forgiveness Sir. It was not my intent to offend. Lynley Sir, Thomas Alexander Lynley."

"Are you a man of means Mr Lynley?"

Tommy remember the coins in his satchel. His entire wealth was in that bag and none of it was real. Even by the standards of the day it was only equivalent to the annual wages of a lowly professional. "No Sir, I am not. My wealth amounts to only about five hundred pounds."

The Prince regent nodded as if sorry for Tommy's predicament. "You seem a man of learning Lynley."

"I read extensively Sir, as opportunity permits."

"Are you a man of enterprise?"

"I believe myself to be," Tommy replied.

"My sister owes you her honour and she is wise to suggest you be rewarded Lynley. I have no need of this estate. It has good lands but lazy tenants, no doubt taking their lead from their wastrel master. I would like to gift it to you and your good wife Sir along with a title and two thousand pounds to begin its reversal of fortune."

Tommy glanced at Barbara. Her face had gone white. "I should like to confer with my wife Sir. Such an undertaking would require the full effort of both parties."

The Prince raised his eyebrows as if to question why the opinion of a wife would be important. He did know however how strong-willed and stubborn women could be. That was why he preferred to take mistresses. "As you wish."

Tommy led Barbara into the hallway. "We have to leave now," he said, "before this happens."

Barbara shook her head. "We can't Tommy."

"Why not?"

"Because you and I are Thomas and Elizabeth. If we go back, you won't exist."

"Oh course I will…oh."

"Yes, 'oh'. Tommy without us staying to found the Lynley line then there is no Lynley line. You will never exist."

He nodded. "It might not work that way. Beside, you will exist. You belong in that time Barbara, not here. We will go back so you can live."

"Tommy, don't you realise yet I only live for you? I would be miserable back there without you. Here we know we will be together another fifty years and we will be happy. We'll have children and grandchildren and you can start the family off well. That's a certainty I'd prefer. We can fix this place up, although I think we might need a bit more money. See if you can squeeze him for more. Our silence must be worth something. Remind him how this should be considered simply saving Sophie from a riding accident."

"Such twenty-first century thinking," he replied with a smile.

"Exactly, we have an advantage over most people. We can make this work Tommy and we can be happy."

"You won't miss it?"

"Of course but I'd miss you more. We are committed Tommy, whether or not we like it. But it will work. We know that."

"I love you Barbara."

"Elizabeth, at least in public." He kissed her hard.

June 1816 Howenstowe

"I'm glad you bargained with the King," Barbara said to Tommy.

He looked up from his whitewashing. "Why is that?"

"Because we will have another mouth to feed soon," she said proudly.

Tommy hopped up and kissed her passionately, an activity he never tired of doing. "Hello James," he said to her stomach, "I wondered when Mummy was going to tell me."

"You knew?" she asked disappointedly. "Of course you'd know the birth dates of all the Lynleys. I'll never be able to surprise you."

Tommy gathered her into his arms. "You don't know them though so you will be surprised. And I promise not to tell you their names or sex again until after they are born."

"Tommy, I know this sounds old-fashioned but we're not actually married. James will be a bastard."

"Everyone, even the Prince Regent, thinks we're married. So no one will ever know."

"What if your Mother ever finds out?"

Tommy thought about it. "I'm not going to marry you for Mother and besides I will never have to hear her shock. We never found a marriage entry for them. No one cared, even Mother."

"Because they thought we came from somewhere else."

"Exactly. Besides I already feel committed to you more than any other man ever has to their wife."

"Still."

Tommy could sense her unease. "What if I arrange something?"

"Like what?"

"You'll see."

Five days later Tommy drove Barbara to Penzance in the carriage. They stopped at a large church on the outskirts of town. He knew that money talked in any century. "Come on Barbara, don't keep me waiting on our wedding day," he said cheekily as he helped her from the coach.

"How?"

"A cash donation of two hundred and fifty pounds."

Barbara stifled a laugh. "In coins?" she asked.

"The very ones that came with us. It seemed only fitting."

The side chapel was plain with a small marble altar table and two rows of wooden benches. The service was simple but sincere. As Tommy looked into Barbara's eyes he knew they had made the right decision. "I love you Mrs Lynley," he whispered before he kissed his bride.

"I love you too. I'd travel the Earth or through time to be with you." They laughed at their own joke.