BRIDGES OF TIME

BY:  ROSE CARR

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Paris-1880

It was still dark when Nicholas heard Remie cry out. “I’m lost Alix, I’m lost. You have to call Davit!” He put his arms around her trembling body and pulled her close. “It’s okay Remie. You’re not lost; you’re safe here with me. Shhhh…everything’s going to be alright.” He rocked them gently back and forth until her shudders subsided and she quieted down slipping back into sleep. That must have some nightmare he thought. Who were the people she called out for? Alix and Davit, that’s who she called out for, names he didn’t know. Her breath was sweet against his neck and he was careful not to move so that he would not disturb her. He watched night turn into pale morning. There was something definitely going on with her that he did not yet understand. He offered up a silent prayer that he could help her before he drifted off to sleep.

“What is that heavenly aroma?”

Remie laughed. “Coffee and hot buttered croissants. I thought you might like an ‘eye opener’ to get your day started.”

The light streaming in though the lace curtains cast a golden sheen over the room that made her amber hair glow like a halo around her luminous face. Nicholas drank in the sight of her. “I don’t need coffee for that this morning. You’re beauty is more than enough to open any man’s eyes.”

“Why thank you Monsieur,” she said aware that his compliment caused her cheeks to colour. “ You’re very eloquent. It’s a pity you never had the chance for a better education, you could have become quite the poet.” Guilt pricked at him for deceiving her, especially now. But he couldn’t tell her who he was, not yet. He got out of bed wincing at the pain in his side when he slipped his pants on.

Remie poured steaming coffee into a porcelain cup. “That ‘nothing’ you mentioned yesterday seems to be bothering you today. It also required stitches…” her cheeks pinked more at the memory of exploring his taut body. “I’m not prying but I couldn’t miss feeling them last night. Are you sure there’s not more you want to tell me about how you got hurt?”

He shrugged into his shirt, avoiding her gaze. “No, there is nothing to tell. Just a stupid accident when I was working.”

Her eyes grew wide with concern. “While you were working, at the mission? Why didn’t you tell someone?”

“No, no…it wasn’t at the mission…it was later,” he said avoiding her probing look. “Really, it’s nothing.”

She handed him the cup of coffee and said resignedly. “Alright. I guess you’ll tell me what really caused your injury when you’re ready. I won’t ask you about it again.”

Nicholas put his cup down, and knelt before her. “Thank you,” he said, his smile tender, his eyes moist. “ I appreciate you respecting my privacy, not many people would.”

Her smile was gentle and genuine. “You’ve respected mine, how could I not return the favor.” She patted the chair next to her. ‘Come finish your coffee and I’ll show you the journal I’ve been keeping.”

________________________________________________________________________

Nicholas sat back in his chair, the journal still in hand. “The things in here are amazing. Beyond amazing. These ‘visions’ you wrote about, when did they start?”

Remie’s amber eyes searched the room as if the answers were written on the walls. “Shortly after I came here, after my…my accident.”

Nicholas drew his chair closer, his natural investigative mind taking over. “What kind of accident and when and where did it take place?” Strange he thought that he had never seen a report of the accident but then again if it did not happen in his jurisdiction he would not have been privy to any such report.

Remie crossed her arms as to protect herself and began to speak in a soft whisper. “I don’t remember much about it really. Only what my cousin has told me. A carriage I was riding in became a runaway and when it crossed the bridge it turned over and I guess I was thrown out. I must have hit my head on the bricks and lay there for sometime because it was dark when Claude found me. He brought me here and he and the staff nursed me for what must have been several days, a week maybe. And when I woke up he told me what happened.”

“And what was that?” Nicholas said, all his senses tuned into her retelling the story.

“That I had been on my way to his estate because my family had been killed in an attack by marauders.” Her voice became almost inaudible. “It seem that I was the only one left alive…with no memory of what had taken place. He said when word reached him about what had happened and he found out that I was alone he agreed to look after me.”

He searched her face for any signs of deception. “Do you remember Claude...before this?”

A shadow crossed her face. “No, I don’t remember anything from before…nothing.”

“Is there anything of yours that sparks a memory,” he asked?

She looked at him puzzled. “Things?”

“You know…things,” he said. “Clothes you were wearing, shoes, stuff you packed for your trip.”

Long moments went by, her eyes deeply furrowed in thought. “You’re right I should have had my possessions with me. I don’t know if any of these things are mine.” She waved her hand around. “These things were here when I woke up so I just assumed they were mine.”

Nicholas got up and paced, his mind racing. “Is there any place on the estate that you are barred from, a cottage, a room, a cabinet that Claude keeps locked?”

“I don’t think so…his study perhaps. He doesn’t like anyone to go in there but Sange the cleaning lady.”

“Then he could be hiding something.”

Remie sounded incredulous. “But why would he hide anything from me? He took me in, sheltered me, he’s been very kind to me.”

“And he watches every move you make doesn’t he,” Nicholas said his eyes suddenly hard and suspicious.

“That’s not fair!” Remie said.

“Life can be unfair,” he said his eyes so dark they looked black, “ but you have to face the fact that your cousin’s motives are less than humanitarian. Would it hurt to look around? If you don’t find anything… then fine, we move in another direction.” He sat back down beside and put his arm around her. “You said the nightmares or visions or whatever you want to call them started here, in this house. So wouldn’t this be a good place to start?”

“Tears spilled down her cheeks and he reached over to wipe them away. “We’ll work this out together,” he said softly.” There has to be some kind of explanation, some one who can help. I’ll ask around.”

“But…do you think that would be a good idea?

He smiled reassuringly. “I’ll be discreet of course. I know some people who are pretty adept at dealing with the unknown.” He tipped her face up to his and kissed her lightly on the lips. “We’ll find an answer and that’s a promise you can count on.” Remie’s eyes lit up.

“I knew you would be the one to help me the minute I first saw you in the church that day and I was right.”

Her look made him feel ten feet tall. He wouldn’t let her down. “Okay then,” he said. “Here is what we’ll do.”

________________________________________________________________________

Remie watched from the window as Nicholas climbed into the wagon that would take him back to town. She pushed back the thought that he would find something out about her that was terrible and dark. Not knowing who she was had to be more terrible than knowing. He’d help though, of that one thing she was sure of. She finished dressing and brushing her hair when she heard voices coming from downstairs. Claude? But he wasn’t supposed to be here until tomorrow!

She froze at the knock on the door. “Remie, are you there?” It was Claude! Quickly, she scanned the room to make sure that no signs of her company were visible. Her journal! She tucked it under the chair pillow. “Claude, you’re back so soon. Please, come in.”

Nicholas huddled inside his coat, his collar pulled up around his ears against the morning chill. He did not mean to be rude but he had no desire to make small talk with the gardener who failed to notice this and babbled away the entire time. It turned out not to be a bad trip though because with a few well placed questions he learned a bit more about Monsieur Delacroix. When they reached the mission he felt rested and he had his first idea on how to untangle the mystery that surrounded Remie. He thanked the old man for the ride and made his way to his room and changed into his work clothes. He’d visit his cousin that evening and see if she could read the cards for him. Not that he really believed in the Tarot cards but from growing up around his mother’s people he was often surprised at how much they could tell you about a person, even one they hadn’t met.

He gathered his tools and walked down the quiet halls to the rectory where he started work on the bookshelves the priest wanted built. His thoughts wandered. Remie wasn’t just under his skin anymore she was embedded in his mind and heart. The memory of her warm against him sent a tingle racing up his spine and he banged his thumb with the hammer he was using. “Damn!” He looked around, afraid one of the children or sisters might be about and heard him yell. No one. He grinned wryly. He’d better keep his mind on the business at hand before he needed more stitches. He laughed out loud and said to the mirror on the wall. “Seems like you’re always explaining some injury to her. That’s not the best way to impress a beautiful woman is it, Nicholas?” The man in the mirror didn’t answer. With a sigh he set about his work for the day hoping that he was on the right track.

to be continued....

© 2005 Rose Carr

Contact the author:  Rosematuse@aol.com

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