Once Upon a Moonlit Path, Part 1: Chapter 2

 

 

If you missed Part 1, Chapter 1, catch up on the story here

 

Marissa’s eyes fluttered. She stirred, feeling relief in finding her head laying upon a pillow. She exhaled, relieved that the ordeal with the man named Christopher had been a dream.

Bringing up an arm made her realize that she was still in her period attire. Apparently, she had just fallen into bed upon coming home.

She opened her eyes to a darkened room. As she sat up, her eyes adjusted to the dark and she could make out the furniture in the room.

Furniture that was not hers. With her heart pounding, she looked around, recognizing the room as one in the upstairs part of the Wentworth House.

Groaning, Marissa lay back down. She knew this room as the room in which the museum stored the 18th century attire used by some of the staff. Only now it was furnished as a bedroom.

Christopher’s bedroom is just down the hall…in your office… a voice in the back of her mind whispered.

Shivering slightly, she looked around once more before slowly climbing out of the bed. With quiet steps, she moved through the still dark until she was halfway down the corridor. She could see the dim, wavering glow of a candle coming from the cracks around and under the door of Christopher’s bedroom. Her heart pounded as she moved forward until arriving at the door.

As she reached for the knob, her core churned and she felt a sense of arousal, a feeling that almost alarmed her. It was not as though she hadn’t seen or been with a man before. But Christopher was different.

Of course, he’s different…he’s from another time.

Marissa thought back to her previous relationships, particularly her most recent one. She thought about how the man who turned out to be Christopher made her feel in the dream, and how he made her feel now upon meeting him.

She had a hard time putting such feelings into words, but it was certainly different from how guys in her time made her feel. In fact, it was a good kind of different.

Marissa drew in a breath. She was familiar with the courtship practices of Christopher’s time and knew that it was frowned upon for a lady to enter a gentleman’s room.

Though it’s not like it absolutely never happened…people have been finding ways around the rules of society since the beginning of time.

With that in mind, she started to turn the knob, but stopped herself at the thought of Christopher turning her away due to society rules.

He wouldn’t…would he?

She turned away from Christopher’s chamber, part of her wanting to run down the steps and out the door. Somehow, she would make her way back to the path in the park, to the portals in the woods. Perhaps there she could cross over and find her car. Then she could drive home and forget about the whole ordeal. But before she could make any type of move, the door opened and there stood Christopher, looking quite fetching in his breeches and shirt. His jacket and waistcoat had indeed been removed.

Her thoughts went to her appearance. How long had she been asleep?

God, I probably look like a mess!

But his gaze did not suggest any sort of displeasure toward her appearance. In fact, his eyes suggested someone who was also quite nervous. Someone who also struggled to – in that moment – find the right words to say.

The two of them stood staring at one another until she finally spoke to the son of John and Flora Wentworth.

“How exactly did you find me?”

He stepped forward into the hall and closed the door, motioning for her to follow him. They headed down the stairs and into the dining room, which was just as elegantly furnished as the parlor. Venetian blinds let in just enough moonlight into the room and the sight of Christopher lighting a candle on one of the serving tables brought her heart to jump again.

He looked at her knowingly, smiling slightly in the candle and moonlight as if he were able to read her thoughts. “You have the same effect on me too, you know.” His voice was soft, gentle yet there was a raw masculinity to it.

Her eyes lowered as the corner of her mouth turned up.

Their eyes locked again for a brief moment before he turned and held the candle up to a mirror that hung above the mantle. A rippling was in the glass. She could see their reflections being surrounded by a light mist, similar to that which was in the park.

As Marissa looked closer, she could see the dining room reflected back to her, only it was set up differently than the room they stood in. In fact, the dining room in the mirror was setup at it was in the museum of her time.

“You can see me in there,” she stated, realization setting in.

“Indeed,” he said, not denying it for a second.

She turned to him. “Was the mirror always like this? I mean, I’ve never noticed this before and I see it almost every day.”

Christopher nodded. “Yes. I first noticed it as a boy of eight and it has been a fascination of mine since. This and the nearby woods are what connects my time with yours. This mirror is indeed how I first saw you.”

“How long have you been watching me?”

“A while.”

Marissa rolled her eyes at his vagueness

He continued. “There are several openings around this property and within this house. I can see shapes and sometimes fully formed individuals.” He turned to face her. “You are the most clear to me, however.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Why do you think that is?”

“Perhaps because we were destined to meet. Despite being worlds, centuries apart.”

“You said that we are now in a world in between.”

“Yes. And it’s how it has to be. For now, at least.”

“Why’s that?”

Discomfort and a look of regret crossed his face. “My family is trying to betroth me another.”

Marissa felt her heart lurch and sink. “Oh…”

She felt silly for feeling so melancholy. After all, she had only known Christopher for a short time. Not even a day. But she felt as though they were connected. Meant to be, even if it did sound cliche to her.

“I do not want it,” he said. “I don’t think the young lady does either.”

Marissa couldn’t help finding it hard to believe that any woman wouldn’t be falling all over themselves to marry Christopher. But maybe this other woman has someone else she would rather be with.

Marissa wondered just how many people in Christopher’s time were in this predicament. She knew that in those days, mainly among the gentry, marriage was more of a business contract.

She looked up, seeing his piercing blue eyes. How he felt for her was quite clear, but her logical mind was still in some affect.

“We really don’t know each other, though,” she pointed out.

He took her hand. “I’d like for us to spend more time together. I’d like to court you properly.”

Marissa looked at her small hand enclosed in both of his and chuckled. “Are you really prepared to see me in my 21st century clothes?”

He laughed softly. “Oh trust me, my lady, I already have. Some of them are…interesting.”

“Really, now?”

The two shared a knowing look until he added, “It will be sunrise soon. If you want to get back, I should take you now.”

Marissa was almost reluctant to leave. Perhaps she and Christopher could just stay here together in this world in between forever. But as the old clock struck the current hour, both knew that neither could stay stuck here for long.

“This could be our place, if you like” he said. “I look forward to sharing all of me with you.”

“I look forward to it too.”

He smiled slightly. “Let me take you back.”

He offered his elbow to her, which she took. They walked to the edge of the forest and the mist swirled around them. In an instant, they were returned to the path in the park. Slowly, they walked up, the air seeming calm around them.

When they reached the edge where her car could be seen beyond a wavering mist, Christopher held back, knowing he could not cross that threshold.

Marissa broke from him, walking with slow steps toward the car. She could see the air wavering where the threshold of time was. Before she stepped over, he called to her.

“I’ll be waiting for you here on the next full moon.”

She looked at him, her eyes tearing a little but she managed a nod. “I’ll be here. And I’m sure you’ll see me when I work at the museum…or your house…”

The two looked at each other once more before he gave her a small wave. She kept her eyes on him for another moment before turning and walking through the threshold. She felt a slight electrical surge that lasted for a brief second before she reached the other side.

Marissa now stood in front of her car and quickly turned back to where Christopher had been. The path now appeared empty, though she knew he still stood, watching her until she was safe in her car.

As she drove home, a sort of sadness washed through her. But she looked forward to the next full moon. 

She wasn’t sure were this relationship with Christopher would go, or even if she would ever be able to tell any of her friends of him. That idea bothered her, but somehow, she knew life would be changing for her and for the better.

Even if it would be a little more complicated.

 

To be continued. 

Read the conclusion of Part 1 of Once Upon a Moonlit Path on Sunday, February 28.

 

 

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