A Timely Romance

By LeAnn Mathis

When a song magically transports Rebecca, a young, grieving widow, to the Middle Ages, she is astonished to be reunited with her husband. But his first words reveal a cruel irony. Trapped with no money, no food, and her husband's doppelganger, she must find a way to get back home. Which is even harder to do when Vikings are on the prowl and leaving might mean saying goodbye to her heart again.

A clean and wholesome romance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hearth Publications
• Release date: Aug 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370364060

LeAnn Mathis

The world itself is an inspiration. My Dad was in the army so my family got to see quite a bit of it growing up. I've taken that variety into my writing and I create stories based on whatever inspires me at the moment. Questions about my lunch meal, a Hawaiian Place of Refuge, and things my kids do have all been transformed, and I hope you enjoy what they grew into. Happy Reading. -LeAnn Mathis (The pen name for Stephanie Neilan when the books are just for fun.)

Book preview

A Timely Romance

LeAnn Mathis

Copyright 2016 By Hearth Publications

Smashwords edition

All rights reserved

Email [e-mail]

for rights and permissions or to contact the author

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Cover art by Rebecca Belliston

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty- Five

Epilogue

Thank You and Sneak Peek

Chapter One

Rebecca locked the car door behind her and glanced at the people moving around her. The town might have been authentically medieval, but the visitors certainly weren’t. Most of them moseyed toward the entrance in t-shirts and shorts. Still, enough knights escorted their fair maidens down the dirt walkways toward the town that she didn’t feel completely out of place.

She lifted the edge of her dress and began walking. The fabric was thicker and softer than what any of the other women were wearing, and beading transformed it into something exquisite. With her hair pulled back into a net and secured with sapphire studded pins, she looked like the princess her husband intended her to be. It had been expensive, but it matched Alexander’s chain mail armor, and they wanted the historical accuracy. After all, it’s not every day you renew your wedding vows.

Their first wedding had been simple. It had been at another historical re-enactment site and knights, friends of her husband, held a tournament in their honor afterward. Then they traveled to Cancun, Mexico for their honeymoon. The ocean had been refreshing, the shows were fun, but the ruins occupied the majority of their time.

They used their yearly vacation days after that to visit other historical sites. This place had been her husband’s pick. He had seen it on the History Channel, and they had been saving their money ever since. She blinked back tears. He should have been here. The Middle Ages were his favorite time in history. He studied everything he could about it in his free time. He loved the code of chivalry and joined the medieval club in high school and college before becoming a re-enactor on the weekends. He would have been bouncing up and down like their terrier, pulling her behind him as he dashed toward the entrance.

She wouldn’t be renewing any vows today, but she could still visit in his honor. A picture in her clutch – the closest he would ever get to this place.

Once inside, the modern world fell away. Crowds flowed around the various stalls and exhibitions. Punch and Judy entertained the kids while demonstrators cooked, sewed, and made soap.

The sun darkened while she ate her lunch, a hearty soup inside a bread bowl. The other tourists began to leave, but she had grown up in the rainy side of Washington and wasn’t going to let a few drops cut her day short.

The cathedral was next on her list. During one of their many planning sessions, her husband explained how no town would have been considered complete without one in their midst. It was the cornerstone of their lives and how they made peace with the world around them – knowing that something greater waited for those who were faithful.

It was a nice belief, but she wasn’t sure she subscribed to it anymore. She wanted to, but if a just God did exist, then she would not be visiting this place on her own. Alexander would have been next to her.

Her shoes padded softly against the chapel floor. The priest was probably on break somewhere. All the pews were empty as she made her way to the wooden pulpit where the priest distributed sacraments and gave sermons. The grain was smooth under her fingers. She moved around the edge and saw sheet music. The lines were simple etches compared to modern day stanzas, and the words were Middle English.

She read over it quickly. Then reread it. She had learned a few songs from this time period to surprise her husband on his birthday, but this was not one of them. Her fingers traced the words as she hummed its tune. It perfectly expressed the pain she struggled so hard to contain. A tear slid down her cheek. She turned the page over, looking for the author, but it was blank.

The room had grown darker as the storm outside increased, but no one else had sought shelter in the cathedral, yet. A harp lay in the corner. Like everything else, it was accurate for the time period. She ran her fingers along the strings. Her mother made her take lessons when she was a little girl, and she still remembered the basics. As she plucked, the notes rose and filled the rafters of the church. Her own voice joined them.

Take me away to another place, another time.

Take me away. To be with one I long to see.

Take me away where no more pain can hold my heart.

Take me away where faithfully I’ll ever be

Within the arms of one I love.

A love renowned and never lost

Though now I feel the pain of loss.

If I can be forever free

With my true love – united we,

Then take me away

Another place. Another time.

Take me away. Where they can be forever mine.

Take me away. Where joy runs free and I can be

With my true love eternally.

Take me away. Take me away. Take me away.

Just as she finished, a clash of lightning struck the building, filling it with light and causing the building to rumble under its force. She jumped, but it was a fitting end. She returned the harp to its spot. Rain or no rain, she was done here.

She picked up her bag and looked out the window. The storm had intensified, but it didn’t look like it was going to lighten up anytime soon. The dirt roads were probably saturated now, and she remembered what happened on her last mud run. The dress was too expensive to ruin, and she didn’t have the proper shoes for running anyway. Sighing, she headed for the front door. It opened in front of her. Alexander stood in the doorway, shod in knightly armor.

Chapter Two

Alexander? Rebecca whispered.

He frowned at her. Who are you? What are you doing here?

She shook her head. Not Alexander. Just a look alike. She took a step back and tried to control her shaking hands.

I-I was just looking around. I’m sorry. I’ll go now.

She made a move to step past him, but his body blocked the way.

What did you say?

I said I’m going now.

His eyebrows knit together and he leaned closer to her. Like he didn’t understand her. She thought back to his short sentence and realized he had spoken in Middle English, the same language the song had been in. While it fit the time period, did he expect her to talk like that as well?

She glanced down at her dress. He probably thought she was one of the actors here and was trying to teach her a lesson about staying in character. She shook her head and said in her best accent, I’m sorry if this area was off limits, but there was no sign to indicate otherwise and as you can see, she waved her hand toward the church’s interior, I didn’t harm anything. Now, if you’ll excuse me? She tilted her head toward the door, but he didn’t move.

He continued to look at her. When did you enter? I didn’t see you arrive.

Not a very effective knight then, are you? She smiled, but his facial expression didn’t change. Oh, you want to play it that way? She straightened her spine. He wasn’t her boss, and it was time for him to realize his mistake. Look, like I said, I’m done here. Now step aside so I can leave.

He didn’t move. Instead, he asked, Where are your companions?

She had no intention of telling him she was alone. Places like this attracted the occasional crazy stalker. They’re waiting for me. That’s where I was heading when we ran into each other.

They should not have left you. It is not safe for a lady of your stature to be out alone. I will lock up and escort you to your companions.

Rebecca blinked. Did he really mean to follow her? She had loved having a different blond hair, green-eyed hunk by her side, but after losing her real knight, she didn’t need this pretend one. Thank you. That is very kind but completely unnecessary. I assure you that I can find my way on my own. This town is not that big.

She made a move to go past him, but he stopped her. Not without me, you won’t. It would go against everything I believe in to leave you before you’re reunited with the safety of your companions.

Her fists clenched. He realized she wasn’t an actor anymore, but he was taking his pretend role way too seriously. Some girls might have appreciated it, but she did not. If he couldn’t take a hint, then she would ditch him with security.

They stepped away from the church together. The mud squished around her shoes and she thought about removing them, but it would cause even more damage to her hose unless she took those off, too. They went all the way up so she didn’t want to remove them. Especially not in front of him.

On second thought, maybe she did. Her husband always used to joke that her foot odor was potent enough to take down any man…. She glanced at her companion out of the corner of her eye and pictured him lying flat on his back. Her socks in his hand as he stared unconscious at the sky. Wait. No. Scratch that. Over the face. Over the face. Socks over the face. She calmed her breathing. Yes. That was the perfect image.

Are you all right?

Yes. I was just, uh, worried about my dress. The mud will ruin it.

I’m sure your maid will be able to clean whatever sticks to the hem.

Rebecca raised an eyebrow. Maid? He thinks I own a maid? Maybe that’s why he latched onto me. He thinks I’m rich. She picked up the edge of her dress and lifted it just enough to avoid the bulk of the mud. No such luck for me. I’m going to have to wash this dress out myself.

The knight looked at her for a moment before nodding his head.

Why didn’t he leave? My clothes will dry out, but the rain can’t be good for his chain mail. You know, you don’t have to do this. I’ll be just fine.

The knight shook his head. You don’t think much of me as a knight do you?

Rebecca turned her head and kept walking toward the entrance. They’d run into security or a group of people eventually. Either one would do. The knight fell into step beside her.

The only people she saw were actors rushing from one building to the other. They hailed each other in Middle English. A supervisor must have come through recently and scared the Modern English out of everyone.

As they walked past the area with the gateways should have been, all she saw were open fields. She hadn’t parked that far away. She shielded her eyes with her hand and looked again. Where’s my car? I was legal. They wouldn’t impound it.

Are your companions late?

Rebecca bit her lip. They must be. I’m sorry, this is truly embarrassing, but wasn’t the entrance right here? I seem to have gotten turned around.

The knight tilted his head slightly to the side. There are several ways into and out of this town.

"Yes, but the main entrance. Wasn’t it right here?"

Most travelers choose to come in this way…is something the matter?

She glanced at her companion. He probably would refuse to acknowledge the word car. The ‘litter’ I was riding in was supposed to be waiting for me just beyond the entrance, but I don’t see it.

The knight glanced at the field in front of them. The rain is coming down hard. Perhaps they decided to wait for you at the local inn. They would have shelter for the animals there as well as food and drink.

Rebecca nodded. Too stunned to do much more. When he nudged her elbow she followed. There would be other people at the inn. There was safety in numbers.

As they walked, it got darker. No streetlights for them. It was isolating. She slowed her steps, allowing more and more space to separate them. If he was leading her somewhere other than the inn, she wanted room to maneuver and try to get away. That was the plan…until she slipped in the mud, sprawling headfirst. Stupid shoes.

The knight’s hand reached down to help her. I’m sorry. I should never have allowed that to happen. Would you like to hold onto my arm the rest of the way? If you are tired, then I can carry you there.

Oh, yeah, you would like that. Wouldn’t you, knight boy? No, thanks, I’m fine. Lead on. She wiped down her dress, waiting for the knight to continue, but he didn’t move until she did. The gap between them was gone.

They finally stopped in front of a wooden door. Torches stood on either side, illuminating a sign of crossed keys above turkey legs next to a stein. Rebecca walked inside and shook the excess water off her body. The knight’s armored shoes clinked against the floor as he entered behind her. She hadn’t noticed before. Even her husband hadn’t been that hard-core. This guy is way too serious about his dress-up.

Tables covered with plates of food and tankards lined the room. Every one of the dishes belonged to a person who was now staring in her direction. None of them had modern clothing on. Did everyone else go home? I was sure they stayed open until at least five. I hadn’t been in the chapel that long. Rebecca looked around for a clock but didn’t see one on the walls. She did, however, see a fireplace and several candles lighting the room.

As people resumed their conversations, the knight asked, Do you see anyone you recognize?

Rebecca shook her head. He led her to one of the less populated tables and she took a seat. Good eve, good sirs, she said to the men across from her.

The men nodded shortly. To you too, my lady.

This is some frightful weather. I knew it was going to rain, but I had not been expecting this storm to brew up. She indicated the weather outside.

Aye. It’s the worst one we’ve had this year, the man on her left with