was the rumor spread, and who, gentle reader, did it?
Clutching the paper to my chest, I spun in a circle, thrilled to my core. It was better than I had hoped. The joyful faces of Libby and Mrs. Trimbleton reflected my own, and I rushed to them, wrapping them both in a big hug. Mrs. Trimbleton paused a moment before hugging back, but Libby squeezed me immediately. It was over.
****
As the news had predicted, I was inundated with an obscene amount of correspondence, invitations, and visits from people offering sincere apologies, along with some not-so-sincere apologies. However, one face I did not see was that of Arynna. I was curious as to what she thought of the whole situation, but my curiosity faded quickly. I spent the morning in Morgan's company as we went over wedding details and plans to have the banns read. The true highlight of the morning came when my voucher to Almack's was restored.
Amelia was there to grin with me as I accepted the prized paper from Wains. "Almack's." I sighed, reverence lacing my tone. Though I had to admit, it was more of the idea than the actual place that held my fancy.
After excusing myself from Amelia's and Morgan's company, I rushed upstairs and placed the voucher next to the letter from Nanna. Earlier that morning I had asked Libby if she had taken the dress to be pressed, the one I was missing. She said she hadn't, and I suspected I'd never find that dress again. That was all right with me. I knew I was where I belonged.
A fuzzy sensation began in my head as my fingers traced the letter once more. I sat down and waited for the dizziness to pass. I blinked a few times, then shook my head and stood carefully. As I left the room I had a vague feeling of déjà vu. The hallway was more familiar, and flickers of memories flashed in my mind for brief seconds before they disappeared.
Odd, I thought as I walked into the parlor where Amelia sat sipping tea with Morgan. Seeing her face sent a rush of memories to the front of my mind; Amelia and I whispering behind a plant as we pointed to Lord Rake. Amelia's brother's wedding. Chasing her through the manor of her country estate when we'd been little girls. All these flooded my mind.
Gasping, I turned to Morgan and relived moments with him, too. Morgan smiling at me from across the room, making my cheeks heat. Morgan dancing with me and joking. Morgan as a young boy, his mother scolding him for staring at me and being impolite. His ears had glowed red. Everything from my childhood and adolescence that would have happened had I truly been born in this time filled my head, causing me to waver slightly on my feet.
Morgan was there in an instant, supporting me. "Jocelyn! Love, what is wrong? You nearly swooned!" I recognized his concerned expression as I had another memory of him carrying me when I had tripped in the park.
"You carried me when I was six, after I fell. Didn't you?" I asked.
His expression was first shocked, then it turned to wonder. "Yes, I did," he answered reverently. "That was the first time I saw you. You were so beautiful but stubborn. You didn't want my help."
I giggled as I remembered resenting his help but not for reasons he assumed. I'd been embarrassed to be carried by such a handsome boy. "I was embarrassed," I stated.
"Were you? That explains the lovely red color of your face. I thought you were merely hot. It was summer, after all." He snickered, and I realized he knew he had embarrassed me and had probably done it on purpose.
"If you knew, then why did you do it? Why didn't you just help me? You didn't need to carry me," I scolded playfully.
"And turn down the opportunity to hold you in my arms?" He grinned mischievously. "Never."
"Good answer." My eyes locked with his, and I saw myself reflected in their depths.
"Honest answer," he replied. After a moment his grin gave away to a questioning stare. "When did you begin to remember?"
"Only a few moments ago," I answered.
"Ahh, thus the swooning."
"Yes, thus the swooning."
"What about me? Do you remember me at all?" Amelia asked as she came over to us.
"Yes! Everything, even hiding behind that wretched plant so we could spy on Lord Heath." I giggled as Amelia blushed profusely.
"Yes, well…" she began before rolling