Chapter 5

Destiny's heart WAS broken. And she felt like crying all over the hateful man all of....five minutes. THEN she got angry. In fact the more she thought about it, the madder she got.
What was with her anyway? It was like being in this time was affecting her emotions! Had Destiny lost her grit, her decorum, for heaven sakes!! She couldn't believe she told him that she loved him. It was like something out of a bad movie!!
She narrowed her eyes at him and decided to give him a piece of her mind. "Look, Captain Bligh!" she started, sarcastically. He looked at her without understanding. "Just forget what I said, all right? It's this time-travel thing that's got me all mixed up and saying things I don't mean."
He looked uncomfortable and looked out the ************************************************************ **** "Destiny... You don't have to say anything...."
She rolled her eyes. She's the one that made the horrifying confession and He's embarrased!!! "All I want, is to get out of this backwoods contraption, you people call transportation, and get some rest on a bed that isn't moving with the ocean. Then, I want to find a way to go back to the 20th century!"
Spencer briefly flicked a look her direction, then looked away. He shouldn't feel this way about her. Didn't she realize how hard it was for him to push her away? And to know that she loved him.... It was more than he ever dreamed of and at the same time, something that he could never endulged himself in. His future was uncertain. And what is she did find a way to go home, after he'd grown attached to her? He would be devasted.
For now, he'd ignore his heart, and listen to head. He had to find out what was going on at Ballington.
The silence hung thick and unnerving the rest of the way to the castle.
*************************
The Ballington Castle was truly a sight to behold. It was like something out of an BBC film! Beautiful landscaped grounds were bordered by a small villiage and crops that were neatly tended and well kept.
"Holy, moly! This is "some" family home!!" she said in one long breath.
For the first time in many miles, he smiled. "That's Ballington. It's good to see the old man has kept up the place. But then again, " he said, his tone cynical, "he always was more fond of his possessions than he was his own flesh and blood."
She looked at him with compassion. "Now Spence...Maybe he's changed. It's been years, since you've seen him."
He shook his head. "Men like him don't change, sweetheart. They just keep getting meaner and meaner as they get older."
Destiny ignored the sentiment, knowing he hadn't meant it. She watched him as the bitterness faded away as he looked upon his boyhood home. She knew that he loved Ballington. She prayed that things would work out for him. After all he'd been through, he certainly deserved to claim his place in the family.
As they entered the grounds, villigers stopped what they were doing and looked curiously at them as they rode by. Spence, unconciously started naming those he recognized.
"Ah...there's Mrs. Mintle. She would place her sweet meat pies on her window sills, and I would always come by and steal one or two."
Destiny gasped. "You didn't!"
Spence laughed. "I think that was why she kept putting them out there. She had to know it was me, yet she was always so nice to me."
"You're a likeable kind of guy, Spencer...er....excuse me, My Lord!!"
He arched his right brow. "I think I like the sound of that!"
She snorted an unladylike sound. "You would, you barbarian!"
He just laughed.
The coach stopped and the coachman opened their door. Spencer got out then helped her out. For the first time, he looked at what she was wearing and mentally kicked himself for not thinking about the dress sooner. "Blast it! Look at your bloody dress!"
She looked down and noticed it was a little wrinkled and sort of smelled like the sea, but other wise in remarkable good shape. "What? It just needs to be tossed in the washing machine and pressed a little."
"Washing machine?" he asked curiously.
She nodded, remembering that he wouldn't know. "It's a big square thing, that runs off electricity. You just toss your close in it, add a little soap and voila! Clean clothes."
He knew that they were way off the subject but he had to ask. It sound all so facinating to him. "And...What is electricity?"
She wrinkled her brow as she thought. "Well...I'm not really sure how it all works. It had somthing to do with Ben Franklin flying a kite with a key attached to it, while standing out during a lightening storm."
He blinked. "That makes no sense, whatsoever."
She laughed. "I know. I don't get it either! All I know, is we have these holes in our houses that we plug things into and it works!"
Spencer shook his head in an aggrevated gesture. This female was going to drive him batty. "Well, regardless. You still are not dressed properly. My father will think...."
"Spencer. So the prodical returns."
Spencer turned his head at the loud booming voice. There, in the doorway, stood William Spencer Phillip Kensington, the Duke of Ballington.
His father.
He nodded to the man. "Father. I see you are well," he said stiffly.
His fathers cool gaze swept over him and then latched onto Destiny. "And I see that you still flaunt your lightskirts in polite society," he said, with a look of disgust.
Destiny knew she'd been insulted, but not sure to what extent. "What's a lightskirt?" she whispered in Spencers ear.
"He's calling you a whore, my dear," he said aloud. Destiny could practically see his spine stiffening. He was mad.
And so was she! "I'm not a whore!" she defended with indignation. "I am an American citizen and I...."
Spencer clamped his hand over her mouth, shutting her up. "Excuse her, Father. We've had a rather long journey and we're both tired." When he was sure that she was going to stay quiet, he let her go and made a show of adjusting his jacket. "You summoned me here for a reason. Why don't you show us to our rooms, so that we can ******************************************************** ourselves and get this meeting over with."
The duke lifted his chin and flared his nostrils. "Very well. But I will show your doxy to the servents chambers. I'll not have you bring her into the household. You have cousins here. I demand that you not upset them."
Destiny let the "doxy" word slip by, because she realized she was about to be seperated from Spencer. He was her only link in this crazy time warp! "No," she whispered to Spencers, grabbing his arm. "Please don't let them seperate us."
Spencer looked down and saw that she was terrified. And he could only imagine how the servants would treat her. But the biggest concern was the male staff. He wouldn't be able to protect her, either. She would be fair game.
He did the first thing that he thought of. He wrapped a comforting arm around her and brought her close.
"Father," he began, "I think there has been a misunderstanding. Destiny is not my lightskirt or my doxy."
He brought her closer to the duke. Taking her hand he extended it out to the man. "Father, meet Destiny Kennsington. My wife."

Chapter 6

Chapter 6 "I can't believe you told him we were married!" Destiny blurted out as soon as they entered "their" bedroom. She narrowed her eyes at him and wished that he would, at least, look at her! "First you don't want anything to do with me, now, you have us sharing a bedroom!! What were you thinking?"
That was the problem, Spencer thought, he hadn't been thinking! He still avoided looking at her, unable to face her. He pretended to be in the *******s of his trunk. "Really, Destiny, my dear. You are making too much of this. It was the only excuse I could come up with to make sure that you stayed with me and not put in the servants quarters," he answered calmly.
Destiny threw her hands up in the air. "But you saw his face! He didn't believe you! He thinks that I'm your mistress!"
"Whether he believes me or not, it not the point. Your here, and your safe."
Destiny knew he had a point, but she hated the lie. Especially since she wished so much that it was the truth! It was hard enough being with him in the same room. But now, they had to share a bedroom. It was true, they'd shared the same quarters on the ship, but that was before she bungled everything up by professing her LOVE for him!
Wearily she sank down on the feather mattress, that was settled in the massive frame of the bed. "What's going to happen now, Spencer? How long will we have to stay here?"
Spencer finally looked over at her. He could see the lines of worry etched across her fine brow. He found himself walking towards her, dispite all his resolve to stay away. Carefully he sat down beside her and cupped her chin in his rough hand. "I'm sorry, about all this, Destiny. But I spoke the truth. It is the only way for you to be safe." He sighed and his hand left her chin and moved to smooth her brow. "We will have to try to convince father that you are not my mistress but truly my wife."
She felt spellbound gazing into his eyes. "But...but we're not..truly..married." But oh how she wished they were... Correction. She wished they were living in the 20th century and married.
Regret pierced through Spencer. Regret for how he treated her in the carriage. Regret for not returning her declaration of love. How could he undo his hurt?
"No. We are not," he said finally. "But we will have to pretend to be." He moved closer and his voice was growing huskier.
"What would I need to do?" she ask, knowing that she was teasing him, but longing for him to take her in his arms.
"Just. .." he began pulling her to him. "Follow me." With that, he wrapped his arms around her and closed his mouth over her own.
Even as the man was kissing her senseless, Destiny could not shake the confusion that clamored in her head. Jeez the man was either a big tease or had multiple personality disorder! Hot and cold, hot and cold...WHAT was WITH him??
But as he nibbled and sucked gently on her lips, she lost her train of thought. Who WANTED to think when a hunk like Spencer was...well...RAVISHING her?
His hands gripped desperately onto her shoulders, but she felt no pain. Without another thought she wrapped her arms up under his and pulled herself closer, molding herself to his hard body.
Spencer whispered her name as he broke from her lips and trailed kisses across her check and down her neck. Tremors of desire coursed through her body, and she felt her legs grow weak.
She felt herself being lifted into his arms and carried to the massive bed in the center of the room. She took the chance to see what was in his eyes, and was shocked at what she read in them.
She had expected desire, that much was a given. But she had not expected to see such yearning and possessiveness burning within his fiery gaze. And something else, too. Some thing that could be interpreted as...love? Oh Lord! She hated even to think it, much less hope for it. But she couldn't help it. It didn't matter that she was a stranger in a strange time, and that she didn't belong. All that mattered was this man and this time. Would she sacrifice her modern future to be able to live forever in this backwards time with this man? The answer was a most definate....YES.
So gently, he laid her down and then laid down beside her. She expected him, to start kissing her again, but he didn't.
For a moment he stared into her eyes, while bring a hand to her face and gently caressing her with his thumb. Destiny felt tears begin to clog her throat. She had been with him for just a few weeks, but already she couldn't imagine being without him. Especially if he always looked at her like her was doing now.
Heat seemed to blaze from his eyes as they roamed from her eyes to her mouth. His thumb followed and smoothed her lips, opening them slightly. She reacted intinctively, brushing her tongue over it. For a moment a look of surprise crossed his face, then...one of delight. She was a feisty one...his Destiny..
She brought up her hand and laced her fingers with his. "Spencer, I know it bothers you, what I said earlier, but I don't want you to feel obligated to respond. I know where you stand. But I don't care. I think you DO care for me, a little." she told him boldly.
A tortured expression came over his face and he breifly closed his eyes. "Destiny , I need to talk to you about that, I..."
A knock at the door interrupted him. "Master Spencer, your father expects you in the Library in ten minutes," a loud, snooty voice sounded from the other side of the door.
Sighing, Spencer rolled away from Destiny. "Thank you Matthews. Tell him we'll be right down." he called to the butler.
"Very good, sir."
Slowly he rose into a sitting position and raked an impatient hand through his hair. His hormones were running wild and protested at the interruption! And he needed so badly to tell her...
"Jeez, Spencer. You'd think you were five years old by the way that old coot talks to you!" Destiny complained. She had to complain about something! What had he wanted to tell her? Would she ever know?
Patiently, he smiled at her and helped her up. "He's known me since I was a boy. Old habits die hard, I guess," he explained. Looking around, he spotted the wardrobe and got an idea. He got up and opened the heavy wooden doors.
With a big smile and a grand sweep of his hand he presented Destiny with the *******s of the wardrobe. It was full of beautiful dresses.
"I wandered if my aunt still came to visit. She is about your size and she always insisted on taking over my room because she loved my view of the lake. I see that she has completely taken it over, since I've been gone!" he told her.
Destiny forced herself to push her frustrations aside and get off the bed. Clothes! She was going to get to wear pretty, CLEAN, clothes!
But she would definately deal with Spencer...later!

Chapter 7

Destiny could hardly breath!
Gasping for air, she squirmed around, trying to get comfortable in the corset she'd just had a maid lace her in. "This is torture!" she moaned.
Mauve, the duke's irish housekeeper, made a tsking sound as she pulled tighter. "There'll be no getting you in that gown unless we get this tighter!" she assessed.
"If you get it any tighter, I'm going to faint!"
Mauve just laughed. "You're a strange girl, you are! "
Destiny winced as Mauve gave another yank. "I'm a stupid girl, for ever going on that cruise in the first place. You know, my best friend said I should go to the beach. I should have listened!"
Mauve had no idea what the young woman was talking about, so she just laughed again. "There it tis!" she finally announced and tied the ribbons into a tight bow.
When Destiny was finally able to see herself in the gown that Mauve had thrown over her head, she had to admit, she never looked so slim. What's a few crushed ribs? She wondered if Spencer would be impressed.
He was.
"You're a vision to behold, my lady," a husky male voice sounded in the direction of the door. Hastily, Mauve quit the room.
Destiny twirled around to see Spencer coming her way, a sultry gleam in his eyes as they raked her green satin clad figure. "What do you think?" she asked with her arms spread wide.
Spencer took advantage of her position, and circled her waist with his arms. "I think that I want to forget the meeting with my father and schedule a new meeting with my 'wife.'"
Destiny felt a pang of regret that the word held such a lie. But she smiled and placed her hands around his neck. "You're not getting out of this, Spencer."
His shoulders drooped and he sighed. "Could I bribe you with kisses?"
She grinned saucily as his pouting little boy's face. "You can try, but sorry. No cigar!"
Spencer frowned. "No cigar?"
Destiny rolled her eyes and pushed away from him. "Never mind." She then winced as the sudden movement. "How did women wear these things?" she muttered tugging at her dress and the corset underneath.
Spencer cocked an arrogant brow. "I can help ease your discomfort by helping you out of it."
Destiny just stared at him like he'd grown two horns and a tail. "I guess corniness transcends centuries," she said with a shake of her head. "Does that line work on other women?"
Spencer shrugged. "Usually."
"Figures," she muttered and walked ahead of him to the bedroom door. "Well, come on. Let's hurry and get this over with."
Spencer smiled as he watched her walk ahead of him down the long hall way to the grand staircase. She was truly a woman of different manners from the women he'd known. But she possessed a goodness that drove right through him and soothed his weary soul. He wanted her like he never wanted another, yet he hesitated to take her. Dispite her lack of British class, she was every inch a lady, and every inch an innocent.
He wanted to cherish, not conquer.
But he could not. Not this woman. A woman who did not even belong to this century.
And not him. A man whose heart had frozen long ago.
*******
"Your brother is dead."
The words were spoken so bluntly and without a hint of emotion. Destiny and Spencer exchanged a quick glace at one another and then back to the duke. And that was when Destiny saw it. The faintest flutter of the Dukes eye. For a moment, just the barest bit of emotion crossed his features and Destiny realized that his son's death affected him much more than he let on.
Spencer acknowleged the words with a small nod and a lowering of his eyelids. He'd never been close to his brother and he'd suspected that this was why he was brought back, but it still hurt, hearing it.
"It is a great loss to the family. But this still doesn't tell me why you brought me here," Spencer told him, cooly. He had to hear the old man say the words.
The Dukes eyes narrowed. "You know bloody well, why I brought you here! You are now my heir and I intend to make sure that you won't make waste of the title once I'm gone!
Spencer's jaw clentched, then unclentched. Destiny reached for his hand and to her surprise, he took it in his own and squeezed it. He needed her! This revelation filled her heart, near to bursting. Spencer could be a real tough guy when he wanted to be, but at this moment, she was going to give him all the support that he needed.
"I have never wanted to lay aside my responsibilities," Spencer finally said. "It is you who ran me off in the first place. I can't be what you want, Father. I am capable of running my own life and doing things the way I see fit. If I am to live here, you have to acknowledge this."
"You are a bloody renegade and you always were! If you run this good name into the ground, I'll haunt you from my grave, you see if I won't!" the duke charged, then immidiately started coughing.
Spencer flinched but didn't otherwise react. So, Destiny went to him, and poured him a glass of water from the pitcher beside him on the table. "Are you all right?" she asked once he'd taken a drink and seemed to get control.
Wearily he closed his eyes and nodded. "Yes, yes, I'm all right. I'd like to be alone now if you don't mind," he told them.
"Of course," Spencer said. "Come, my dear."
Destiny took his offered arm and they quit the room. But the moment they were out in the hallway and out of earshot from the duke, Destiny let him have it.
"How can you be so cold, Spencer!" Destiny charged. "Can't you see that he's not nearly as mean as he lets on. He really cares about you, but just doesn't know how to show it!"
"He's hated me all my life, Destiny. You know not what you speak of," he answered coldly. "You would do well to stay out of this matter. It does not concern you."
Destiny thrust up her chin in defiance and blinked to hold back her tears. "All right, Mr. Macho! Carry the whole world on your shoulders all alone. Just don't come knocking on my door, when you realize that you can't handle it!"
With that, Destiny ran up the giant staircase and out of Spencers sight.
"You're a fool, Kennsington," he whispered to himself. But he was also proud. He had to handle his father, his own way.
He wouldn't acknowledge that his way has always been to run away...

Chapter 8

Destiny had only been in the bedroom, where she'd run to, only just a minute or two, when she heard a sound coming from the door. She looked to find someone had slid a small piece of paper under the doorway. Curious, she walked to the door and picked it up.
Meet me at the gate, outside of the garden. Destiny smiled as she read the note. It must be from Spencer. He wanted to apologize for being such a hard-head!
With a smile on her face (and a quick tug on her corsets) she flew out of the door and made her way down the back staircase to the outside door.
As she made her way through the garden, she couldn't help but admire the beauty of the roses and meticulously shaped shrubs that framed the narrow pathway. Spencer's dad may be a big crab, but he sure was to be commended on keeping the garden such a lovely place. She made a mental note to come back out, when she had more time to enjoy it. More and more she was coming to realize that she was probably not going home anytime soon. How would she manage it, afterall? Was she to wait for a storm and throw herself in it? Or did it have to be on a ship? It was beginning to seem so hopeless.
Yet a part of her was not as heartbroken at this throught as one might think. Being with Spencer for the rest of her life would be heaven on earth. Even if she went forward to her own time, she would never get him out of her heart.
Putting dreary thoughts out of her mind, she turned her mind, instead, to her meeting with Spencer. But when she arrived outside of the garden, he was not to be found.
Destiny frowned, but then shrugged her shoulders. He would be here, soon. Maybe she was just early. She found an old bench, slightly covered by the shrubs that were growing outside of the fence. It put her in a complete shadow, and she soon grew chilled.
Just when she was about to give up and go back to the house, an old woman appeared. Destiny's eyes widen with surprise as she took in the woman appearance. Within a face that resembled leather, were set two sharp blue eyes that seemed to drill holes right through Destiny. She was stooped over and used a cane. On her body was draped the most awful combination of colored materials that Destiny had ever seen. She reminded Destiny of the wicked witch from "Hansel and Gretel". As a matter of fact, she was sort of looking at her like she could gobble her up and spit her out, right then!
Slowly Destiny stood, giving her an advantage of height over the strange woman. It didn't work. She was still scared half out of her head!
Just when Destiny was ready to bolt, the woman spoke, "So you are the time-traveler."
Destiny froze. "What did you just say?"
The woman gave her a look that one might give a simpleton. "Do you have a problem with hearing, my dear?"
Destiny blinked, bemused. "Uh, no, no I don't. How...How do you know..."
The woman waved an irritated hand in the air and interupted her. "Never mind, how I know. I've come to tell you that I can help you get back... if you want," she added mysteriously.
"Of course, I want to get back home!" Destiny quickly interjected. This is what she wanted from the beginning! She wanted to go home more than anything!
She was almost sure of that.
Bringing her thoughts back down to the woman who sat staring at her like she could read Destiny's mind, her eyes narrowed. "Are you some sort of witch?"
The woman smiled. Well, she sort of smiled. Her lips twitched slightly. "Let's just say I'm an angel of mercy."
Destiny gasp. "You're an angel?" She immediatly thought of the popular angel show on t.v.
The old woman actually rolled her eyes. "Heaven preserve me!" she muttered under her breath, just loud enough for Destiny to hear. "We haven't progressed much intellectually in two hundred some-odd years I see." She shook her head causing her loose grey hair to fall about her face.
"Look, Granny!" Destiny addressed sarcastically. "Are you going to insult me all day, here, or are you going to help me out?"
The woman through her wrinkled arms in the air. "You try to help someone and get nothing but more demands!" She turned and began to walk away. "Follow me."
For a moment Destiny didn't move. She could have sworn that she heard the woman use a New York accent, just for a moment. Could she also be from the future? Destiny shook her head, as if trying to clear it. No, surely not. Yet...she would have never imagined that she could go through time, either.
Everything was so confusing!
"Are you going to stand there all day or what?"
THAT was definatly a New Yorkish accent! Destiny began to follow the woman. Something smelled fishy and she was going to get to the bottom of it!

Chapter 9

It was a shack that Destiny was brought to. A shack that smelled like... tortillas?
Destiny peered around the dimmed room with undisguised curiosity. It looked like a junk shop! There were things on top of things on top of more things. And as her eyes lit on the fireplace where a large ********************************l grill had been set up over it, her suspicions were confirmed.
Sure enough, there was a stack of tortillas.
Now, Destiny was almost certain that Mexican food was not a popular menu item in modern day England. And she'd bet her bottom dollar that it was practically unheard of in eighteenth century England!
She was just about to tell the woman so, when the woman walked over to the fire and took a small pot that had also been hanging over the flames. Carefully, she placed it on the table and began to stir. After a few seconds she took what looked like leaves from a jar and dramatically sprinkled them into the brew.
Destiny grew impatient. "What..."
"Shhh!" the woman snapped back, effectively cutting off Destiny's question. She peered into the pot. "I see tall buildings...I see birds that carry people in it's belly... I see...
"I don't see anything!" Destiny's voice sounded right behind the woman, startling her.
"It's there!" she declared waving towards the brew. Only I can see!"
Destiny rolled her eyes. "Oh, please!" She took the woman by the arm and turned her towards her. "Look. This is all very entertaining, but I don't have time for this. If I don't get back, Spencer is going to start looking for me."
The woman gave her a look of disqust. "You take all the fun away from an old woman!"
Destiny gave her a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry, I really am. But I know that you have either been to my time, or you are from there. And I really need for you to level with me. This is very important!"
"Alright, alright! But it's not going to be nearly as much fun," she warned.
"I'll risk it."
The woman led her to a small door that Destiny would have to stoop to go through.
"This is what I wanted to show you." The woman held out her hand to the door.
Destiny looked unconvenced. "A door."
But then the woman opened the little door, and Destiny almost fainted.
*********
For the third time in ten minutes, Spencer knocked on the bedroom door. "Destiny, please open the door. I didn't mean to sound so awful to you. I just want to apologise... Destiny?"
Still there was no sound from the room. With a frustrated sigh, Spencer started to leave, but something stopped him.
In the short time he'd known Destiny, he'd never known her to ignore him. Yell at him, snap at him, or laugh at him, yes. Ignore? No.
Something wasn't right! Cautiously he pushed on the door and found it open.
Empty! Where in the devil had she gotten off to?
He started thinking of all the things that she could get into. Correction...All the trouble that she could get herself into, and he started to worry.
Like a light, he was out of the room and flying down the front stairway, nearly running over his father in the process.
"Here, now! What's are you about, running me over like a wild boar on a hunt!" His father blustered, brushing invisible dust off his clothes.
"I have to find, Destiny. Something has happened to her!" Spencer said quickly, continuing down the staircase. The Duke shrugged. "Good riddence, I say! This may be the first good piece of fortune you've had in years, Spencer."
He just couldn't let that comment slide. Angrily he spun around and glared at his father. "You will refrain from making unseemly comments about my...about Destiny," he bit out stumbling over calling her his wife. "I will not have it!"
His father narrowed his eyes. "What will you do? Run away?"
"What ever I do about it, you can be assured that you won't like it!" With that he quit the room.
The duke looked thoughtful for a moment, then with a small smile playing about his mouth, he turned and walked up the stairs.
*****************
"Oh my gosh! This can't be real...Can it?:"
The old crone, rolled her eyes. "Sheesh! Young people! You show them something face to face and they're still unbelievers," she said with a sad shake of her head. Destiny straightened. "Yeah, but this could be some sort of witches trick!" Destiny countered.
The woman looked offended. "Who said I was a witch?"
"Well...What about all that mumbo jumbo over the pot, huh? And how do you explain the fact that you know so much of my time?" Destiny pointed towards the open door.
"Because I've been to where you're from! I've been crossing over for years. I didn't create this door. I found it!" the woman explained.
Excitement and dread began to stir within Destiny's chest. "You mean...this is a time portal?"
The old woman smiled and destiny realized that the woman had dentures. "You got it! You can walk right through and you'd be home."
"But...will I be in my right time?"
The old woman scratched her head. "I don't know how it works. I just think about a time and poof I'm there."
Destiny stared at the door. Here was her chance. This whole bazaar episode of her life would be over. She could forget it. Put it all behind her. She could leave this backword world that didn't have the modern conveniences that she was so used to. She could leave the strange people who believed that she was such a commoner.
She could leave Spencer.
But she would never, ever forget him.
"I can really leave..." she murmured to herself aloud.
"But I'm begging you to stay," Spencer's voice sounded behind her.