Page 38 of No Place in Time

At first, nothing seemed different as he approached Marrowden, but then he noticed the changes. He saw new repairs on old buildings, a different banner hanging near the square.

The physician’s house stood where it always had. Finn hesitated at the door, then he rapped once firmly.

Master Nicholas opened it himself. He stared.

“By God, it’s you,” the physician said slowly.

“Yes,” Finn said. “I… what…” Finally, he said, “How long have I been gone?”

“It’s early summer, lad,” Master Nicholas said, pulling him inside.

“What year?”

“The year of our Lord twelve hundred and ninety-eight.”

More than a year! The words landed hard. It felt like the ground beneath him had given way.

“Cecily?” he finally asked.

Nicholas’s expression shifted to something more somber.

“She waited for you, son,” Nicholas said. “Every morning, before the household stirred, she walked out to the edge of the woods where you used to come and go. She’d stand there for a little while, looking down the path, then come back to her work. She did it every day for seasons.”

“Where is she?”

“One day a coach came,” Nicholas continued. “A fine carriage. Well-kept horses. A man stepped down and spoke with her.”

Finn shook his head, unable to believe what he was hearing.

“A man? Who?”

Nicholas shook his head. “He didn’t give his name. He was polite. Looked prosperous.”

Prosperous. He couldn’t shake the word.

“She left with him?”

“Yes.”

“Where did he take her?”

“I don’t know,” Nicholas said again. “Toward the road south. Kentward, I’d guess.”

Finn leaned a hand against the door, steadying himself.

Cecily alone. Waiting for him. Leaving with a stranger because she had nothing left to wait for.

Finn ran a hand over the stubble on his chin.

Nicholas watched him for a moment, then went to a small chest and opened it. He counted out a few coins and pressed them into Finn’s palm.

“For the work you did,” he said.

Finn stared at the coins.

“Thank you,” he said hoarsely.

Nicholas nodded once. “I don’t know why you left, son, but go and find her. I pray she’s safe and well.”