Lost in the pages

Immersion

I felt myself become lost in the words on the pages as the descriptions of seventeenth centaury France drew me deeper and deeper in to the story. The lights around me flickered and everything to include the street lights outside went out. I groaned and put the book down and uncurled from the couch and got up.

I walked to the front door and looked out; the street was silent and even the pub on the far end of the street was in darkness, power cut obviously. I walked behind the counter and opened a drawer pulling out a candle in an old fashioned holder and grabbed the old box of matches that were kept next to it in the drawer.

I took the candle back to the back of the shop and sat it next to my empty mug before striking a match and lighting the wick. I sat back and pulled the blanket up over my legs and looked at the flame as it leapt and crackled into life before settling down into a steady flickering. I grabbed the book and lay down with my head on the couch arm and carried on reading.

This was my kind of weather; the kind where you can just take a book and loose yourself into it. I stifled a yawn and rubbed my eyes.

...There was a scent of fresh hay and the sound of shouting. I sat up and looked around at the walls of wood with gaps between letting in the sounds from outside, my breathing felt  restricted I looked down and felt my eyes grow wide I was wearing a dark green corset and long skirt with many petticoats under it.

"What the hell?" I got up from where was sitting in a pile of hay. I walked toward the large open doors of what I now understood to be a barn.

I stepped out into a dirty cobbled street that was filled with the sound of a busy day with people selling bread and vegetables and meat. I turned around taking in the timber framed buildings and the blue sky peeking between them. I put my hand on my head this was bizarre I took a step back on the cobbles

"Watch out" I heard the sounds of hooves and the rattle of wheels. I turned and saw two large horses pulling a carriage heading toward me. Arms encircled my waist and I was pulled across the street out of the way of the carriage. "Are you alright?" I turned to look at the man that had saved me from being trampled.

He was standing at least six feet tall; his hat that was tipped slightly forward was wide brimmed and dark leather and looked like it had seen many a season in all weathers. His body was covered in a heavy brown leather Jacket that was fastened with buckles, a belt was slung around his hips with a sword hitting him mid thigh with a decorative cage around the handle and a pistol tucked in the other side. My hands held onto his arms feeling the weather beaten leather incasing solid upper arms.

"Madam, are you alright?" he asked again tipping his head, his collar length dark hair curled up against the high neck of his jacket

"What?" I said taking as deep of a breath as my corset would allow

"Ah you are not from Paris?" There was a deep chuckle to his gravely tone

"No... wait Paris?" I put my hand to my head and looked around at the street

"You need to be mindful of the carriages in the city" he said

"I... Wait" I touched the hard leather plate that was molded around his shoulder that extended down his right arm in movable sections to just above his elbow. Each piece has embossed scrolls and vines and flowers all culminating in a large Fleur-de-lis in the center of the shoulder panel "This is Paris?" he frowned at me

"Yes" he nodded "Do you not know where you are?"

"No, one minute I was sleeping and the next I was here" I gestured around me

"Paris isn't a city to be lost in" He took a deep breath "Will you be alright, I have to..." he gestured across the street where three other men were standing watching us with expressions of amusement

"I'll be fine" I nodded "Thank you" he touched the brim of his hat tipping it back uncovering deep blue eyes framed by long lashes and smiled at me. He started to cross the street walking backwards.

"May I know the name of the woman I saved?" he called out

"My name... it's Estelle"

"Be careful of the streets Estelle" He turned on his heel and walked to where the others were standing; the bigger of the men clapping him on the shoulder and shaking his head. 

I watched them mount on to horses and travel away in the opposite direction. I moved through the streets taking in the sights and the sounds, I rounded the corner and gasped as Notre Dame rose up above all the other buildings.

I had been to Paris a few times while growing up and traveling with my parents both of whom were travel writers and made my education traveling the world. I had seen Notre Dame several times but the city had grown up around it; this Notre Dame dominated the skyline of the city.

I headed toward it, if this was a dream it was one of the most realistic dreams. I smoothed my hands over my skirts and felt bulge to the side, I moved to the side of the bridge and reach into what I discovered to be a pocket and pulled out a small leather pouch, I frowned and opened it and tipped a handful of coins in to the palm of my hand.