Lost Through Time (On Hold)

II

May 31st, 1780

Adelaide looked up to her scarf rescuer, a tall man with shoulder length deep brown hair and green eyes that reminded her of the forests back home, his accent was English, and all Adelaide could do was stare at the handsome stranger before uttering, "Y..yes thank you! That damn wind blew it off." She reached for the delicate piece of silk.
The stranger regarded it once more before handing it back to her, "If I was this scarf I'd never want to leave the neck of such a beautiful woman." He smiled at Adelaide as a stray bit of black hair crossed in front of her green eyes. She pushed it away blushing slightly.

"Is there any way I can repay you for your kindness? Mister...? She trailed off leaving the last word a question.

The man nodded towards a tavern illuminated by the mid afternoon sun, "Care for a drink?" He conveniently left out his name. The mysterious man couldn't have been much older than Adelaide's nineteen years. She thought about his request, wary of drinking with a stranger but after a moment she reluctantly nodded her head yes.

"My mother warned me never to accept things from strangers. So you are lucky I am in your debt." She pursed her lips before walking briskly off to the tavern.

He eventually caught up to her, taking her hand and placing a soft kiss on it, "Lucien Karstairs, there now I'm no longer a stranger to you."

Adelaide removed her hand swiftly from the stranger's grip, keeping it close to her side replying back, "Adelaide Dragos." Her accent rolled thick as she said her name.

A short walk later the pair were seated in a dimly lit tavern exchanging the usual pleasantries. Lucien sat back legs crossed listening to Adelaide tell him about where she was from, "We only plan to be here for a short time, about a month after my mother arrives." She spoke as she patiently waited for the woman to take their drink orders. He waived down the serving girl, hastily ordering himself a beer, looking to Adelaide expectantly, "A draft of absinthe, extra sugar." She clasped her hands in front of her.

"Excellent choice, I was expecting something more..." Lucien wrapped his arms behind his head, leaning even further back into his chair, something Adelaide didn't think could be anymore possible.

"Like what?" Adelaide said almost bored. Almost as if she's heard it a million times before.

"Feminine." Lucien responded casually. "Nice to know you are more than a pretty face."

"You can tell all that from something a simple as a drink order?" She said quirking an eyebrow.

"I've been told I'm very intuitive."

"Is that so?"

As they bounced back and forth exploring each other's background, the tavern noise and busiling of the outside streets seemed to drown itself out amidst the conversation. Adelaide seemed to find herself more relaxed as time went on, that was until she heard the distant chimes of Big Ben marking the hour. She jolted up in surprise, almost catching the attention of the other bar patrons. Lucien looked up to her in surprise, "What's the matter?"

"Dracu 'sfânt." Adelaide silently cursed in her native tongue. "Is it that late already? I have to go!" she looked upon Lucien's face in desperation.

"Why don't I escort you. I can request a carriage, it can be here shortly." He suggested.

"I wouldn't want to be any sort of trouble."

"I insist it's no trouble at all. What's a few minutes out of my day to help a beautiful creature such as yourself." Lucien leaped from his chair toward the door of the Tavern, grabbing Adelaide's hand in the process. As he pulled her away, she was able to throw a few coins on the table for the drinks before continuing outside.
Lucien bounced outside toward the busy streets, looking around he spotted a ride. He placed his index finger and thumb to his lips, whistling to grab its attention. As it came up to them, Lucien grabbed Adelaide's hand to assist her inside. The seats were uncomfortable and threadbare, and the interior smelled of mold. Adelaide had to hold her hand up to her mouth to keep from gagging.

"I know this isn't something you're accustomed to, but I hope it'll do." Lucien shyly smiled.

Adelaide with her mouth still covered by her hands, "No, no. It's fine, it'll do."

"Where to?" shouts the carriage driver, impatiently waiting.

"The Drago's summer home. Or if you require something simpler, the very big house on the eastern side of town." She said it in such a tone that was sure to annoy the driver.

Lucien chuckled at the remark Adelaide made, keeping it to himself. Such fire. He thought, it couldn't possibly contain itself inside such a creature. "And make haste!"

* * *

As the Carriage bobbled along the cobbled stoned road, Adelaide looked over to Lucien breaking the silence, "Tell me more about yourself, Luc. I've been the only really talking about myself, let's hear a story from you."  

Lucien looked out of the window toward the empty valley that spread out before them, "Not too much to tell. I live alone in the more southern part of London. I inherited the house from him shortly before he died, on my twentieth birthday. Come to think of it that's almost a year ago now"

"Do you mind me asking how he died?"

"Natural causes. He was a widower, my mother passed away when I was very young. I don't remember her much. I spend most of my time reading under the giant oak behind the house or in the market simply watching the people go about their business." He looked back to her expectantly.

"I understand a lot about being alone, my father works so much I barely see him, and my mother likes to keep busy." Adelaide looked up to Lucien's face, seeing him lightly smile at her. "What's that smile for?"

"It's just nice to know someone who understands."

* * *

The Drago's home loomed in the distance, the dark paint making the shadows come alive.

"You know, for someone from a different land your English is excellent." He smiled at her changing the subject.

"My father was very strict when it came to my studies. Languages, fencing, art. He said I'd need it all." Lucien pondered on this as the carriage came to a slow bumpy stop. The driver, a pudgy man with a scowling face, opened the door and held his hand out to Lucien expecting payment. Placing a small sack of coins in the man's hands he got out and walked briskly over to Adelaide's door, opening it and now holding his hand out to her, helping her gracefully step out. Lucien called over his shoulder for the man to wait.

The pair walked up to the dark wood doors. Looking around Lucien whistled, "This is some place you have here Addy." He whistled through his teeth taking in the foreign architecture.

It's home, I guess." She shrugged placing her hand on the door handle getting ready to head inside When suddenly the door whooshed open, revealing a petite woman, with soft chestnut brown hair and gleaming brown eyes.

"Mother!" Adelaide caught her balance embracing her mother tightly. She said some things in Romanian before realizing she was in the presence of an Englishman. "When did you arrive?" The smile on her face was starting to make her cheeks hurt, but she was too happy to care.

Ioana looked over to Lucien, then back at her daughter, "Only moments before you, I wanted to surprise you my dear. And who is this gentleman?"

"Lucien Karstairs ma'am, pleasure to meet you." He stretched out his hand introducing himself before Adelaide had the chance to.

"Mother, Luc has been kind enough to show me around the city this past week in your absence." She smiled so warmly at him that his cheeks blushed.

Ioana smiled at the pair almost as if the gears in her head were turning formulating a plan, "Well Mister Karstairs I hope you don't mind but I would like some time alone with my dear Adel." she finally took his hand in a firm shake.

Slightly taken aback at her broad actions he shook her hand firmly and turned to Adelaide. "You know where to find me." The smile on Adelaide's face as he left was undiscussable.

The ride back home was uneventful, Lucien pondered the day's events as the sun set beyond the horizon but his mind kept going back to that raven haired girl. What was it about Adelaide that made him so flustered? As he walked the halls of his family home a sudden feeling of emptiness overwhelmed him, Lucien found himself back in the library the one place he spent all of his time in as a boy.