Wandering Soul by Cassandra Chandler Page A

unexpected visitor has gone. However, I fear it was quite a distraction. I will go and fetch the tea presently and bring it here. That is, if you will both excuse me?”
    â€œGo on, then.” Winston snorted. “You don’t have to be so formal about it.”
    â€œIf you would be so kind as to remain here and ensure that Elsa does not try to leave the couch,” Dante said. “I would be much obliged.”
    â€œAbsolutely. She needs to be resting, and I’ll see that she does.”
    â€œDon’t forget to lock the studio doors when you come back in, please,” she said.
    â€œI will take care of it. Do not worry.”
    In the doorway, Winston stepped aside enough for Dante to pass, but reached out and patted his shoulder. Elsa didn’t miss the smile that crossed Dante’s face at the gesture.
    Winston inclined his head as if listening to Dante’s retreat, then joined her on the couch, sitting next to her when she scrunched up against the cushions. Winston was practically beaming.
    â€œI like him.”
    â€œThat’s high praise, coming from you. What did he do to get in your good graces so quickly?”
    â€œWhy, he’s been taking such good care of you, of course. Don’t think I don’t know. He’s been doting on you for days.” Winston leaned in and whispered, “And it’s about time too.”
    â€œDante’s just a friend, Winston.”
    Winston shrugged. “For now, perhaps. But he’s a fine man. You could do a lot worse.”
    She was well aware of that. In fact, she didn’t think it was possible to do any better. Before she knew that she would be bringing him back to her time, she’d dreamed so many times of living with Dante, of loving him. An idealized love. It was hard to keep those dreams at bay. But he wasn’t some weird time-travel mail-order groom.
    â€œAnd how are you, my love?” Winston asked, reaching over to pat her knee. His hand landed on the wet cloth that Dante had so thoughtfully applied. “What’s this?”
    â€œIt’s nothing. I just took a bit of a tumble in the garden.”
    Winston puffed out a breath. “That’s it. I take back all the nice things I said.”
    Elsa laughed. “It’s too late for that. I know how you really feel about him.”
    â€œAnd what about you?”
    She took the dry towel from under her knees and set it on the coffee table, then folded the damp washcloths and placed them on top. They weren’t wet enough to soak through and damage the wood.
    â€œIt’s complicated.”
    â€œPfft. I’ll let you in on a secret. Life is a lot simpler than you think. And it’s also shorter. If you like him, you need to act on it.”
    â€œI don’t know that he likes me as much.” She wished she hadn’t let that slip out, but Winston just laughed and patted her knee again.
    â€œHe likes you, all right. He’s just too well mannered to let on about it. Why else would he stay by your side all this time?”
    Elsa could think of dozens of reasons that had nothing to do with Dante liking her. Fear and uncertainty were at the top of the list. And even if he had been starting to warm up to her, that had been halted by Rachel’s untimely information dump.
    Dante cleared his throat, appearing in the doorway. How long had he been standing there? Elsa turned scarlet thinking about it.
    â€œYou!” Winston turned around. He jerked his thumb over his shoulder toward her. “I expect you to take better care of Elsa from now on.”
    â€œIt was my fault,” she said.
    â€œI fear I must disagree.” Dante entered the room and set the tray of tea and cookies on the coffee table. He straightened stiffly. “I should have been more vigilant. For that I apologize. Both to Elsa and to you, Winston.”
    â€œWell, you just see to it that it doesn’t happen again, or you’ll get that