Page 11 of No Place in Time

The market noise seemed to fade, as if someone had drawn a blanket over Cecily’s ears.

“But marriage,” Margery began. “That keeps a woman safe, doesn’t it?”

The maid let out a short, bleak breath. “Marriage only gives him the right.”

That was enough.

Cecily turned away before they could see her face. She walked quickly, then faster still, her thoughts splintering into hundreds of pieces.

Her parents would wait. They would plan. They would believe there was time to maneuver, time to choose the right moment.

Time did not protect girls like her. It only ever helped men like him.

Once she crossed that marriage threshold, no calm words spoken afterward would matter. No protests would be heard.

Cecily turned down the narrow lane before she allowed herself to think.

She headed toward Graston and her grandfather’s workshop.

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The workshop door was unlocked—a stroke of luck. He was somewhere about, so she must be quick.

Slipping inside, Cecily closed it softly behind her. The machine dominated the far wall, seeming to pulse with a silent energy. Every instinct screamed at her to hurry, to act before her grandfather, or anyone else, returned.

Dangerous, he’d said. Unfinished.

She reached for the curtain—

“Cecily!”

She spun around.

Finn stood just inside the workshop door, his chest rising and falling hard, as if he’d been running.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded.

“I was coming to speak with Anton,” he said, breathless. “I saw you on the road. You were riding as if the devil himself were on your tail. I feared the worst.”

She turned back to the machine. “You shouldn’t be here. Go away.”

“I know what you’re planning to do,” he said, stepping closer. “Anton said it’s not ready. Cecily, you cannot do this.”

She turned to him and raised her chin defiantly. “Lady Cecily to you.”

He sighed. “Lady Cecily. Do not do this.”

“You understand nothing,” she said as she pulled the curtain aside. “Go home. Wherever that is.”

Finn stepped closer. “Cecily, Lady Cecily, don’t. Whatever you think this will fix, it won’t. This thing could send you anywhere. Or nowhere.”

She stepped inside the chamber.

The space was narrow, the curtain closing behind her. The control panel was within reach. Her hands were steady now, steadier than they had been all day.