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it?
 What can I do? Stephanie demanded.  I can t go back. I belong here.
 In all my centuries of teaching the arts, I have never met a student so determined to
remain unhappy. Leila threw her hands in the air.  Are you trying to tell me you
would rather remain here than go back to Gabriel?
 Leila, you didn t give me much choice. You said I had to come back. Stephanie
hesitated.  Although seriously, telling me I had to attend a wrap-up class was a pretty
flimsy reason, she said drily.  You could have told everyone I was away on vacation
or something.
 True, true.
 So why am I back? Did you think I would fuck up history?
 Stephanie, your language, please.
 Fuck my language! Did you think I would travel around the world, tweaking
things here and there? Do you really suspect I think that highly of myself? I want to
spend my life with Gabriel, not chasing some kind of elusive dream that I could make
the present world a better place. Her laughter was bitter.  As if I could make a
difference. She moved to stand in front of Leila.  Tell me, have your past students
screwed up history?
Her teacher shook her head.
 And yet you don t trust me.
 Oh, I do trust you. But you also have to trust yourself.
 Now what the hell does that mean?
 Why did you come back early?
Stephanie hesitated.  I was& I was afraid that I wouldn t want to leave.
 Anything else?
 Yeah, like I would screw up my history if I stayed in the Regency period!
92
A Gentleman s Savior
 No you wouldn t. Leila walked the length of the room, her sandals scraping the
concrete floor.  Reincarnation is a beautiful thing. You would be going back to live a life
that was cut brutally short. When you pass on, your soul will eventually travel back
here to this present time.
 What? It sounds like I m going in a circle.
 In a sense, you are. But this time you re playing catch-up.
 So now you re telling me&  Stephanie stared at her teacher.  That I can go back
and live the rest of my life with Gabriel?
 Yes. But I had to know first what your feelings were. Not for Gabriel, she
continued.  That s obvious. But for history in general. Knowing that you won t try to
change anything has allowed me to breathe a large sigh of relief.
Stephanie angrily wiped her face.  Okay. So what happens now?
Leila looked at her watch.  It s eleven thirty. You had until tomorrow to come
back.
Her teacher approached until they stood face-to-face.  If you want to go back, you
can. Permanently. But I ll let you think on it. We have some time now that you ve
solved your own murder and prevented the assassination of Prince George.
Stephanie nodded.  How much time?
 The sooner the better. You don t want to keep Gabriel waiting, do you?
93
Charlene Roberts
Epilogue
 This makes no fucking sense at all. Chris folded the letter and stared at Leila.  I
haven t talked to her for almost a week, and then this? This isn t like Stephanie at all.
 I would agree. But Stephanie had an excellent opportunity that she couldn t pass
up.
 Without telling me? I don t believe it.
 Does your friend tell you everything?
Chris shrugged.  I m sure there are some things she keeps to herself. But leaving
the country?
 Like I said, a perfect opportunity came up that she just couldn t say no to.
Chris unfolded the letter and read it again.
Dear Chris, I m really sorry that I couldn t tell you in person, but I ve decided to try
something new. You ve always said that if something better comes along, to grab it and not let
go. Well, I ve done that.
I m living in England. Something so wonderful has come into my life, and I wanted to check
things out first to see if I would like it. I will be back to get my things in order; I ve already quit
my job.
I promise I ll talk to you soon. Luv, Steph.
 This is just too weird. Chris stuffed the letter into her purse again.
 It is her handwriting.
 Yes, yes.
94
A Gentleman s Savior
 Stephanie would like you to housesit until she can put the condo up for sale,
Leila told her.  She also wants you to keep her paintings.
Chris nodded; she had no idea where she would put them all, but she d make room.
 Did Steph finish her last one?
 Oh yes, and it s a masterpiece. If you don t mind, I d like to hang on to it for a
while. To show my next arts class, Leila added hastily.  Just to prove to them that an
amateur is as good as a master.
 Just how the hell do you know more about all this than I do? I m her best friend!
 I guess you could say she and I had a special connection. Thank the gods
Stephanie hadn t picked up on what she had said during their conversation in the
storeroom that she had taught students the arts for centuries. Stephanie had been too
involved with her own dilemma to catch the slip.
Chris shrugged.  I guess once she s settled down, I can call or go visit her.
 Of course you can I don t see why not. And visiting in person would be much
more fun. Leila leaned forward, her chin in her hands.  I don t suppose you have any
interest in painting, do you, Chris?
95
About the Author
Charlene Roberts is an active member of the Romance Writers of America, living in
Toronto, Canada. She has been a model, and has also worked in the film, consulting and
insurance industries.
She prefers her heroes to be a little unpredictable, and she loves it when a plan
comes together.
Char welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email
address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
Tell Us What You Think
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Comments@EllorasCave.com.
Also by Charlene Roberts
Under Cover of Night
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on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you
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