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she’d screwed things up for this poor guy. No, it wasn’t her fault, but because of her, he’d missed picking up his fiancée for his wedding. He must hate her.
    With a hissing, inward breath, Ella propped her ankle on her knee, wincing at the sight of her poor, abused sole. With fingernails that had been painted blue to match her outfit, she grasped the sliver of wood that had imbedded itself in her heel. It was about as long as her pinky and half as thick—much too big to be jammed into her foot, that was for sure. With a loud curse, she yanked it free and chucked it at the stable wall behind her. The tiny clatter didn’t come anywhere near to soothing her rage at the wood and, more honestly, her own stupidity.
    Freaking shoes. She’d never forgive herself for buying them.
    Stinging pain settled into a dull throb as she took stock of her injuries. Her tights were basically thin, ragged strips across her foot. There were scrapes, darkening bruises, and several small cuts on her foot, not to mention the new puncture wound. Blood had stained the splinter at least half an inch and was now seeping sluggishly down her heel.
    â€œOh, for the love…” Ella scowled at her foot before letting it go and swapping positions. With her other foot atop her knee, she inspected it.
    This one wasn’t as bad—a couple of scrapes and bruises, but nothing like that puncture. She was going to have to be careful of that one. Who knew what kind of germs had just been invited to party in her bloodstream? When was her last tetanus shot? Had she ever had a tetanus shot? There was no way they would have any kind of vaccines available here.
    Ella let her head fall back against the stable wall with a thunk. The stars above her were so bright that they almost took her breath away.
    It was true. She was back in time for the second time in her life.
    But had the first really counted?
    Before, when she’d traveled to the past, she’d only been there for a few hours. And it wasn’t for her benefit—it had been to help her friend, Leah; to get her home in time to see her grandfather before he passed. But he’d gotten better. And then time had moved on, and Leah had gotten married, and even though Ella dreamed about what she’d seen and done in those brief hours, with every passing day it seemed less and less real.
    A low whinny sang through the stable walls, and Ella laughed softly to herself. She’d convinced herself it wasn’t real. She’d told herself that even if it had happened (it hadn’t) then it was a one-time thing (that hadn’t happened), and that was what she got for eating, sleeping, and breathing comic books. Her line between fantasy and reality had become permanently blurred.
    Ella slammed her eyes closed and breathed deeply. Even the scents were different, more pungent somehow—sweet hay, the deep perfume of horseflesh, wood smoke. Like it or not, she was here.
    So what was she going to do about it?
    Heavy footsteps approached from the other end of the stable, and Ella jerked her cloak closed. Hey, she couldn’t be too careful. Patrick, the earl, was a gentleman, but she wasn’t sure about whoever owned those boots. Her eyes narrowed as she listened. Nope, definitely more than one set of boots. And their owners were talking too.
    â€œâ€¦the morning, and track the road north.”
    â€œBut should we not continue on, sir? Perhaps Miss Brownstone’s abductor is traveling under cover of night.”
    Miss Brownstone? Ella leaned closer to the open stable door. That was Patrick’s fiancée, wasn’t it?
    â€œIf she has been abducted, then perhaps, yes. But there was no ransom note, Garvey. She may have simply run off by herself.”
    The straw rustled softly beneath Ella as she leaned closer. She winced, hoping the sound had gone unnoticed.
    â€œIf she has, then I feel for the poor gel. Lord Brownstone is furious. Minton