An Unlikely Arrangement

Evelyn's breath hitched as Theo Whitmore's piercing blue eyes held her captive. There was something unsettlingly familiar about the way he looked at her, as if he was trying to place her within a puzzle he had yet to solve. She forced herself to remain composed, despite the whirlwind of emotions racing through her mind.

"I—yes, I suppose I am lost," she said hesitantly, realizing she had no other explanation for her presence in this foreign time. "I must have… wandered too far."

Theo's brows furrowed slightly, his sharp gaze assessing her attire—her modern jeans and sweater, an obvious oddity in this 19th-century setting. Evelyn could almost hear the unspoken questions swirling in his mind. She needed to be careful.

"Where is your escort?" he asked, his voice laced with a mixture of suspicion and concern. "Surely, a lady of your station would not be traveling alone at this hour."

Evelyn swallowed hard. How was she supposed to answer that? "My… my escort and I were separated. I was trying to find my way back."

Theo studied her for another long moment before exhaling sharply. "Then you are fortunate that I happened upon you. The city is no place for a woman to be wandering unaccompanied at night."

He extended his arm, a silent invitation for her to follow him. Evelyn hesitated, but what other choice did she have? She knew nothing of this world—where she was, what time period this was, or how she had even gotten here. Sticking with Theo, at least for now, seemed like the safest bet.

As she walked beside him, she took in the grandeur of the city. The gaslit streets glowed softly, casting an ethereal warmth against the cobblestones. Horse-drawn carriages rattled past, and elegantly dressed individuals moved in and out of grand establishments, their laughter and conversation filling the air. It was as if she had stepped into a dream—or a historical novel.

"Where exactly are we?" she asked cautiously, hoping to confirm her suspicions.

Theo arched an eyebrow at her question. "London, of course. Did you take a fall, Miss…?"

She quickly grasped for a name, her mind racing. Giving her real name seemed unwise. "Eve," she blurted out. "Just Eve."

His lips quirked slightly, as if amused by her answer, but he didn't press further. "Very well, Miss Eve."

They arrived at a grand estate, its towering wrought-iron gates parting as a uniformed servant stepped aside to let them through. Evelyn's breath caught in her throat as she took in the opulence before her. The mansion was breathtaking, its towering façade adorned with intricate stonework, large bay windows glowing warmly from within.

"You live here?" she asked in awe.

Theo smirked, leading her up the steps. "For now."

Evelyn wasn't sure what he meant by that, but before she could ask, the massive oak doors swung open, revealing a lavishly decorated foyer. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their golden light illuminating the grand staircase that wound its way upward. Servants bustled about, their movements precise and efficient.

"I will have a room prepared for you," Theo stated. "You may stay here until your escort is found."

Evelyn blinked in surprise. "That's… very generous of you, but I wouldn't want to impose—"

"Nonsense," he cut in smoothly. "You are in need, and I do not turn away those in distress."

There was something unreadable in his expression, something that made Evelyn wonder if there was more to his kindness than simple goodwill. Regardless, she had nowhere else to go.

For now, she would accept his hospitality.

What she didn't realize was that her arrival had set something into motion—something that would change both of their fates forever.