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Part 11

"What is that?" Nick asked.
Sylvia had gotten up from the chair and started to pace. She took a very deep breath. "Oh, Nick, our worlds are so different. I hope you understand."
Nick was now standing too, leaning on the mantle. He waited.
"From what little I know of your world, it is important for a bride to be a virgin."
Nick just continued to look at her.
"And I'm not," she finished softly.
"You've been married?" he asked.
"No," she said.
"Some man seduced you and didn't marry you?" he asked.
"No," she said. "I'm twenty-six years old, Nick."
"And I am thirty-two but I do not see the relevance," he said.
"I'm sure you have had lovers or mistresses," she said.
"Once again, I do not see the relevance," he said.
"In my world, the term double standard has been adopted for situations where it is considered alright for one group to do something and not another. It is most often used to describe men and women. Although the double standard has not been totally eradicated, it has been weakened. Women are achieving equality with men."
"So, you have been in love?" he asked.
"No," she replied. "I thought I was but found it was just infatuation. There was enough doubt in my mind that until today I have never said I love you to anyone."
There was a lengthy silence.
"How many men?" he asked.
"Oh, Nick, does it matter?" she asked but she knew from the change in him that it did matter. She thought her heart might break.
"Oh, Nick," she repeated sadly. "I wish I were back home."
Nick heard her words and was shocked to see her start to fade in front of him.
"Sylvia!" he shouted and grabbed onto her burying his face in her hair. He noticed the fading had stopped. She felt solid in his arms again.
"Forgive me. I love you, Sylvia, and that's all that matters." Nick raised his face. "What?" He sounded bewildered.
Sylvia, her face pressed to his chest, felt him tense as he spoke. She stepped back from him to see what he might be looking at.
"Oh my gawd!" she shouted.
"Where can we be?" asked Nick expecting no answer.
"We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto," Sylvia answered.
"What?" he asked.
"It's a line from a movie which is another thing you aren't likely to understand," said Sylvia. "Nick, welcome to my world and the beginning of the twenty-first century."

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Part 12

Nick stared out the glass wall to the odd room beyond. Actually, everything here was very odd and bright. He had never seen anything like this. There was a table of sorts with two chairs. That was all he could place a name on. He and Sylvia were standing in a very small chamber with glass walls and nothing more than a steel bench in it. He saw a young man wearing a white coat over trousers walk into the outer room, reading a book as he walked.
"Stewart!" called Sylvia.
Nick noticed the man stop and look toward them. He saw the man's lips move but heard nothing. Then the man, Stewart he presumed, grabbed an object from the table and spoke into it.
"Sylvia! You're back! Where were you? Who is that?" These questions Nick was able to hear.
"The chamber is soundproofed," Sylvia explained softly to Nick although he had no idea what she meant. "He has to turn on the microphone, and speak through it, for us to hear him. But the reverse is set so he can hear sounds from inside here at all times."
More loudly, she spoke to Stewart. "Stew, the questions can wait. Let us out!"
"Of course," said Stewart who pressed a button causing one of the glass panels to swing out from the chamber.
Sylvia led Nick from the chamber. He was speechless and looking all around him.
"Poor Nick," Sylvia said gently. "At least when I went to your world I knew something of where I was. This is all so foreign to you." She gave him a hug and he kept hold of her.
"So where were you the last half hour? What happened? Why the costumes?" asked Stewart excitedly.
"It's been more like a month to me," said Sylvia. "First thing I am going to do is have a shower. Then I'm going to eat. And then, maybe, I'll answer your questions. If I can. I've a lot of questions of my own."
She looked up at Nick, "I know how scared I was when I awoke in your time. This must be so difficult for you, Nick."
"I don't understand," said Nick.
"I don't either, Nick," Sylvia said. She turned to Stewart, "We have to get him back, Stew."
"Yes, of course," said Stewart although he had no idea who the man was or where he had come from.
"We'll see if we can put the pieces together in a while," said Sylvia. "Come with me, Nick. I'm going to introduce you to modern plumbing."
They went through the door Nick had seen Stewart use to enter. They entered a hallway with many doors on each side running the length of it. Nick marvelled at the bright light that came from rectangles in the ceiling. Stewart held some type of card in front of a small light on the door across the hall and Nick heard a sound similar to a lock being opened. As they walked in, the ceiling lit up in similar fashion to the hall. Although there was much here still beyond his knowledge, Nick was relieved that most of the contents of the room were not so different from what he was used to. The near wall, to the left of them, had two doors, one near each corner. Between the doors ran a series of small doors along the bottom with shelves above holding all sorts of things. Ahead of them and extending into the room to the right of them was a seating arrangement with a sofa and three chairs that appeared to have cushions of leather and some small tables. Beyond that were two desks sitting at right angles to each other, one along the wall and the other facing the sitting area. In the corner between the two desks Nick noticed a box-like object similar to ones he'd seen in the other room. Nick thought there might be windows behind the sofa and one desk as he thought he saw glass between the thin bars of the strange things hanging on the wall. The far right wall had shelves, too, mostly filled with books. The wall from the entry door to that far right wall had some wooden pegs by the door with a white coat like Stewart wore hanging closest to the door, followed by two wooden chairs and some metal cabinets.
"Welcome to my home away from home," said Stewart.

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Part 13

Stewart had gotten some of his spare clothes from the storage closet behind the first door on the left. Then Sylvia had taken Nick into what she told him was a bathroom through the farthest door and explained briefly how to use the facilities there. Stewart's T-shirt had been okay on Nick but legs of the sweat pants were too short and the elastic cuffs had dug into Nick's lower calf, so Sylvia had cut the cuffs off. Stewart had tried to get Sylvia to talk to him about what happened while Nick was in the bathroom, but she had refused, saying they had to wait for Nick, as it was Nick's life they would be discussing, too.
Since Sylvia had changed into her nightgown in Stewart's office, she had a bag with clothes to change into after her shower. When Stewart was alone with Nick, both were obviously uneasy, so Stewart excused himself to work at his desk. Nick took the opportunity to look between the 'bars' where he expected there to be a window. He was right. He could just make out the moon in the sky. Buildings seemed to reach to the sky and had lights shining in their many windows. The moon had been the only thing to look familiar.
When Nick heard the door open on the bathroom he turned to see Sylvia. He hadn't been prepared for this Sylvia. She wore jeans and a sweater. He thought her dressed in men's clothing, although she certainly would never be mistaken for a man. She was waving something at her long brown hair, causing the hair to fly as if caught by a wind. She had a confident air about her. Gone was the confused and vulnerable woman Nick knew. Nick wondered if she had really loved him or if she had only needed him because she was lost and confused in his world and he provided her with a safe haven. He watched her take food from something she called a refrigerator and cook it in minutes in what she termed a microwave. She belongs here, thought Nick sadly, and I do not.
Now, as the three sat with mugs of coffee, it was time to talk. Sylvia sat next Nick on the sofa. She'd seen the sadness in his eyes and wanted to be close to him. Stewart sat in a chair across from them.
Sylvia started. "Nick, Stewart is a scientist studying sleep and dreams. I told you he is also my close friend. He needed someone to try out his dream enhancement chamber and I volunteered. Stewart, did you know it would transport me somewhere?"
"No!" said Stewart emphatically."Sylvia, if I had known I would have told you. It was a shock to me to see you go like that and I was trying to figure out what happened so that I could bring you back. Where did you go?"
"Regency England," she said.
"Wow!" said Stewart. "You travelled through both time and space!"
"I know that!" said Sylvia. "How and why are the questions I want answered, Stew."
"I don't know the answers, Syl," said Stewart. "I wish I did. The data collectors were going constantly while you were gone. Maybe when I've had time to analyze it all I'll have some answers."
"Stew, that could take months; years even! Nick needs to return."
"My theory," said Stewart, "is that you went to the place you were dreaming of. I think waking at that point in the dream played a role. What brought you back, I've no idea."
"I wished to be home," she said.
"Sort of like waking from the dream?" asked Stewart.
"I guess it could be interpreted that way," she agreed.
"How interesting!" said Stewart. "This could be a huge breakthrough in my research."
"Stewart!" said Sylvia. "We have to get Nick back! Concentrate on that, okay?"
"I'm sorry, Syl. Of course. But you have to admit that this is pretty incredible."
"He wasn't sleeping. He wasn't dreaming of here. He can't just wish to be home."
"True," said Stewart.
"Might I say something here?" asked Nick.

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Part 14

Sylvia and Stewart looked at Nick. "What if I were to stay here?" he asked.
"Oh, Nick," said Sylvia. "This world is so different."
"You do not think me capable of adjusting and making my way?" he asked looking only at Sylvia.
"I think you could do anything, Nick," Sylvia told him sincerely. "But your family needs you. You were just telling me how you need to get to the estates to check things. And Thalia and Peter would be hurt. They care so much for you."
"What about you, Sylvia? Do you care?" he asked.
Stewart was listening quietly to the exchanges between the couple. He had no doubt of Sylvia's love for Nick. Stewart thought of all the times he'd teased Sylvia about her Regency romance novels. He'd even laughingly said that she might have been happier living back then. The two of them needed some time alone to work this out. "Pardon my interruption," said Stewart, "but I think I'll go check something in the data logs."
Once Stewart was gone, Nick repeated the question, "Do you care?"
"I love you, Nick," said Sylvia. "I want you to be happy and I don't think you could be here. Your sense of duty to your family is strong and one of the things I admire about you. If you stayed for me, I'd fear you would grow to resent me."
"What are we to do then?" asked Nick pulling Sylvia into a hug.
"I don't know," whispered Sylvia.
"What if I cannot go back, Sylvia?" asked Nick. "Would you marry me? Be by my side through all the adjustment?"
"Of course, Nick," said Sylvia. "But we have to get you back! Stewart will find a way."
"If he does, would you return with me and be my wife there? I know that's selfish of me," said Nick. He paused. "You would miss your world. I shouldn't have asked you."
Sylvia reached up and pull Nick's head down to kiss him. Nick responded by deepening the kiss and pulling Sylvia tighter against him.
Finally Sylvia pulled back. "Nick, I started that kiss for a reason."
"Oh?" asked Nick.
"Yes."
"What is it?"
"I'm trying to remember. You scattered all my thoughts with that kiss."
"Good," said Nick, smiling.
She tried to scowl at Nick. "Now that you know where I come from, know that I can't be a retired, sweet, docile wife, are you sure you'd want to marry me?"
"I think I would have to protest the sweet part," said Nick. "I've only had a small sampling but I would definitely call you sweet. The answer is yes. I still want to marry you. I do wonder though if you could be happy in my time, away from all you know."
"It would take some adjusting, I admit," she said. "I do think I could learn to behave in public in a manner that would not embarrass you."
"That is not what concerns me!" said Nick. "Would you grow to resent me for taking you from here?"
"No," she said.
"You are sure?" he asked.
"Very sure," she said. "Nick, I've no family to leave behind. Stewart is a close friend but he'd be happy for me. He has teased me about all the romance novels set in your time that I read and joked that I should have lived then. My life is pretty dull really. I work to pay off student loans, read and watch television."
Although Nick had no idea what television or student loans were, he didn't interrupt.
"I think I might have inherited my father's wanderlust. I've been applying for jobs in other cities. It wouldn't be a hardship for me to leave here."
"But does that mean you want to return with me, if there is a way for us to return?" asked Nick.
"With all my heart, Nick."

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Part 15

When Stewart returned, he found Nick lying on his back on the sofa with Sylvia atop him. Well, thought Stewart, I guess they settled things between them. Stewart cleared his throat.
"Sorry to interrupt, again," started Stewart. He smiled at Sylvia's blushes and the way the two scrambled into sitting positions.
"Did you learn something?" asked Sylvia.
"I think so," said Stewart. "I can't say if it will work or not. It's only a wild guess based on nothing more than a hunch but it might be worth a try."
"What is it?" asked Sylvia.
"One set of data seems to show people as sort of wave patterns. One set is constant and must belong to Sylvia. But there are other wave patterns which I'm guessing belong to people she is with at the time. I would guess the data from the most common intermittent pattern to belong to you, Nick. In theory, I would think if you were in the dream chamber and I set everything as it was at a moment I believe to correspond to a time you were with Sylvia, that you might return to that moment."
"I suppose there is some logic to that," said Sylvia.
"There is one drawback though," said Stewart. "I think you would have to go, too, Sylvia, as your data is also present. Based on the return you have already done, I would suggest you then go somewhere alone and repeat your wish to be home."
"But I want to go back!" said Sylvia.
"You do?" asked Stewart although he had thought she would all along.
"Yes!" she said.
"What about your life here?" he asked.
"Stew, would you help me?" she asked.
"What is it you would like me to do?" he asked.
"There's a letter of resignation waiting to be printed out in my computer. Could you hand it in for me?" she asked.
"Not a problem," he said. "Anything else?"
She smiled. "For once, I'm thankful for my very boring life. Maybe you can just tell people that I am following up on a lead for a job and decided to just go there and if it didn't pan out try for another."
Sylvia continued. "I really don't have much. The furniture in my apartment can be given back to the thrift shops it came from." She smiled.
"Anything else in the apartment you can keep or donate to a thrift store as well. There's really not all that much there. I'll write you a check so that you can pay my last rent and close off the power and telephone accounts. No point in leaving much in the bank. Can you think of anything else?"
"I think you've covered it all," said Stewart.
Sylvia looked at Nick. He seemed to be staring at her. "Oh," she said."Are you having second thoughts about me now, Nick?"
Nick smiled at her. "Not at all. I think you are amazing and sometime I'll get you to explain what all of that meant."
Sylvia returned the smile. "Just trying to tie up the loose ends."
She looked at Stewart, "Thank you. I am asking a lot of you."
"Only if my theory works," said Stewart.
"That's true. I hope it does," she said.
"My thanks as well, Stewart," said Nick. "I will take good care of her."
"I do not doubt that, Nick," said Stewart. "Any questions before we try?"
"I do have one, Stewart," said Sylvia. "After Nick woke me, I was very disorientated and lost a chunk of time. I couldn't recall the last events before going to sleep at all for most of my time there. Do you know why? There was no memory loss for either of us coming here."
"Interesting," said Stewart. "Have you ever been awaken in a strange place, perhaps a hotel or hospital, and you do not know where you are at first?"
"Yes," said Sylvia.
"My guess is that what you experienced was an enhancement of that," said Stewart.
"I see," said Sylvia. "And we were awake on the return. So we avoided that. Is that what you mean?"
"I think that might be the case," said Stewart.
"And we'll be awake this time so neither of us should lose memory," said Sylvia.
"Right," agreed Stewart.
"Let's do it!" said Sylvia jumping off the couch.
Sylvia and Nick changed back into the clothes they wore on their arrival. Sylvia did retrieve the locket and chain her parents had given her on her sixteenth birthday from her purse to take with her. Before joining Nick in the dream chamber, she gave Stewart a good-bye hug.
"I'm glad I got a chance to return to say good-bye," she told him.
"Me, too," he said. "Be happy, Sylvia."
Sylvia smiled at Stewart and joined Nick. Stewart pushed the button to swing the open glass panel in place and started setting controls. He saw the couple embrace each other as if holding on for their lives and he guessed that was what they were doing. Soon after the last dial was set, he watched them disappear. "Good-bye," he said to the empty chamber.
A couple of months later, Stewart went on a holiday to England. He visited the ancestral home of the Earl of Campton and took the guided tour. He listened as the guide pointed out at a portrait of Nicholas St.James, the Fifth Earl of Campton and his wife, Sylvia. The guide continued to say that the couple had had five children. The guide continued on to the next portrait but Stewart continued to look at Sylvia and Nick. He smiled. They looked very happy together.

The End

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