The Time Travel Directorate Read Free Page A

Kanon readily identified this, and placed herself in the Duchesses’ path with her conservative, yet tasteful court attire. What began with a few complements about clothing and accessories grew into a devoted friendship. From this illustrious perch, Kanon could keep an eye out for any time interlopers, while enjoying the lavish lifestyle of the Louis XVI court.
    Kanon turned to admire the sugared accessories in her friend’s hair.
    “Will you feed those to the puppies?” she asked.
    Painfully versed in the formalities of court life, Kanon had been careful to perfect her accent. Marie Antoinette was roundly criticized for her poor dialect, and Kanon did not have the convenient explanation of being an Austrian Archduchess to fall back on.
    The Duchess giggled in response.
    “I do love my dogs. Much more entertaining than any man and so much better to sleep with. They don’t snore and fuss like those brutes do.”
    Kanon acknowledged this with a nod, turning back to the woman they had been discussing. Raising an eyebrow, she ventured an opinion.
    “The bright blue is, perhaps, not the best color for a woman of her age.”
    “ Cécile!” the Duchess cried, softening the exclamation by using Kanon’s pet name. “It matches the color of my gown exactly!”
    Kanon exploded in laughter. Teasing the Duchess was one of her favorite pastimes.
    “I need more punch —can I get the Duchess any?” she asked, still smiling over her little joke.
    “Non, dearest, I shall sit here in this corner thinking of how to get back at you!” the Duchess responded, swishing her mask at her.
    Kanon nodded at the challenge, moving towards the obscene spread of food and drink. Adapting to court life was easier than she imagined—however, there were drawbacks. Small in stature and petite to boot, Kanon eyed the rich food with a sigh. She needed to stay trim—denying herself the delights of French cuisine had become a matter of course.
    Turning towards the crystal punch bowl, Kanon paused, spotting a man cowering in the corner. He was dressed as a conquistador, his helmet and spear leaning against the wall. Kanon spotted a flash of white, quickly realizing he was not cowering—rather, he was fully embracing one of the Duchess’s young cousins, who had outfitted herself as the Greek goddess Diana. What’s more, she didn’t appear to be enjoying the embrace.
    Walking firmly towards him, Kanon grabbed the man by the shoulder. He must have been leaning at an awkward angle or Kanon’s grasp was firmer than she intended—he toppled over to one side while the young woman made her escape. Smelling alcohol on his breath, Kanon enlisted her filthiest French to make sure he knew her high rank, and the fact the woman was a cousin of the Duchess—their hostesses for the evening.
    The man look ed at her queerly from under dark eyebrows—their color contrasting ominously with his pale skin and icy blue eyes. Slowly, he pulled himself up to full height, standing just over six feet.
    Now towering over Kanon, who only cleared five feet four and a bit, she slowly put the features together in her mind and arrived at a startling conclusion.
    Julius Arnold, a wanted time travel fugitive, was at the Duchesses’ masquerade ball.
    In shock, Kanon dropped the mask she held in front of her face. Julius looked at her carefully before taking her hand, giving it a wet kiss.
    “Countess de la Motte. You have no idea how long I have been waiting for this moment.”
    His voice was low and grating—Kanon felt her fingers prick with the intensity of his gaze.
    She quickly detached herse lf, mumbling an excuse as she fled. Finding the Duchess where she left her, Kanon attempted to throw herself back into the revelry of the ball. But as her heart regained its normal beat, she knew she had made a mistake in removing her mask. Not only was Julius Arnold in her restricted area, he knew who she was—for when he addressed her, he spoke in English.
    Her eyes scanned the