Free Forever Knight: Thornton Brothers Time Travel (A Thornton Brothers Time Travel Romance Book 2) by Cynthia Luhrs

food.”
    The man looked uncomfortable, averting his eyes from her. “Janet is bringing you something to wear.” He went back to his post by the door, turning away from her. Her stomach growled, protesting no food for an entire day. During protests she’d gone without food for hours, and longer when she’d been arrested, but she liked three meals a day. The stew was delicious, even if the vegetables were a little mushy. Busy scraping the bowl, she didn’t hear the young girl approach. The man who’d brought the food was with her.
    He looked to Elizabeth. “Do not try to run. If you do, it will go badly for you.”
    When she moved to the far corner of the cell, he opened the door. The young girl had her arms full of clothing. The man was carrying what looked like a pair of leather shoes. He locked the door behind the girl.
    “Janet does not speak.”
    The child watched her, not making any move to put the clothes down.
    “I’m Elizabeth. Are those for me?”
    The girl nodded.
    “Thank you. It’s hard keeping a blanket wrapped around you all the time.”
    The girl blushed. If she had to guess, Elizabeth would peg her at six or seven. What on earth had happened to her? She had the look of a trauma victim. The girl had black hair and brown eyes that were much too old for her.
    Janet held up what looked like a nightgown or summer dress. The man coughed.
    “’Tis a chemise. I will turn around while she assists you.”
    Elizabeth dropped the blanket. Growing up with her free-spirited parents, she’d learned at an early age not to be embarrassed by nudity. Janet helped Elizabeth into the chemise. It felt like linen, soft and worn, with tiny flowers around the neckline and hem. It must’ve taken someone forever to sew and embroider this by hand.
    Next the girl helped her into one of the most beautiful dresses she’d ever seen. It was made out of wool, dyed a deep blue, and the embroidery was exquisite. Flowers and vines had been stitched around the neckline, sleeves, and hem. The dress was formfitting at the top, billowing out at the bottom. There were tons of buttons. No way she could undress herself. No zipper or pockets. The work that went into such a garment… She swayed. If this was all part of an elaborate joke, it had gone too far.
    She smoothed her hands down the wool, grateful for the warmth. The girl fastened a cloak around her that was trimmed was some kind of fur. It too was wool, with intricate embroidery.  
    Janet held up a dark blue cloth and pointed at Elizabeth’s hair. Then she touched it before snatching her hand back.
    Before Elizabeth could hold it in, she burst out laughing. “I am not a faerie. I’m not here curse anyone, harm you, or take anyone under the hill to faerie land. All I want is to enjoy the rest of my week.”
    The girl looked dubious, but pinned up Elizabeth’s hair. Then her small hands quickly laced the slightly pointed leather shoes.
    Elizabeth’s stomach plummeted down to her toes. Was this some kind of scam? Had she gotten herself involved in a crazy cult? She put a hand on Janet’s arm. “I’m just like you. Where I come from, people make their hair different colors.” She paused and took a deep breath, being sure to pitch her voice low so the man guarding her wouldn’t overhear.
    “Are you here against your will, Janet?”
    The girl shook her head. Elizabeth tried again.
    “Do you have TV? Internet? A phone?”
    The girl’s eyes were huge as she shook her head again. The child flinched as Elizabeth kicked her makeshift bed.
    “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
    Just freaking great. This was definitely some kind of cult. “Don’t be afraid of me. I’ll find a way to get us both out of here.”
    The girl looked terrified as she banged on the door. The keys in the lock made Elizabeth jump. The girl ran out of the cell as if chased by some kind of movie monster.
    When the door slammed shut, Elizabeth sat on the stool, thinking. Not only did she