Gwen let out a little sound that sounded almost like a laugh, though there was little mirth in it. She managed a wry smile. "Tricky is a word for it. I wish I could leave it alone. It's rather nice to know I won't have to worry about it, even if it does mean everyone I love isn't here." She frowned at his comment and made a single nod. "It's complicated. She was trying to protect me. I'm still not sure all the way why."
She remembered then, that the woman she met when she arrived told her that the world she knew was fictional in this one. That there were people here that she had seen in movies and telly and books. She had even run into HARRY POTTER and HERMIONE GRANGER, which was totally bizarre and she had acted like a stupid fangirl when she realized. But it occurred to her that if she was fictional here, she could probably find out about why her mum hid all that from her. And what the secret behind the secret is. The idea thrilled and confused her to a degree she couldn't quite explain. For the umpteenth time that day, she wished Lesley was here to help her figure this all out. She probably would have googled the man standing in front of her already.
"I bet it did," she said, nodding, impressed. She could have used something like that when the...whoever they were...descended on her and Gideon on their way back from the count. She tried not to think about it-the idea that she had killed a man did not sit well with her, even if she had done it in self defense.
"Oh, I don't know how USEFUL it is. I mean...James is useful in that he knows all about the 18th century and I don't on account of Charlotte being the one drilled in these things all those years, but mostly people just think I'm a bit nutty talking to myself." She shrugged. "But who knows? Might come in useful here." She pause and then stuck out her hand. "I'm Gwyneth Shepherd. You can call me Gwen."