Disclaimer: The Show Victorious, its characters and other associated copyrights are property of someone else and not me.

Across the years.

Chapter 14 – 1 day down.

Jade's POV

Fortunately I had gotten away with my little transgression. I just need to remember that servants need to serve and not be jealous smart asses.

After lunch was finished, Tori, Beck and her father retired to the parlor to talk. I and the other kitchen staff, cleaned up and ate our lunch, which consisted of beef sandwiches.

After lunch I was allowed to go to the dry goods store that Mr. Walker operated. It was down the street a small ways from the inn. I had told Mrs. Bailey that since I was new in town I needed to get some things, such as some candles, coffee, soap, etc.

I found the store and purchased some items I thought I would need. Some basic foodstuffs for the few days I'll have off. Normally I eat with the staff, on days off I am on my own for food. I bought some candles, some oil for one of the lamps, coffee beans, some canned food, rice, beans and some other things. I found a blank journal similar to the one that Tori writes in, so I purchased that, along with some ink and a pen. I found myself wanting to document my time here and keep my thoughts straight. Also as I've already had an idea for a horror story that I want to get on paper.

After dropping those items off at my home, I returned to the Walker home and arrived back by 2:00. By this time Beckett had left and Tori had gone to pay a social call on some neighbor. Mrs. Bailey told me that I would be spending the rest of the afternoon at the inn/tavern and would work there until supper.

Arriving at the inn, I reported to Mr. Walker who was in his office. He would spend most afternoons in his office going over his accounts and other business. Though he made no mention of the incident at lunch, he looked mildly annoyed. He told me clean the 2 vacant rooms and then report back to Colin, who runs the place day to day.

I found the cleaning materials and cleaned the rooms as instructed. For the next couple of hours I got to play waitress as a number of people had come in to have a good time. There is some army barracks a little ways out of town and usually there's a few soldiers lingering about at any given time.

I quickly found out that the men of this period are quite , as my ass was pinched more than once. Many of them were also very fascinated by the pretty, raven haired American who was the new barmaid. But much to my credit, I stayed in character and laughed it off each time. A few of the men and othertowns people were nice.

Colin, the man who ran the inn from day to day, was a friendly but rather simple guy. I learned from him, that Tori came in several days a week, to act as sort of a hostess. Her mother did that when they first opened the inn. She would chat with people and made them feel welcome. After a while, Tori would do it along with her mother when she was a little girl. When Tori's mother died, Tori kept up the tradition. While it may seem something unworthy of a person from the upper class, I learned that Tori's mother was considered very beautiful, charming and was very well liked by everyone she met. So out of respect for Tori's mother, no one ever dare said a word about Tori's working in essentially a bar. The most she ever does is bring a glass of beer to someone on occasion, anyway. Colin told me that Trina didn't like work of any kind and hated the bar/inn as she thought it was beneath her.

Around 4:00 O'clock in the afternoon I felt my spirits lift as I could hear Tori coming in from the back.

"Hello Colin, How are you today." She said in a cheerful tone.

"I'm fine Miss Victoria, Thank you. How are you on this fine day?" I could hear Colin reply as I returned to the bar with some empty glasses.

"I'm good thanks."

Tori then looked at me with a smile, that warmed my heart. "And how are you doing so far?"

"I'm doing fine, thank you Miss Victoria."

Colin then spoke up. "She's done a fine Job, Miss Victoria.

Tori nodded. "Very good. " She then noticed an elderly man enter the bar. "Oooh…There's Sir Ian McCulloch. He was decorated for bravery by King George the III for bravery at the battle of Waterloo. He's one of our regulars. Jade get him a pint of our best ale. I'll greet him."

And so it went, while I loved working in close proximity to Tori, I had little time to actually chat with her. She was always busy talking it up with someone in a most friendly manner. We did get to chat from time to time, but it was just useless small talk. It was a bit frustrating.

I didn't have to help make supper, but I did eat with the kitchen staff. After dinner I worked in the bar for a while longer, but much to my disappointment Tori was gone. I finally finished my day at 9:00 in the evening and had been working for nearly 15 hours. In my preparation for this trip I read how servants in this period worked just these types of long hours. At Sikowtiz's suggestion, I did a bit of jogging to help build up my stamina. I hated jogging, but now I'm very glad it did. Had I attempted a day like this out of shape, I'd feel ten times worse than I do now.

I was worn out when I returned to my cabin at the end of my first full day. But I did get a bit of a reward. In 2014 I live in a small flat above a bakery and I frequently sit in a lawn chair up on the roof looking at the stars, with a beer in hand. I find it relaxing.

In high school, I remember a teacher talking about light pollution. How lights from cities, block out the lights from stars. So in the big city, you'd only be able to see perhaps a few dozen stars. It was something I only half paid attention to.

I had arrived home, made myself some tea and decided to sit for a bit on the chair on the front porch. It was when I looked in the sky, I got a shock.

Not a few dozen stars as I was quite used to seeing at night in Herford, I saw hundreds of stars in the sky. The lights of Herford and nearby London, weren't as bright in 1869 so they hadn't been blocked out yet. I was totally blown away at the difference between the visible stars between 2014 and 1869.

After a long hard and a bit of a frustrating day, where I made little progress with Tori, I was treated to the sight of a beautiful star filled sky.

Sitting in the chair, sipping my tea, looking at the stars and the only sound was the gentle night time breeze rustling through the trees, it felt like a near perfect moment. The only thing being missing is Tori of course.

But with luck, I may be able to change that.

As before, I'll state that the diaries jade has scanned on her kindle, have not changed from the way they were originally written. But for you the reader, you will see what Tori wrote in her journal that night.

Tori's POV

April 30th, 1869

Today was Jade's first day at our home as a servant. While she seemed nice, I still wasn't sure how she would work out. I found myself hoping very much she would as she seemed quiet exciting. From what I heard from Mrs. Bailey, she worked very hard and did well at her duties. I was quite pleased.

Though there were a few odd things. But she is an American and they have different ways of doing things than us British. My Finance Beckett came over for lunch today. We were having a delightful time chatting and Beck had been reciting some Shakespeare for us.

But rather surprisingly, Jade pointed out a mistake he had made. Beck had omitted 2 lines of the section of Richard the III he was reciting. I could tell Beck was a extremely annoyed by her correcting him. Probably for two reasons, she was correcting him and she was a servant. No normal servant would have dared to do such a thing, but just the fact that she went ahead and did it, impressed me for some reason. I could tell father was annoyed as well, but his own father was a great lover of Shakespeare so I know he will soon be over it.

I looked it up later in the day and indeed Jade was correct. She even quoted from Julius Caesar and is apparently an actress of some sort. I found myself very amazed by her knowledge. I do love attending the theatre and think acting is a most interesting profession. Though I doubt I have much talent for it myself.

Another strange thing, but it may be nothing. I had to come into the kitchen after breakfast to tell the cook that we were having a guest for lunch when I passed the pantry door, which was cracked open. Curious, I peered in, where I saw Jade scrubbing the floor. She hadn't noticed me and for reasons, too sinful to write, I lingered for a few moments to gaze at her.

But as I stood there, I could hear her softly singing to herself. I had to strain to hear it clearly. It was a strange song that I had never heard before, but at the time, enticing.

I could hear her sing the strange lyrics as she scrubbed.

"I've got you under my skin
I've got you deep in the heart of me
So deep in my heart, that you're really a part of me
I've got you under my skin."

Listening further it sounded like a song of love of some kind. Though she was singing it softly, she was singing it with such feeling. I wonder if she was singing it about someone in particular. I would have stayed longer, but I heard someone approaching from the kitchen and didn't want to be caught spying.

Hurrying away from the door, I ran into the cook which was the person I needed to talk to. Fortunately he didn't notice that I was a bit flush and my heart was racing. An odd song indeed, possibly some sort of folk song from America. I dare not ever mention it to Jade, as I wouldn't want her to know that I was so rudely spying on her. I must not do that and will pray for forgiveness in church on Sunday for doing such a horrid thing.

I got to work with her during the afternoon for a time and was able to watch her work first hand. Jade does seem to be a very hard worker as she claimed to.

I find myself wishing she was of more my social circle. But sadly she is not. Things are what they are and I dare not question them. So much is going on these days with the planning for the wedding. My mind is dizzy with all the details that need my attention. But when I saw Jade sing, I thought of nothing else but her.

But my happiness lies in making a good life with Beckett and being a good wife and hopefully a mother someday. I must not let distractions take me from my destined path.

Just another word of thanks and an acknowledgement. The story idea itself, several diary entries and other parts were contributed by 27milestogo. This story would not be possible without their help. My thanks.

The song that Tori overheard Jade singing was "I've got you under my skin." Witten by Cole Porter and made famous by Frank Sinatra. Though a Goth, I've always pictured Jade as having a much wider taste in music than she'd ever admit to.