Part 4

Willow tried not to panic as she looked at her surroundings. She had no idea why she was sent back in time but she was going to find out. Whoever had done this for whatever purpose was going to be very sorry they had involved her.

She felt a hand lightly on her elbow, "Are you alright, miss?" A British voice said.

Willow turned around to see who had spoken and looked into the face of Giles but not quite Giles. He was dressed in typical late 19th century clothing. Willow just blinked at him, she couldn't seem to form words.

"Are you alright, miss?" He repeated. The poor girl had been almost hit by his carriage when he saw her roll on the grass.

Willow shook herself out of her daze and smiled, "Yes thank you." She saw his carriage nearby and figured he must have thought he hit her with it.  "I'm sorry I must have been woolgathering." Thank God she liked to read old journals. She could just picture his face if she had said, "No big, I didn't see ya."

"My driver's fault entirely. He didn't see you until it was too late. We haven't been properly introduced, I'm Sir Albert Giles."

Willow's smile just got brighter. What were the odds of this happening? The goddess had surely been looking out for her. She knew women didn't' shake hands in this era so she tried a small curtsey and hoped she wouldn't make a fool of herself. "It is a pleasure to meet you Sir Giles. I'm Willow Rosen..." Willow remembered just in the knick of time that anti-Semitism was very much a problem in Victorian England and she would have enough problems being a single woman without money in the middle of nowhere.

Willow went to put a strand of hair behind her ears that had fallen in her face and winced. She must have hit her head harder than she thought.

Albert noticed her wince. "Are you sure you're alright? May I take you to where you were going? It is the least I can do."

Oh great, Willow thought. Now what? She silently prayed that this Albert Giles was like her Rupert Giles. "Thank you, I'm fine. Just a little tired." She began to rub her temples and tried to look confused.  In as innocent a voice as she could, "I can't seem to remember where I was going." She bit her lip hoping that would bring tears to her eyes and silently apologized to women everywhere for the obvious attempt to appeal to the male of the era to protect.

Albert looked at the small red head in front of him and knew his wife would skin him alive if he let her wander the streets alone. She was obviously in pain and didn't have a place to go. He had always been a caretaker. His brothers used to tease him every time he would bring a wounded animal home. She would just be another in a long line of wounded animals.

He smiled at her, "My wife and I would gladly offer our home to you for as long as you need it."

Willow started to feel guilty but she really didn't have any place to go or any money. She was grateful that this Giles was as kind-hearted as her Giles and that she had been curious enough to try on the gown when the magick wave hit her. She didn't really want to think what it would have been like for her if she had come to 19th century England in her boxers and tank top that she had been wearing earlier. She would have probably ended up in the East End with the poorest of the poor.

Albert helped her into his coach and told his driver to continue home. "Your accent is American? Were you here visiting relatives?"

All that went through Willow's mind was 'Oh what a tangled web we weave when at first we practice to deceive'. So she decided to stick to the truth as closely as possible, besides she really sucked at lying.

"I really don't know how I got here. The last thing I remember is being in my home in California."

Albert saw the truth in her eyes and felt sorry for her. "Maybe in time your memory will return. My wife and I will do all that we can to help you."

"I know this must sound odd to you but could you tell me what the date is?"

He thought how stupid he was, of course she wouldn't know how much time had passed since she was in her home "August 6".

Well that's nice, Willow thought. How am I going to ask him what year? While trying to figure out a way to ask him without him hauling her to Bedlam she glanced down and saw a newspaper on his side of the coach. Looking down through her lashes she tried to read it upside down. August 6, 1888. Great it was awhile before Jack the Ripper struck. Maybe she was supposed to stop him, but wouldn't that alter time drastically? Her head was going to hurt if she kept thinking about all the dos and don'ts associated with time travel.

The coach stopped and the footman came out to open the coach doors. Albert got out and helped Willow down from the coach. She looked up and saw a beautiful town home. This must be where they stay when they come in from their country house.

The butler had the door open and he escorted her inside. Willow just stared at all the beautiful Victorian furnishings. What she would have given to have some of this back in her house instead of the replicas that she had.

"Ian, this is Miss Rosen. She will be staying with us for a while."

Willow just gave a small nod of her head to acknowledge the introduction and a smile.

Ian returned the nod, "Lady Giles is in the sunroom, Sir."

Albert placed his hand on Willow's elbow and guided her to the sunroom. On entering the sunroom Willow saw a lady dressed in a beautiful gown sitting at what looked like a writing desk.

The woman looked up when they entered the room. She smiled when she saw her husband and was curious as to who the pretty red head was.

"Good afternoon, darling. You're home early."

He leaned down and gave his wife a quick kiss on the cheek. "Sir Nigel sent me home to do some research."

"Miss Rosen, may I present my wife Lady Hannah Giles."

Willow gave a shy smile and a curtsey. "It's a pleasure to meet you Lady Giles."

Hannah gave a small curtsey in return. "Welcome to our home, Miss Rosen." She turned curious eyes on her husband.

"My coach almost ran over Miss Rosen this afternoon. When I found out she had no memory of how she came to London I offered her our home."

Willow was watching Hannah and biting her lip hoping that she was just as kind-hearted as Giles. 

With concerned eyes she turned back to Willow, "Oh you poor thing. Of course you may stay here."

Out of the corner of her eye Willow caught what looked like a journal. When she was able to get a better look at it she let out a gasp. Everything began to click in her mind and she saw the entry in her mind's eye. . .

'August 6, 1888

My husband found a young woman alone and on the streets today. That in and of itself isn't unusual for there are a lot of women that don't have enough money and must sleep on the streets. Doing charity work for the church I witness this all the time. What is unusual is this woman was definitely someone of quality. My husband was concerned for her welfare and invited her to stay in our home.'

Oh my god, I'm the young woman found on the streets today.

~~~~~~~

Ethan couldn't believe his bad luck. He landed farther away from Willow than he thought he would and by the time he saw her she was talking to a gentleman. He was too far away to see what he looked like or what they were saying. To his horror she got into the coach and drove off with him. Now how was he going to get to Jack the Ripper through Willow?

Ethan contemplated the ramifications of going to his family home and staying there. When he thought up this plan he didn't think about where to stay for a long period. He had plenty of money to stay in a boarding house for a month but he didn't know how long he would be here.

He wandered around for a while trying to find lodging. It seems it is difficult without a letter of reference. Who knew? What he wouldn't give for a nice 4 star hotel about now. Just as the sun went down he finally found a place to stay for the night.

After eating dinner at a local pub, Ethan decided to walk around George Yard and get his bearings so to speak. His walking stick had a pointed end that was covered with an end cap. He knew never to go anywhere in the dark without a pointed stick. Rounding a corner he thought he heard a scream but it was cut off so quickly he wasn't sure. He came upon an alley and looked down it. He saw a man leaning over the body of a woman.

The man's head came up and yellow eyes stared at him from the dark. He realized he had just seen a vampire. He looked around to see if anyone else was nearby. The vampire stood and looked at Ethan with a calculating smile. That's when it clicked in Ethan's mind . . .

'August 6, 1888

I met an intriguing young man today. He was witness to my killing that woman in George Yard. When I turned my face towards him he didn't seem to be surprised that I am a vampire. I decided not to kill because I recognized a kindred spirit in him and I can use his magickal abilities to manipulate others.'

He was the magickal man that helped Jack the Ripper.