Out of Time: . (Steamside Chroncles Book 1) Read online

  “The first woman constable in England was sworn in in 1915. I joined in 2014 and I’m attached to the police station in Limehouse. Or at least I was.”

  “So if you joined the police in 2014…” Jacob paused. “When were you born?”

  “1990,” Kate replied without hesitation.

  Jacob slid off the desk and sat in the chair on the opposite side of the fire to Kate. He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees.

  “What you’re telling me is impossible. This is 1882. You’re telling me you will not be born for another one hundred and eight years and yet here you are.”

  Kate unclipped the radio from her vest.

  “This is an Airwaves radio. It’s the radio all emergency services in Britain use. Was there anything like this in 1882?”

  “I admit I haven’t seen a device like that before,” said Jacob. “Show me how it works,” Jacob was calm but wasn’t going to admit he had no idea what a radio was.

  “I can’t,” said Kate dejectedly, “the battery’s dead,” Kate clipped the lifeless radio back onto her vest.

  “I must admit,” said Jacob, “that I’ve never seen a uniform like that before either.” A puzzled look came over Jacobs face as a half-smile appeared on Kate’s.

  “You find my ignorance amusing?”

  “No,” said Kate, “it’s just…that’s the second time I’ve heard that today, or recently.” The smile disappeared and Kate stared back into the fire, “This can’t be happening. It can’t be 1882.”

  “You cannot be from 2016. It is simply not possible.”

  Kate reached into her pocket and took out the smartphone which had been ringing so incessantly a few hours earlier. She switched the screen on and offered it to Jacob

  “Here, you don’t have these in 1882.”

  Jacob cautiously took the offered phone and immediately dropped it onto the rug in front of the fire as a noise like he had never heard before came from the device.

  “What is wrong with you?” Kate’s voice was raised in annoyance as she reached down and picked up the phone.

  “What is that noise?”

  “Layla, by Eric Clapton. You act like you’ve never seen a mobile phone before”

  “I have never seen one of those devices before and certainly never heard a noise like that.”

  Kate switched off the music and scrolled through the photographs on her phone. She found a photograph of her and Dan she had taken the day he had proposed. It suddenly seemed a long time ago

  “Here. Look,” she said showing Jacob the screen. “The bridge in the background is what I was looking for. It’s Tower Bridge.”

  Jacob leaned in towards the phone and looked at the picture. He went to take the phone but stopped.

  “It’s okay. I’ve turned the music off.”

  Cautiously Jacob held the phone. He studied it for what seemed like an eternity before he made any comment.

  “I’m sorry, but there is no bridge in London that looks like that.”

  “It’s one of the most famous bridges in the world. It can’t have just disappeared.”

  “When was it built?”

  “They started building it in 1886.”

  “Four years from now,” Jacob pointed out.

  Kate looked into the fire. Everything she knew had gone. Her home, where she worked, even historic buildings such as Battersea power station and Tower Bridge. She knew this was no joke. The realisation that she had no idea how to get back to her life slowly dawned on her. She thought of her parents. Her mother had died when Kate was only five years old. Her father had succumbed to cancer two years ago, living just long enough to see her marching in her confirmation parade. He had been so proud. Kate’s eyes filled with tears and she cupped her head in her hands. She had no idea how to get back to her friends, home or even her job and didn’t know if she would ever see them again. She slumped back into the chair

  Jacob studied Kate as she stared into the fire. The head surgeon at Bedlam was a friend of his and that seemed the obvious place, but…there was something about this woman that was different. He looked down again at the photograph. He had seen photographs before, of course he had, colour ones too, but none as clear and vibrant as this. Jacob returned his attention to Kate.

  “Miss Lockwood, you’re free to leave of course, but if you wish I can tell Ivy to make ready the spare room.”

  Kate nodded absently.

  “It’s the same room you awoke in this morning. I think you’ll find it comfortable.”

  “Can you show me where you found me?”

  “Yes of course. It’s a short distance if you feel up to it.”

  Kate nodded.

  “I think we’d better get you a coat,” Jacob noted. “It’s getting cold and we don’t want to attract any more attention to ourselves.”

  ***

  It had only been a short journey back to the West of London and Westminster Cemetery. Kate tightened a green wool cape around her shoulders as Jacob asked the cab driver to wait. She looked at the steam driven engine and watched as black acrid smoke slowly flowed out of a decorated chimney at the back of the vehicle. Kate looked back at the driver as they walked to the entrance.

  “1882 was never like this. There were no steam cars and no-one ever wore goggles.”

  “People have worn goggles ever since the steam engine was invented,” Jacob said with a slightly bemused look on his face. “You’ve seen how much filthy smoke and cinder is poured into the air by these machines. How else would the drivers protect their eyes?”

  “That makes sense I suppose,” Kate said, “but I’ve seen the passengers wear them. Why when they’re enclosed in the carriage?”

  “Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria’s youngest child, suffered from a condition called ‘dry eyes’,” said Jacob. “Her physician instructed her to wear goggles when out in public to keep the smoke and soot out of her eyes, much as the cab drivers do. The story goes that she wasn’t happy with wearing something a common cab driver would wear and instructed the makers of one particular type to make something fit for a princess to wear. She caused a sensation when she first wore them in public. It became fashionable to copy her and people changed things to their own design. They added pearls or feathers trying to outdo each other. Now they’ve become as much an item of fashion for society as they are utilitarian for working people, such as cab drivers. Fortunately I’m not particularly fashionable so I only wear them when absolutely necessary.”

  The main gates to the cemetery were open just as they had been the night before. Kate and Jacob walked under the stone arch and a short distance down the path before Jacob pointed to their right.

  “There,” he said, “between the two mausoleums behind the chestnut tree. That’s where I found you.”

  “How did you notice me from the road?”

  “I didn’t see you at first. It was the blue light that attracted my attention. It cut through the fog like no light I’d seen before.”

  “Blue light and buzzing,” Kate remembered. “A foggy blue light and buzzing. I felt sick.”

  “You were soaking. I thought you had a fever. Now I hope you understand why I took you to my house rather than a hospital. It is much closer. I apologise again if it caused you any concern. That was not my intention I assure you.”

  Kate looked at Jacob and for the first time in what seemed like an age the fear left her. She smiled. They walked to the chestnut tree between the two mausoleums.

  “What are we looking for?” asked Jacob.

  “I have no idea,” admitted Kate

  The pair spent the next few minutes walking around the surrounding graves more in hope than with any real expectation of finding anything.

  “There’s nothing,” said Kate. “Nothing to show how I got here, or how I get back.”

  “This doesn’t seem to be accomplishing anything,” said Jacob. “I suggest we go back to the house, and at least get out of the cold.”

  Kate nodded.


  As they walked back to the stone archway Jacob stopped.

  “May I ask you a question of a personal nature?”

  “Yeah, why not?”

  “The photograph you showed me of the bridge. Who was that man you were with?”

  “That was Dan. He’s my…” Kate stopped mid-word as she recalled the events of the previous night, “It doesn’t matter.”

  Jacob saw the sadness in Kate’s face and decided not to push the question any further. They left the cemetery and got back into the cab. Nothing was said on the journey back to the house.

  Chapter Eleven

  The ride back to the house hadn’t given Kate much time to think. Nearly everything that was familiar to her, all the people she knew, had gone. If it were somehow true that she was in 1882, they had never existed. Jacob opened the front door and followed Kate inside. The maid was waiting for them as they stepped into the house.

  “Miss Calthorpe is waiting for you, sir. She’s in the sitting room,” she said as she took Jacobs hat and coat. She looked at Kate and hesitated, “Will the lady be staying sir?”

  “Yes, Ivy. Miss Lockwood will be staying with us for the time being. Would you make ready the guest room on the top floor please?”

  The maid took Kate’s cape as Jacob opened the door to the sitting room and walked in. A young woman who was looking at her reflection in the mirror turned around and smiled at Jacob.

  “I was told I had just missed you and decided to wait. Where have you been?” She smiled as she gently placed her hand on Jacob’s arm.

  “I just had a quick errand to run. I didn’t realise you would be back so early.” Jacob looked away, “How is my little girl?”

  Kate watched as a small girl ran into her view and jumped into Jacob’s arms. The girl laughed as Jacob whirled her around.

  “Tell me about the show,” said the girl as Jacob stopped spinning and lifted her up. “Was the glass screen really a hundred feet high? Did the images really move? Was it in colour?”

  “Enough questions,” said Jacob laughing, “I’ll tell you all about it later. In the meantime, however, I hope you’ve been behaving yourself for Miss Calthorpe.”

  “Oh Jacob you must stop calling me that. I thought we were on first-name terms.”

  Jacob gently placed the young girl back on the ground, “I’m sorry, it’s still difficult.”

  “Jacob, you really must begin to put things behind you and look to the future. Everything is different now and you have to move on,” a stern edge appeared in her voice.

  Jacob sighed and looked at the floor. He was about to answer when a small but loud voice broke the silence.

  “Hello. You’re very pretty.”

  Kate jumped at the sound and looked down at the source. It was the young girl who had been whirled around the sitting room so joyously by Jacob. She was standing right in front of Kate smiling up at her. Kate couldn’t help herself and smiled back, “Why thank you. So are you.”

  “Miss Lockwood I am sorry. This is my daughter Grace,” Jacob joined them in the hallway.

  “Hello Grace. My Name is Kate.”

  “Hello, Kate.”

  “I think it’s time young Miss McKinley changed for dinner.”

  Kate looked around to see a woman in her mid-thirties walking down the stairs.

  “Miss Wheaton,” Jacob said, half in greeting, half as an explanation to Kate, “Grace’s governess.”

  Grace waved to Kate as she ran up the stairs followed by the woman.

  The woman in the sitting room continued, completely ignoring everyone but Jacob, “I really must be going. When shall I see you again?”

  “I really am extremely busy. Edward has asked for my help with a pressing case and a number of other matters require my attention.”

  “So I see,” she replied, looking at Kate.

  “Forgive me, where are my manners? This is Miss Katherine Lockwood. Miss Lockwood this is Miss Naomi Calthorpe.”

  Kate was about to speak when Miss Calthorpe turned her attention back to Jacob.

  “Don’t forget we are going to the theatre tomorrow with my mother and father. Please don’t be late, you know how punctual my father is.”

  Miss Calthorpe walked past Kate without looking at her, had a shawl put around her shoulders by the maid and walked out of the front door and into a waiting hansom.

  Jacob poured a large measure of whiskey into a glass and sat down in a chair by the window. Looking out he watched as the hansom pulled away, slumped back and took a large gulp from the glass.

  “Do you always drink so much during the day?”

  Jacob stared into his drink but didn’t answer.

  “Is Miss Calthorpe your fiancée?”

  “No,” replied Jacob with certainty in his voice.

  “I think she’d like to be,” said Kate with no hint of humour in her voice.

  Jacob emptied his glass and stood, “Ivy will make up your room,” he said, eager to change the subject. “You’re welcome to stay but I have a friend I’d like you to see.”

  “A friend?”

  “Yes. Another doctor. He may be more suited to your case than I.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with me.”

  “He may be able to help.”

  “Help? Can he get me home? Can he get me back to the Limehouse Link?” The image of Sergeant Slater sat in custody invaded Kate’s mind, inducing an involuntary shudder. She looked at Jacob and realised she had few options. “Where does your friend work?”

  Jacob paused before deciding not to tell her his friend was the head surgeon at The Royal Bethlam Hospital, “He works in a local hospital,” said Jacob eventually, “only a short cab ride away.”

  “I overheard the conversation you were having in the hallway this morning,” said Kate, changing the subject and barely allowing Jacob to finish. “I heard the other man mention a kidnapping. Who is he? What’s happened?”

  “The man that came this morning is Sir Edward Riordan. He is the Deputy Commissioner in the Metropolitan Police. He was here in regard to a kidnapping at Lord Ashbury’s London house last night.”

  “Why would Scotland Yard want a doctor at the scene of a kidnap?”

  “The kidnap went wrong. The house was entered by person or persons unknown to use the police vernacular. They took Lord Ashbury’s son. However, in the process, the child’s governess managed to raise the alarm. She was struck in the neck by one of the men and killed.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Who’s Alice?” Kate immediately regretted asking the question when she saw the look on Jacob’s face. He stood, walked over to the table and put the glass back, next to the decanter.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry, it’s just that asking questions…”

  “As I said earlier,” Jacob interrupted, “I have a friend I would like you to see. Would you speak to him if I arranged a meeting?”

  “I’ll think about it,” said Kate, “if you take me to the crime scene.”

  “I really don’t think that is a good idea. It’s not a sight a young woman should see.”

  “I’m made of sterner stuff and I’m a police officer, remember?”

  Jacob looked at the uniform Kate was wearing and the various devices hanging from her belt and vest.

  “Well, I don’t suppose my day can get any stranger, and the chances are I will probably know the constable standing guard. But you can’t go dressed like that; I think you’ve caused enough disturbances for one day. I’ll ask Miss Wheaton if she can supply you with something that fits.”

  ***

  Miss Wheaton had been extremely helpful. Kate had tried only a couple of outfits before deciding on a pale blue dress which reached the floor, and a matching bodice. It had been a long time since she’d worn a dress that long and getting into the hansom had been a little more awkward than either Kate or Jacob had anticipated. When they arrived at the address she gratefully accepted Jacob’s assistance out of the cab and, as they walked up to the constab
le guarding the door, she was relieved she had chosen to keep her own boots on.

  “Hello, Doctor McKinley,” said the constable, “come to have another look at the scene have you?”

  “Hello, Alfred. Yes, police business again I’m afraid. How’s Lilly and your new arrival getting on?”

  “In the best of health thanks to you, Doctor,” he looked towards Kate. “Will the lady be waiting for you here sir?”

  “No Alfred, this is Miss Lockwood. She’s…an associate of mine.”

  “As you wish sir. Just to warn you, miss, it’s not a very pleasant experience in there,” said the constable as he opened the door.

  Jacob paused as he went in, “Were there any witnesses?”

  “No, sir. The staff said they heard a horrible scream but no-one saw anything. Susan, I mean the scullery maid, said she heard two men talking as she got to the room, but she fainted when she went inside.” A puzzled look spread across the constables' face.

  “Is everything alright?” asked Kate

  “Yes miss, it’s just...”

  “What have you heard Alfred?” Jacob smiled. He knew constables standing at the door of a house heard far more than anyone realised.

  “It’s just that Susan said she heard a scream and then glass breaking. I’m sure she must be confused sir. It must have been the other way round, but she did seem quite certain.”

  “People do get confused in the heat of the moment,” said Kate, “but thank you. That’s very interesting.”

  The constable looked back at Kate, “The body has been moved, but it’s still a gruesome sight in there miss.”

  “I’ll be fine, thank you,” said Kate.

  “Just one more thing,” said Jacob, “has the ransom been paid?”

  “There’s been no ransom note, sir,” said the constable, “well, at least not to the best of my knowledge there hasn’t.”

  Jacob nodded at the constable and continued into the house. As soon as they were inside a maid greeted them and Jacob explained they were there to take more measurements of the scene. There were doors either side of the corridor and Jacob opened the second on the right. Striking a match Jacob lit two gas lamps on the wall. Soft yellow light filled the room and Kate looked down at the dried pool of blood on the crumpled rug in front of the fire.