“I didn’t change history,” I told him in a quiet voice, still surprised at the turn of events. “Mary was going to leave with Joseph if we hadn’t taken her here. She was never going to be at Miller’s Court on the night of November 8th. It was her friend, Jane, who was killed. And because it wasn’t Jane who I tried to save, I didn’t knowingly change history.” My heart broke for Jane and the other four victims. The injustice of it all was senseless. Her name would forever be lost to history. “I’m starting to realize how easy it is to misunderstand history. Something I should have known as a historian.”
Austen smiled.
“But I still need to find the Book,” I told him.
He put his hand on my arm to stop me. “What do you mean?”
I hadn’t had time to tell him about Papa yet, so I did now as we stood on the wharf.
“Sir Rothschild is holding Papa captive in a warehouse in 1938 until I can produce the Book,” I said. “I need to know where the Freemasons keep it so I can get it to him in 1938.”
“We don’t even know where it’s at in1888,” he said. “How in the world will you manage to give it to him in1938?”
“I don’t know. But I can’t give up. The note I read at Buckingham Palace from Sir Charles Warren to Prince Albert Victor said that the Book would be kept under the King’s guard at WC—or Windsor Castle. It must be there.”
“You cannot go to Windsor Castle and find the Book,” he said. “It would be impossible. First, you’d have to know where they kept it, and second, you’d have to get past the guards—ifthey even have it at Windsor Castle. WC could mean any number of places.”
I slowly nodded, wishing it wasn’t true but feeling desperate. “We must go back to Wilton Crescent so I can speak to my father. Perhaps he’ll tell me where the Book is kept.”
“Why would he do that? If what you said is true, this Rothschild man threatened each of the families who were in Jerusalem, yours included, with death for the women they loved—and the Freemasons didn’t give in to his demands. Why would your father tell you now?”
“Because I know more. I know that it wasn’t the Freemasons who killed the women.”
“It doesn’t matter. The Freemasons are corrupt and ruthless.” Austen paused. “Who is Rothschild in 1888?”
“What do you mean?”
“He said he also lived in 1888. So, who is he here?”
“I don’t know. His first name in 1938 is Bryant, and since most time-crossers have the same first name in both paths, I would assume his first name in 1888 is also Bryant.”
Austen frowned as we continued to walk toward Southampton Central Station. “I don’t know of anyone named Bryant.”
“I don’t, either.”
“Are you certain that’s his real name in 1938?”
I shrugged. “It’s the one he uses.”
“We can look for someone with that name here,” he said, “and tomorrow when you wake up in 1938, you can see if that’s his real name there.”
“We still need to go home so I can speak to my father,” I reminded him. “To ask him about the Book.”
Austen paused again. “I don’t think it’s a smart idea, Kathryn. Nothing good has come from anyone knowing about that book. And as much as I’d like to see the Freemasons fall, I’m afraid of what might happen if the Book lands in the hands of Jack the Ripper. I don’t know anything about the Fascist Party or this man Hitler, but if he’s going to lead the world in a war, you could change history by giving Sir Rothschild information about the Book. What if the Freemasons really are keeping power in balance and Hitler has the means to take them down? He sounds like a madman, and if he’s against the Freemasons, then they must be doing something right. What would stop him from achieving world domination in 1938?”
I also stopped, but now I needed to sit down. There was a bench looking out at the harbor, so I went to it and took a seat.
Austen joined me.
All I could do was stare at him as I thought through the ramifications of Sir Rothschild getting ahold of the Book. “You’re right. I could change history if I knowingly give Sir Rothschild the Book. But I’m so confused now. What if Iamsupposed to give him the Book? What if that’s part of history?”
“Helping Mary was a selfless act,” he said. “And even if you thought you were changing history, you knew you were doing the right thing. Giving Jack the Ripper and Hitler access to the Book is not the right thing, Kate. I think that’s the difference.”
“What will I do about Papa?” I asked, trying not to feel defeated or panicked. “How will I save him, if I can’t get Sir Rothschild the Book?”
Austen thought for a moment. “First, we’ll return to London and search through public records for anyone with the first or last name of Bryant. If we find him, we’ll decide what to do next.”
“And if we can’t find him?”
