Nothing But Time

 
BLG9.6.12
by Angeline Fortin


In 1987, the Kim Basinger/Bruce Willis film "Blind Date" was a walk in the park when compared to the first date of Oxford biomed chemist Kate Kallastad and quantum physicist David Ferguson.  David bypasses dessert after their dinner for a ride in his new trans-space teleportation device.  Reluctantly she allows him to perform a little demonstration. Next thing she knows, she is in 1876 London.  David is thrilled, gets a house (including a room and wardrobe for her) and promises to build a new transporter to get them back.  Eventually she perceives David is not necessarily in such a hurry to get them back to the twentieth century as she is. He wants to get married and setup house. Kate decides to leave the house to work as a maid for the Earl of Harrowby, in hopes her absence will stimulate productivity of the transporter. The work is grueling. A few weeks into the job she is told they will be leaving London to go to Ramble House in Henly-on-Thames in Buckinghamshire, the country home of Brandon "Brand" Ryder, Earl of Harrowby.

Kate misses her parents and her sister, Ann, but works hard. One night, unable to sleep, she goes to the library to find something to read...and in he walks. Tall, dark, outrageously handsome. And so began a friendship, a passion that is taboo in this time, an Earl and a maid will never be accepted. Their chance meetings and conversations eventually lead to Kate becoming the nanny to the Earl's nephew, Nathan Ralston.  Her teaching methods baffle Brand but he can't argue with success, and he can't stay away from Kate. 

David has finally completed construction of the transporter and plans to leave within a week. Kate tells him she is in love and will stay with the Earl.  The day before he is to leave, Brand comes down with appendicitis.  In terror, Kate begs David to take Brand and she back with him immediately in order to save his life. He acquiesced and the transport was successful, the surgery was too.  But then the realization of being in the twentieth century becomes the focus for Kate and Brand.  This is a well written, charming and entertaining book that I recommend for a weekend read.