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Authors: LeAnne Burnett Morse
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the items she found.
Considering the clothing, the vintage automobiles, and the mannerisms of the people she had observed, she imagined herself to be somewhere around the early 1900s, likely the Edwardian period. This was a new one for her. She had always been fascinated by the era but never had a chance to “visit” it. The timing on this episode was terrible with everything she had to do this week but it couldn’t be helped. Part of her secretly hoped she would stay in the era long enough to really enjoy it. She wanted a chance to wear everything in the closet. She would place a call to her friend, Jane, who had checked into the hoteland was staying in the adjacent second bedroom. Olivia had begun reserving the second bedroom about a year before and made sure it was always included when she stayed at the Willard. Jane had been given a key to the adjoining door so she could come and go as Mrs. Fordham needed.
Yes, Olivia would call Jane soon, but not just yet. She went back to the chair by the window and opened it a few inches so she could hear the sounds of the city. She didn’t know how long she would be in this time and she wanted to enjoy every minute.
Half an hour later Edward Chase rang the doorbell of the suite. Olivia greeted him still wearing her dressing gown.
“Come in, Edward.”
“Did you enjoy your rest, Olivia?”
“Yes, very much. I feel very refreshed.”
Chase noticed she did indeed seem alert and calm. He walked to the window and looked out. Traffic was flowing nicely on Pennsylvania Avenue, the classic cars blowing their horns at the boys who darted between them. He wondered if she had looked out the window or noticed anything different. She was still wearing her dressing gown so maybe she hadn’t gone to her closet and seen the period clothing he knew was now hanging there. He was going to have to be very careful how he broke the news to her.
“Would you like some tea, Edward? The water has gone cold but I could order up a new pot.”
“No, thank you. Olivia, I thought you might like your maid to come and help you dress for this evening but I wanted to speak with you first.”
“I don’t require any assistance this evening but it’s good of you to be concerned. I’m afraid I may need to stay in tonight. I was going to call Jane and spend the evening with her. Has she checked in?”
“Yes, she’s all taken care of but she’s not, um,
available
right now.”
“That’s no problem. I’ll call her in a bit.” Chase glanced at the circa 1910 telephone on the desk. If Olivia hadn’t noticed it, she would when she got ready to make the call. He had to tell her what was going on.
“Olivia, would you please come with me? I need to show you something.”
She followed him into the dining room where he drew back the drapes on the corner window with its Juliet balcony overlooking the intersection. He pointed to the street.
She looked down but didn’t make any remark.
“Do you see anything unusual?” he asked.
Olivia saw the old cars and the pedestrians dressed in their vintage finery but she didn’t want Edward to know what she was seeing. He wouldn’t understand. In fact, he would likely think her crazy.
“Whatever do you mean, Edward? The fact that traffic is actually moving well this time of day in Washington?” she said jokingly. “I’m sure you’ve seen that a few times at least.”
“No, Olivia. I mean the Model Ts and the people in vintage clothing.”
Olivia stepped back from the window like she’d been slapped. Her mind was spinning and she couldn’t figure out what was happening. Chase thought she might faint and stepped toward her as she put her head down. He supported her arm and she looked up into his eyes with fear in her own.
“You can see those too?” she asked. Then she collapsed on the floor and started to seize.
C HAPTER 11
CATHERINE PARKER
1865
The doorman offered his hand to the ladies as they stepped down from the rented carriage.
Considering the clothing, the vintage automobiles, and the mannerisms of the people she had observed, she imagined herself to be somewhere around the early 1900s, likely the Edwardian period. This was a new one for her. She had always been fascinated by the era but never had a chance to “visit” it. The timing on this episode was terrible with everything she had to do this week but it couldn’t be helped. Part of her secretly hoped she would stay in the era long enough to really enjoy it. She wanted a chance to wear everything in the closet. She would place a call to her friend, Jane, who had checked into the hoteland was staying in the adjacent second bedroom. Olivia had begun reserving the second bedroom about a year before and made sure it was always included when she stayed at the Willard. Jane had been given a key to the adjoining door so she could come and go as Mrs. Fordham needed.
Yes, Olivia would call Jane soon, but not just yet. She went back to the chair by the window and opened it a few inches so she could hear the sounds of the city. She didn’t know how long she would be in this time and she wanted to enjoy every minute.
Half an hour later Edward Chase rang the doorbell of the suite. Olivia greeted him still wearing her dressing gown.
“Come in, Edward.”
“Did you enjoy your rest, Olivia?”
“Yes, very much. I feel very refreshed.”
Chase noticed she did indeed seem alert and calm. He walked to the window and looked out. Traffic was flowing nicely on Pennsylvania Avenue, the classic cars blowing their horns at the boys who darted between them. He wondered if she had looked out the window or noticed anything different. She was still wearing her dressing gown so maybe she hadn’t gone to her closet and seen the period clothing he knew was now hanging there. He was going to have to be very careful how he broke the news to her.
“Would you like some tea, Edward? The water has gone cold but I could order up a new pot.”
“No, thank you. Olivia, I thought you might like your maid to come and help you dress for this evening but I wanted to speak with you first.”
“I don’t require any assistance this evening but it’s good of you to be concerned. I’m afraid I may need to stay in tonight. I was going to call Jane and spend the evening with her. Has she checked in?”
“Yes, she’s all taken care of but she’s not, um,
available
right now.”
“That’s no problem. I’ll call her in a bit.” Chase glanced at the circa 1910 telephone on the desk. If Olivia hadn’t noticed it, she would when she got ready to make the call. He had to tell her what was going on.
“Olivia, would you please come with me? I need to show you something.”
She followed him into the dining room where he drew back the drapes on the corner window with its Juliet balcony overlooking the intersection. He pointed to the street.
She looked down but didn’t make any remark.
“Do you see anything unusual?” he asked.
Olivia saw the old cars and the pedestrians dressed in their vintage finery but she didn’t want Edward to know what she was seeing. He wouldn’t understand. In fact, he would likely think her crazy.
“Whatever do you mean, Edward? The fact that traffic is actually moving well this time of day in Washington?” she said jokingly. “I’m sure you’ve seen that a few times at least.”
“No, Olivia. I mean the Model Ts and the people in vintage clothing.”
Olivia stepped back from the window like she’d been slapped. Her mind was spinning and she couldn’t figure out what was happening. Chase thought she might faint and stepped toward her as she put her head down. He supported her arm and she looked up into his eyes with fear in her own.
“You can see those too?” she asked. Then she collapsed on the floor and started to seize.
C HAPTER 11
CATHERINE PARKER
1865
The doorman offered his hand to the ladies as they stepped down from the rented carriage.
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