Free The Time Heiress by Georgina Young- Ellis Page A

“Here is the street called Bowery, and here is Chatham. Dear God, Evie!”
    “What?”
    “You were in Five Points!”
    “I have heard about that.”
    “Frankly, you should have done more than hear about it. You should have studied it. I spent many sessions reviewing the streets of preCivil War New York in the hologram program; you never came to any that I invited you to.”
    Evie looked down. “I know.”
    Cassandra sighed heavily. “Well, it would have done you good. You were in the most notorious slum that existed at this time.”
    “What is a slum?” Evie had heard the word but had no context for it in her future reality.
    “Where you were. A place where very poor people live, exploited by landlords and ignored by the government.”
    “It was the most horrible thing I have ever seen.”
    “Well, you are safe now, and I hope that from now on, you will not venture out on your own. We will go to All Angels tomorrow. I was there this morning looking for you.”
    “You were?” Evie sat forward on the sofa, and wiped her face with her hand. “Who did you see? How was it?”
    Cassandra extracted a lace handkerchief from her skirt pocket and handed it to her.
    “Well, I believe I saw Jeremiah Williams preaching, but I did not introduce myself to anyone. They were in the middle of the service.”
          “How did it look?”
    “Pretty much the same as it looks today on the outside, but the inside is very different. So listen. It is such a beautiful day. Are you up for some more exploring? But just around this area where it is safe.”
    “Yes,” said Evie, “but let me freshen up first.” She stood.
    “Have you eaten? There is still breakfast here for you, but I am afraid it is cold.”
    “I am not hungry. Perhaps a little later.”
    “Very well.”
    Evie went into her room, used the water closet, then went to the mirror to fix her hair. As she looked into her own eyes she cursed herself for missing the chance to go to the church and possibly to find out something about Caleb Stone today.
     
    Once the two women were back outside, Evie grasped Cassandra by the arm. They turned towards MacDougal Street heading in the direction of Washington Square Park.
    “Why is everyone staring at us?”
    “It occurs to me that we are somewhat better looking than average citizen of this day and age.”
    “Really? That is why?”
    “Well, look at everyone else.”
    Evie returned the stares of the men and women walking by.
    “Everyone is kind of…old looking.”
    “They age so much faster. Also, the women are not wearing make-up like we are used to seeing. They have no really effective skin or cosmetic-adjustment treatments like we do, no sunblock, poor dental care, and they succumb to illness and disease much more readily. Some people are pockmarked, some have missing teeth. You just do not see that in our lifetime.”
    “What do you suppose they are thinking about us?”
    “Probably just that we are foreign.”  
    “I wonder if they can tell that I am black,” Evie whispered.
    “People probably just think you look a little European. Anyway, they will believe what our attitude tells them to believe. You are well dressed and obviously educated; those things indicate ‘whiteness’ to people of this time.”
    Cassandra smiled and nodded to the passersby. Evie began to relax and do the same. They walked past Washington Square Park where people were out strolling in the sunshine. Women with parasols were arm in arm with gentlemen in top hats.
    “The men are dressed so formally,” Evie observed, remembering the man who’d helped her find a cab.
    “It is how a gentleman always dressed, even during the day. Of course today is Sunday, so they have on their best.”
    In the park, pink and white blossoms peeked out along the branches of the trees. Tulips in red and yellow bloomed by the side of walkways, beckoned forth by the warmth. Winding though the manicured lawns were paths for promenading, and there was a