Before Lord William Lowther leaves to seek his fortune in India, he and Lady Caroline Wyckham declare their love for one another and exchange miniature portraits of themselves, each encased in a pocket watch. William disappears from his post and nearly two years later his whereabouts are still unknown. Lady Caro's father, the Duke of Rowland, insists she choose a husband from among her suitors by Christmas or he will choose one for her. Caro would rather be a spinster than marry anyone except William, but will he ever return? As it happens, Lord William is no longer in India and not even in the same time period. He's fifty years into the future in the middle of the American Civil War, courtesy of the witch Olde Gylda of Hampshire. A newly anointed Guardian of the Stones, William's role is to learn enough advanced medicine to save more lives and limbs in battles soon to come. Now, his mentor has gone home, and William cannot contact Olde Gylda. Depressed and alone, should he wait for Caro in hopes they can be reunited across time, or should he resign himself to life where he is? At a Christmas house party, Guardian Alexander St. John recognizes the significance of a recent dream Lady Caro describes and alerts Old Gylda. Overhearing their plans to rescue William, Caro is accidentally swept away with Alex and joins him in his mission. Over a journey spanning two continents, several disguises, and multiple time periods, danger and adventure challenge at every turn.