Wednesday, 4 May, 1870 -- continued
The household spent today answering mail and dealing with other social obligations. Most of it seems rather routine. Young Nigel's family has invited Miss Chigwidgeon, Miss Whitnell, and the master to lunch on Sunday. Mr. Frazer was called out of town on business. Miss Whitnell's mother is still adjusting to life as a widow. Mr. Ramsay came to tea.
The master had been asked to dinner by Lord Greyminster. When he returned home, he seemed decidedly distracted. Miss Whitnell and Miss Chigwidgeon attempted to draw the master out. I had scarcely finished making a fresh pot of tea when Mrs. Cuthbert came to make some to offer the others. Though the master was not adverse to talking, I gather that he did not reveal what was troubling him.
Finally the master asked Miss Chigwidgeon, Edward, and myself to join him for a private conversation in his study. He asked Miss Whitnell to join us as well. The master explained why he was disturbed. At dinner, Lord Greyminster had asked the master to make some changes in his will.
Years ago the master assured me that I would be provided for in his will, should the unthinkable happen. When young Edward entered the household, the master added provisions for him. And later for Miss Chigwidgeon. A trust was to be established, with Lord Greyminister as the executor of the trust.
Lord Greyminster has asked the master to name two alternate executors, in case the Earl pre-deceases him. Given the Earl's advanced age, this seems merely a prudent precaution. However, the way the Earl phrased his request, and other things he said at dinner, has led the master to fear that the Earl's health is worse than he is letting on. The master is very distressed over the situation, which is certainly understandable. He is only just now establishing cordial relations with his grandfather, and now must confront the Earl's mortality.
Miss Chigwidgeon and young Edward were quite moved by the master's generosity and also concerned for his well being. After all the talk about wills and trust funds and declining health, it is only natural to wonder if he was concealing an illness. He assured us that this was not the case. The master explained part of the story of why Mr. Xanthus has tried to kill him.
I'm not certain it set Miss Chigwidgeon's mind at ease.
Thursday, 5 May, 1870
Today was a shopping day. The master asked Miss Whitnell, Miss Sinclair, and Mrs. Cuthbert to accompany Miss Chigwidgeon to the jewelers so that the jewelry being made for her could be vetted for appropriateness. The ladies then proceeded to a dressmaker suggested by Lady Ottoline.
Meanwhile the master had business at Sir Anthony's office, his solicitor's, the bank, and his accountants.
Lt. Wooster had to attend luncheon at his sister's. For the way he was acting this morning, I assume that there is some unpleasant family business to be discussed.
All this other rushing about made my trip to the market quite inconsequential.
Dr. Wilson did not join us for dinner tonight, having a dinner appointment. Lt. Wooster spent the evening at his club.
Miss Sinclair had organized a trip to the exhibit of water color paintings. The master, Miss Whitnell, Mrs. Cuthbert, and Edward went along. Edward found several of the paintings very interesting, but said people were embarassed to talk about the most interesting ones.
Miss Sinclair overheard a conversation between several gentlemen involving Sir Anthony. They managed to get themselves introduced to the gentleman who was doing the talking, a doctor currently working at Bethlehem Royal Hospital. It seems that a former naval officer is a patient there, and that Sir Anthony has taken a special interest in the matter.
When they returned from the exhibit Edward had some new pictures to show me. And Miss Chigwidgeon, making tea for everyone, told me a little bit about the delusions of the ill former sailor. His rantings include pyramids, angels, demons, sea monsters, and dragons. It sounds like a very sad case.
Salmalin and I had just completed the evening walk-through when Mr. Caine carried the extremely inebriated lieutenant into the house.
Friday, 6 May, 1870
The ladies were invited to tea with Miss Pinker today. I understand they had a good time. I couldn't help but notice that Miss Chigwidgeon seemed strangely happy when they returned.
The master had a number of business errands to attend to today. Unfortunately neither of the cook candidates we met with seem appropriate. The master met with the doctor they had met the night before, right after he visited Sir Anthony's office.
I gather Dr. Wilson's important test of his underwater rocket did not go well today. Lt. Wooster kept talking about the enormous explosion. Each time he mentioned it, Dr. Wilson seemed to flinch.
Saturday, 7 May, 1870
We loaded up Edward's model Sinkable Boat onto a wagon for it's first test. Dr. Wilson's workshop and lab at B.F. and C Stein & Company is quite large and impressive. He tried to show everyone around, but kept remembering his work for the Admiralty's Ordinance department is supposed to be rather hush-hush, as Lt. Wooster likes to say.
I must say I didn't have hopes for Edward's model. Though it is very fish shaped, I couldn't help noticing that it was also very heavy. However, when it was loaded into Dr. Wilson's colossal test tank, it did float. The mechanism began clicking and clacking inside the thing, and a large number of bubbles game out of the sides as it slowly sank about halfway into the tank.
The model twitched and wiggled for several moments, and then started moving very slowly. I couldn't discern how it was propelling itself. There was no screw, and the piece of metal at the back of the model which looked like a shark's tail never moved. Yet the model did advance, and even began to pick up speed just as the mainspring finished unwinding.
Edward was extremely exciting, particularly
when the model was hauled out of the water and appeared not to
have leaked.
It has been all Edward could talk about the rest of the day.
Poor Dr. Wilson. Lt. Wooster suggested that his device should be attached to the front end of Edward's.
Miss Chigwidgeon has become quite nervous. Tomorrow is the big luncheon with the Graham's.
Sunday, 8 May, 1870
I have only a few moments to record this, as there is a lot of packing to do.
I should begin at the beginning: Miss Chigwidgeon, Miss Whitnell, and the master left early this morning for the luncheon at the Graham's.
We were enjoying the morning service when Miss Sinclair slipped into our pew and handed a note to Mrs. Cuthbert. The Cuthberts left with Miss Sinclair. Patsy and I stayed until the end of services. When we returned home, Miss Sinclair was working on one of her papers. She said there had been an urgent note from Mr. Ramsey, and that Mrs. Cuthbert's talent's were needed.
When the master, Miss Whitnell, and Miss Chigwidgeon returned, Miss Sinclair explained about the note. I didn't hear the details, as Miss Chigwidgeon was still calming down from the visit with the Grahams. Mrs. Cuthbert returned, saying that she needed to pack to prepare for an ocean voyage.
Then the messenger for Sir Anthony arrived, asking the master to prepare the house for an ocean voyage. It seems that Mr. Ramsay's missing friend is somehow related to the delirious naval officer, a former cartographer, and a missing French aero-frigate, and possibly to some signs of unrest on the continent.
It seems the League sails tomorrow with H.M.S.
Griffin, the new ironclad powered by two engines designed
by the master and Mr. Ichabod Balderstoke. The ship was just recently
christened, and has only sailed from the Newcastle shipyards to
Harwich, hardly much of a test of her seaworthiness.
Proceed to Accounts from Diverse Eye-Witnesses: 1. Wooster and the Pilerers
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