Monday, 30 May, 1870
I can scarcely put pen to paper, my hands are shaking with excitement!
The master proposed marriage to Miss Chigwidgeon, and she accepted! I shed more than a tear of joy when I heard it. Then, of course, I needed to dash off a note to Miss Pinker. I know the master will want to tell his grandfather and cousin himself, but Miss Pinker has been waiting so anxiously for this news. I know she will act suitably surprised when he goes to the house in the morning.
My only regret is that Lady Constance and Sir Galen aren't alive to see how happy their son is.
I really should record some of the other events of the day. Before everyone had even had breakfast, Edward asked to speak with the master in private. I was later informed that upon his return from the palace, Edward was met by Cousin George. George claims that he is watching over Wilhelmina because "his master" -- Jerrold Moriarty -- came to him in a vision and revealed Wilhelmina's identity. This vision further said that Wilhelmina was in great danger, more danger than Mr. Salmalin could protect her from. In the vision, Moriarty also told George that he could not trust anyone else in this matter.
George has firsthand knowledge of the veracity of the latter warning. Since Moriarty's death, his former lieutenants have begun fighting each other for control of the organization. There have been several assassinations. Even the cult, The Hands of Kali, has broken into three or four factions. At least two of those factions are looking for "Moriarty's heir."
As if all of this were not disturbing enough, the leader of one of the factions, the one which George says is being called "the Cobb Loyalists," wishes to "reclaim" Mr. Salmalin.
We will need to be exceptionally vigilant. The master has reported this to A, and is considering pre-emptive measures.
While the master was spreading this news among the League, life, of course, was moving on.
Dr. Wilson returned to his laboratory, or as Edward has taken to calling it, "the Rocket Works." Lt. Wooster and Mr. Caine accompanied him.
The newspapers this morning carried stories of the "crazed killer" who attacked Lady Ottoline's school. The police seem to have accepted Lady Ottoline's story, that the master and his colleagues had come to the school on a matter of academic interest, and so happened to be on the scene when killer struck two girls in the garden. Being confronted by the likes of Dr. Wilson and Mr. Cuthbert, he fled the grounds. They gave chase. He climbed the scaffolding in front of the church, but the scaffolding collapsed, burying the killer. The papers all say that police are still attempting to identify the body that was dug from beneath the rubble.
Apparently one of the more sensational papers has put forward the theory that this is the London Monster, a creature said to have killed 6 girls in 1832, over 50 women and girls in 1791, and accused of many similar crimes going back to the 15th century.
Miss Chigwidgeon received a letter in the afternoon post which disturbed her. I couldn't help put recognize that the crest impressed in the sealing wax was Lord Robert St. Simon's. She kept coming out of the laboratory and asking if Miss Whitnell had return yet. She was clutching the letter in her hand each time, folding and re-folding it again and again.
Miss Whitnell had gone to the Order of St. Jerome for a meeting with Mrs. Godwin. When she returned, Miss Chigwidgeon took her aside. A bit later I heard them composing a letter. The small bit I heard leads me to believe that Lord Robert has decided to press his suit, and Miss Chigwidgeon wanted to know how to politely tell him she was not interested.
After handing this letter to me and asking that I see it mailed out at the earliest possible moment, she and Miss Chigwidgeon went into the master's office and closed the door. About twenty minutes later Miss Whitnell practically flew into the kitchen, eyes glowing and a barely restrained smile on her face. "Tea for Sir Cosmo!" she said. "I will take it back in myself!"
I had been loitering in the back hall, listening to an argument between Miss Sinclair and Edward. The argument seemed to have started when Miss Sinclair asked for a more complete explanation for Edward's nocturnal visit to the palace, but it was growing to encompass many other topics.
I was therefore distracted and did not think through the implication of Miss Whitnell's actions. I should have noticed that, not only was she acting even more bubbly than usual, but she had left Miss Chigwidgeon and the master in the study unaccompanied. There is only one circumstance that a lady would have properly done that.
So the first moment I realized what had happened was a bit later, moments before Mrs. Murphy had sounded the gong for tea. Miss Whitnell came bustling into the dining room and asked Mr. Salmalin for a conversation in private. They stepped through the music room and into the laboratory. Since I was in the silver pantry at that precise moment, I heard Miss Whitnell inform Mr. Salmalin that Miss Chigwidgeon had accepted the master's proposal of marriage (apparently I am not the only one who suspected that Mr. Salmalin has feelings for Miss Chigwidgeon). Mr. Salmalin took the news at the time with his usual stoicism.
I was able to compose myself before leaving the pantry.
After the whole household, including Mr. MacGregor and Mr. Ramsay, had assembled for tea, the master walked into the room, with Miss Chigwidgeon at his side, her hand tucked into his arm. They were both grinning like children. If I had not had the good fortune to overhear Miss Whitnell, I fear I would have lost my composure at the sight of them.
Mrs. Cuthbert did let out a triumphant little noise, only to be kicked under the table by Miss Sinclair.
The master then announced his news to everyone. Of course the congratulations began immediately.
Although most of the household is enthusiastic, I know that some have reservations about the arrangement. They did not voice them openly, but I overheard Miss Sinclair, Mrs. Cuthbert, and Miss Whitnell discussing the problems Miss Chigwidgeon is liable to face for other society ladies.
When tea was finished, Mr. MacGregor excused himself and went home. Miss Whitnell and Mr. Ramsay left for the seminar at the Order of St. Jerome. The master and Miss Chigwidgeon sat in the parlor together, talking about many things. Other member of the household were with them in the early evening, but soon everyone had excused themselves (except Mr. Cuthbert, who was fast asleep in the chair to the left of the fire. They continued to talk until I informed the master that nearly everyone was in bed and I was locking up.
Miss Whitnell had returned from the seminar some time before, and had busied herself studying in the next room, where she could technically keep an eye on them, but still live them some privacy. She walked Miss Chigwidgeon up to her room, while the master locked away some things in his study. After he went to bed, I did my final patrol, meeting Mr. Salmalin scullery door as per usual. He reported that everything was secure. I replied likewise. He then went out to the carriage house, where he could be close at hand should any of the agents try to attack Wilhelmina in her sleep. I do wish we could convince her to sleep in the house more often.
I couldn't help but notice, when I came upon Mr. Salmalin at the door, that his eyes were just a bit red. I didn't say anything. I know he trusts me, but he is not ready to admit his vulnerabilities.
As I watched him cross the garden, I realised why it is that I had so quickly come to trust him. He is very much like the master, especially how the master was in the first few years after the disaster and Lechworth. I hope that it does not take him 18 years to recover.
31 May, 1870
Another very busy day. I do not know if I will have time to record everything that happened.
The master left for the Earl's home early this morning to share the news of his engagement. Miss Whitnell needed transportation to Stepney to inform the Chigwidgeon's of the engagement.
Miss Whitnell and Mrs. Cuthbert also hoped to meet with young Nigel today, but a letter arrived saying that he could not get away from business until Thursday. I can see that this worries all of the ladies. Even Mr. Ramsay is beginning to show concern over the incident.
Lord Greyminster and Miss Pinker came to the house today to congratulate the newly engaged couple. Miss Pinker was overjoyed. Lord Greyminster was so enthusiastic, he insists that there must be an engagement party before July, at his town house. As he continued to talk, explaining how there should also be an engagement party at Goxhill Manor in August or September, I could see Miss Chigwidgeon's eyes grow large with anxiety. The master squeezed her hand and murmured something in her ear, which made her laugh and relax somewhat.
Mr. & Mrs. Chigwidgeon also came to the house to congratulate the couple. It was a very touching and amusing scene.
The master is calling me to the study. I will come back to this later.
Proceed to Intriguing developments
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