Thursday, 12 January, 1871
continued
The League had returned from Hornsea with barely enough time to dress for dinner. Nearly all of the guests had arrived and the house was awash with activity. I missed the arrival of Mr. & Mrs. John Whitnell, as I was still assisting with the new "guests" in the attic. Arthur informs me that our Miss Whitnell was extremely pleased that her youngest brother, James, had joined the party.
There was one significant change to the dinner arrangements. Lady Clara St. Simon and Miss Betty Whitnell were to join Miss Wilhelmina in the nursery for dinner. This upset the young ladies a great deal. They each pleaded with their mothers, Duchess Balmoral and Mrs. Whitnell to no avail. The mothers presented a united front, being less than pleased with the young ladies' reaction to the previous arrangement of dinning together in the little parlour, away from the child.
Miss Wilhelmina responded to the situation with more grace than the older girls.
Before dinner could quite begin, the Marquis de Montmerial de Dragagulan arrived, in the company of a young frenchman he introduced as M. Berri. It seems the League have made M. Berri's acquaintance on the continent during their sojurn there this past summer. The Marquis apologized profusely for being detained so long in London, however his delay had proved fortuitous, allowing him to escort M. Berri to the manor.
M. Berri was in England on behalf of the Duc d'Loraine, more familiar to the League as Admiral LeCoq. The Duc sent is congratulations and a wedding present: a find set of silver goblets and wine coaster, in a mahogany case. It did not escape my notice that M. Berri also slipped a sealed document to the master, and whispered some explanation while doing so.
M. Berri had also brought a package from the Admiral addressed to Edward, which he was commanded to deliver in person. Mrs Frazer escorted M. Berri to the nursery to complete the errand. Edward later informed me that the present was the latest volume of Bulletin de la Société des Naturalistes Parisiens, which contains a paper by Professor Pierre Arronax on several deep sea invertabrates. In the biographical paragraph accompanying the paper, it notes that the Professor is continuing his research in Indochina. Edward was very happy to learn that the Professor is no longer under house arrest in a secret location.
Dinner commenced. As the table was already laid out and the guests assigned, the late arrivals were provided a tray in the drawing room.
Just as we were serving the game course, another guest arrived. Hauptman1 Schneider, of the Prussian Royal Police, had been dispatched with a wedding present, and been charged with its presentation to Sir Cosmo and his bride-to-be. I suggested he could wait in the drawing room with the Marquis and M. Berri, and enjoy refreshment there. He was politely declining, saying he should wait with the wagon until dinner was finished, when Mrs. Cuthbert and Miss Whitnell arrived in the foyer.
I learned later that Herr Schneider is only half-human, one of his parents being a fae creature of some sort. Mrs Cuthbert suspects the parent is a 'kobold' or perhaps a 'bogey' - being mystical creatures native to the moutainous regions of Prussia with abilities similar to those displayed by Schneider. Mrs Cuthbert also explained that M. Berri is also half-fae, being a relative of both Miss Mitzi and Admiral LeCoq. The importance of this information is that Mrs Cuthbert, being sensitive to these mystical energies, had sensed Herr Schneider's arrival, though she had not recognized him. She and Miss Whitnell had excused themselves from the dinner table to investigate, and if necessary, handle any mystical problems.
The ladies were able to convince the Hauptman that he could keep vigil on the present (as it was too large to bring inside) through the window in the drawing room, thus remaining more comfortable.
Before dinner was ended, Salmalin brought me a bit of disturbing news about a note Wilhelmina had discovered in her room. I alerted Arthur, David, Stuart, and Fothergill that there may be an intruder in the house, and we should remain vigilant.
After dinner, most of the ladies and gentleman joined the master and Miss Chigwidgeon as they accompanied Herr Schneider outside to receive the gift, which he said was a present for Kommadant the Count Wymms and his wife, Lady Sophia. The present was containing in an extremely large shipping crate, to which was affixed a number of addresses, one-over-the-other. Members of the League began giving each other meaningful looks. Mr Frazer assisted in lowering the crate to the ground, thus giving himself and Mrs Frazer an opportunity to inspect the object for telltale scents. If one were watching carefully, one might have also noticed Mrs Cuthert, Miss Whitnell, and Mr Ramsay, all peering at the crate with a most intense expression.
I learned later the full significance of all this. During the League's work in Prussia, the were briefly diverted by an anarchist plot. The anarchists were intent on stealing an artifact which the League was guarding on a train. The anarchists had hidden a rocket-powered ornithopter inside this very crate in one of the freight cars on the train, and had intended to launch themselves and the artifact into the air, while the train was still in motion, thus effecting their escape. This plan was thwarted in an amusing manner by the League.
Left with two unconscious anarchists, and important business ahead of them, they had secured the prisoners inside the crate, and re-addressed it to Herr Vymms, who was then commander of the Berlin police department. Kommandant Wymms had chosen to send his gift in this same crate, which left the League highly suspicious of it's contents.
Inside we found four six-foot-tall bronze standing candelabra, very ornate and obvious antiques. There was also a smaller gift box inside, containing a set of cut crystal drinking glasses, matching decanter, and a silver tray. Herr Schneider explained that Lady Sophia had picked the crystal as a present, and the Kommandant had promised to get it delivered, since he had something he wanted to send.
Mrs Cuthbert believes the candelabra once belonged to the late and unlamented Herr Bopp, who commanded the Royal Police before Count Wymms was appointed to the post. Miss Chigwidgeon seemed quite taken with the candelabra, though they were quite obviously not to Mrs Frazer's taste. I suspect Miss Chigwidgeon's enthusiasm is in part due to the weight and sturdiness of the items.
The master wanted the crate preserved. "I am going to need it, later," he said, with a gleam in his eye. I suspect that sometime in the not distant future, some gift will be shipped to the Kommandant in that crate.
Wilhelmina was disappointed that the crate did not contain the ornithopter.
The guests adjourned to the music room and large parlour. After the socializing was underway, the master asked myself and the other footmen to pass the word, discreetly, to the members of the League that their presence was desired in the little parlour on the third floor at 9:30.
The League convened at the appointed time. Lord Greyminster was also present, and proceeded to bestow two special gifts on the bride and groom. He has made a gift of additional land to St. Wilfred's church, the income of which should be more than adequate to support a full time vicar. This gift is being made in honour of the wedding, and a permanent plaque will be placed in the church commemorating the gift. The plaque is brass, and is engraved: A gift of two bovates of land for the support and upkeep of the church, in honour of the wedding of Sir Cosmo Cowperthwaite and Miss Namaste Chigwidgeon, 13 January, 1871." The phrase, "the wedding of" and the names are engraved in the largest type.
Lord Greyminster then presented Miss Chigwidgeon with a necklace which had belonged to Countess Mary, wife of the first Earl. Countess Mary, who thwarted a group of roundheads (and defended the loyalist villagers and farmers taking refuge within the Hall), by hiding two cannon behind shuttered windows in the lower floor, and luring the commander of the roundhead troops within the firing radius of the cannon.2
It is the same necklace that is in the Countess' portrait: a ruby carved into the shape of a rose blossom, set in a delicate gold filligree with leaves and smaller gold rosebuds, further decorated with smaller rubies, garnets, and emeralds. She was quite moved by the gift, particularly the Earl's declaration that he wanted Miss Chigwidgeon to have the necklace because she reminded him of the Countess.
The master also had a wedding gift. He first apologized to Miss Chigwidgeon, noting that she had asked him not to buy her any more extravagant jewelry, he said that this gift did not count, because she wouldn't actually wear it. He then presented her a fine rosewood box with polished brass fittins. She opened the presentation box and discovered a jewelled globe. The globe itself is carved from a single piece of lapis lazuli, inlaid with gold in the shape of the continents, some adorned with diamonds. The base of the gold is in the shape of three sailing ships, rendered in gold, arranged so that the masts from a reverse tripod to hold the globe. The ships are labled "Nina," "Pina," and "Santa Maria." The sails are delicately shaped out of white gold, while the rigging and miniature cannons are carved in a dark, almost bronze-colored gold. The ships are adorned with small gem chips.
The master then told the story of this unique piece, how it was commissioned from the famous goldsmith, Celini, by the ruler of the small Italian duchy of Massa as a wedding present to his son's bride, who was herself a Spanish princess. The princess and the Duke's son were to be married in 1592, the centennial of Columbus' voyage. By securing this wedding, the Duke had sealed an alliance with Spain, which he hoped would deter the neighboring duchies and prinicipalities from overrunning his small country. The wedding did take place as scheduled, though the Duke died a few months before the wedding, and so his son presented the globe in his father's stead. The diamonds on the globe mark Madrid in Spain, Massa on the Italian pennisula, and the West Indies, thus symbolizing an earlier collaboration between the Spanish royal house and an Italian which led to the discovery of the new world.
The master continued that the alliance with Spain did hold, though several generations later Massa was invaded and annexed by the Duchy of Modena. The reigning duke was killed in the invasion, though his wife and heir fled to London. The Dowager Duchess served as a rallying point for loyalists for some years, occasionally selling some of her jewels to finance a resistance. This globe was sold to a private collector in one of those sale. The globe recently came onto the market again, and the master bought it for his bride because, "I want to give you the world."
He then apologized for buying her something so old, and showed her how to lift the globe from its base to reveal a small compartment. Inside the compartment was an ivory pendant painted with a miniature portrait of Kali, on a fine gold necklace.
Before the room degenerated into complete sentimentality, the master regretfully explained that he had some serious news, as well. He told us that M. Berri had given him a document, and indicated said document was a present for Admiral LeCoq in his capacity of Supreme Marshall of France. The document contained excerpts from intelligence reports, tracking the movements of an Italian Count by the name of Coronini. Count Coronini has long been in the employ of the English Earl of Dovercourt, who was implicated in the Marquis of Dearingford's plot against the Crown back in 1852. Though there was not sufficient evidence to charge Lord Dovercourt, he has been unwelcome at court since, and has been living in semi-seclusion in the north of Scotland. Lord Dovercourt was named by Xanthus as one of the people he thought may have been secretly financing the recent murders.
According to the report, Coronini met with the late Major Grey in Morocco several times in the last few months. It is believed he transported a substantial sum in gold coins to the Major on one such occassion. On another of his journeys from England to Morocco, he was accompanied by a young boy who had a distinctive pet monkey. He also met on several occasions with M. Girard, a French agent who crossed the League's path during the business involved the submarine plans last April. Girard's activities and assistance in this plot were not sanctioned by LeCoq, and the Admiral has taken punitive steps against Girard.
At this point the Marquis interrupted to explain that Girard is the reason he was detained. M. Berri had been sent to London to arrest Girard. The Marquis was already following other evidence in London which had brought him, independently to Girard. The two combined their efforts and captured Girard, though not without a fight.
This information seemed to confirm that Lord Dovercourt is the man behind the recent troubles. If he is, then the aim is probably revenge for the thwarting of his earlier plot and the subsequent exile, and possibly by discrediting people reporting to both A and S, clear the way for another attack on the crown.
Mrs Cuthbert also had news to report (which she had previously shared with several members of the League). Mrs Cuthbert had received a message from Mr Snape of the Lord High Warlock's office. In the matter of the murder of Mr Wroth, it had been determined that Tandu and Iota had effected the murder by "possessing" several members of the Wroth household at one point or other in the evening. A footman under Iota's control had brought a small bottle containing strychnine to Mr Wroth's study and hidden it before the master arrived for his appointment with Mr Wroth.
As the master was taking his leave, Tandu possessed Mr Wroth, locked himself inside the study, poured some of the poison into his cup of tea, returned the container to its hiding place, and then had drank the poison. Tandu left Mr Wroth's body immediately, leaving him to die. After the servants broke the study door down, the footman under Iota's control, removed the container of strychnine and disposed of it before the constables arrived. Then Iota suppressed the footman's memories.
In the course of uncovering this, the footman had been made to remember the incidents. Unfortunately, before the memories could again be adjusted, the poor man, believing himself to be homocidally inside, took his own life, leaving behind a note confessing to the murder. The note will be turned over to the coroner, which will clear the master. It is unfortunate that the true authors of this crime will never stand trial. I suppose it could be argued that, as both Iota and Tandu have since died, that they have received their just punishment, but it does not quite seem right.
The master was explaining that everyone must remain on guard, when Wilhelmina interrupted to share her disturbing piece of news. She had found a note tucked inside the book she has been most recently studying. It read as follows:
I write to you to warn you that you and those you love are in terrible danger from a source which, it is my fervent belief, you are completely unaware due to several recent and confounding distractions.
I am not free to approach you openly to warn you, as the same forces are intent up destroying any who wish to come to your aid. If you would avoid catastrophe, you will find me near the shore of the duck pond at 11:30 pm tonight. Bring with you no more than one trusted friend, for the danger of detection is great, and there are spies in the house watching constantly.
I am sorry I had to contact you this way. Please believe I am not some impertinent fool. Your loved ones are in the most terrible danger, but it is not yet too late to save them.
A friend
Miss Chigwidgeon confessed she had found an identical note in the evening's mail. This news was quite upsetting, and sparked a spirited debate. Everyone agreed that note was most likely the bait for a trap intended to do some harm to Miss Chigwidgeon and Miss Wilhelmina. Though it is possible that the spectre of such a trap was actually meant as a diversion for something more nefarious. Miss Wilhelmina and Miss Chigwidgeon wanted to make the rendezvous, though with the precautions of having members of the League in position to intervene. For example, Sir Spencer could station himself in one of the towers with his elephant gun, having a clear shot at the duck pond, and unlikely to be seen in the dark from such a distance. They hoped to turn the trap into a counter-trap, as it were.
Others in the League thought this was an unwise course of action.
Several other options were discussed and discarded. Finally, the master decided the counter-trap was likely the best option, though clearly several members of the League were less than happy about it. The master was going to discuss with Sir Spencer, Sir Sebastion, and Sir Anthony his thoughts, and suggested the rest of the League circulate with the guests, before everyone would meet again at 11:00pm.
Things did not quite work out as the master planned.
There were many guests in the house and they created a few diversions of their own. Lady Clara and Miss Betty snuck into the party at one point. Miss Whitnell and Mrs Frazer intercepted them before they had gotten past Lt. Wooster, and delivered them to their mothers. The Duchess and Mrs. Whitnell were not amused, and escorted their daughter upstairs where they received a good talking to.
We had found no evidence of any intruder other than Natesh, who was still safely secured in the attic. Wilhelmina and Miss Bertilde came down the back stairs looking for Owen, who Wilhelmina said had been missing for some time. They went out to the garden, where Mr and Mrs Frazer were enjoying an evening constitutional. Meanwhile, in the music room, Mrs Cuthbert become somewhat aggitated, and took first Miss Whitnell, then the master aside. Suddenly the League was in (mostly) discreet motion.
It seems that Mr. O'Flaherty had decided, while the rest of the League was circulating with the guests, to go scout out the duck pond, and see if he could perhaps ambush the ambushers before they could set their trap. Which is precisely what happened.
Count Coronini and a servant arrived at the duck pond well before the appointed time and began setting up for a ritual. Mr. O'Flaherty, having never met them, did not know who they were, but could easily tell they were up to no good. They were joined shortly thereafter by Mr Hawksworth. Mr O'Flaherty succeeded in luring the servant within reach and knocking him unconscious. Unfortunately, he did not accomplish this in silence.
Mr Hawksworth drew a gun, and made to fire into the darkness. Owen intervened, having followed Mr O'Flaherty. Between them, they took at Mr Hawksworth.
Meanwhile, many of the League knew something was happening, and were making haste toward th duck pond. Miss Whitnell, Mrs Cuthbert, and Miss Chigwidgeon were in the side garden, raising power for a spell.
The Count had completed his first spell, which hastened the coming of a storm. He was performing his second ritual when Mr O'Flaherty clubbed him with the gun taken from Mr Hawksworth. This caused the Count to lose control of the spell. As he readied a second spell, Miss Whitnell casted a counter-spell, which caused the Count's magic the turn back on him. In the end, the Count died.
Mr Hawksworth was practically in hysterics by the time the rest of the League arrived at the scene. It took some time, and some careful maneuvering to get the new prisoners in without disturbing the other guests. Eventually, Mr Hawksworth was questioned.
He had composed the note to Miss Chigwidgeon. He did not know why an identical note was given to Wilhelmina, nor how the notes were delivered. Mr Hawksworth claimed that he only wanted to warn Miss Chigwidgeon that the man she was about to marry was a mass murderer, and worse. As he ranted at length about the Letchworth explosion and the elaborate cover-up he believed had occured, I finally realized who he was. I believe the master and Mr. Balderstoke figured it out several minutes before I did.
I remember well the young boy, Dickie Collins son of the stoker on the ill-fated train, incredibly sick with autinite poisoning a few days after the explosion. I remember the grim-faced constable who informed the master and Mr Balderstoke that the young boy had been seen, not long before the Special was to depart, slipping out of the engine, a hammer discoloured with "strangely green paint." There were also reports that the boy had overheard several heated conversations between his father and other railway workers. The new electric train didn't need stokers. If all trains ran on these batteries, they said, then soon all stokers would be out of work. It had been suggested that someone ought to damage the engine, make sure it failed at the demonstration. It was the only way to save their jobs. Clearly the boy had decided to sneak into the train and damage the engine, to save his father's job. It is presumed that he thought the engine would simply grind to a halt. He had no way to know that it would explode. He didn't realize the autinite solution was poisonous.
The boy was going to die, unless he received the treatment the master had developed two years previous, but the boy's mother refused to allow the master or Mr Balderstoke in to see him. Fortunately, the master found a doctor who would take instructions and treat the boy, pretending the treatment regimen was his own. The boy was saved, but the investigation was still proceeding. There were so many dead, and people demanded to know who was to blame.
It was suggested that the boy could take the
blame. He didn't understand what he was doing, had lost his own
father and nearly lost his own life. Surely the public would forgive
a misguided child. But Mr Balderstoke and the master had conducted
additional experiments, and had come to the conclusion that the
batteries would have exploded eventually. It might not have happened
for another fortnight, but it would have occurred nonetheless.
And so they asked that the information about the boy be kept out
of the inquiries, and out of the press. Cosm The master
insisted the blame was his. He should have tested the batteries
longer. He should have discovered the explosive properties before
anyone died.
The master explained it all to Miss Chigwidgeon and his colleagues, including how the young man's mind became consumed with hatred--perhaps in some way he realized that the explosion was due to his actions, and the knowledge that he had caused his own father's death broke him.
It is clear that he has still not recovered. I do not know what can be done. The master hopes he can be placed in Broadmoor Sanitarium. Perhaps there he can finally find the healing he needs. A and S are going to look into the possibilities.
It is painful to remember those dark days. I am not sure what else to say. We have several prisoners in the house which will have to be transported somewhere. I can hear Miss Wilhelmina up there now, arguing with her mother, again. Perhaps I should make us both some tea.
Friday, 13 January, 1871
It is done. The house is quiet. All of the guests have removed themselves to Goxhill Farm where Lord Sidcup is hosting a tea and dance. The master and his new bride are alone at last.
The Goxhill Hall staff are trying to remain obtrusively out of the way. Salmalin is lurking about, ever vigilant. David, Stuart, and George are with the rest of the League, keeping watch over them. Even young Natesh, or should I say Albert, is enjoying the party. Poor Insp. MacGreggor, worn out from the journey into the village and back and sitll quite sore, is reasting in his room.
Arthur is in the north tower. I am in the south.
It was a lovely service.
Before we got to that, there was a great deal of early morning preparation to finish. Mr Presbury, the confectioner, arrived quite early to assemble the cake for the wedding breakfast. I and the other gentlemen's gentlemen were busy getting all the male members of the wedding party dressed and out the door. Meanwhile the maids had their hands full with the ladies.
At some point after Mr Hawksworth was questioned and before the ladies departed, Mrs Cuthbert and Miss Whitnell had a seance to interview Count Coronini. It cleared up the remaining questions about all the horrible things we have endured in the last week. Lord Dovercourt has indeed been behind everything. It was his hope to substantially weaken A's position, while at the same time removing several effective agents. Count Coronini contacted Major Grey, and had him bring Proctor Xanthus and Percival St. Simon into the plot. Other agents working for Lord Dovercort subverted Mr Mannering and put him together with Miss Brody and Natesh.
Mr Hawksworth was an unwitting pawn of the Count. He believed the the master and his associates were responsible for the deaths of Mr Pennifeather, Mr Wroth, Mr Jokking, Collins the footman, and all the rest. He truly believes the master is a monster, and the Miss Chigwidgeon is in great danger from him. He believed that they were luring Miss Chigwidgeon to the duck pond so he could warn her. The Count planned to murder Mr Hawksworth and make it appear that Miss Chigwidgeon and Miss Wilhelmina had done it.
The Count does not know where Mr Dower and the analytic engine have been sent. Apparently Lord Dovercort does not inform his subordinates of all elements of the plan. A and S have sent agents to locate Lord Dovercort. Until then, we will have to remain vigilant.
It was, as I said, a lovely service. And the bride was even lovlier. I noticed her father wipe a tear from his eye as he took her arm and led her from the carriage, which was polished and properly festooned with ribbons and plumes.
The ladies were lovely, Miss Whitnell, Mrs Frazer, and Mrs Cuthbert in their burgundy dresses, Miss Bertilde and Miss Wilhelmina in pink. The gentlemen all looked handsome in their formal attire. Even Albert.
What to say about Albert Francois Byzantine Roundheels III? Edward has an older brother. A and S are willing to give the child an opportunity to reform. They will arrange to send him to the subcontinent and have him placed in the custody of Lt. Pellew. Until that time, as Natesh was willing to answer all of the questions put to him by the Sirs, the master allowed him to attend the wedding, with Salmalin and George keeping watch. He's wearing one of Edward's coachman uniforms, and was well-behaved through the service and the breakfast.
The ceremony ended, we accompanied the couple outside to bid them good luck. The master had had me hold a large bag of coins for the traditional toss (this was the excuse he gave me when he insisted that I must attend the ceremony and not remain at the Hall to assist with other preparations). I passed the bag to him before the couple boarded the carriage. You should have seen the faces of the village children when the master turned around, his hands cupped together, brimming over with gold and silver coins. There was quite a scramble with much laughter and many squeals of delight.
Miss Chigwidgeon tossed her bouquet, and Miss Hortense Earwig was the lucky recipient. She was beaming.
The carriage pulled away, and the rest of us followed.
Lord Greyminster had invited the entire parish to the wedding breakfast. He had to open the doors separating the ballroom and dining room to make way for all the tables and chairs needed.
The cake was over eight feet long, constructed of five layers and decorated with red and pink candy flowers. A candy railroad, complete with candy train engine and cars wound around the layers. The topper was a traditional pair of confectionary bells surrounded by orange blossoms.
Mr Balderstoke gave a very well-written and heartfelt toast to the couple. I have overheard him practicing it often during the last week, and was happy that it was well received. The traditional rounds of toasting continues as cake and refreshments were passed out. Mr. O'Flaherty's was particularly moving in it's heartfelt simplicity: "May you live a thousand years, and may I live one day less than a thousand years, because I would not wish to live knowing that you had passed."
Lt. Wooster's toast was entertaining. I don't know if he ever would have stopped babbling had not Mr Caine whispered something in his ear.
Everyone was having quite a good time. When it was Sir Anthony's turn to make a toast, he said that he must first yield the floor to his wife, Lady Yvonne. Lady Yvonne stood, holding a teak box, and explained that she was acting on behalf of another. "It is not traditional to present gifts to the couple at this time, but Her Majesty commands that I give this token of her esteem and affection." She placed the box on the table in front of Lady Cowperthwaite and told her to open it. Inside was an ivory carving, a very delicate peacock boat, with rigging and a small crew and other accessories, all carved from a single elephant tusk. Lady Yvonne continued, "Her Majesty says it is a treasure from India, and she wishes to gift it to you, another treasure from India."
The bride and groom were clearly overwhelmed with emotion. Before Lady Cowperthwaite could do more than stammer out a thank you, Sir Anthony raised his glass and called out "to the Happy Couple" and everyone joined in the toast, which gave the couple time to recover from the shock.
As the toasts settled down and the guests turned to their food, the master presented each of the ladies of the League with a brooch. Each was enamaled gold depiction of each lady's first initial, and was decorated with a topaz carved in the shape of a golden clematis.
Eventually, Miss Pinker signaled I and Arthur it was time to draw the breakfast to a close. We each moved to our appointed post, while Miss Pinker signalled Lord Greyminster, who declared in a rather loud voice his opinion that the bride might be tiring. We whisked the couple out through the kitchen and up the back stairs, while Lord Sidcup invited everyone present to retire to his home for tea and other festivities.
While we had been away at the service, the
maids had been busy moving Mrs Cuthbert's out of the room adjoining
Miss Ch Lady Cowperthwaite's, and moving the master's things
in. They were able to properly unpack the master in time, but
Mrs Cuthbert's new room was in a bit of disarray. Tattvick is
busy straightening things there. I suggested when she finished
that she should retire to the servant's hall and enjoy a bit of
the celebration there.
~Later~
Not long after I wrote the previous sentence, we received our signal from Wilhelmina. She had arranged for fireworks to be set off simultaneously here, at Goxhill Farm, and Goxhill Grange, including the firing of both cannon, shortly after sundown. We recieved our signals and began firing. It was quite beautiful.
Except no rockets were firing from Goxhill Grange. I waved to Arthur, and he indicated he had noticed the same problem. Moments later, I saw a carriage rushing out of Goxhill Farm, Wilhelmina's pink dress quite easy to distingush among the passengers.
Humphrey was supposed to be firing rockets from the top of his tower at the Grange. Later we received the full story from those who were there. Wilhelmina had noticed the missing rockets immediately. She told the Miss Whitnell and Mr Cuthbert what was wrong, and sent George for a carriage. Miss Whitnell could see that a veil had been cast around the Grange, indicating that something more sinister than Humphrey simply falling asleep at his station had occurred. Soon a subset of the League was rushing to the Grange.
The Earl of Dovercourt and several of his subordinates, including at least three thuggees and one of the sorceresses formerly associated with the Cobb, had taken Humphrey prisoner. The Earl, apparently having received reports from Major Grey about Sir Charles' experiments, and being in failing health and advanced age, had decided to use the treatment on himself. By the time Wilhelmina, Miss Bertilde, and the others had reached the lab and captured all the thuggees and the sorceress, Lord Dovercort was well into the process.
He had allowed his subordinates, had ordered them, in fact, to replace all the blood in his body with the fluids developed by Sir Charles. The electrical revivication device was connected, and much of his blood had been removed.
No one was quite certain what to do. So George was sent off to fetch Sir Charles, Mrs Cuthbert, and either Sir Sebastion or Sir Anthony. Meanwhile, Edward took Humphrey to the roof to fire the rockets and remove him from the upsetting situation.
Sir Charles did not think Dovercort could be saved. It seems his information had been incomplete, and no charging electrodes had been surgically placed in the body. Without those, the revivication device might work, but it would cause irreparable damage to the flesh, and attempts to re-charge would cause further damage.
Rather than allow Dovercort to die, they attempted to reverse the process, while Mrs Cuthbert tried to heal the damage already done by the acidic fluids. It did not work. Lord Dovercort is dead in what may very well be the must grotesque form of suicide ever imagined.
Poor Albert was struck by a rather powerful mind stunning spell during the fight, and has not quite regained his bearings. On the other hand, the sorceress was even more strongly effected by the spell, and thus probably will pose no further danger to anyone. Though the attic is beginning to get a bit crowded. I must keep reminding myself that it is Arthur's problem, not mine.
Notes:
1. Hauptman, a german military rank approximately equal to the English Army rank of "Captain."
2. The Earl was away, fighting on the King's side in the Battle of Morstan Mor. The Countess lured the commanders into the firing field by appearing at an open window and waving a light-colored cloth. After the first cannon was fired (the shrapnel from the destroyed shutter greatly increased the number and severity of wounds), she is quoted as telling the remaining soldiers to "As I said earlier, the Earl is not at home and I do not intend to take callers. If you have any business with my husband, I suggest you return when he is home, if you dare." The Earl was seriously wounded in battle, and lingered many months in his sickbed. Dying just before King Charles was beheaded. Cromwell and his followers only confiscated half the new Earl's lands in retaliation. After the Restoration, the Dowager Countess began making social appearances once more. It was in this period it is recorded that, upon being teased for having lured the commanders into her trap under a false flag of truce. The Countess replied, "It was not a white flag. It was unbleached muslin, which even an idiot such Cromwell himself would never mistake for white. As the officer in question was intent upon accosting a lady in her own home, one should not be surprised at his lack of discernment."
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