Tuesday, 7 June

Miss Whitnell, Mrs. Cuthbert, Miss Sinclair, Mr. Cuthbert, and whoever else intends to, go to the house on St. James street where the vampires are believed to be holed up. They find Mr. Ramsay, Mr. Robson, Mr. Travers of the Order of St. Jerome already there, going through the vacated house for clues. Also Mr. Frazer and Turgenov (his siberian dog). Count Severin and the other vampires appear to have fled. There is some indication they may have retreated to France. In unrelated news, Miss Whitnell, Mrs. Cuthbert, Dr. Wilson, and Henri received summonses to the trial of Baron Blackhall on charges of Murder and Attempted Murder. The fifth chapter of "Murder and Brimstone - A new Kid Rocket adventure" is published in the Weekly Companion.

Wednesday, 8 June

Insp. MacGregor visits the household in the late afternoon. Mr. Frazer arrives a bit later for the usual German lesson with Miss Sinclair.

Thursday, 9 June

Miss Sinclair (escorted by Stuart, one of the footmen) leaves for Bridgwater, Somersetshire to attend the funeral of her cousin and spend some time with her family. Dr. Wilson, Henri, and Mrs. Cuthbert are questioned and cross-examined before a tribunal. Miss Whitnell is questioned, but as it is late in the day by that time, the Defence asks to conduct the cross examination the next day.

Friday, 10 June

Baron Blackhall's trial concludes with a finding of guilty. He is sentenced to hang for his crimes. Blackhall's appeal will be referred to the Privy Council. Later that day, Miss Whitnell is questioned in an inquest before the tribunal on the matter of Lady Miranda's incapacity. The tribunal concurs with the Prosecutor that the matter was that of Defence in the face of Threat to Life and Limb to Self and Others, and Miss Whitnell is exonerated. In unrelated news, workmen deliver an old harpsichord to the carriage house. Also, Emily and Edward receive summonses to testify at a Coroner's Inquest (regarding one of the people they saw Proctor Xanthus ambush the previous week). Meanwhile, in Bridgwater, Miss Sinclair informs her father an abbreviated form of her cousin's murder.

Saturday, 11 June

Sir Cosmo takes all members of the household interested to the Royal Gallery of Illustration's premiere of "Our Island Home" a new musical comedy by William Gilbert and Thomas Reed. No demons or other untoward events disrupt the play. Meanwhile, in the town of Bridgewater, in Somersetshire, the Sinclair family attends the funeral of Mr. Matthew Sinclair.

Sunday, 12 June

Mr. Chigwidgeon, Mrs. Chigwidgeon, and Mr. Fong Chigwidgeon come to Sunday dinner at Sir Cosmo's.

Monday, 13 June

Miss Whitnell, Miss Chigwidgeon, and Salmalin leave London bound for Trent-on-Stoke (and thence to West Darlson) to check on Miss Whitnell's property and get out of the city. In the afternoon of this day, Baron Blackhall goes to the gallows. The only mention of this in the official press is in the fine print on page 5 of the Times, among other miscellaneous Orders in Council, in which it is briefly noted that Blackhall's appeal was rejected. Henri and Mr. Ramsay both attend the hanging. Afterwards, Henri visits the prison surgeon and questions him closely about the state of the baron's corpse.

Tuesday, 14 June

Emily and Edward each testify at the inquest about the incident they witnessed on the docks. Henri has a meeting with someone in the Office of the Lord High Warlock, where he offers to assist with building a suitably secure crypt for Baron Blackhall's body. The sixth chapter of "Murder and Brimstone - A new Kid Rocket adventure" is published in the Weekly Companion. Meanwhile, in Bridgwater, Miss Sinclair learns that police have informed her uncles of her cousin. Peter's, complicity in the murder of her cousin, Matthew.

Wednesday, 15 June

The Cuthberts begin moving their belongings into the house at No. 12 Charles Street. Miss Chigwidgeon's personal belongings are moved from Sir Cosmo's house to the Mr. Cuthbert's house, as both Miss Whitnell and Mrs. Cuthbert agreed that it would be inappropriate for her to be living under Sir Cosmo's roof now that they are about to announce their engagement. Meanwhile, in West Darlson, Miss Chigwidgeon discovers a talent for a rare fighting style. Later in the day, Miss Whitnell consults with the ghost of Aunt Hethalyn then gossips with a hobgoblin.

Thursday, 16 June

In Bridgwater, one of Miss Sinclair's nieces discovers Miss Sinclair's removable skirt with the turkish trousers beneath and is scandalous in a delighted sort of way. And a prosperous, somewhat dimwitted, middle-aged widower makes his third "condolence" call of the week upon the Sinclair household. Back in London, Henri arrives at No. 18 Charles Street to consult with Edward and Sir Cosmo about a steam engine he is thinking of purchasing. Emily begins teaching her night classes again south of the river. Meanwhile, in West Darlson, Miss Whitnell consults with a dragon.

Friday, 17 June

Sir Cosmo is summoned to the Palace. Meanwhile, Miss Sinclair composes a momentous letter.

Saturday, 18 June

Mr. Ichabod Balderstoke, one of Sir Cosmo's partners in the B & C Great Locomotive Company, arrives in London to attend a business meeting; he will be staying at Cosmo's. In unrelated news, The Times has a small item about Sir Cosmo's appointment as Royal Commissioner for Her Majesty's Scientific Expeditions Abroad (this was the job he was given at the beginning of "The Adventure of the Castaway Cartographer;" apparently someone in the government has decided that it should be a permanent position). The Standard has a snide editorial about it, insinuating that Sir Cosmo has been appointed a figurehead to a meaningless commission as a political favour to his dying grandfather. Meanwhile, in Bridgwater, Miss Sinclair consults with her father on a professional matter.

Monday, 20 June

The quarterly meeting of the Board of Directors of the B & C Great Locomotive Company begins. Meanwhile, Miss Whitnell, Miss Chigwidgeon, and Salmalin travel on to the home of Miss Whitnell's brother. Several newspaper mention that Parliament has ratified a proposal from the Dominion of Canada: the area formerly known as Prince Rupert's Land has been officially declared a Province of the Dominion of Canada, from now on to be known as Manitoba.

Tuesday, 21 June

The seventh chapter of "Murder and Brimstone - A new Kid Rocket adventure" is published in the Weekly Companion. Meanwhile, several newspapers report that Edward James Reed, Chief Naval Architect, has resigned from the Admiralty, after many disputes with Capt. Cowper Phipps Cole, a half-pay officer who designed the recently launched masted turret ship, HMS Captain.

Wednesday, 22 June

Several newspapers report that Emperor Napoleon III has appointed himself Supreme Marshall of France. Admiral LeCoq, who had been Supreme Marshall and Minister of War, has been relieved of both posts and appointed Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (at least one editorial refers to LeCoq as being "exiled"). The Emperor's cousin, Prince Lucian Murat, who had been the ambassador to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, has been recalled. Another cousin of the Emperor, Prince Napoleon Joseph, is relieved of his position as Minister of Finance, being replaced by Count Bouvier du Landrecis, a favourite of the Empress, but nominally an ally of the new Liberal Prime Minister, Emile Ollivier. Most of the papers seem to agree that this shake up of the Cabinet is an attempt to keep power consolidated in the hands of the Emperor while appearing to give more power to the Liberals. In unrelated news, the Board of Directors meetings end. Sir Cosmo announces that Mr. Balderstoke will be staying for some weeks, in part because he wants to go over some of Edward's designs.

Thursday, 23 June

Derby Day. Sir Cosmo and Mr. Cuthbert both organize an excursion to Epsom Downs to watch the running of the Epsom Derby Stakes (this is the second of the three "triple crown" horse races in England, and is particularly popular; practically the entire population of the city heads out to the Downs with picnic baskets every year). The race is won by a three-year-old named Kingcraft (sired by King Tom out of Woodcraft). "Kid Rocket Meets Atlas O'Flaherty, part 1" a story by George Pennifeather, is published in the London Illustrated Weekly.

Friday, 24 June

As she usually does after Derby Day, Queen Victoria and her household leave Buckingham Palace and retire for the remainder of summer to Windsor Castle (west of the City). Meanwhile, the Times runs a story about a revolution in the newly-declared Canadian Province of Manitoba. A group of "half-breeds and Roman Catholics" calling itself The National Committee, led by Louis Riel, has declared Prince Rupert's Land an independent nation. In an unrelated development, Sir Cosmo and Mr. Balderstoke have dinner, at Mr. Balderstoke's club, with Mr. Edward James Reed, during which they make a business proposal. Mr. Reed asks for a few days to consider the offer. Meanwhile, in Chestershire, dinner at the Whitnell estate is disrupted by a most uncivil argument.

Saturday, 25 June

Mr. Balderstoke takes Edward to one of the B & C Great Locomotive Company's facilities -- a shipyard in South London where Edward finds out what has been done to the Dutch Untersee Bote. Miss Sinclair and Stuart return to London. Miss Sinclair is met by a slightly larger welcoming party than she had expected.

Monday, 27 June

Miss Whitnell, Miss Chigwidgeon, and Salmalin return to London. Miss Chigwidgeon meets Mr. Balderstoke (known as "Icky" to his old schoolmates, including Cosmo; she finds out from Icky that Cosmo's nickname in school was "Cozy."). Sir Cosmo tells Miss Chigwidgeon that he has asked Mr. Balderstoke to be the Best Man at the wedding. In unrelated news, both houses of Parliament approve the appointment of Lord Granville, formerly the Colonial Secretary, as the new Foreign Minister, replacing Lord Clarendon (who died at the end of May). Meanwhile, almost lost on the back pages of several of the daily newspapers, the shocking news that the rebels in Canada have imprisoned and executed several British army officers. The Duke of Cambridge, first cousin to the Queen and Commander-in-Chief of the Army, has been dispatched to Ottawa to confer with local authorities.

Tuesday, 28 June

Dr. Wilson, Lt. Wooster, Mr. O'Flaherty, and other interested parties, leave London for the coast where a series of tests of the new weapon system are to be conducted. The eighth chapter of "Murder and Brimstone - A new Kid Rocket adventure" is published in the Weekly Companion. Meanwhile, the Evening Standard reports a mildly shocking news. The Queen has refused to sign an Order in Council certifying one of the recently passed Army Reforms--specifically making the Commander in Chief of the Army subordinate to the Minster of War. This is the first time since the reign of Queen Anne that the monarch has exercised the prerogrative to "veto" a bill passed by Parliament.

Wednesday, 29 June

Miss Pinker takes Miss Chigwidgeon (along with Mrs. Cuthbert and Miss Whitnell) to the dressmaker for the first fitting of the wedding dress. Meanwhile, the Standard runs a scathing editorial denouncing the Queen's action invalidating one of the army reform bills.

Thursday, 30 June

Dr. Wilson, Dr. Piddingquick, and associates, begin major testing of the Anti-Aerofrigate Rocket System (results pending; Mark has to make some dice rolls). "Kid Rocket Meets Atlas O'Flaherty, part 2" a story by George Pennifeather, is published in the London Illustrated Weekly. The Times reports that in brief remarks to Parliament, Edward Cardell, the Minister of War, withdraws his bill changing the responsibilities and duties of the Commander in Chief, "as it would be inadvisable, during the crisis in the Dominion of Canada, to pursue such radical reform."

Friday, 1 July

Several newspapers report that Emperor Napoleon III has appointed his cousin, Prince Lucian Murat, Minister of War. Editorials speculate that this may be a precursor to a change in the official order of Succession of the Imperial Crown. [Current succession is: Imperial Prince Napoleon Eugene (14-year-old son of the Emperor), followed by Prince Napoleon Joseph (Emperor's cousin), followed by Napoleon Joseph's son Napoleon Victor, followed by Prince Jerome Napoleon (Emporer's cousin), followed by Prince Jerome Napoleon's sons Pierre Napoleon Bonaparte and Louis Lucien Bonaparte, followed by Prince Lucian Murat (Emperor's cousin), followed by Prince Lucian's son Joachim]. Meanwhile, Miss Sinclair has a meeting with Mr. Silas Scuddamore in which she delivers the revised title page to her moth paper. They have a pleasant conversation afterwards, during which Mr. Scuddamore asks if he still may present the paper the naturalist society.

Saturday, 2 July

Miss Sinclair, Miss Chigwidgeon, and Mrs. Cuthbert declare a sari day. They, along with Tattvick, spend the day dress going about their usual activities in the house dressed in saris. Miss Sinclair declines to participate. Several members of the household staff are somewhat surprised at the unusual costumes. Dr. Wilson, Lt. Wooster, Mr. O'Flaherty, and Mr. Caine return from the experiments with the new rocket weapons. Dr. Wilson is exuberant. The admiralty has already asked for more test models of one of the weapons.

Monday, 4 July

Newspapers report that the throne of Spain has been offered to Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, a relative of King Wilhelm I of Prussia (Leopold is also descended, on his mother's side, from both the Spanish House of Bourbon and the Neapolitan House of Bourbon). Although the crown had been offered and most members of the Cortes (Spanish parliament) believed the deal was settled, through an oversight the Cortes adjourned on Saturday before the final vote was taken. Imperial France protests the proposed move. Other European leaders seem less than thrilled with the proposal, as well.

Tuesday, 5 July

The ninth chapter of "Murder and Brimstone - A new Kid Rocket adventure" is published in the Weekly Companion. The Globe publishes a sensational story about the "half-breed uprising" in Canada. The Times, Standard, and Chronicle continue to refer to the crisis as the "Red River Rebellion."

Wednesday, 6 July

Miss Chigwidgeon has another fitting for the wedding dress, as well as a fitting for several ball gowns. Also at the dressmaker, Emily continues to protest that the dresses she is being fit for to travel with the ladies are being made of far too expensive material. Meanwhile, the newspapers report that the French foreign minister, the Duc de Gramont, delivered a spirited speech to the Chamber of Deputies, promising war if the Prussian government does not withdraw Prince Leopold's candidacy for the Spanish throne.

Thursday, 7 July

Count Otto von Bismarck, minister-president of Prussia, disclaims any knowledge of the Spanish throne situation, saying that the succession is a "family matter." Meanwhile, "Kid Rocket Meets Atlas O'Flaherty, the conclusion" a story by George Pennifeather, is published in the London Illustrated Weekly.

Friday, 8 July

Newspapers report several indications of deteriorating relations between France and Prussia. A few editorials openly speculate that war is on the horizon, but far more space in dedicated to reports about the "Red River Rebellion" in the Dominion of Canada.

Monday, 12 July

Lord Granville addresses the House of Lords and when questioned about the situation between France and Prussia, dismisses it as a minor disagreement which will be resolved shortly. He concludes by saying that he had "never known so great a lull in continental affairs." The House spends much more time discussing with Lord Kimberly, the Colonial Secretary, the recent and current troubles in the Dominion of Canada. In unrelated news, Miss Chigwidgeon (and other ladies of the household) have nearly final fittings for their gowns for the party.

Tuesday, 13 July

Duc de Gramont, in another speech to the Chamber of Deputies, announces that Count Benedetti has been dispatched to appeal directly to King Wilhelm to "end this outrage." The tenth chapter of "Murder and Brimstone - A new Kid Rocket adventure," which features a surprise appearance by Atlas O'Flaherty, is published in the Weekly Companion.

Wednesday, 14 July

Ladies of the household have their final fitting for the party gowns. Meanwhile, Count Bismarck, when questioned by Berlin reporters regarding the French demands, remarks that Gramont is raving like a petulant child. When a reporter asks if there is reason to fear that the French may invade, Bismarck dismisses the possibility that Prussia should have anything to fear from "the hysterical gallic bull." As proof that the situation is not serious, he points out that King Wilhelm has left the capital to take the waters at Ems. "Surely His Majesty would not go on holiday if he believed any portion of his realm was in danger." Meanwhile, in London, Lt. Wooster, Caine, Dr. Wilson, and Mr. O'Flaherty are summoned to the office of Capt. William Moriarty, at the Admiralty. They stop at Sir Cosmo's only briefly that afternoon to pack, and then go away on "a diplomatic assignment." Insp. MacGregor and Mr. Frazer are summoned to Sir Sebastion's office and dispatched out of the city.

Thursday, 15 July

In the evening, Miss Chigwidgeon, Sir Cosmo, Mrs. Cuthbert, Miss Whitnell, and sundry others attend the engagement dinner party at Lord Greyminster's house. The guest list includes: Lord Greyminster, Miss Pinker, The Duke and Duchess Balmoral, the Duke and Duchess Exeter, the Earl of Shaftsbury and Countess Shaftsbury, the Earl Blackwater and Countess Blackwater, the Marquis Saltire, Mr Balderstoke, Sir Cosmo, Miss Chigwidgeon, Mr Ramsay, Mrs Cuthbert, Miss Sinclair, and Miss Whitnell.

Friday, 16 July

Insp. MacGregor and Mr. Frazer examine the scene of a crime and interview witnesses in Antwerp, Belgium. Midday a small British task force consisting of the ships Orion, Bellerophon, Neptune, Mars, Defense arrives at Antwerp, escorting the new Naval Attache to Her Majesty's Mission to the Kingdom of Belgium, Capt. William Moriarty. Lt. Wooster, Mr. Caine, Dr. Wilson, and Mr. O'Flaherty are also aboard. Sir Cosmo's party take a train from London to Dover, then board the ferry to Calais, France, then board a train to Brussels, Belgium. They meet with some members of the Embassy staff and investigate an burgled office. In the evening, MacGregor & Frazer meet an American scholar who may be trailing the same criminal they are, and discover that Wooster, Wilson, Caine, and O'Flaherty are also in town. The lot of them have a disturbing encouter with a Prussian named Schmidt.

Saturday, 17 July

Morning newspapers mention that Prince Leopold has declined the throne of Spain. Meanwhile, now that the League has all assembled, trouble ensues in Antwerp.

Proceed to A suspicious death in Antwerp

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