10 August 1871, Thursday

In spite of our late return last night, Mr Salmalin and I were up at our usual time. After breakfast with the staff and our usual morning workout I took myself off to my lab and worked on some of my mistress’s correspondence. The staff are abuzz with packing duties. The household is scheduled to join the great escape to the Country the Thursday after the ball.

The heat is getting oppressive even with Sir Cosmo’s clever ventilation system keeping the air moving. My little basement lab is one of the coolest places in the house– also one of the quietest with the heavy oak door shut. It was very kind of Graves to allow me to keep this room when I moved Downstairs with Mr Salmalin.

Later this afternoon Lady Cowperthwaite and Miss Wilhelmina have the final fittings for their new gowns. I am going to take advantage of the opportunity to pick up my replacement dresses– it will be such a treat to finally retire the last of my mourning blacks– there is only so far new trimmings will take them.

11 August 1871, Friday

During our regular morning consultation Lady Cowperthwaite suggested that we call on Mrs Frazer, Mrs Sinclair, and the babies this afternoon. She said she is ready to reveal her Condition to Mrs Frazer and ask her advice on what to expect. I am drafted to provide moral support. Not that I would pass up an opportunity to visit my Friend given the choice.

~Later~

Tea with Mrs Frazer was very nice. We cooed over the babies. They have changed so much in the nearly ten days since their birth!

Mrs Frazer managed a quiet word alone with us while her mother spent time with Violet and the babies. She was delighted at Lady Cowperthwaite’s news and promptly handed over her annotated copy of Mr Thomas Bull’s childbirth manual.

Mrs Frazer had news of her own to impart. She had heard that Miss Helen was invited to the Embassy ball as was Inspector MacGreggor. One hopes he will take advantage of such an opportunity.

We had a lovely time recalling the perils of courtship (in our cases quite literal perils indeed). Thoughts of our husbands leading to some quiet moments of introspection around the tea table.

Lady Cowperthwaite broke our collective reverie to mention that Sir Cosmo owns a yacht and is planning a trip to Africa this fall. Apparently he and Sir Spencer are conspiring to acquire a second boat so as to accommodate as many of the League as would like to travel with them. It was made quite clear to me the Lady Cowperthwaite expected that I would travel with her. I am very pleased by that prospect as I would dislike being separated from my friends.
In addition to travelling, Lady Cowperthwaite is interested in learning to handle some of the long rifles that Sir Spencer uses to such good effect in our adventures. He has apparently agreed to tutor her once we return to the country and have space to practise in relative safety.

Once home and seeing Lady Cowperthwaite settled, I checked in with Tattvick to see if there was anything I could help with below-stairs. There are only a limited number of things she will let me do-- even with staff as conditioned to eccentricity as Sir Cosmo’s, my odd status causes a bit of consternation. Of the staff, Patsy has been the most helpful in giving me clues as to what is and is not expected from me and I treasure her advice. She mentioned a few months back that she had been ‘rooting for you and Mr Salmalin’ back before we were married. It is nice to know that we had a few good souls on our side from the beginning.

I wound up being detailed to fold the pressed table linens as they came off the board. The maid doing the ironing had the hot and heavy job but I was happy to help in any way permitted. I found out latter that Mr Salmalin had spent part of his day helping David get the trunks down from the attic.

12 August 1871, Saturday

We are settling back into our normal routine. After Exercises in the morning, Lady Cowperthwaite and I review her correspondence and appointments and then retire to work on our languages and to study matters of etiquette. She is not keen on learning the latter. I did point out that if she learns the rules then she can be rude on purpose and no one but her will be any the wiser.

I have made lists of supplies to acquire for the trip to Africa– mosquito netting first among them. We will all need clothing and head coverings suitable to the climate. Mrs Cuthbert might have some advice on the matter.

~Later~

Lady Cowperthwaite and I have had a brief visit with Mrs Cuthbert and Sir Spencer. They were able to fill out my list quite respectably. Sir Spencer also promised to research suitable rifles. Lady Cowperthwaite insisted that I learn to shoot, especially after learning that I was interested in learning how to handle the guns safely.

My father showed me the basics many years ago, but shooting has never held much interest for me and so such skills are very rusty at this point. I am taking the advice I gave to Lieutenant Wooster and plan to learn, at the very least, how not to shoot my compatriots.

13 August 1871, Sunday

I drove my little clockwork dog cart to Church this morning. Several women approached me after the service to ask me about it. It had enough of a wind that I was able to give two of the more daring ones a brief ride before returning home.

I reported this interest to Miss Wilhelmina and she said that she has already had several inquires though Edward. Edward originally built it for me to take to my cottage. I think I will commission a second one for that purpose and keep this one in London since I cannot keep my own horse here.

14 August 1871, Monday

We were up early this morning. Stuart drove me to the dressmaker to pick up Lady Cowperthwaite and Miss Wilhelmina’s gowns. The dressmakers was a flurry of last minute fittings– apparently quite a few people received invitations to this ball that were expecting no such thing.

My own gown is the one Mrs Frazer choose for me back in March. I have not had an opportunity to wear it out yet. I checked the fit earlier this week and no adjustments were needed. It is a deep wine red damask, with a paisley design in texture. The trim is pewter-coloured with silver highlights. It is subdued enough for my position but of high enough quality not to shame my mistress.

15 August 1871, Tuesday

Lady Cowperthwaite took my advice and slept in so as to be fresh for the ball this evening. I noticed that Sir Cosmo also did not make an early morning of it. That is for the best– he is still recovering from his sword wound as I am from my bullet wound. Magikal healing can only take us so far– something I am going to remember the next time Mr Salmalin is injured.

~Later~

The day has been taken up with preparations. Mr Salmalin, Miss Bertilde, and I will be attending the ball as Sir Cosmo and Lady Cowperthwaite entourage. Mr and Mrs Frazer were invited in their own right and so will be attending as guests. This is the first ball I am to attend in my new role. I hope I will not disgrace Lady Cowperthwaite by acting inappropriately.

All is in readiness. Lady Cowperthwaite looks lovely. Miss Wilhelmina is adorable in her blue and lavender dress– it may have a few more bows that strictly necessary but at least one can tell that she’s a girl.

I checked my husband as he left to get the carriages. He looks very handsome in his formal footman’s uniform with his hair braided neatly back. My only regret is that there will be no dancing for either of us at this event.

Though it occurs to me that I have never asked him if he can dance. I am not an accomplished dancer myself, but was able to get by in previous years. I suspect he could learn quickly if necessary, given how much control he has over his body.

I digress. I must find my wrap and fan and join the others at the carriages.

~Much Later~

Well That Woman has shown her true colours at last! I had been willing to give her the benefit of the doubt and assume that Mrs Cuthbert had some unresolved issues regarding her sibling– don’t we all? But Mme de Vere deliberately pushed Mr Salmalin off a five storey building and then, when he had managed to climb back up, impaled him with the green crystal she had stolen from the French Embassy’s storage room.

Salmalin was very lucky that George was there to slow his fall and that Mr O’Flaherty was there to catch him. George said Ravvi was unconscious before he hit the ground. Fortunately the crystal did not seem to have any effect beyond the physical damage it caused, and Mrs Cuthbert was on hand to keep him with us once more.

Mrs Cuthbert can say ‘I told you so’and be fully justified.. Her sister is a willful, cold-hearted, ruthless woman and someone with her power and lack of conscience should not be running around loose.

In most other respects the ball went well. Lady Cowperthwaite did fall down the stairs as she and Sir Cosmo were announced but she was not injured and did not take Sir Cosmo down with her. In fact, I was surprised as how quickly he made his way to her. Both Ravvi and Sir Cosmo were there to help her up before she had finished falling. It has been some time since such an incident so I was actually rather relieved. Nothing was damaged and no one was hurt and Lady Cowperthwaite is very difficult to embarrass.

Mrs Frazer appeared and escorted Lady Cowperthwaite and the rest of our party to a quiet table where the mistress could wait for her head to stop spinning. Several other notables arrived while we were getting our bearings. Mr and Mrs Frazer had been escorted in specially in deference to Mrs Frazer’s recent confinement. Violet and the babies were safely ensconced in a nursery along with several other children and their nannies.

Miss Bertilde and I tried to blend into the background while being attentive to our charges. Mr Salmalin became so unobtrusive as to be invisible. I’m afraid Miss Bertilde and I are still amateurs in comparison.

Partway through the ball it became apparent that Inspector MacGreggor was not going to ask Miss Helen to dance. Mrs Frazer spoke to both parties. I was determined to stay out of the matter and managed for some time to leave it be.

The Swan was brought out midway though the evening after medals had been presented to Sir Spencer, Inspector MacGreggor, Mr Frazer, and Mr O’Flaherty for service to ‘civilization,’ Several other people, who I did not know, were also awarded this medal. Mrs Frazer looked very proud to see her husband up among the recipients.

The Swan is a mystical artifact that is said to have been made in the 15th Century by Signore Rambaldi. The story the Vicomte told was that a King of France gave up his only daughter to a convent in Rome when it was proved that she was a living saint. He missed her so much that Rambaldi made the swan and said that through it, the King could speak to his daughter. The object appeared to be a combination of a clockwork machine to power the device and some form of mystical energy to give it voice.

The Swan answered all questions put to it in a very cryptic and roundabout manner and both that manner. It’s aura reminded me strongly of the Oracle of Abydos and its behaviour during the time Lady Cowperthwaite played host to it. I suspect that one could achieve the effect described in the original story by using a form of “divide the flame” to put part of the princess’s soul in the machine. Though doing such a thing to a living saint would be sacrilegious– as well as disturbing.

If I had been granted the opportunity to speak to it in private, I would have liked to asked if it was lonely and to hear what its response was. All of the other questioners asked about their own lives– if there is some vestige of the Princess left in the Swan, she must find it awfully tiresome to focus on the lives of others.

At a signal from the Vicomtess the Swan was whisked away to the storage vaults. Lady Cowperthwaite and Mrs Cuthbert spotted Mme de Vere following it where she was clearly not supposed to go. They followed after her.

I had been circulating among my opposite numbers, as I was not the only personal secretary/companion present. Most of the other secretaries were polite, only one was rude enough to cut me. When I returned to where I had left my lady and noticed her seat empty, Miss Bertilde pointed out the direction they had taken. I found Sir Cosmo and explained the dilemma. Mr Salmalin was not visible, so I assumed that he had followed Lady Cowperthwaite. Sir Cosmo decided that the two of us should search for his missing wife. We went through the door Miss Bertilde had pointed out and heard Inspector MacGreggor arguing with an embassy guard. The man had been stationed to prevent members of the public from entering the basement where the swan was stored.

I don’t know what Inspector MacGreggor would have done, had we not come upon him. He was quite vexed that the guard had let Mme de Vere, Lady Cowperthwaite, and Mrs Cuthbert through but would not allow the Inspector to follow.

The guard had been interfered with magikally– he had no memory of anyone other than the embassy staff passing though the doorway. So, of course, the Inspector’s insistence that he must be allowed to follow the ‘three English ladies’ feel upon deaf ears.

Sir Cosmo assessed the situation and indicated that I was to try getting us past the guard in the same way. I used as little power as possible, as the poor guard was confused enough as it was. The first attempt didn’t come off, but also didn’t spin out of control. I re-centered myself and tried again and succeeded in Bewildering the guard enough to allow the three of us to enter the forbidden area.

The door opened on stairs to the basement. The Inspector insisted on taking the lead. I followed the two men down the stairs. There was the sudden sharp shock of a magikial attack in the area. Fortunately I was not the target. We descended the stairs rapidly and came upon several unconscious guards and the stunned forms of Lady Cowperthwaite and Mrs Cuthbert. Mr Salmalin was already trying to stand and shake off the attack. He came to himself very quicky and, upon Sir Cosmo’s orders, followed Mme de Vere up the dumbwaiter shaft.

The rest of us ran for the stairs. Mrs Cuthbert and Lady Cowperthwaite needed to be supported for the first little bit but soon found their feet. Inspector MacGreggor located servant’s staircase upon exiting the basement we all sprinted up five more flights to the roof.

As we came through one door on the roof, the Vicomte and a party of his guards burst through the other door, followed closely by Miss Wilhelmina and Miss Bertilde. We were witness to an an astonishing scene. The Comte de Montelimar was alive and confronting Mme de Vere! She was standing on the roof ledge holding the crystal. He was facing her. Both of them were raising power.

I heard Mme de Vere claim to have ‘taken care of the Thuggee’. I have not yet learned to stay calm in such situations, and was, suddenly, simultainiously panicked and enraged. Most of the local magikal power had been absorbed by the two spells that were in the process of being cast and both of them were more powerful than I could counter with the meager resources at my command.

Then I heard Great Aunt Hethelyn’s voice whisper, ‘sometimes it is faster to steal power’ and I remembered the battle with the Necromancer on Kor. I was able to pull all his power from him. Of course, that time I was using a Serini Orb. I have not been able to duplicate that trick since.

I tried regardless, putting all of my will into the attempt. I was able to gather the Comte power to me as several people shot him. He looked very surprised and fell down. I heard the Vicomte calling for an axe.

I tried to focus the power and use it to dispel whatever Mme de Vere was casting but I was unsuccessful. Anger is only somewhat useful in such a situation. I did mange to keep from creating a wild spell. I tried to pull Mme de Vere’s power from her but was unsuccesful.

Then I saw Ravvi’s hand reach up over the edge of the parpet and grab her by the ankle. She hurled the crystal like a dagger. He fell back, still holding tight to her ankle. She fell with him.

I gathered up my skirts and ran for the stairs, hoping blindly that he had not fallen to his death. I I reached the alley. George was holding Salmalin’s head in his lap. Sir Spencer was trying to control the bleeding. The crystal had been driven into his chest from above. Miss Wilhelmina and Mrs Cuthbert arrived. Miss Wilhelmina removed the crystal and set it aside while Mrs Cuthbert healed Ravvi. I held his hand, glad to feel it still warm in my own. Once they were finished Mr O’Flaherty carried him over to Sir Spencer’s carriage where there was room to lay him down on the seats. I picked up the crystal and cleaned it off. Miss Wilhelmina asked to return it to the Vicomte. It is some measure of my both my distracted state and new-found trust in Wilhelmina that I handed it over without protest. Also, this artifact, unlike many we have found, had a very clear owner, and I would be no better than That Woman if I had kept it.

It never gets any easier, watching my husband suffer such injuries. I sat with him in the carriage while he came to himself. He told me what had happened during his pursuit of Mme de Vere. He is fairly certain she was able to copy the contents of the crystal.

After a short time I got the sense that he would rest easier if one of us was with Lady Cowperthwaite. I asked him if this was the case and he told me to do what I thought was best. His tone of voice decided me and I left him in Stuart’s charge and returned to Lady Cowperthwaite.

It was then that the contretemps with Inspector MacGreggor started. He insisted on escorting me back to my lady’s side and I, in no fit condition to control my temper, lit into him regarding his behaviour toward Miss Helen at the ball. I had watched him avoid her gaze for several hours. Mrs Frazer has even gone so far as to ask me he was deliberately cutting Miss Helen after all she had accomplished. I begged him to ask her to dance, just once. He refused. We had a quick but very heated argument about Duty before he handed me off to Lady Cowperthwaite. I should learn not to make decisions just after a fight. I almost always light into someone who does not deserve it or push a someone further than I should. In this case I spoke to Sir Cosmo, and told him that Inspector MacGreggor was insisting he was on duty and had been for the entire ball– never mind that he got his own personal invitation and a medal to boot! Sir Cosmo said he would try to resolve the situation. I thanked him.

Lady Cowperthwaite asked after me as I returned to her. I said I was wanting to be split in half so that part of me could be with her and part remain with my husband. She suggested that I could return to his side but I pointed out that he would rest easier knowing that one of us was with her. She said something about his priorities but thankfully did not make her suggestion an order.

We did not stay much longer. Sir Cosmo danced once with Miss Helen and once more with Lady Cowperthwaite before she decided it was time to return home. Sir Cosmo was looking a little worn, and no wonder, given his current state of recuperation and the excitement of the behind the scenes at the ball.

We were allowed to leave. I was rather surprised we were not detained by the embassy staff– but it turns out that everything was handled quietly. Sir Cosmo had met with the Prince of Wales, the Vicomte, Prince Lukas of Florin and several other high ranking officials and there was no trouble after that.

Stuart drove the four of us home, leaving the others to enjoy the party. I got Ravvi out of his damaged clothes and he is now meditating in his corner, in what passes for sleep for him. I know he will heal faster this way, but part of me really wants him to lie down so I can cosset him. It would certainly make me feel better– but I suspect it would make him uncomfortable.

I must remember to thank George in the morning and the others as they wake from their late night.

I must also figure out a way to talk to Inspector MacGreggor under less fraught circumstances. I suspect I owe him an apology.

16 August 1871, Wednesday

Mr Salmalin tried to go about his duties as usual this morning, claiming that he needed to help with the packing. I went to Lady Cowperthwaite and asked if our departure could be delayed by a day so that Mr Salmalin could rest. She kindly granted my request and my husband was granted a day of grace to more fully recuperate from his wounds.

I spent the morning preparing thank you notes for Lady Cowperthwaite either to sign, or to copy out in her own hand, as circumstances warranted.

It occurs to me that Mr Salmalin has not given Inspector MacGreggor a report of the events he observed last night. Perhaps later this afternoon we will call on the Inspector.

~Afternoon~

I have finished with Lady Cowperthwaite’s correspondence and have some time to work on my own letters. I have sent a note off to James asking him to come to tea tomorrow if he can get away from his work. I also sent a letter to Major Haywood and Mrs Russell asking their advice on our Africa trip.

I am tempted to send a letter to Commander Siegfried Wymms in Prussia, warning him of Mme de Vere’s predilection for stealing artifacts that do not belong to her (and showing no regard for anyone who might be between her and the desired artifact. I think I will consult with Sir Cosmo and it can be handled more appropriately. It seems only fair since, after last night’s adventures, the French government (or at least its representative in London) knows what Mme de Vere is capable of– I do not know who else they might have apprised of the situation...

I have taken the liberty of sending a note round to Mrs Godwin at the Order of St. Jerome, asking if they have any information on Signore Rambaldi. I hope they have time to see me tomorrow as Lady Cowperthwaite has set Friday as the date of our departure for the Edenfield Court.

Mr Salmalin has taken advantage of the day off to rest and meditate. We will be leaving soon to visit Inspector MacGreggor at the constabulary.

~Evening~

That was a most difficult interview.

Upon our arrival at Inspector MacGreggor’s office, I managed to get a few minutes alone with him. I had intended to apologize and promise never to interfere in his personal life in the future. I did manage the apology. However as we talked I realized that, while I am the person who has the least right to interfere, I feel a great deal of responsibility for his Happiness– and not merely because I accidentally led him on during our tour of the Continent last year. He has done more for me and my future happiness than any man alive. He has saved my life, my husband’s life, and my world. He is a loyal friend and will make some woman a wonderful husband

I don’t want him to miss an opportunity to find a suitable, competent, and loving companion when he has done so much for me– in spite of my stupidity.

He did ask me if I had asked Sir Cosmo to intervene last night. I had to confess that I had. Inspector MacGreggor said that Sir Cosmo had involved the Prince of Wales! That was not my intent. I did promise Simon that I would limit my interference to discussing my concerns with him directly in the future.

I became rather overwrought by the end of our conversation. Mr Salmalin returned just in time (or stood outside the door waiting for the right time) to bring the awkward conversation to a close before I started openly weeping.

I left Mr Salmalin to speak privately with the Inspector and visited Mr Frazer at his work. He was catching up on his filing and updating the massive cross-reference system he keeps regarding the criminal underworld of London. I asked if there was any message I could take home to Mrs Frazer and he said to tell her that he had enjoyed the lunch she had packed for him.

Mr Salmalin came to collect me after a time and we returned home. He is consulting with Graves while I update this record– though Ravvi has promised to rest more this evening and wait until tomorrow to return to his duties. However, I do not really expect that he will forgo his usual evening rounds.

Proceed to Slipped my mind

Return to Miss Whitnell's Diary Index

Return to Main Menu

Contents this page copyright 2005 by Kristin Fontaine. All Rights Reserved.