Chapter 19 #3
“She was an avid horticulturist and was much admired for the gardens she created on the grounds of our country house in Hammersmith,” added his colleague.
“My condolences.” Wrexford thought about his own solitary existence before he met Charlotte. “Don’t dismiss the possibility of finding a second chance at happiness.”
Stoneham crooked a wry smile. “I wouldn’t have guessed you to be such a romantic, Wrexford.”
“I’m merely basing my statement on mathematical analysis. The statistics regarding a man of your position in Society show that the probability of remarrying are quite high.”
That drew a faint chuckle from Stoneham before he turned pensive.
“There are those in the beau monde who will tell you that I married my wife for her money—she was an heiress, though the aristocrats looked down on her father and his fortune because he was a merchant. However, we rubbed along together quite well, and …”
A small shrug. “And I’m not sure that lightning will strike the same place twice.”
No doubt the matchmaking Mamas of the ton were doing their best to kindle a spark. A rich gentleman of good family— Stoneham was a grandson of the Duke of Montrose—would be considered a great catch, thought Wrexford. But that was none of his business …
The earl took another moment to study the numbering machine before rising from his crouch and changing the subject back to the subject at hand. “I’m curious as to how you see metallurgy helping to create banknotes that can’t be counterfeited.”
“Congreve, along with Applegath and Cowper, are experimenting with siderography, which is a compound-plate printing system based on steel plates,” replied Stoneham. “However, the most advanced work in the field is being done by an American by the name of Jacob Perkins—or so I am told.”
“Ah, Jacob Perkins!” Damien Manchester had wandered off from the geometric lathes at the back of the room and came over to join them.
“I do hope he decides to come to England and take part in the competition. I’ve seen a few of his sample banknotes, and he seems to be doing very sophisticated work with guilloche designs. ”
“Indeed?” said Stoneham, with a note of skepticism. “I would think that Congreve, who has hired several highly skilled engineers with experience at the Royal Arsenal, would be much more advanced in any such technical innovations.”
“The military’s objective is never focused on making art,” replied Manchester. “But in the battle to defeat counterfeiters, I believe that art will be a powerful weapon.”
Stoneham gave an irritated frown as he fingered one of the rotating number disks on Bramah’s invention.
“Getting back to your question, Lord Wrexford,” he said, choosing to ignore Man chester’s comment, “I have no empirical evidence on whether siderography is our answer to foiling counterfeiters, but the concept described to me seems to offer intriguing possibilities. I’ve worked with Congreve on several projects during our wars with France, so when he asked if I would be interested in helping him to create a range of steel prototypes, I readily agreed.
We need to experiment with different degrees of hardness—”
“Why?” interrupted Wrexford.
Stoneham pursed his lips. “It would be easier to explain if I could show you the technical drawings and some prototypes used in the basic process of siderography. It involves making a master engraving, which is then used to make duplicate printing plates.” He paused.
“You are welcome to come by my laboratory at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich and have a look. At Congreve’s invitation, I am working down there in order to make use of military ironworks and blast furnaces. ”
“I shall take you up on that,” said Wrexford. “Would tomorrow afternoon suit you?”
“Splendid.” A smile. “Be prepared to don protective gloves and apron. I could use an extra hand with the smelting process, along with getting your advice on creating just the right formula.”
“Fire, smoke, molten metal,” murmured Manchester. “That sounds awfully messy, milord.”
“Science often requires sacrifice,” replied Wrexford dryly. “Be assured that I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty.”
A brusque clap-clap from Ainsley put an end to the exchange.
“Thank you all for coming, but now I must allow our experts to return to their work,” he announced. “If you’ll follow me out to the main entrance …”
“That was immensely interesting,” said Sheffield as he and the earl headed down Threadneedle Street in search of a hackney. “I’m actually quite glad to have been asked to join the committee. It’s of critical importance for the future of our country.”
“If you’re trying to change my mind about joining, you’re not being very subtle about it. And besides, I feel that keeping Perkins and his technology safe from the clutches of a villainous mastermind is equally important.”
“You’re right, of course. I didn’t mean to imply it wasn’t,” apologized Sheffield.
They walked on in silence for a few strides, before he added, “Manchester can be an irritating fellow—like many art connoisseurs, he can exude an air of smug superiority. However, he seems quite knowledgeable about the technical aspects of geometric lathes and the challenges we face in creating designs that can’t be copied by hand. ”
“If the fellow is useful, it doesn’t matter if he’s a donkey’s arse,” replied Wrexford absently, his thoughts already shifting back to the murders and the looming threat from an unknown villain and his minions …
And how the devil he was going to stop them.