CHAPTER 8
Wrexford took the piece of paper and unfolded it.
“Please read it aloud.” Charlotte remained standing by the doors. Moonlight glimmered through the glass panes, silhouetting her figure and making her face impossible to read.
“My dearest Hypatia,” began the earl.
“That was Jasper’s private name for me when we were adolescents,” explained Cordelia.
“Hypatia was a famous woman mathematician from ancient times. That we had formed a close camaraderie through our shared passion for numbers seemed important to him. He didn’t have any friends other than me among the children of the area. ”
“Why not?” queried Wrexford.
“Jasper was different,” answered Cordelia.
“He was considered awkward and aloof. I suppose that’s because he felt more at home in the world of abstractions and intellectual challenges than in the everyday games and mischief-making that appeal to most boys and girls.
I was the only one who understood and appreciated the way his mind worked. ”
Wrexford knew that to have any chance of solving the crime they would have to learn a great deal more about Jasper Milton and his life. He wondered if that was why Charlotte seemed on edge.
Catching his glance, she moved to the hearth and put a fresh log atop the glowing coals. Sparks flared. A flame licked up.
Looking back to the letter, he resumed reading.
I fear that I’m being watched. I dare not say more here, but I shall soon visit you and explain further. In the meantime, I have taken precautions to ensure that nobody can meddle in my work.
On a happier note, I made a connection at the scientific conference in France which helped me clarify my thinking and bring me to a final discovery.
It’s not something that I can discuss with my fellow society members—they are fine fellows but have limited vision and wouldn’t understand.
I expected better of Oliver, but he—well, never mind that now.
You are the only one who sees beyond ordinary conventions and will comprehend my latest innovation and its implications. I can’t wait to share it with you.
The paper made a whispery sound as Wrexford refolded it.
“I admit that when read aloud, it sounds like Jasper took a page from one of Mrs. Radcliffe’s melodramatic novels,” said Cordelia.
“It’s completely out of character for him.
He was always very precise and rational in his thinking.
Something appears to have spooked him, and given the intruder who broke in here the night before the wedding, I am inclined to think that he must have had actual cause for alarm. ”
She frowned in thought. “After all, the intruder went straight for the escritoire. Perhaps he thought that Jasper had sent me the details concerning his work.”
“Have you thought any more on what Milton’s new innovation could be?” asked Charlotte. “As we heard this afternoon, his fellow society members think it revolves around an innovation for bridge building.” A pause. “Is that really so revolutionary?”
“The answer to your first question is no. What with his various projects in the north and his travels to France, we haven’t corresponded regularly over the last eight months,” answered Cordelia. “As to whether a new scientific breakthrough could radically change the design of bridges—”
“The answer is definitely yes,” interjected Sheffield. “Roads and bridges may seem unlikely candidates for innovation, but Thomas Telford and John McAdam are espousing some very interesting new ideas about grading, materials and basic construction that will revolutionize travel time.”
“Kit,” murmured Cordelia, “perhaps you need not explain—”
Caught up in his enthusiasm for the subject, Sheffield was already forging ahead.
“Bridges offer even more possibility for innovation. Telford’s recently completed cast-iron bridge, which crosses the River Spey at Craigellachie in Scotland, is a marvel of innovative engineering.
Its innovative design features a single span of 151 feet and uses a slender arch that would be impossible to do in stone. ”
“Yes, I’ve heard that part of the reason for the latest improvements in bridge design are due to the new formulas for high-tensile iron that are being developed,” mused Wrexford.
“Word is, Telford is also experimenting with a bridge design that uses cables made of wrought-iron links . . .” Sheffield looked to the earl. “Though I cannot begin to explain the scientific principles by which that technology would function.”
The earl shrugged. “The mysteries of the physical world and its forces are not within my scope of studies.”
“That is all fascinating and offers exciting possibilities for the future,” observed Charlotte. “I must do some research on the subject and produce a series of drawings to alert the public to yet more momentous changes about to alter the world as they know it.”
“Indeed, change is marching along at a dizzying pace,” observed Wrexford. “But however intriguing the future is, let us step back to the present, and the mystery that currently faces us.”
“Sorry, I get carried away when I start to think of all the ways to improve the movement of people and goods that will make the world a better place,” apologized Sheffield.
“Faster delivery of goods will stimulate the economy, workers will have more opportunity to find higher-paying jobs because they can afford to move to where their skills are needed. Communication is also important, and the mail will not be so erratic.” Catching Cordelia’s glance, he paused and blew out his breath. “But I will stop pontificating.”
Silence settled over the room.
Finding the first thread to follow is always the hardest part of untangling all the motives and passions that cause a crime, reflected Wrexford. Truth rarely revealed itself easily.
A glance around at the grim faces showed that they, too, understood the coming investigation would demand sacrifice. And likely cause pain.
“So far, Milton’s note seems to be the one tangible clue we have.
” It was Sheffield who first ventured to speak.
“That he mentions a connection made in France stirs some initial questions,” he pointed out.
“The fact that a man appeared from the woods and hurled a warning note at Raven and Hawk which was partly written in French can’t simply be coincidence. ”
“That would seem to make sense,” replied Charlotte. “But how do the two things tie together? Was the intruder who entered Cordelia’s rooms Milton’s French connection? And was the man who threw the note a friend or a foe of the intruder?”
“Or was the intruder Milton’s murderer?” suggested Sheffield.
“All good questions,” muttered Wrexford. “However, it’s a waste of time to speculate on the answers. Yes, we have two clues that point to a connection with France. But whether or not they are related remains to be seen.”
“Actually, there are three clues,” said Charlotte.
“At our meeting with Milton’s fellow society members, one of them mentioned that Cordelia’s cousin said the members of the Parisian scientific society seemed particularly interested in coaxing Milton into giving them details about his latest work on bridges. ”
At the reminder of her cousin’s close friendship with Milton, Cordelia suddenly let out a gasp.
“Good God, another thought has just occurred to me.” Her face lost all vestige of color.
“We know that Jasper was murdered . . . and Oliver is still missing. Wheeler’s information about the quarrel suggested one terrible reason for that.
But what if the reason is worse and he, too has been—”
Sheffield drew her close and touched a comforting caress to her cheek. “Let us not jump to conclusions, sweeting.”
“But if he’s not injured . . . or worse, we should have heard from him by now,” she countered.
“Not necessarily,” said Wrexford. “Mr. Whalley told us that in some of the smaller valleys to the north, the roads were entirely washed away. It could take several more days before any communication is restored.”
Cordelia didn’t offer further argument, but her face remained shadowed by doubt.
“To return to Charlotte’s point,” he continued, “the fact that Milton and Carrick were in Paris for a symposium hosted by the French scientific society does seem to be the most solid clue of the three.”
“So what are you suggesting?” asked Sheffield.
“That the logical place to start is in London, where according to Milton’s colleagues, the Parisian scientific society will be arriving soon to attend an international conference on improving transportation, hosted by the Royal Institution.
With Europe now at peace, there is much excitement over the possibilities of connecting all the nations together in bold new ways. ”
Cordelia lifted her shoulders in apology. “I’m so sorry for upending your plans for an interlude of peace and quiet in the country.”
“Don’t fret—the idea of peace and quiet flew out the window earlier today with the unexpected arrival of Peregrine,” responded Charlotte with a smile, and then quickly explained about the boy’s expulsion from Eton and his new position as an official member of the family.
* * *
“Why, that’s wonderful news!” exclaimed Cordelia.
“Yes, a welcome ray of light in the muddled darkness cast by murder,” said Charlotte. “We must keep reminding ourselves that the joys of love and friendship are why we battle so fiercely against Evil.”