Chapter 24 #3
Martha stared at him, and then at Thea. From the look on Martha’s face Thea had no doubt that Crumpacker was telling the truth, and that Martha had severely edited the story in its retelling.
Presumably not to worry her, but this made it worse.
And made Martha even more of a hero. But Martha was her safety, and now there were so many unknowns.
Thea was torn between love, admiration, horror and rapidly multiplying feelings of her own inadequacy.
‘That. Is. Heroic, Lady Foxmore!’ Cecily’s eyes were wide, and she leaned towards Martha.
‘You saved a savage, wild animal which might have killed you from a man who wanted to kill it and would think nothing of killing you. And Mr Crumpacker,’ their hostess now turned to him.
‘You saved them both.’ Her tone was so adulatory that it even drew a small smile from him.
‘Lady Foxmore is quite the bravest person I know,’ he said simply.
‘And then you brought back seeds for everyone to grow,’ said Cecily. ‘You went through all of that to deliver a small taste of the exotic here in our gardens.’
‘And some are more successful than others,’ said Dr Herbert, raising his glass to Knatchbull.
Thea suddenly felt very small. And useless.
Even Martha hadn’t been honest with her, presumably because she thought Thea was too weak to take the truth.
Thea took a sip of wine, as her throat was thick and she didn’t think she could manage anything more solid.
She hated feeling like this. This wasn’t her, not how she wanted to be, but everything felt so overwhelming.
She was terrified about what was coming from George, couldn’t keep her staff safe, couldn’t give Martha the life she deserved and if she did succeed in growing, was forbidden from making that success her own.
Self-doubt was crippling. And she felt selfish about that, given that she had so much.
‘I think that is quite enough of our chit chat,’ said Martha, and Thea could tell she was casting around for a change of subject. ‘Perhaps Doctor Travers can tell us more about his plans for developing his lecture series in London?’
Poor Doctor Travers looked a little alarmed. ‘Well,’ he said, his eyes darting around the table to consider his eminent company. ‘I have premises in Piccadilly and am in the process of developing my show–’
‘I am glad to hear it,’ Emma Fairclough’s voice cut through the polite murmurs – presumably she had become tired of hearing voices other than her own.
‘Your demonstration tonight was…’ she paused, ‘…diverting. However, you find yourself in such company tonight that I am sure you could use to your advantage. I am sure you have rarely been in such company that displays as fine tastes as this?’ She gestured around the table and Thea took a swig of wine.
Fine tastes and little modesty, she thought.
‘Well, I have to admit it is an honour to be amongst such company,’ Doctor Travers said, his finger running around the collar of his cravat.
‘I am sure it is a little overwhelming for you, but you must take these opportunities to improve yourself, as they come along so rarely,’ Emma said with a sweet smile that was less friendly than the one on Martha’s tiger, Thea suspected.
‘I wonder if you have thought of visiting some of the other shows in London? To view how other, more popular entertainers present science to the people?’
Thea saw Doctor Travers swallow, evidently not enjoying the attention. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘I do have some experience of–’
‘Clearly not as much as you might think,’ said Emma, waving away his explanation. ‘A number of us here have seen shows in London which are enjoyable.’ She turned to the seat next to her. ‘Winne, who is that man with the cats?’
‘Katterfelto,’ said Winnie through a mouthful of veal.
‘That’s right,’ said Emma, pointing her fork at Doctor Travers. ‘The wonders man with the evil cat who claims he’s better than Newton.’
‘I’m sure he’s not better than Newton,’ tried Thea.
Doctor Travers looked thrilled at the support. ‘Sir Isaac Newton was one of the greatest philosophers of any age,’ he agreed, but Emma once again waved him away.
‘Whether Katterfelto is or not is entirely academic,’ she said.
‘The point is that he claims to be, and his shows are quite entertaining because of it. In fact, it almost made me believe I could quite enjoy science before the Duchess of Hartford came in and started talking about rocks,’ she laughed at herself, and looked at Thea as she did so.
It was presented to the table as a polite tease, but there was a barb in it that made Thea’s chest constrict with shame.
Some of the table laughed along with her, pretending to gently mock Thea in the politest way they could, but she knew that they meant it.
Harriet and Speckle kept their heads pointed to their plates.
Cecily glanced between Emma and Doctor Travers, and Martha looked daggers at Emma.
‘Him and the man with the counting pig, I am sure you could learn something Doctor Travers,’ finished Emma, entirely oblivious.
‘You should visit on your return to London.’ It was a direction, in the manner of an entitled society lady who thinks she can say anything to anyone she feels is beneath her, either in rank or in popularity.
Thea noted this as the point her tether ran out.
‘You shouldn’t listen to Mrs Fairclough,’ said Thea, looking directly at Doctor Travers. ‘I found your talk extremely diverting.’
Emma let out a pretty little laugh. ‘I bet you did.’ It was snide, and Thea hated it.
‘I did,’ she said, ‘because I appreciate the thermal properties of various materials and I have learned a significant amount tonight about how I may apply that to my everyday life.’
‘Just what everyone requires of an evening’s entertainment,’ chipped in Helena Mortimer in that sarcastic tone she had.
‘When I have a need of setting my cushions alight or reach a point in my life that I require my wine to be warmed, I am sure I shall reflect on the lecture fondly.’ She and Emma shared a knowing glance.
Thea looked at Doctor Travers, who was staring at his plate, immobile as he looked like he wished he could spontaneously combust just to be out of this situation. Thea stood, desperate for both him and for herself.
‘You can be snide to me,’ she said, rolling up her napkin and throwing it onto the table.
‘But you should apologise to Doctor Travers as he has come a long way, and I am sure is extremely experienced.’ She looked him directly in the eye.
‘Your work is very valuable, Doctor, and if you wish to exit what I am sure, by now, is a terribly awkward situation for you, I would welcome a further conversation about thermal mass. Otherwise, if you will all excuse me, I will be outside taking some air.’
And with that, she stalked out of the room.