Chapter 8
Charlotte frowned in thought after Wrexford and Sheffield finished recounting their conversation with Griffin.
“That one of the gang members claimed Archie Campbell’s young son was the artistic genius behind the counterfeiting conspiracy seems to make the rumors Henning mentioned sound a little less far-fetched. ”
“Perhaps,” answered Wrexford. “It would certainly explain Fletcher Campbell’s refusal to divulge any information to the authorities concerning the gang’s activities.”
“Which is even more reason to bring the miscreant who took his life to justice.” Charlotte considered the facts—along with the rumors and conjectures—she had just heard.
“I can’t help but feel that the timing of Mr. Campbell’s murder and the recent announcement of the astoundingly large monetary prize being offered for anyone who can come up with a method of creating banknotes that can’t be counterfeited is a rather odd coincidence, don’t you? ”
“It does stretch the bounds of credulity,” murmured Wrexford.
“Which is why I think it imperative for me to accept Kit’s invitation to accompany him to the demonstration of a geometric lathe invented by a fellow named Ibbetson, which may prove a revolutionary technology in creating banknotes that can’t be forged. ”
“Excellent!” said Sheffield. He hesitated before adding, “I’m happy that it may help in the investigation, but there is another reason I would welcome your presence.”
The earl raised his brows in question.
“I was recently introduced to the Honorable Bertram Ainsley by our friend Ricardo,” explained Sheffield.
“Ainsley is an undergovernor of the Bank of England, and a member of the Royal Society’s committee to review new inventions for creating banknotes that can’t be forged.
We’ve conversed on several occasions, and he’s asked if I would be interested in joining the group. ”
“Ainsley, Ainsley …” mused the earl. “The second son of the Earl of Aberdeen?”
“Yes,” answered Sheffield. “He’s going to be at Ibbetson’s lecture, and I should like for you to meet him.”
He tugged at the cuff of his coat. “Though she hasn’t said so aloud, I think that Cordelia is not in favor of me taking on yet another responsibility.
Granted, my position on the Bristol Road Commission is demanding.
However, now that we have hired two very competent new supervisors—by the by, they are both women—our shipping business is sailing along quite smoothly without our day-to-day attention.
I feel that I can learn more about banking and the financial world from Ainsley, so I would value your impression—”
“Of course,” interjected the earl.
Charlotte thought for a moment. “I’m coming, too,” she announced.
“Not only for Campbell’s sake, but because the state of our banknotes is a subject that A.
J. Quill should continue to investigate.
The public needs to understand all the ramifications of paper money—and whether the government can be trusted to keep the system safe from fraud. ”
Sheffield consulted his pocket watch. “We had better hurry. The lecture and demonstration will soon begin.”
It was only a short walk to the Society for Mechanical Progress. A crowd was in attendance—Wrexford quipped that it was because one of the members, a wealthy factory owner, was known to fund very fancy refreshments—and so they were forced to squeeze into seats at the back of the lecture room.
The loud chatter of casual conversation quickly quieted as a stork-slender man with curling auburn hair fringing his bald pate appeared on the stage and took his place at the podium. He surveyed the audience for a moment before clearing his throat with a brusque cough and looking down at his notes.
“I am fully aware of the difficulty of creating any design that cannot be imitated by the ingenuity of an engraver, yet I come here today to express my sanguine hopes that I have devised a form for banknotes which will not only present the forger with incalculable difficulties but will also contain a self-detecting principle that would enable the public at large to easily distinguish a genuine note from a forged one …”
Charlotte listened with great interest, although she soon found his technical ramblings were becoming a bit hard to follow.
However, it was abundantly clear that Ibbetson had a very high opinion of his own intellectual acumen, for his explanations gave way to a recitation of his many past accomplishments.
Apparently she wasn’t the only one growing bored. The rustling of the crowd was becoming more pronounced. At last, Ibbetson folded his notes and turned to the table set beside the podium, which was draped with a large square of purple velvet.
“And now, prepare to be amazed!” With a flourish, he tugged off the cloth and let it fall to the floor, revealing an intricate-looking mechanical device constructed of polished brass gears, plates, and levers. “Voilà!”
At a signal from Ibbetson, an attendant opened the draperies covering the back wall, revealing a number of framed engravings.
“I invite you all to come up to the stage, where you may get a closer look at my geometric lathe. And you may also see some examples of the many wondrous designs it can create.”
Turning in her seat, Charlotte saw that Wrexford and Sheffield had just risen and were being led away by a member of the Royal Society to join a group of gentlemen in one of the side salons.
Under no illusion that she would be welcome to join the committee’s discussion, she hesitated.
And then, curious about the invention—A.
J. Quill needed to keep the public informed about the country’s currency, especially if Sheffield was right in telling Wrexford that coins would soon become too unwieldy to handle the rapid-fire growth of international commerce— she rose and joined the line of people eager for a closer look at Ibbetson’s creation.
“Lady Wrexford?” An impeccably attired stranger approached her as she joined the line and flashed an apologetic smile.
Despite his expensive clothes, Charlotte guessed from his stocky build and callused hands that he was not a gentleman of the beau monde.
And his next words confirmed the surmise, because they were roughened by a distinct Scottish burr.
“I hope you will forgive me for taking the liberty to introduce myself, but I noticed that Lord Bethany has spirited your husband away, leaving you on your own.” A polite bow.
“I am Duff Murray, and Lord Wrexford and I are fellow patrons of the London Institution.”
“No apologies are necessary, Mr. Murray. I am not someone who stands on ceremony.”
“So I have heard.” His smile stretched wider. “My friend Basil Henning has told me a great deal about you and His Lordship.”
“Don’t believe half of what you hear from Baz,” replied Charlotte dryly.
The comment drew a chuckle from Murray. “I sometimes think he must have a touch of Irish in him, for he does occasionally enjoy telling tall tales.” He smoothed at the lapel of his elegant jacket. “Are you interested in science, milady?”
“Unlike my husband, I don’t possess any scientific expertise. However, I think it’s important for all of us to try to understand new ideas and new technologies, as they are inexorably changing our lives—faster than we may like.”
He regarded her thoughtfully. “A very wise and perceptive answer, milady.”
“And you, sir?”
“Like you, I am curious, and wish to keep abreast of the latest developments in technology. Many people find change frightening, but I prefer to see it as offering exciting new opportunities.”
Charlotte nodded, though to her mind the answer sounded a bit too smooth. “How do you know Baz?”
“Oh, we’ve been friends since our early days mucking about in the Auld Sod.
And since my arrival in London some years ago, I’ve been a supporter of his clinic for the poor,” replied Murray.
“Speaking of which, allow me to offer my gratitude for your generosity in funding a gravestone for Fletcher Campbell. He was a good man who paid a great price for adhering to his sense of honor.” A mournful sigh.
“Poor Fletch. He didn’t deserve to die such an unpleasant death. ”
“Nobody deserves to be murdered in cold blood,” replied Charlotte.
“How clumsy of me—as a rough-cut Scot with no formal education, I fear that I’m not as articulate as I should be. What I meant was, I’m very sorry that he met such a sad end.”
He flashed a contrite look and then added, “Baz has mentioned that Wrexford occasionally does some sleuthing into suspicious deaths …”
Charlotte moved a step forward, keeping pace with the line of people wishing to have a closer look at the geometrical lathe. “Given his present responsibilities, he prefers to allow the official authorities to handle such things.”
“Ah.” Murray remained silent as they shuffled a bit closer to the stage. “Perhaps that’s for the best. Fletcher should be allowed to rest in peace. There’s little point in digging up his past.”
It struck her as an odd reaction. However, she decided to ignore it.
“Dear me, I see a business colleague waving me over,” said Murray. “I really must go have a word with him. Would you be so kind as to excuse me?”
“But of course.” Charlotte had seen no such signal. However, she suspected that his reason for seeking her out had already been accomplished.
Spotting Charlotte by the display of artwork created by the geometrical lathe, Wrexford hurried to join her.
“My apologies for rushing off. Bethany was anxious to have me join Kit in meeting with the members of the Royal Society’s committee assessing banknote design,” he explained.
“I think he was trying to make amends for his shabby behavior during our last investigation, so I decided to let bygones be bygones by being agreeable.”
“You choosing to be agreeable?” Her lips twitched in amusement. “Will wonders never cease?”
“I can, on occasion, exercise tact.”