Frostbitten Fairy Tales

by Melanie Karsak

  “Because you talked me into breaking my arm?”

  “I did not talk you into breaking your arm. And if it had worked, sliding down the drain spout would have been much faster than the stairs. But anyway, I was thinking, why do you still live in the flat? I mean, it’s not my business, but haven’t you saved enough from your practice to afford a nicer home? Something larger? In a better neighborhood?”

  I felt Kai’s muscles tense under my arm. “I have been saving my money, you are right. And I do have enough saved so I could do as you suggest. But…”

  “But?”

  “Now is not the time.”

  “I see.”

  Kai laughed lightly. “You see, meaning that you will think it over then quiz me later.”

  “Precisely. You know, it’s very annoying that I’m so predictable.”

  “Only to me.”

  “That’s true. John has told me that I am very clever. He finds it quite surprising and not at all predictable,” I said teasingly.

  “Interesting. Your wit doesn’t come as a surprise to me at all,” Kai said stiffly.

  “He doesn’t mean it the way you are suggesting.”

  “No. I’m sure he doesn’t.”

  “You know, you could try to like him.”

  “I could. But I will wait to ensure that I should first.”

  “Kai, you are a grumpy old bear,” I said, reaching up to ruffle his dark hair sticking out just from under the back of his top hat.

  He grinned then caught my fingers. “It’s not wise to provoke a bear,” he said, setting the lightest of kisses on my gloved fingers before he returned my hand to me.

  It was a movement he must have made a hundred times in the past, a familiarity I’d never thought anything of before, but given my immodest thoughts, the gesture struck me oddly. I felt a strange stirring in my stomach.

  “Careful here,” Kai said, setting his hand on my lower back as he guided me around a patch of ice.

  “Thank you,” I replied nicely.

  Kai smiled. “Of course.”

  We worked our way through the streets until we reached London Bridge. Turning down the narrow riverside road, we soon came to the home and workshop of Master Hawking.

  Kai rang for the footman while I looked out on the frozen Thames. Already the river was busy with activity. I still had time, however, before I needed to join my company to prepare the morning’s performance. And I hoped, above all, that John would come today. I hated to think that something had happened to him.

  “Doctor Murray. Do come in,” I heard the footman say.

  Turning, I joined them.

  “Master Hawking is in his workshop. I’ll inform him you’re here.”

  “Is the surgeon still here?” Kai asked as we entered.

  “Yes, sir. Miss Hawking convinced him to stay for breakfast. He is in the dining room.”

  Kai nodded, and we followed the footman to the parlor. The room, while properly adorned, reminded me much of the rest of Master Hawkings’ home, which I had visited but twice before—full of his tinkered contraptions. On the wall, a framed picture depicting a waterfall ticked like a clock as blue-colored balls rolled down the river and over the waterfall. The effect of the moving image was enchanting. An elaborate grandfather clock stood at one end of the room. Rather than having a single face, the clock showed several times in several locations from London to Constantinople to Bombay to New York City and even more. Every piece of furniture was stacked with books. I smiled when I realized that there was nowhere to sit.

  “Look,” Kai said then turned the windup key on what looked like a music box. A moment later, the box opened to reveal a stage. Metal drapes drew back to reveal a tiny clockwork ballerina. The ballerina pirouetted via a groove in the metal. Music played, giving an added grace to her steps.

  I gasped.

  “Miss Hawking has been working on pairing clockwork and tone. I believe this is one of her works.”

  I was about to reply when a voice interrupted me.

  “Indeed it is,” a man called.

  I turned to find Master Hawking. Dressed in a wool suit covered by a leather apron, it appeared that the tinker had already been hard at work that morning.

  “Good morning, Doctor Murray. And Miss McKenna. Always a pleasure to see you,” Master Hawking said.

  “Sir,” I replied, curtseying.

  Master Hawking smiled.

  “You must be here to see your patient. Shall we?” Master Hawking said, motioning to the stairs.

  Kai nodded to me, indicating I should follow.

  “I’m sure my footman informed Mister Blackwell that you’re here. We’ll have him come up after breakfast. Your drowned man slept well through the night. He had a spot of tea and bread with jam this morning.”

  “Have his senses returned?”

  Master Hawking shook his head. “I’m afraid not.” He led us to the door of a bedchamber then knocked on the door.

  A maid appeared.

  “Is he awake?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Very good,” Master Hawking said then motioned for us to follow him.

  The man who had quite nearly drowned the evening before was sitting upright in bed. He’d been changed into a nightdress. To my surprise, he appeared much younger than he had the night before. Apparently being near-death gave one the hue of middle-age, which did not speak well, of course, of the middle years. This morning, I would guess him to be a man in his late twenties. The fire in the room burned brightly. In my outdoor wraps, the room felt over-warm. Kai must have thought the same as he loosened the top button of his jacket. The man was sipping a cup of tea, which he set aside when we entered.

  “Sir,” Kai said, nodding politely to him. “Do you remember me?”

  The man coughed in an attempt to clear his throat. He motioned for us to wait a moment as he sipped his tea once more, then he said, “Yes, sir. I believe you are the doctor to whom I owe my life.”

  Kai bowed his head politely. “I am Doctor Murray.”

  The man looked around Kai and stared at me. “I…I know you, I think,” he told me.

  “This is Miss Elyse McKenna,” Kai introduced.

  The man furrowed his brow. “Onion soup,” he said then shook his head. “But I do recall you from elsewhere. Sounds silly, but I keep thinking of faeries,” he said with an awkward smile.

  “I am an actress, sir. We believe you saw me perform yesterday night before your accident. I was playing the role of Titania at the Ice House Theatre on the Thames.”

  The man lifted the cup of tea and took a sip. “Yes. I…I do remember something of the play.”

  “Something of it?”

  “I remember you kissing…pardon me, Miss. I don’t mean to be rude, and I know this sounds absurd, but I remember you kissing a donkey. That, and onion soup.”

  I smiled. “There is no offense on your part, sir. It is Master Shakespeare who is at fault.”

  The man chuckled.

  “Miss McKenna, I would like to examine Mister…our guest,” Kai told me.

  “Master Hawking, perhaps you would be kind enough to take me to your daughter?” I said, turning to the tinker.

  He nodded, and I followed him out of the room.

  Kai closed the door behind us.

  “Poor chap,” Master Hawking said as we headed back downstairs. “The Thames took his memory, but it seems she was cold enough to save his life.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Ah, well, a man may fall into the water and die of cold, that is certain, but if the water is frozen enough, cold enough, his body goes into a kind of slumber.”

  “How very odd.”

  “Isn’t it? Now, my daughter is in her workshop. This way,” Master Hawking said, leading me toward the back of the house.

  Opening a set of double doors, Master Hawking led me into a room that appeared to be half library, half workshop. Tables were heaped with cogs and contraptions, tools and wire, and books were
strewn everywhere. There was a sharp clatter followed by a stream of obscenities in a distinctly feminine voice.

  “Isabelle?” Master Hawking called, peering around the room. “Doctor Murray’s friend, Miss Elyse McKenna, is here to see you.”

  “Doctor Murray is here?” I heard the girl exclaim with the tone of excitement. Metal clattered once more.

  “Yes, and his friend, Miss McKenna.”

  A moment later, the girl appeared before me. Wearing a wool skirt, a long-sleeved shirt, and a leather apron, the girl was dressed to work. She pushed a pair of goggles onto her head then wiped a gloved hand across her chin, leaving a smear of grease in its wake. With her long, dark-brown braid and wide brown eyes, she was decidedly attractive.

  “Miss McKenna,” she chirped, curtsying to me. “So nice to see you again. I have to apologize,” she said, motioning to her dress. “I was working. Would you like to see?”

  “Oh yes,” I replied.

  “Very good,” Master Hawking said. “I’ll leave you to it then. Miss McKenna,” he said, nodding politely, then he excused himself.

  Miss Hawking waved to me to follow her. “You’re just in time, in fact. I was filing down the last bit. Nearly broke the piece, but cut me instead,” she said, looking at her finger, which was wrapped in cloth stained with blood.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Fine, fine. Just made me mad. Come see. You’ll be the very first!”

  She led me to her workbench. There, I saw the amazing sculpture she’d been working on. She’d sculpted a tree branch from metal, and on it sat six little songbirds.

  “Oh, it’s so lovely,” I told her.

  “Wait,” she said. She reached forward and pressed down on one of the leaves. A moment later, the birds began to warble. One at a time, they chirped gaily.

  I clasped my hands together. “That’s—” I began, but she lifted a finger for me to wait once more and pressed another leaf.

  A moment later, the birds began in earnest, warbling out Vivaldi’s Allegro-Largo-Allegro. I stood staring at the little birds as they chirped in chorus, turning their heads and ruffling the wings and tail feathers as they vocalized the first minute of the piece. A moment later, they went silent. They shook their metal bodies as if roosting and settled into place once more.

  “I’m still working on a way to integrate the full movement, but this is a start. What do you think?” Isabelle asked, turning to me.

  I stared wide-eyed at her.

  She laughed. “You like it, then?”

  “Miss Hawking, you’re quite brilliant.”

  “Papa is the brilliant one. He’s working on quite serious projects. A clockwork eye, for example,” she said, motioning to the workbench behind her where several metal and glass eyes lay scattered. “I’m more for frivolity.”

  “You do remember that you’re talking to an actress.”

  She laughed. “And ballerina. Or so I was told.”

  “Yes. My grandmother was a dancer in her youth. She taught me. All my gifts come from her effort and patience.”

  Isabelle smiled, but I noticed a sadness to her smile, and I recognized it. It is the smile of a girl who was raised without a mother. “And mine from Papa’s.”

  “Well, this work is stunning,” I said, turning back to the birds. “You’ll need to show this to Kai—Doctor Murray.”

  “Do you think he’ll like it?” she asked, her expression brightening. “It’s so hard to know what pleases him. He’s always so dour.”

  I smiled at her, looking at her once more in a new light. She was, perhaps, seventeen or so. Was she looking for a husband? Kai would be a fine catch for a quirky tinker’s daughter. And he could certainly appreciate a clever and talented girl, whereas others might find her lacking in manners. Perhaps it would be a good match. Perhaps, except the idea of it made something in my stomach harden.

  “I’m sure he will.”

  Miss Hawking set her gloves on the table then turned her attention back to the birds, but I could see that even as she spoke, she was distracted. “I’m not quite done with them yet. I’ll add colored glass for the eyes and just a bit of color on the leaves.”

  “Is it a commission?”

  She nodded. “A wedding gift. Some Scottish lord ordered it. I still have time. The wedding is not until May.”

  “What a lovely gift.”

  “Elyse?” I heard Kai call from the front of the workshop.

  “I’m here, Doctor Murray,” I called, reminding Kai that we were not alone.

  I heard him cough. “Yes. Right. Miss McKenna. Is Miss Hawking here?”

  Miss Hawking leaped away from her table. On second thought, however, she pulled off her goggles, removed her apron, and smoothed her long wool skirt.

  Her primping was not lost on me. Pulling a handkerchief from my bag, I handed it to her. “Your chin,” I said. I really did need to carry a hand mirror.

  Smiling at me in a very sisterly way, she tidied up, handing me the soiled handkerchief, then headed back toward the door. I hid my frown as I tucked the cloth back inside my bag. It was going to take a hard soaking to get that grease out.

  “Doctor Murray,” she called with a wave.

  To my surprise, Kai brightened when he saw her.

  Once more, that strange knot formed in my stomach.

  “Miss Hawking. How are you this morning?”

  “Very well.”

  “I was just checking on my patient.”

  “He’s a very amiable man. You know, I think he might be a gentleman of some station.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Well,” she said, looking a bit embarrassed. “It seems best for a lady to show refined conduct around him so as not to upset his sensibilities,” she said with a cough. “But aside from that, it was his manner. He’s clearly well-educated, sophisticated, and he ate very properly. And he commented on our sugar. He was confused as to why the sugar wasn’t white.”

  I shook my head and looked at Kai.

  “The wealthy use refined white sugar,” Kai explained.

  “Oh,” I said, suddenly feeling foolish for not knowing. Lady Waldegrave I certainly was not.

  “Mister Blackwell said he filed a report with the Bow Street Runners on the gentleman’s behalf. Have they been by?”

  Miss Hawking shook her head.

  “Perhaps later. If he is a man of consequence, someone will be looking for him.”

  “What a funny thing to say,” Miss Hawking said then.

  “Why?”

  “Well, he need not be a man of consequence for someone to miss him.”

  Kai nodded. “Quite right. I guess I was just thinking—”

  Miss Hawking laughed. “I only jest. I understood your meaning. Now, if you have a moment more, may I show you my latest creation?”

  Kai nodded.

  I followed behind them as Miss Hawking led Kai to her workstation. As she had with me, she delighted him with her design. Staying a bit back, I watched the exchange with curiosity. Miss Hawking’s eyes almost never left Kai’s face as she hunted for a sign of approval. Kai rewarded her with a full smile which pleased her to no end…until Kai turned that smile on me.

  Forgetting himself once more, he said, “Elyse? Did you see? Isn’t it marvelous?”

  At once, Miss Hawking’s expression deflated.

  “I think Miss Hawking is the cleverest tinker I’ve ever met,” I said, linking my arm in hers, drawing Kai’s attention to her once more.

  Kai frowned a little, looking confused. He turned to her and nodded. “Indeed. It’s very remarkable, Miss Hawking.”

  “You’re very kind.”

  Kai pulled out his pocket watch. “I’m afraid the time is slipping away from us. I don’t want you to be late,” he said, turning to me.

  “I have a performance this morning,” I explained to Miss Hawking.

  She smiled. “Then let me see you both out.”

  We stopped a moment in the parlor to bid Maste
r Hawking farewell, Kai promising to return again in the evening to check on the patient.

  “Father, why doesn’t Doctor Murray come for dinner,” Miss Hawking suggested. “And Miss McKenna too, if you are free.”

  “Thank you. I’m sorry I must decline. I have an engagement at that time today,” Kai said.

  “Miss McKenna?”

  “I too must decline. I will be getting ready for a performance.”

  “They must have heard how terrible our cook is. Can’t blame them,” Master Hawking said with a smile. “Another time, another time. Come later, if you can. We’ll have a spot of brandy.”

  Kai nodded.

  I waved nicely to them, and then Kai and I headed back toward the Frost Fair.

  Kai held out his arm which I took.

  “You’re terrible,” I told him as we walked.

  “Terrible?” Kai asked, sounding truly alarmed. “How so?”

  “At being a bachelor.”

  Kai was quiet for a moment then said. “I’m afraid I miss your meaning.”

  “And that is the problem. I believe Miss Hawking is quite fond of you. Haven’t you noticed?”

  “Is she?” Kai asked, considering.

  “Well?

  “Well, what?”

  “And you? Do you have any…attachment to her?”

  Kai laughed. “Elyse. Seriously?”

  “Yes, seriously.”

  “She is very pretty. And very clever.”

  “So then?”

  “So then nothing.”

  “So, she is attractive and intelligent. And, I believe, you like and respect her father. You don’t find her a good match?”

  Kai was quiet. His reply was so long in coming that I was confounded.

  “Kai?” I asked.

  “I’m not interested in her. Now, stop playing faerie godmother. You’re not on the stage yet,” he said, his voice light with jest.

  “Bear,” I murmured.

  “Faerie,” he retorted, making me laugh. Suddenly, the knot that had lodged itself in my stomach untied.

  Chapter 7: Just Another Whirlwind

  We’d hardly reached the first of the Frost Fair tents when a boy came running up to us.

  “Doctor Murray?” he asked, his cheeks red, his breath forming a cloud of steam. I couldn’t help but notice his heavy accent. He wore a bearskin coat and cap. Dark, curling hair escaped from under his hat. His eyes were so deep brown that they seemed almost black.