by Giles
“Oh excellent! Another of your fox hunting phrases, I must try this sport as it inspires such visual euphemisms. Never the less, I shall proceed. My ship was on loan to my nephew. One odious little creature by the name of Reinhardt. He is my wife’s sister’s son, thank God that I am not blood related to the little...ah well, you get the picture. It appears that he has made friends with the Prussians, yet another reason to loathe his worthless hide. Did you know that my wife’s family lands lay in the occupied area of Southern Denmark Mr.. Starblower?”
“No Sir, I did not.” Carstares replied evenly. “I was speculating over the conundrum of you, of all people, actually lending a hand to such an odious Prussian plot.”
Gyldenfelt slammed his hand down on little table at his side. The cup rattled on its saucer before falling over with the force of the blow. “I course I could not!” The Baron thundered. “How dare you intimate that I...”
Gopal had come alive from his calm stance and took several silent steps forward. Catching the motion over Gyldenfelt’s shoulder Tash gave her protector a tiny shake of the head, no. With a nod that he understood, he faded back and resumed his position.
“Please!” Carstares interrupted. “My apologies my Lord. That was poor phrasing on my part, what I was trying to say is that I did not believe that one of your stature and honor would ever assist in a kidnapping. If you would, my good Sir, tell us of your discoveries.”
The Baron nodded abruptly and only appeared slightly mollified at Carstares’ words. “As I was saying, my wife’s family’s holdings were illegally seized by the Prussians some years ago. Master Reinhardt came to me recently stating he had a scheme to re-establish some of the family influence in the province. The inference was, that once re-established he would press for the people to resist the occupying forces of Imperialist Prussia. To this end he needed the ship to visit some of his supporters, he said, to make what he called arrangements.”
The LensBaron sat back in his chair and again tugged at his beard. “Well I was skeptical but as it was for family I elected to let the young man have his chance and loaned him the ship. The Dagmar is one of three private yacht’s I own. I rarely use them myself, instead I often loan them to certain individuals that have done me a good turn. On occasion I may use one to entertain certain guests, away from my private estates, and prying eyes. I assumed Reinhardt needed her for similar reasons.
“But no! I find he has repaid my kindness by this flagrant collusion with the enemy. It has just become clear to me that his maneuvering was not for the good of the enslaved folk of the Schelwig province; but merely for his own aggrandizement. I believe he had a part in orchestrating the kidnapping of your friend Dr. Nordstrom. It is clearly an effort to impress his Prussian leash keepers, and in so doing gain their approval for his restoration to the family seat.”
“My delay in meeting with you involved confirming where the Dagmar is at this point in time, and making some arrangements. I need to stop the family fool from ruining the rest of us and I need to regain some of my personal honor. I would not have others believe, as you yourself did, that I had a hand in this...this offense.”
“I do understand Baron....” Carstares attempted to interject.
“You do? Good then, I shall require your help and the use of your airship.”
“Wha...?” Carstares began.
“Oh don’t look so shocked man. What I plan will help us both. The Dagmar is currently berthed in Copenhagen. We can use your ship to fly there immediately, yes?
Tash coughed politely. “Well we certainly could my Lord. But what makes you think that your nephew will still be with the ship and Dr. Nordstrom still be in his custody?”
“My nephew,” the Baron said with acid contempt, “told me he planned to attend the opera ‘Der Thurm zu Babel’ at the end of his voyage. So I gave him my invitation. I was invited of course, but I would never attend anything staged by the cursed Prussians, even one supposedly to bring our peoples together, bah! I realise now that he will be using the cover of this cultural event to transfer his victim to his paymasters. It is now obvious the lengths he will go to stuff his nose up the back sides of the Prussians!” In exasperation Gyldenfeldt rapped his knuckles on the side table once more.
“Good Lord!” Carstares exclaimed.
“Now, I plan to attend the opera tomorrow night! Provided you can fly me there immediately Mr.. Starblower. I will face my family’s traitor in person and denounce him before his puppet-masters and the Danish court. My nephew is a worm and with two men such as ourselves before him, we will break him. He will publicly be disgraced, the Prussian's duplicity exposed and you will get your friend back.”
“How will we be able to attend My Lord without your invitation?” Tash stated levelly trying to see if the man had really thought things through in his bluster and outrage.
“I do not need tickets, the box is my permanent possession as a LensBaron of Denmark, madam.” He growled back “The Prussians had to invite me as LensBaron, to their insipid event but no doubt never dreamed I would arrive. My presence will shock and discomfort them I have no doubt. I can leverage that to obtain the audience we will require for our denouncement of Reinhardt.”
Carstares stared open mouthed at the LensBaron and seemed to be having trouble with the fact that a pat plan for the immediate future was being laid before him. Taking advantage of the moment, Tash asserted herself again. “Oh Sir! That is a masterful plan!”
“Thank you madam.” The LensBaron replied smugly.
“But Sir, you did not really answer the second part of my question.”
“What do you mean?”
“How do you know that Dr. Nordstrom will still be in Copenhagen? Might your nephew have already passed him off into Prussian hands?”
For the briefest moment the LensBaron narrowed his eyes at Tash. It was only a flash of an expression before he continued in a somewhat jovial tone of voice.
“Ah well madam, I can excuse your ignorance of our country. Copenhagen is the capital city of Denmark. The Prussians would not dare to take possession of a kidnapped person so openly in enemy territory. No my dear, I have a theory. I think that they may be planning to ensconce Dr. Nordstrom within the visiting Prussian opera troop. After all, they are in Danish territory for this one night of the performance. The troop is to travel to Hamburg next, as I understand it. And Hamburg as you might know is most firmly in Hanoverian territory. The Hanoverians and the Prussians have been in bed together since the invention of the bed, everyone knows that.”
Tash gritted her teeth, she did not need this pompous ass to tell her about the boiling politics in Europe. The present turmoil was the reason that there were few Starblower holdings on the Continent. Excuse her ignorance? The man really was being an odious little troll, but it would not do to make her feelings obvious at this point. So, she took a deep breath and smiled her best simpering smile at the LensBaron.
“Oh Baron! Once again you have amazed me. I know the flight to Copenhagen will be a small one but I do hope I will have the opportunity to entertain you. If you will allow me to sit at your elbow for just a short while I am sure that my view of the world can be much expanded.”
Carstares had picked up his tea cup and was attempting to drink. He had to hide his amusement over the condescending way the Baron was speaking to Tash lest he burst out laughing. But when she spouted that last bit of drivel it was his undoing. He snorted into his tea cup and received a face full of tea that sent him coughing and sputtering.
Tash leapt to her feet, napkin in hand. “Oh Sir! Are you alright?” She exclaimed in alarm. Carefully moving her body between Carstares and the Baron. She leaned in close and whispered, “Be serious or I shall stuff this napkin down your throat! And I am already coming up with a valid explanation of why I did it!”
Carstares carefully reached up and took the napkin from her hand. “Thank you my dear. I think I am quite alright now. Your concern for an old man is touching. And you are quite correc
t one should always drink one’s tea as opposed to inhaling it. Sit down dear Theodosia, I am quite alright.”
“You frightened me Sir.” Tash said primly.
“Not as much as you frightened me.” Carstares replied softly. And was rewarded with a sharp little heel driven into his foot as the woman returned to her seat.
Carstares coughed again to cover his wince of pain. “I’m sorry about that Baron. I think your plan is brilliant. When did y’say this grand opera is playing?”
“Tomorrow night Sir.” Gyldenfelt replied curtly. “An thus the need to arrive promptly.”
“I see. Theodosia how long would y’say the flight to Copenhagen will be from here?”
“A little over two hours Sir, it is a hundred and fifty miles to Copenhagen as the crow flies. Is that not so Baron Gyldenfeldt?”
The Baron cocked his head to the side, thinking. After a moment he nodded briefly. “I think you are correct madam. I believe it is approximately two-hundred and fifty miles by rail and a hundred and seventy by sea. So you are telling me Starblower that we can be there over twice as fast as taking a steam ship?”
“Indeed Sir. I believe this would suit your purpose well Baron.”
“Our purpose Sir, our purpose.” Gyldenfeldt emphasized, fingering his goatee. “Mr. Starblower, it will take a few hours before my retinue is ready to leave. I assume this marvelous ship of yours can fly at night?”
“If need be Sir. The Soul of Discretion has the finest crew ever to set foot into the air and the best of everything else too. Though...” Carstares looked at Tash with a shrewd expression. “...I think a daylight flight tomorrow morning would be more prudent as the distance is so short. Please understand M’lord Gyldenfeldt, my crew and I have been in hot pursuit for some days now and I would like to give them this night to rest. Might I suggest you and your retinue come aboard this evening and get settled in. I shall be honored to entertain you for dinner in my modest little suite; we have a most amazing chef. I think you shall be right at home.”
“I shall look forward to it Mr.. Starblower.” Gyldenfeldt got to his feet, satisfaction coating him like honey.
“As do I Sir, as do I.” Carstares rose also and held out a hand to Tash. “Come my dear, we’ve a lot to do.”
The LensBaron executed a graceful bow, despite his bulk. “I shall send Svend in immediately to finish our arrangements. Until this evening Sir, Madam.”
Carstares returned the bow. “Until this evening” He repeated and then turned to Gopal. “Gopal can you see to things here with Master Anderson? I shall escort Miss Smythe-Harris back to the ship.”
“Of course Sir.” Gopal replied smoothly, his facial expression never changed as he watched a footman escort Tash and Carstares to the door.
The pair remained quiet on the short walk across the courtyard and to the street; each engaged in their own thoughts. It was Carstares who spoke first once they had actually crossed the street and stood on the jetty proper.
“Well, what did you think of all that? I find it so disconcerting when one is planning and thinking of one thing and suddenly you discover it is something else entirely.”
“Disconcerting...yes.” Tash muttered absently. She seemed to be looking everywhere at once, her attention was definitely not on Carstares.
Carstares raised a shaggy eyebrow, disconcerting indeed. He had expected to find the woman all full of vim and vigor, and ready to explode. This quiet thoughtful Tash was a bit on the frightening side. Perhaps she was remaining silent due to the fact that quite a large crowd had gathered on the docks to get a better look at the airship. Some enterprising vendor had even brought a food cart to serve the onlookers.
He was just wondering if the sight of an airship always caused this kind of commotion when he was startled by the sound of a brass band starting up behind him. Turning he spied the performers marching towards them. That in itself was not nearly as amazing as what followed the band. It looked for all the world as if a local tavern had exploded into the street, complete with men and women carrying large trays of beer tankards. The crowd on the docks moved into the street to join the impromptu party.
Tash’s laughter just added to Carstares’ amazement as he dragged his attention away from the tableau. He looked at the woman and saw that she was unfastening the top buttons of her jacket. His mouth fell open as she yanked free from around her neck the green scarf she was wearing. “Madam?...” He began, wondering if the whole world had just gone mad.
“Signal flag.” Tash replied shaking the folds out of the rather large piece of fabric. “How did you think we were going to get the ship back down here?” The woman began whirling the flag in a large circle above her head. And indeed it was only moments later before Carstares could discern the Discretion slowly lowering back to its former place on the jetty.
The Colonel chuckled. “I guess it is lucky that the people cleared out so they could land.”
“Lucky?” Tash laughed out loud. “Not luck, did you not see Mr. Howell snuggled up to that rather attractive serving woman? I am sure he is the author of this...distraction. Although this is over the top even for him! I need to review his salary, for I am certain as of this moment, that I am not paying him nearly enough.”
Carstares just shook his head, he now had his confirmation that indeed they were all mad. He offered his arm to Tash and they strolled down the jetty toward the nearly grounded airship. They arrived at the ship when the gondola was still a foot off the ground. Captain Phillips was waiting in the open doorway.
“Come quickly.” He exclaimed. “They see we are down and they are already coming back.” He leaned out and grabbed Tash around the waist, lifting her off the ground. Setting her down beside him he next reached a hand out for the Colonel. “Let’s go!” Jerard shouted over his shoulder barely giving Carstares time to leap into the gondola. Jerard got the door closed and was not surprised when the head of an enterprising youth popped up to get a look in the door’s window. “Well then!” Jerard laughed. “It looks like I owe Mr. Nichols some money.”
“How so?” Tash said, joining the Captain in his laughter.
“He warned me and then bet me that you madam and the amazing Jon Howell would know just how to handle the crowd.”
“Oh dear Captain, I deduce that you bet against us. I shall have to speak to Mr. Nichols about taking candy from babies.”
“Please do Miss Smythe-Harris, I fear that I may be the next baby he has a go at.” Carstares quipped, digging his elbow into the Captain’s side.
“I must say though, I did not expect the huge crowd of look-sees.” Jerard said, his tone more serious. “Lance said that this reaction is common to setting the ship down close to a town of any size.”
“That’s true Captain, we once nearly caused a riot in Switzerland. That was when we learned our lesson and developed our little signal flag routine. I usually prefer leaving the ship in the HLC so it is easier to communicate with the speaking grills. That just was not an option this time.” Tash said, shaking out the flag and beginning to fold it. “May I assume Jon and the rest of the boys have the HLC on the ground?”
“Yes, that was when...” Jerard’s mouth fell open. “Good God! What has happened to your neck?”
Tash’s hand quickly flew to her neck. She had forgotten to rebutton the jacket’s high collar.
Jerard and Carstares stepped toward her at once. Jerard gently moved her hand away and looked her in the eye before speaking.
“Madam, I know healing burns when I see them. I don't recall you having any such injury when we first met.”
“You know Captain,” Carstares joined in bending to peer at Tash’s neck. “They look more like artillery burns to me. But I have never seen a burn in such a perfect stripe pattern. Miss Smythe-Harris if you could please explain?”
“She could but she probably won’t.” Nichols said from the door of the bridge. His voice was only a shade harder than the expression on his face.
Tash took the oppor
tunity to back away from the men and to begin buttoning up her collar.
“Tash, don’t.” Nichols commanded but continued in a softer tone. “The time for modesty is past. You need to leave that collar open to let yourself heal.” Lance moved to put his arm around her shoulders and gently kissed her on the top of the head. He murmured something that neither Phillips nor Carstares could hear but they did see her nod and caught the look of gratitude she gave the chief engineer.
Jerard had to make a conscious decision to be a gentleman, so he did not further his questioning on this matter. But he did vow to himself that he would have this story out and he would have it before the sun set. At this point he did not care if it came from Nichols or Tash, instinct told him it would be Nichols. And instinct further told him that it had something to do with the Discretion. Clearing his throat he addressed Carstares. “Tell me Sir, how did it go?”
Carstares realized that he had been staring at Tash’s throat and quickly turned to Jerard. “Not what we were expecting Captain, no, not what we were expecting at all. I’m afraid you’re in for quite a tale.”
“The Captain and I need to remain on or close to the bridge.” Nichols interrupted. “Might I suggest we go to our stations there and make ourselves comfortable? I can have Tanner bring us up some tea.”
“That’s a wonderful idea Lance, although after the afternoon that the Colonel and I have had, I think we will skip the tea and proceed directly to the Scotch.” Tash smiled, back in control again. She sailed gracefully through the bridge door and before the gentlemen could take a step the sound glasses clinking could be heard.
6:55 Pm
Captain Cabin
Aalborg Harbour
Jerard reflected on the day’s events as he dressed for dinner. Paulo must be working magic again he thought as delicious smells worked their way under his door and caused his stomach to rumble. The truth be told, he was tired and would rather have taken his meal right here in his own company. With a sigh he finished knotting his tie and took a last look at his reflection. “Let’s go old man, can’t keep our guests waiting.” He told the mirror before turning away and retrieving his cap from the desk.