Viridis - A Steampunk Romance

by Calista Taylor

  Seth stood, pushing his chair back and grabbing his hat. “That remains to be seen.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  William sat before his supervisor, Chief Inspector James Murdock, ready to explain his findings on the Hawthorne case. A week had passed since the night they had found Lord Hawthorne’s body, however, he now had what he believed to be an important clue. A break-in at Lord Hawthorne’s living quarters, not long after William himself had been there, only served to affirm his suspicion that the portable information module may have had something to do with the murder. Unfortunately, no one had seen or heard anything of the break-in, the event occurring during the depths of night.

  William sat forward in his chair. “Nothing in his files at work indicated anything out of the ordinary. I’ve questioned his family, his coworkers, his friends, and none know of anyone who would wish him harm.”

  “Surely, it must be a matter of a robbery gone bad. Was he not found in one of the less desirable neighborhoods?” Murdock flipped though the report, finding what he looking for. “Here it is. You said he’d met with someone at Viridis?”

  “Yes, that appears to be the case, however we still do not know the name of the man he met with. It appears that no one at Viridis had seen the man before, and when his friends and coworkers were questioned, they also knew of no one matching the description. However, if robbery was the motive, it is not a case of a chance encounter since his home was also a target days later.”

  “Well surely there must be something. A man of his class ends up dead and we’re looking like incompetents. Damn it, Thomas, do you have nothing? You’re just lucky the family want this dealt with quietly, and would rather it just be forgotten. Having their son murdered in some dark alley on his way back from a drug den, is not the type of attention a family of title wants. Either you figure this out quickly and quietly, or you let it be and move on to other things.”

  William nearly laughed at the thought of Viridis being a drug den of any sort, but he’d be damned if he would let the case go without exploring every clue offered him. “There is a woman who works at Viridis. It appears he may have had relations with the girl. Unfortunately, she has vanished, no trace of her to be had, but we’re still looking. In addition, there’s this. I believe it is what was being sought, when the break in occurred.” William reached into his case and pulled out the portable information module he had found in Niles’s quarters, carefully unwrapping it from the cloth he used to protect it.

  “Dear god, where on earth did you find that?” Murdock asked. His complexion paled, an unusual departure from its normal ruddiness.

  “I came across it when going through Lord Hawthorne’s living quarters. It looks like something Special Services would put together, but they are not exactly willing to just hand out that sort of information. Tried to call in a few favors, but even that did not work out.” William sat there looking at his superior, wondering. The man had barely taken his eyes off the smooth brass surface of the module. And though the etching on the case surface was beautifully done, William suspected it was not the reason for Murdock’s undivided attention. Finally, he said, “I do not suppose you would know anything about it, Sir?”

  Murdock’s eyes snapped up, crimson flushing his cheeks once again. “Find who murdered Hawthorne, or let it rest,” he snapped. “Now get back to work, Thomas.”

  With the module tucked securely under his arm, William hailed a coach to Viridis. He needed to speak with Seth Elliot, and he had a feeling Phoebe would know where to find him. It was clear there was a fondness and affection between them, one he was sure had garnered its share of talk in the parlor rooms of society.

  Quite frankly he admired Phoebe all the more for not playing their games. If she wasted her time taking society’s opinions into consideration, it’s doubtful she’d have managed to do even half the good she’d already accomplished.

  He found Phoebe at the front of the club, seeing to her customers and being seen. Being the proprietress and inventor of the herbal had boosted her popularity to that of celebrity, her natural charisma charming those around her.

  Though the first show of the evening had yet to start, there were plenty of patrons enjoying their evening meal. All around him, London’s elite laughed and dined, having shed their stiff and proper demeanors for a more relaxed state—one brought on by the Viridis, no doubt. Ladies sat closer to their gentlemen, and the gentlemen allowed their arms to linger over the shoulders of their companions, leaning in close to share secrets only couples could share— displays one would never see in public anywhere else. In another few hours, William suspected there wouldn’t be an empty table to be had, and not for the first time, he envied Phoebe her business sense.

  Phoebe greeted him with a genuine smile and a welcome, but he could see the tension around her eyes and mouth as she escorted him to an empty table, taking a seat across from him.

  “Is it Lilly? Have you found her?”

  “I wish I had news for you, but I have not been able to find her, though my constable is still looking. I did speak to her sister, Anne. She has not seen her since Lord Hawthorne’s murder, though it appears Lilly took what moneys they had saved, and has likely fled or gone into hiding.”

  Phoebe’s forehead lined with worry. “Her poor sister must be beside herself. I only wish there were something I could do to help.”

  “There may very well be. I’m afraid I must once again ask for your help. In fact, it is truly Mr. Elliott with whom I wish to speak, and was hoping you might aid me in my quest. Oddly enough I’ve had little luck finding his residence.”

  A sly smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Ah, yes. I’m afraid Mr. Elliott prefers to keep his home and workroom a bit of a secret. Not that I can really blame him, when you take into consideration his tinkerings. If you do not mind waiting, I believe he’ll be here soon enough.” She stood, and then said, “In the mean time, I do hope you’ll accept my offer of food and drink. I’ll send Seth to your table as soon he arrives.”

  “Thank you.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  With the front of the house now full, Phoebe wandered into The Sanctorum to make sure all was well with her best customers. She mingled for a while, taking the time to chat with a coy smile and kind words.

  She was just about to slip down the hallway to her office when Lord Victor Fenwick’s voice cut through the din of the club, freezing Phoebe to the spot. “Ah, there you are, my dear.”

  Her back stiffened, but she managed to force a pleasant smile before turning to meet him. “Lord Fenwick, how nice to see you here. I do trust you’re having yourself a pleasant evening?”

  His gaze shifted to mask his disappointment in her clipped tone. “My dear, I thought by now we’d be past such formalities and you’d be comfortable enough to address me by my given name.” He took a step closer, taking Phoebe’s hand in his and bringing it to his lips.

  “Yes, Victor, of course.” Though her jaw clenched with annoyance, her gut rolled with uneasiness.

  Victor was the last person she wanted to deal with, however, it would be a grave mistake to slight him in any way. Spending so much time at the club, she heard the rumors, and saw the wide berth and feared respect the other men gave him. He was powerful enough to make anyone’s life miserable, and vindictive enough to do it without a second thought.

  “Though a formal invitation will be sent, I wanted to ask you myself. Would you do me the great honor of attending the gala I will be hosting at my home? It would not be the same without your beauty gracing the event.” He brushed the back of his hand down her cheek, and Phoebe felt a tide of heat rise to her face. He had some audacity to take such liberties with her.

  Phoebe took a step back, away from his touch. “You’ll need to forgive me, but I’m afraid I’ll not be able to attend. Things are rather busy here and I’m not able to get away much.”

  “Nonsense! I insist.” He took another step towards her so that Phoebe was forced to take a step ba
ck, coming up against the wall as he loomed over her.

  Just then, Seth stepped up to her side, his eyes gleaming with a barely contained fury, his hands clenched into fists. “Phoebe, is there a problem here?”

  “Mr. Elliott. How nice of you to join us.” Victor spoke through clenched teeth and then turned back to Phoebe, ignoring Seth altogether. “It will not be the same without you, my dear. I insist upon your presence and will not take no for an answer. It promises to be a truly splendid affair.”

  Seth did not give her the opportunity to answer Victor. “I believe the lady said she will not be attending and is previously engaged. I did not think it a difficult thing to understand. If you’ll excuse us.”

  Victor stammered, his face going crimson. But before he could put together a coherent sentence, Seth led Phoebe away towards her office.

  With the door securely locked, Phoebe tried to contain the seed of dread that was rapidly growing into something that threatened to consume her. “It was truly unwise to make him look the fool. I fear you do not know what the man is capable of.”

  “Nor do I care. I will not have that brute intimidating ye into relations, just as I’ll certainly not have ye fearing him or what he may do if he’s angered or annoyed. Do ye hear me, Phoebe? Whatever delusions Victor harbors about you, end now.”

  She shook her head in worry. “Though I appreciate your concern, I would have handled matters myself. I’ve managed just fine in the past and am not in need of constant rescue.”

  Seth gave his head a shake. “Though I’d be tempted to break every bone in the man’s hand for touching ye like he did, this is not a case of simple jealousy, nor a case for whether or not you can care for yourself— for ye certainly are capable. But I’m a good judge of character, aye? And I’m telling ye, the man is an evil bastard. I want him nowhere near ye.”

  Taking her by the hand, he pulled her to him, and she stepped into his embrace, not wanting to argue. She rested her cheek over his heart, the tension she felt slowly melting as she relaxed in his arms. She pulled away just enough to look up at him, trying to set aside her worries. “Inspector Thomas is here and would like to speak with you, if you have a moment. He’s waiting for you in the theatre.”

  “Is there no news of Lilly?”

  She shook her head. “I’m afraid not. Although he did think she had left of her own accord.”

  “I’ll go speak with him, though I cannot imagine how I might be of help. Will you join me for dinner afterwards?”

  She gave him a knowing smile. They had been apart too long, and both wanted to make up for time lost now that they had mended their relationship. “I have some business to attend to, but will meet up with you when I have the chance.” He leaned in for a final kiss before turning to go.

  Phoebe pulled out her ledgers and sat down at her desk. Her reading glasses—which she abhorred— sat at the end of her nose, as she ran through last night’s sales figures.

  She had not been more than twenty minutes into her work when there was a knock at the door. She looked up to find Seth had popped his head into the room. “I hope you do not mind, my love, but Inspector Thomas has something he wants me to look at, and he thought it best to do so in private. I thought it unwise to disturb your customers by occupying a private room.”

  She waved Seth and William in, standing to greet them. Seth’s attention was already focused on William and the leather case he held, her own curiosity now piqued.

  Seth turned to William now that they were behind closed doors. “I must say I was a bit surprised to hear you were looking for me.”

  “To be honest, you were the first person I thought of. You see, I’ve come across a unique tinkering, but I’m not terribly familiar with its workings and have had a hard time garnering help from the appropriate sources. I’m afraid it could be key to my investigation.”

  “I would be happy to aid your investigation in any way I can. May I see the item?”

  Phoebe went to her desk and quickly closed her books and ledgers, clearing a spot for the tinkering. “You may work here at my desk, if you like.” She watched in anticipation as William reached into his case, and pulled out a fair sized rectangular object.

  “Thank you, Lady Hughes.” William placed it on Phoebe’s desk, and then removed the protective cloth to expose a square brass case about a foot long. He stepped aside and Seth immediately sat in the chair, his eyes wide with excitement and his focus on the tinkering complete. Unable to resist, Phoebe sidled up behind him for a better look, her manners forgotten as she hovered over his shoulder.

  Truly, it was a thing of beauty, its technology a tinkerer’s delight. The exterior casing was of polished brass etched in beautiful and intricate detail, a design inspired by a scene of the hunt. However, the true beauty lay not within these details, but within the casing itself.

  Lifting the top half of the casing, it cracked open on a well-oiled hinge to reveal an interior of extraordinary ingenuity. Numbers and letters sat aligned on small circular keys, covering the bottom half. The top half was made of a smooth glass panel, which reflected the light from Phoebe’s fireplace. Finding the winding knob, Seth pulled it out and cranked it rapidly for a few minutes, before finally pressing a shiny enameled red button. What had been a dark piece of glass now came to life with light. “Just amazing, aye? This is a little different to the ones I have seen in the past, but the concept should be similar. ‘Tis a device for storing information, not too different to a library with books of information. By using a code, information can be locked away and hidden from view.”

  “Fascinating.” William also hovered at Seth’s side to get a better look.

  Phoebe watched as Seth tapped away on the keys trying to access the information within, but with him shaking his head every few minutes, it was clear he was finding it difficult.

  Seth looked over his shoulder at William. “Whoever put this device together knew what they were doing. Its design is unique and I do not think it was made by any of the tinkerers I’m familiar with— makes me think it’s likely a tinkerer working for the Secret Service. The information has been protected to prevent access without the proper codes.”

  “You cannot access it then?” Disappointment crept into William’s voice.

  Seth smiled. “I did not say that, did I?” He turned back and started tapping away again. “It may take a little time, but I do not think it an impossible task— just a bit of a challenge.”

  Phoebe rested her hand on his shoulder, leaning in for a better look. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it. It really is something.”

  Though she really wasn’t a tinkerer herself, she had a keen appreciation of all that had gone into creating such a device. She knew Seth dreamed of a day when tinkerings would be commonplace, not only for the privileged but also for the common man, with the hope of improving people’s lives. So much could change with the proper technological advances— food and proper housing for the poor, an education for the uneducated, safe work conditions— the possibilities were limitless.

  Seth spent the next half hour tapping at the keyboard, his brows knitted in concentration as Phoebe and William looked on. Finally, Seth let out a frustrated sigh. “The protections on the device are quite advanced, and I’m afraid this will take some time to access.”

  William straightened himself upright. “I do not want to interrupt your evening, however the module is not something I can leave with you. I do hope you understand. Would it be possible to meet one day soon, to give you another look? Your help in the matter would truly be appreciated.”

  “Yes, of course. I’m sure time is of the essence. Would you like to meet me tomorrow?” Seth pressed the red button located above the enameled keys, and the glowing glass once again went dark. He then lowered the top half of the case, latching it closed.

  “Thank you so much for your time. It is truly appreciated.” William took the module Seth held up to him.

  “Here is my address,” Seth said, scribbling
it down on a piece of paper. “You appear to be a man of honor, so I ask you keep this in confidence. I’m sure you understand, given the work I do. Not only is it my home but also my workshop and where I house my tinkerings and my designs. It’s not that no one knows where I live, but the fewer the better.”

  “Yes, of course. You have my word. Lady Hughes, I will be sure to let you know if I hear anything else regarding Lily’s whereabouts. A good evening to you both.”

  ***

  Phoebe had barely closed the door behind William when Seth took her by the hand and pulled her into his arms. She could not help but smile at him. “Shall we watch the show and have a bite to eat?” She tried to ignore the skip in her heartbeat as their bodies touched, her hands resting on his chest.

  He leaned in and gave her a tease of a kiss. “I had a bit of Viridis earlier with William, and it’s doing a magnificent job. We could skip dinner and the show altogether, as far as I’m concerned.”

  “There will be plenty of time for that later,” she smiled. Then without waiting for an answer, she took his hand and led him to the theater.

  She headed for the circular booths located against the far wall. The lighting was dim, intimate, and the high curved back of the booth allowed one to still watch the show, but kept prying eyes from getting a good look at the occupants.

  Phoebe pressed a button on the side of the booth, and had the pleasure of watching Seth’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise as the table slid out and to the side. She couldn’t help but laugh. “I guess all that time together must have rubbed off just a little.”

  “It certainly appears to be the case.” He helped her into the booth, taking a seat next to her, as the table slid back into place with a small hiss of steam. The table legs were equipped with casters for ease of movement along a track, the pulley system powered by steam. This allowed the table to be moved in and out of position with just a touch of the button. Phoebe found there was nothing more infuriating than trying to slide in and out of a booth in the bustled gowns currently in fashion. Her design had remedied that problem.