Read Online Nell Gwynne's On Land and At Sea by Kage Baker, Kathleen Bartholomew - Free Book Online Page B

your new lenses can now see along the beam of the Aetheric Transmitter. It’s almost a pity to have to tell him I didn’t make them that well. Though perhaps I’ll let him think we are watching him, and so prevent crumbs from dropping into the Transmitter.”
    “Boys’ll be boys. No matter how big they are,” said Mrs. Corvey. “And most of the Gentlemen have taken French Leave, it seems. But we have something far too large and odd going on here for my girls to handle—especially on holiday!—and I need advice and decisions. Pardon my bluntness, Mr. Felmouth, but have you made a submarine boat for the Gentlemen?”
    “What a…novel inquiry, Mrs. Corvey. Hmmm, hmmm. Ah, let me say: not yet ,” came his cautious reply.
    “Someone has beat you to it, then. We have eye-witnesses—including my eyes, Mr. Felmouth, and you know what they can do, none better. My girls have seen the thing, and even on holiday they see what’s there,” said Mrs. Corvey. “Now, listen: we have a dozen or so Talbotype prints, too, and they show that it’s underwater, under power—probably steam—and possibly armed with a cannon. And if it’s not the Gentlemen, then we have the culprit as well, and he’s not a lad what I would trust with a borrowed dinghy, let alone a submarine boat! He’s an American named Pickett, half-cocked at the best of times, and he’s stock-piling munitions and has hired a foundryman and taken a house commanding the cliffs. Now I want someone to do something about this!”
    “Good heavens,” said Mr. Felmouth. “Surely you’ve reported this—this developing situation?”
    “Repeatedly. And I’ve been told to watch and report, what I have done, and you can find the reports on file somewhere under Harvey’s tea mug, I’ve no doubt. What I need now is someone to come take over before Mr. Pickett declares war on France. The man is mad to defend the Queen, and he’ll invent an enemy if he has to.” Mrs. Corvey gave a sharp nod at the Transmitter, then said in closing, “Can you be of assistance, Mr. Felmouth?”
    “I hardly know. The Field branch is—well, they are all in the field, you see, and I know it’s quite a scramble over there at the moment, which is probably why they did not act with alacrity on a, a domestic situation…” Mr. Felmouth’s distracted voice trailed off a moment, then resumed with new firmness. “But I certainly know upon whom to call, and how to hurry this through channels, Mrs. Corvey, and please rest assured I will! Can you leave the Transmitter up, with someone monitoring it for my reply? I shall have an answer for you this evening.”
    Miss Rendlesham, still in the window seat reading her novel, raised a hand to volunteer. Mrs. Corvey and Mr. Felmouth closed with mutual courtesies and some haste, and Lady Beatrice set the Transmitter to its holding setting.
    “And now,” announced Dora brightly, “it’s time for our tea! Imagining that poor boy clutching his bun all alone, so far away…”
    “Oh, don’t,” said Maude. “I don’t want to think of poor boys clutching anything! We’re on holiday.”
    “Such as it is,” said Mrs. Corvey. “Well, girls, two or three of you go down and fetch us up with a good solid tea. We’ll eat en suite while we wait to find out what else we have to do. I fancy something toasted today, I think.”
     

     
    Sardines on toast went far to restore Mrs. Corvey to her usual calm; her lenses stopped their nervous whirring in and out, which was always a sure sign she was in a temper. A plate of local mushrooms and cheese thrilled Mrs. Otley, and the others were happily confronted with an array of muffins, cold meats and warm breads. Three kinds of tea and copious cream reduced Dora, Jane and Maude to a cat-like somnolence, and even the other Ladies to a quiet content.
    But Miss Rendlesham, now reclining at her ease on the chaise beside the end table that housed the Transmitter, was immediately ready when it chimed three times