The Hidden Man: A Phineas Starblower Adventure (Phineas Starblower Adventures) (2 page)

“Madam, I come from Her Majesty with an urgent matter of security for the Empire.” Mansfield flexed his hands into fists before continuing. “I am not comfortable discussing the details with…a…with….ah...”

“With… ah? I am not sure of what you mean Lord Mansfield. Perhaps you could tell me your problem and I can send a telegram to Mr. Starblower? Of course I am not sure of exactly when he will receive it, but it can be waiting in his lodge for when he returns.” Tash moved to behind the desk and sat down. Taking up the new fangled pen and pulling out a fresh piece of paper; she looked expectantly at Mansfield.

“Please Miss Smythe-Harris, I do not wish to offend you but this matter is rather…ah…barbaric. And I fear it may distress your delicate sensibilities.”

It was all Tash could do to keep from snorting in a rather un-ladylike manner. God what a self-important bore! She thought. This one is worse than the typical specimens she usually had to endure. No matter, the phrase “security for the Empire” had certainly piqued her interest so Tash politely inclined her head before speaking.

“I thank you for your consideration of my person M’lord Mansfield it is very gentlemanly of you. However, I am Mr. Starblower’s
personal
secretary and I am capable of handling his business when he is not available. Please, know that whatever you impart to me will be passed on to Mr. Starblower in the strictest of confidence and as expediently as possible. Pray, take a seat M’lord.”

Mansfield fidgeted and then reluctantly sat on the edge of one of the two leather wing chairs facing the desk. His sigh of resignation was probably louder than he intended. “Yes…well you see madam, it is like this…” he began.

Abruptly the door opened and Gopal entered with the tea tray. Tash hastily stood and moved quickly to take the tray and whispered, “Leave the door ajar, I would have you hear this.” She risked a wink at Gopal knowing that her back was fully to Mansfield. Gopal’s nod was barely perceptible but enough that Tash knew he would honor her request.

“Mem-sahib, I shall be in the kitchens if you have further requirement of me.” Gopal said out loud, and with a bow he was gone.

Tash carefully balanced the laden tea tray on the small table between the leather wing chairs . She picked up the pot and asked, “Sugar, Lord Mansfield?”

Mansfield had been watching Gopal closely and seemed to relax once he had gone. “Yes please but only one and a spot of milk as well. Thank you, madam.”

The tea poured, Tash settled herself comfortably into the other chair beside Mansfield. “We now have privacy M’lord. Please, what is this urgent and barbaric matter?”

Mansfield drained the tea and set the cup back on the tray. He leaned forward and studied Tash’s face; his action bordered on rude. “Madam, the information I am about to impart to you must remain in the strictest confidence. I hope in revealing it to you, you will understand the urgency in reaching Mr. Starblower.”

“I understand M’lord. Please proceed.”

“Very well then. A rather important personage, a scientist to wit, has been…abducted…kidnapped you see. This gentleman, one Dr. Everard Nordstrom was working on a project for Her Majesty.” Tash could not stop her eyes from widening and Mansfield did not miss it. “Ah, I see you have heard of Dr. Nordstrom, might I inquire as to how?”

“Of course M’lord.” Tash inclined her head to give herself a moment to collect her thoughts. “I am acquainted with Millie, Millicent Nordstrom, his daughter. We are friends.” The last was said quietly.

“I am sorry Miss Smythe-Harris, I had no idea you would have a personal stake in this.”

“Neither did I M’lord.” Now it was Tash’s turn to lay her cup aside and lean forward. Her soft blue eyes had hardened into a cold diamond-like stare. “Please continue.”

Mansfield seemed somewhat taken aback by the complete change in demeanor, never the less he seemed to approve and did indeed continue. “Dr. Nordstrom was abducted from the steps in front of the Royal Society where he had been presenting his paper on the benefits of refined petroleum.”

“Yes,” Tash interrupted. “I am familiar with Dr. Nordstrom’s work
and
its implications, particularly where airships are concerned.”

Mansfield raised an eyebrow. “I see.”

“And are
you
aware Sir, that his daughter Millicent works closely with her father in his research?”

“Yes, well, we have been made aware of Miss Nordstrom’s unusual hobby.”

This time Tash did snort. “Well then, can you assure me that Miss Nordstrom is safe?”

“Yes madam, Miss Nordstrom is indeed safe and is residing in a location that I cannot disclose to you at this time.”

“Yes, yes, of course.” Tash impatiently waved away the “cannot disclose to you at this time” part of the man’s comment and stood with a rustle of skirts. She took several steps away from Mansfield and abruptly turned back. “What are
your
qualifications here Mansfield,” she demanded.

“Now see here miss!” Mansfield stood as well, his anger plain at her abrupt address.

Tash held up a hand. “Please Lord Mansfield, forgive me, I have forgotten my manners in my…distress.” Tash dropped a deep curtsy and chafed at the social mores she was held to as a woman. Damn, damn, damn she thought, I have to knowtow to this pig if I want any more information!

“That is quite alright m’dear.” Mansfield said gently. “I understand that this has been quite a shock for you. I hope you can now understand my urgency to reach Mr. Starblower.”

“Actually, no I can’t Lord Mansfield.” Tash quashed her desire to pace and took her place in the chair again holding her hands stiffly in her lap. “Please continue so that when I finally reach Mr. Starblower I can give him exacting details. This is what he expects of me in my rôle as his secretary.”

Mansfield reached over and softly patted her clasped hands. “That’s a good girl! Yes, let us focus on what we need from Mr. Starblower. You asked for my credentials, I am in the service of Her Majesty and I am here at Her Authority. I am the lead investigator in the Nordstrom case. Do you need to take notes m’dear?”

“Yes, that is a good idea M’Lord, a moment please.” Tash got up and went behind the desk again. She fervently hoped that he would mistake her clenched teeth for something other than the anger she felt. Pat my hand like I am a child! Boorish prig, she had him pegged right from the beginning. “I am ready Sir, please proceed.”

Mansfield sat back in his chair and nodded, his kindly smile made Tash want to slap him silly. He then pulled a small leather bound notebook from his pocket. “Now then, the facts. Dr. Nordstrom was abducted from the steps of the Royal Society at approximately half past two on June 3rd. There were three witnesses, one of whom is Dr. Nordstrom’s close associate.”

“That would be Richard Parker.” Tash interrupted and then quickly covered her gaff by scribbling furiously at the paper in front of her.

“Uh, yes Dr. Parker. How did you…?”

“Forgive me Sir. As I said I personally know the Nordstroms and I have met Dr. Parker on several occasions. When you said close associate I assumed it would be Rich…Dr. Parker. Please, go on.”

Mansfield studied Tash a moment more before returning to his notebook. “Yes, well Dr. Parker told us that he and Dr. Nordstrom were just leaving the Royal Society and had noted the presence of a horseless carriage parked on the street. It was at that moment that two men jumped out of said vehicle and grabbed Dr. Nordstrom and dragged him into the carriage and drove off. Dr. Parker and many of the fellows leaving the Society at that time were so shocked that they failed to note any helpful detail. Dr. Parker believes that one of the men had blond hair but that was the only description he could give us at that time.”

“Umm.” Tash agreed continuing to take notes.

“Yes well, Dr. Parker immediately summoned the local constable and returned inside the building to inform Lord James Clerk Maxwell, the most senior member of the Society attending Dr. Nordstrom’s lecture. Who then sent an urgent message to Number Ten Downing Street. My men and I were on the scene immediately.” Mansfield cleared his throat and gestured politely toward the teapot. “May I?”

Tash looked up. “Oh! Forgive me.” She started to rise.

“No, no, please sit back down. There is much more to tell. May I pour for you as well?”

“Yes, thank you.” Tash slowly sat back down, Mansfields’ esteem rising in her eyes it was not often a man offered to pour for a woman. She accepted the luke-warm cup with a brief nod of thanks.

Mansfield returned to his chair and retrieved his notebook from where it had fallen to the floor. “Ah, yes, here we are.” He mumbled before looking up at Tash again. “As I said, my men and I were on the scene within the hour. In conjunction with the local constabulary we carefully questioned everyone who was present. The only description of the perpetrators we were able to obtain is that one was blond and not wearing a hat and the other was wearing a hat pulled firmly down so as to obscure his hair color and features. Both men were of a medium height and both wearing dark greatcoats, dark trousers, dark gloves and dark shoes.” Mansfield sighed and looked up. “I believe you get the idea.”

“Greatcoats. You said
great coats
, in the middle of June?” Tash tapped the pen she had been playing with against her lips.

Mansfield nodded briskly. “Very astute. Yes, greatcoats. Meaning this was obviously a planned and carefully executed act. Not the work of petty criminals and certainly not a spur of the moment notion.

“So what of the horseless carriage? They’re
not
so common; surly the passing of such an unusual machine did not go unnoticed?”

“Right again. We were able to question several witnesses who saw the machine speeding down the street. In fact just two days later our mystery vehicle was sighted in Nottingham. It looked as if our abductors were heading north. Unfortunately no one appears to have seen or made note of the occupants.”

Tash dropped the pen on the desk, sat up reached for her tea. “So, you have nothing?”

“Oh I would not say
that
madam.” He paused taking a sip from his own cup before continuing. “How much do you know about Nordstrom’s work?”

“Quite a bit actually, we have been working with Beardmore and Co. to affect certain modifications to some of his engine designs to make use of this new ‘petroleum’. Mansfield opened his mouth but Tash held up her hand. “Please, I could go into detail but it would bore you senseless, just let me say that our work too has been for the crown.”

Mansfield nodded and produced a pencil to scribble a few notes in his book. Tash felt pretty certain that he would be checking up on the information she had just given him. Wouldn’t you? She asked herself.

Mansfield took another minute to flip through a few more pages before looking up. “So, you are aware then, that Germany is under the opinion that Nordstrom’s discovery belongs to them?”

Tash rolled her eyes. “Yes I am, and right ridiculous it is too! They are claiming that Dr. Nordstrom is continuing the work of his father who began his research in Germany before immigrating to England. For god’s sake! They don’t have a legal leg to stand on! Everard was born on English soil to a lawfully married English lady. Besides, if you know anything of the family Evy’s work is based on the fact that his father was wrong. He took the research in an entirely different direction.”

“You are correct again madam.” Mansfield sat looking at her, expecting her to say more.

A full minute of silence passed before Tash made the connection. “Oh! You believe it was the
Germans
that kidnapped Dr. Nordstrom? You can’t possibly be serious?”

“I'm afraid I am. Unfortunately the kidnapping of famous personages is not unusual in this day and age. Furthermore there is one thing all of these kidnappings have in common. There is always a demand note for money. And in this case it has been over a week and no one has received one of these demand letters.”

Tash sat back in her chair, toying with the fountain pen again; a thoughtful look on her face. Over a week? How could I not have heard about this? The distressing thought that she had been too immersed in work caused her to frown. “Do you have any evidence Sir that this may be a political abduction?”

“Possibly.”

Tash eyed Mansfield but remained silent. He flipped through more pages of the little notebook, the crisp sound of the paper seemed to echo in the silence.

“The evening before Dr. Nordstrom left Scotland, to come to London for his lecture, his house was broken into. The Doctor and his daughter had arrived home from having dinner out and surprised a man going through Nordstrom’s office. Apparently the man cursed them in German and made a curious statement that translated roughly as “For the Fatherland!”

“Furthermore, the Scottish constabulary, god bless their souls, were able to identify and trace the perpetrator to the coast where they discovered that he had paid an outrageous sum of money to a fishing vessel to take him across to Norway.”

“Good work.” Tash murmured.

Mansfield seemed to be warming to the subject and forgetting that Tash was a woman, he continued with genuine enthusiasm. “There is a bit more. Apparently the crew of the fishing vessel claimed they were unaware that the man was wanted.”

Tash snorted.

“My sentiments exactly. They were however persuaded to part with another bit of information. It seems that this same man….where is his name….ah...Erlich. This Erlich fellow had also booked passage with this same fisherman to take three more men from Aberdeen to Norway ten days later. Precautions were taken and the fishing boat was being watched.”

Mansfield took a sip of his cold tea and carefully placed the cup on the desk’s edge. “Now then, to step back a moment, if I may. When we received a reliable report of the horseless carriage having been sited in Nottingham we immediately telegraphed all of the port authorities in England. It appeared that our kidnappers might be attempting to remove Dr. Nordstrom from the country. The good Doctor’s description, along with what small information we had on his abductors was circulated.”