“Adrian, I can feel a distance growing between us. I feel absolutely powerless to stop it. I have to perform my duties, but I only want to be with you.
Adrian kissed the top of her head, “I feel the same way. After everything that has happened, the last thing I want is to spend time away from you, but I have to finish this invention. If it was up to me, I would just throw the dad-blamed thing out the window.”
“No, my dearest. We both have obligations and when this Symposium is over, and things are finished, we can go home, and make up for lost time.” She lifted her head to gaze into his eyes.
“Perhaps, we can make our own little Teselym.” Adrian teased.
Wylie gasped, her cheeks reddening under his loving gaze, “Why Adrian, I think we are some time away from that.”
“That’s what you think.” He cast her a debonair smile and wiped away her tears. “I love my beautiful Dragon Lady.”
“And I love you, my Phoenix Lord.”
He bent down and kissed her lips, warming her all the way to her toes.
As she left the barn, she was so warmed through and through, she didn’t even feel the snow melting on her skin. She hated having to return to their room, but she and Adrian both had responsibilities, and for now she and Quincy would just have to tend to theirs.
Chapter Four
Adrian finished assembling the boiler and installed it on the back of the new carriage frame. This was the second carriage that had been made just for him as the other one had been destroyed in the barn fire that started when Wylie had killed Jacob.
“Well, that’s the main part, now I just need to assemble the rest of the pieces and get this up and running.” Adrian slipped off his work gloves and lay them on a table which he’d had specially built for the work on the carriage. Checking to make sure he had the key to the barn, he put away the tools he had been using.
“A few hours of shut-eye, and I should be able to assemble the last pieces on this dad-blamed thing, and get back to enjoying life with Wylie. Maybe we’ll even get to go home to London for Christmas after all.” He put the new chains around the door handles and secured them with the padlock.
Adrian knew one thing, he wanted their life back. He longed to return to their life as it was before they had come from London, and found out the new hired hand, Jacob, was worse than a Siapheg, and had tried to kill Adrian. He wanted life before his beloved Wylie had nearly died at the hands of the evil man. Normal… I just would love for things to be normal, he thought, but the moment he was in their room, and saw Wylie’s human form in its unmoving sleep state… he knew things would never be normal.
Professor Langdon Granger dismounted from the carriage, retrieving his bag from the luggage rack. He had decided to stay at the Octagon Inn until the business he had with Adrian was finished. Also, he found himself growing quite tired of traveling back and forth between New York City, and Oyster Bay to deal with various matters. The trip was too long and much too bumpy for his aging back, and it cost him a pretty penny every time. So, in an effort to save the two things that he liked to hoard the most, time and money, he decided staying at the inn would be his best option.
As he entered the inn, the servants greeted him, their voices trembling slightly as they ran off to perform their duties. He had not been kind to them the last time he had visited when he caught them mucking about, gossiping and goofing off.
“I don’t pay you to goof off and shirk your responsibilities! If you want continued employment here, I suggest you take your jobs seriously, or I’ll kick you out on the street so fast you’ll wonder how you got there,” he’d yelled at them. Today, however, he was pleased to see they were all hard at work, or at least appeared to be.
“You there,” he pointed at a lady on her way to the kitchen, “What’s your name?”
“Lottie, sir.”
“Lottie? I need you to run and fetch Lord McCollum for me. We have work to do.”
“Yes, Professor Granger sir.” Lottie hurried up the stairs, and Professor Granger hurried into the office that he knew Adrian had been using as of late. No matter, it was previously Professor Cornelius’s office, so Adrian could just move his stuff out and go back to where ever he had been working before.
No sooner had he sat down, and spread out his papers, than the door opened, and a very sleepy-eyed Adrian appeared.
“You called for me, sir?”
“Indeed, I did. Cancel your plans today. You and I have work to do,” Professor Granger snapped at him.
“Yes, sir. Right away. Any idea when we’ll be finished?” Adrian asked, meekly.
“When I say we are.”
“Very well, sir.” Adrian walked out of the office and disappeared for some time. Langdon assumed he was telling Mrs. McCollum, he wouldn’t be available for the rest of the day. Langdon didn’t feel the least bit sorry. Adrian was working on his time and getting paid handsomely for it. There was no reason for Adrian to be gallivanting around town with Mrs. McCollum, when there was work to be done.
It may not earn him any points with Lady McCollum, or Adrian, but that didn’t make Professor Granger feel bad in the slightest. I’m not there to make friends. I’m building a business. If it’s going to be successful, Adrian needs to be fully involved. If that means his wife suffers, then so be it.
“Wives, are foolish things, really.” Langdon said out loud as he looked over the numbers in front of him. It was a projection of financial goals for the upcoming year.
Adrian was indeed telling Wylie that he would be occupied with Professor Granger for the unforeseeable future.
“I don’t care, Adrian. The way that man works you, honestly… it’s atrocious. After this Symposium, we’re going home. I honestly don’t care what he has to say about it.”
“Wylie, my love, you know that Professor Granger won’t allow that to happen. I’ve work to do here, and he won’t stop pushing until the work is done. He’s even threatened to dock my pay.”
“What? That’s reprehensible!” she retorted.
“Indeed, but that is why I must do as he wishes, and when we’re done, we’ll go home and never look back.”
“But at what cost, Adrian?” she said pleadingly, trying to grab his hand before he slipped out the door. She was too late, one backwards glance, and he disappeared back downstairs to do the bidding of the new evil in her life, Professor Granger.
The door to the Professor’s office flew open, and Adrian walked in looking quite perturbed.
“Trouble with the missus?” Langdon snickered.
“Not at all, sir. Now, what do you need me to do?”
“Humph, well… this stack of papers needs to be filed in the appropriate places. Then I need you to match up the cost of the expenditures with the bank withdrawals. I’ve included the lists in there of all the components you requested, along with what was sent to me by Cornelius, when he was alive. I need those to match up for tax purposes and if we don’t do it now, it will be more time I’ll have to waste later. Once that’s complete, come back and see to me, so we can discuss what is needed to complete your Steam powered whatzit.”
“The Petford Pusher?”
“Not sure that’s a name that will stick, thinking of renaming it the Granger Pusher, hmmm… no that won’t work. The Langdon Pusher.” That brought a small gasp from Adrian. “Oh, you don’t like the idea?”
“No disrespect, sir, but it is my design.”
“And it is my money enabling the repairs, for the second time, might I remind you.”
Adrian shut his mouth then, not wanting to irritate Professor Granger even more.
“No further comments?”
Adrian didn’t say a word.
“Excellent, take that stack and do as you're told, we’ve plenty of other things to attend to today. We have about six weeks to get everything ready for the Symposium. I trust that your carriage will be up and running by then?”
“Absolutely, sir. It’s nearly finished now.”
“Excellent. Well, off you go. There’s plenty to be done.” Professor Granger shooed him out of the office.
“May I gather my things first?” Adrian had been using the office for his work, and schematics lay everywhere. Now he would be forced back into the little room he had been using before. The space was considerably smaller and didn’t allow him much space for walking when he was stuck on an idea and needed to get up and pace back and forth.
Langdon laughed as if Adrian had told him a joke,
“Why yes, I forgot you were using this room.” The look on his face told Adrian he hadn’t forgotten.
“No problem. An easy thing to do. I’m sure you’ve got a lot on your plate right now.” Adrian dared not let the sarcasm show in his tone, but he couldn’t help feeling a bit angry. Professor Granger was turning out to be the exact opposite of the very amiable, but very dead Professor Cornelius. He grabbed his things, and the stack of papers, then slipped out of what was now Professor Granger’s office, shutting the door behind him.
Chapter Five
Adrian was deep in thought as he left Langdon’s office. The difference between the two Professors was astounding. Just then, Lottie, one of the chambermaids, stopped him, taking him by surprise.
“I do beg your pardon, Lord McCollum, I was just wondering if there’s a chance you know when Professor Granger will be letting us go home for Christmas?”
“By ‘us,’ you mean?”
“Why, the staff of the inn, sir. Professor Cornelius always closed down the inn in December and allowed us all to return to our families for Christmas.”
“I’m so sorry Lottie, have you not been informed of the change of plans with the Symposium?”
“Yes, my Lord, was it not cancelled? Why would we need to remain if there will be no one here?”
“Lottie, I’m afraid it wasn’t cancelled. Professor Granger simply moved it to December. Were the wait staff and other servants not informed of the change?”
“Not a word, m’lord,” she stared down at the floor.
“I understand you were all looking forward to Christmas with your families, as was I. Let us carry on with our duties for now, and maybe the Professor will change his mind.” Adrian put his hand on her shoulder, to comfort her, but he could see tears forming in her eyes.
“You are very close to your family, aren’t you?”
She nodded. “I don’t have much family left, but my nephew, Joseph, isn’t well. My sister isn’t sure how much time he has left, and we wanted this to be a special Christmas for him.”
“What is it with you lot?” Professor Granger suddenly appeared at Adrian’s side as if he had materialized out of thin air.
“Professor! Where did you come from?” Adrian asked, startled.
You two were obviously so caught up in your petty little problems, you didn’t notice me. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Christmas is for romantics and sentimentalists. As for closing the inn, if you hope to have a job, or the income to afford Christmas at all, you will stop talking about this at once. Pass it along to anyone who doesn’t already know, this inn will not close, now or ever.
“If I am to continue paying your salaries, then the Octagon Inn must remain open year round. Honestly, I thought Cornelius had more sense than to close his business during the busiest time of year for travel. No wonder I was constantly having to dole out money for his expenditures. Luckily, his airship business seems to be growing by the day. Anyway, time is money and you two are wasting both.”
“Aye, Professor.” Lottie cast her eyes downward and scurried off to spread the news to the rest of the staff that no one would be going home if they intended to keep their jobs.
“Understood, Professor. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
“Yes, indeed,” he thrust a small stack of papers at Adrian, “Here are the financial figures for the airship business. Please go to the loading area in town where our airship docks and meet with Captain Silas Sparks. He’s due in any time now. You may inform him of Cornelius’s death and the fact that I will be running the company from now on. In that stack of papers, he’ll find his new employment contract. I need him to review it and sign it before he leaves again. If he has a problem with any part of it, tell him to meet with me here.”
“Yes, sir,” Adrian answered, then proceeded on to his office, where he dropped his personal stuff on the desk, grabbed his top hat and headed out. I hope I can get this all straightened out soon so that we can all be home for Christmas.
Wylie came down the stairs just in time to see her husband leaving by the front door. At the same time Professor Granger disappeared back into his office.
“Humph, I thought that was Adrian’s office?” She peeked around the corner of the stairwell, down another short hallway and saw that the door to Adrian’s former office was open and there were papers all over the desk.
“Excuse me, Professor?” She attempted to get his attention before he closed the door behind him.
“What is it Mrs. McCollum? Something I can assist you with?”
“Professor, I don’t mean to impose, but I’ve been meaning to ask you about December.”
“Ugh, not you too? What of it?”
“Professor, my husband has been working terribly hard for you. The Petford Pusher is nearly complete, and he continues to be at your beck and call. I’m asking you for a little leniency.”
“Leniency, m’Lady?”
“Yes, Professor. I’m asking you to allow us to return home for Christmas.”
“Lady McCollum,” the Professor raised his voice, “as I’ve told your husband, more than once, and I’ve told the staff… and anyone else who earns their income in this inn, Christmas is for romantics and sentimentalists. And I will have none of it. NONE, I say. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Professor. In that case, would you mind terribly if we celebrate here? Maybe a Christmas dinner for the staff and guests of the inn at the same time? Or maybe we could have a Christmas banquet during the symposium and give out gifts to the children who attend with their families?”
“Blast it woman! I’ll have none of that sort of nonsense! Get out, get out this instant!” Wylie jumped at his voice, which continued to rise, so without a word, she left the office. The Professor wasn’t sure, but he thought he heard her sobbing as she ran up the stairs.
“Poppycock and rubbish, giving gifts to the children who attend with their families. I suppose they expect me to fund the whole blasted affair? Never, I’ll never agree to it.” With that, the Professor went back to work, scribbling furiously on some papers on his desk.
Chapter Six
Having completed a full day of work, Professor Granger tucked his papers into filing drawers, grabbed his long trench coat he wore only during the winter months, and closed the office door behind him.
“Lottie!” he shouted across the inn.
“Sir?” she came swiftly from the direction of the kitchen, her face tight with worry.
“I need you to show me to Professor Cornelius’ bedroom.”
“Sir, I mean no disrespect. But is there a reason why?”
“Because I intend to sleep there, not that it’s any concern of yours. I’m tired of going back and forth to the city. It’s a nuisance, and a waste of time.”
“Aye, sir. Come this way.”
Professor Granger didn’t take kindly to being questioned about anything, and her impertinence left him with a sour taste in his mouth. Lottie led him around by the back stairs, past Adrian’s office and through a hallway that led all the way to the kitchen. Just before the kitchen, she stopped and turned left, pulling a key from her apron and handing it to him.
“Here’s the key for this room, sir. I’ve been holding on to it, because we only just got his clothes and other personal belongings out a few days ago.”
“Fine, fine… that’s fine.” The Professor sounded extremely irritated. “If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to tuck in for the night.”
“
Very well, sir. There is a bell if you find yourself in need of anything throughout the night.”
He grunted at her, went inside and slammed the door. Lottie scurried away like a little house mouse that had been spotted by an extremely wicked cat, and she didn’t look back until she was safe in the kitchen.
When Professor Granger was sure that the girl had gone, he turned on the light, let out an exasperated breath, and dropped his bag on the bed. The first thing he needed was a bath. He needed time to think, and a nice hot bath was usually where he did his best thinking.
“Good thing they cleaned the room, I’d rather not have any reminders of Cornelius,.” he said out loud, mainly to cut through the silence of the room. Walking into the bathroom, he laid his night clothes on an ornate rocking chair in one corner, and put his shaving tools in the sink cabinet. Casting a glance at his reflection on the mirror, he noted how bloodshot his eyes were and the dark circles beneath them.
“Humph. The stress I’m under is starting to show.” Langdon raised a hand to his face to try to smooth the bags under his eyes. He frowned when it did nothing for his appearance.
He turned the water on in the tub, making sure the temperature was just right before he started taking off his layers of clothes.
“How dare they ask for time off? How dare they ask me to shut down the inn for Christmas? Christmas, the busiest holiday of the year, Cornelius told me that much. Why would he shut it down then?” He crossed the room back to the mirror and asked again, “why did you close down the inn every Christmas? You cost me money!” he yelled out to no one.
Then, he nearly had a heart attack as his face disappeared from the mirror, and was replaced by the face of Professor Cornelius. Langdon shook his head in bewilderment, and blinked his eyes, sure he must be dreaming, or hallucinating.
A Steampunk Christmas Carol: (The Dracosinum Tales) Page 3
