All Men of Genius

XXIX.



VIOLET and her friends sat around a table at the Well-Seasoned Pig, drinking cheerfully. Violet settled back into her chair, feeling relaxed for the first time in a while. She was surrounded by friends, something she had never expected when she came up with her plan. But here she was, with Jack, Toby, Drew, Miriam, and even Fiona. She felt somehow warmer than she had before, and not from the fire or alcohol.

The past few weeks had not been so warm, as Violet had been too busy working. She was closer to completing her project than she expected to be at this point. She didn’t know why she spent all her time in the lab, working so furiously, so that her back ached and her eyes strained; why she spent her nights exploring the basement, or trying to figure out why the train wouldn’t run. She had lost some of the joy she had felt upon first coming to Illyria. The only time she felt truly at ease—even more so than she was here, with her friends—was when writing letters to the duke. It seemed that in that context she could be free, and truly herself, and have her ideas respected even though she was a woman. She would think over his ideas throughout the day while working, or now while drinking at the pub. And thoughts of his ideas often led to thoughts of him, of his eyes and lips, and made her feel like melted copper, bubbling liquid. She thought of him kissing her neck, and it made her sigh.

Fiona leaned over and whispered in her ear. “I know that look. If you need a particular device to help relieve certain urges, I can sell one to you.”

“What?” Violet asked, confused.

“Nothing,” Fiona said, shaking her head. Violet shrugged. She’d enjoyed having Fiona around lately. Socializing with another person who knew the truth was somehow a relief to her. Some nights, she thought of just telling Drew, Toby, and Miriam. She didn’t think they’d care a bit, but every time the urge came on, she bit her tongue. She just couldn’t be sure. Still, it would be nice. She hoped that when she finally revealed the truth, they would still be her friends. On nights like this, she didn’t want anything to change. She finished her ale and ordered another, and Jack clapped her on the back and smiled.

* * *



ADA finished her brandy at about the same time, and set the empty glass down on the card table in the professors’ lounge. Valentine refilled it for her. He had taken off his jacket and put it in the center of the table as part of his bet. Ada could tell he was hoping she might do likewise, but no amount of liquor was going to inspire that sort of behavior from her. Especially not in front of present company, which included Professor Prism, Ernest, and Cecily, who had insisted she be allowed to stay up to learn how to play poker, but was now curled up in an armchair, half-asleep.

Prism played with his glasses, and a blue lens fell over his left eye as he examined his cards. “You’re bluffing,” he told Valentine.

“What? Do your glasses let you see through the cards?” Valentine asked.

Prism scowled and laid his hand down. “Call,” he said.

Valentine was indeed bluffing, but it was Ada who won the hand. Ada always won the hand. She slipped Valentine’s jacket on over her gown. It fit surprisingly well, but then, Valentine did have a womanish figure. Valentine grinned and pushed some of his hair out of his face. Ada resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Instead she took the cards and put them in the reshuffling machine.

“Ada,” Ernest said, leaning back in his chair and taking a sip of wine, “do you happen to know where my father might have put the blueprints to the cellar?”

Ada dealt as she answered. “I didn’t think the cellar needed blueprints,” she said.

“Oh, it’s a maze down there,” Prism said, looking at his cards. “I once needed some supplies and went down there to search. I was lost for what seemed like hours. It was a wonder I made it out at all.”

Cecily stirred in her chair and made a slight snoring noise. Ada and the gentlemen looked over at her and exchanged glances, all resisting the urge to snicker.

“Cecily,” Ada called softly. “Cecily?” she said, louder this time.

Cecily sat up in the chair. “An ace, a king, a queen, a jack, and a ten, all of the same suit,” Cecily said.

Ada stifled a chuckle. “Perhaps you ought to retire, dear,” Ada said. Cecily looked around and blinked, then slowly got to her feet and headed for the door.

“What I really need,” Ernest continued, looking at his cards and frowning, “is a map of the cellar. Because of problems such as the one Prism just mentioned. I’ve been through all of Father’s things, but I cannot find any such map. I don’t know how I’m expected to keep things running smoothly when I don’t even know where to find supplies.”

Ada noticed Cecily stop in the doorway, then turn back slowly, thinking. “Cecily?” Ada asked. The gentlemen turned to look at Cecily, who was standing nervously in the doorway.

“A map of the cellar?” Cecily said carefully.

“Yes,” said Ernest, looking surprised. “You haven’t found one, have you?”

“Well,” Cecily said, stepping back into the room, “no.” She looked at her feet.

“So, then why—?” Ernest began.

“You must promise no one will be punished,” Cecily said.

“Punished?” Ernest asked. “Did a student steal something from the residence?”

“Oh no!” Cecily said, stepping forward, “nothing like that. It’s just … I was sworn to secrecy. So if I am to trust you, you must promise no one will get into trouble.”

“I promise, then,” Ernest said.

“Ashton and Jack,” Cecily said, “and some other students. They’ve been exploring the basement. And mapping it. Ashton has a map. It’s not finished, though.”

“They’ve been mapping it?” Ernest asked, unbelieving. “When?”

“After hours,” Cecily said softly.

Prism chuckled. “Very enterprising of them, really.”

“No one will be in trouble, right?” Cecily asked.

“No,” Ernest said, “no one will be in trouble. Thank you, Cecily. And good night.”

“Good night,” Cecily said, and kissed Ernest on the cheek before exiting the room.

“There’s the answer to your problem, then,” Valentine said. “A map, all prepared. Ideal situation, really. If it hadn’t turned out this way, I would have suggested sending the students down there to map it anyway. Let them crawl through the dust.”

“Ah, yes. Heaven forbid your jacket get any dust on it,” Prism said. “Although, if I had as much hair as you, I think I’d be more concerned about the cobwebs.”

Valentine shuddered.

“Gentlemen,” Ada said, “dealer takes two.”

The men turned their attention back to the game. Ernest smiled to himself. A map, already drawn! Of course, it was only really useful if they had marked the train on it. And if they had, they’d better have refrained from riding it. Those secrets, Ernest knew, were for him alone. Of course, now he’d have to talk to Ashton in private, which he’d been avoiding. It would be worth the awkwardness, though. Things were coming together quite well.

Ernest won the game, and Ada won the next two. Valentine had lost his tie and shirt by then, which everyone knew was completely inappropriate, but they’d all had quite a bit to drink, and social niceties seemed a long way off. Ernest stumbled to bed after Ada had retired and Prism and Valentine had gone home. He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

* * *



ADA’S lecture the next morning was as she said it would be: inspiring. She didn’t focus on any one topic, really, talking instead of her love of science. “Invention is Humanity’s Greatness,” she told the students, her own translation of the school’s motto, “and so is love. For invention is a sort of love. A love of the way things come together, of our ability to form wondrous new things. Two liquids that form a solid. Two pieces of metal that can move things ten times heavier than one piece could move alone. Don’t forget the love that goes into your work. Science without love is just pieces of metal, never bringing anything good to humanity. But invention with love is the best of us—our joy and our greatness—and we should not be afraid of greatness,” she finished. Though old, her voice had none of the tremble usually associated with the elderly. It was firm, and brought her conclusion down as solidly as a stone wall. Everyone applauded, and Ada looked pleased, bowing deeply while supporting herself on her cane.

By then, it was time for lunch, and everyone was hungry and filled with energy, so they tore through their meals before heading off to work on their individual projects.

Ada and Ernest sat alone in the dining hall with full bellies. “It really was a grand speech,” Ernest said.

“You’ve said that three times already,” Ada said. “But as I told you before, it was easy. No real content. Just some inspiration. Inspiration is easy enough, and important, though sometimes people forget it.”

“I’ve been very inspired lately,” Ernest said.

“Oh?” Ada said. “On your æthership?”

“Yes,” Ernest said. “I’ve been corresponding with another scientist, and I’ve found her insight to be … stimulating.”

“Her?” Ada asked.

“Ah. Yes. Ashton Adams’s sister, in fact. A lovely young woman. Violet.”

“And is she as brilliant as her brother?”

“More so, I’d guess. Though I haven’t seen much of Ashton’s work. She’s very brilliant.”

“Pity she can’t be a student here,” Ada said.

“Yes,” Ernest said, nodding. “Though, truthfully, she would be too much of a distraction. She’s quite lovely of person, as well as of mind.” He looked off at the wall, his thoughts somewhere else. Ada raised an eyebrow. “She doesn’t seem to care much for flowers, though,” he said, furrowing his brow. “What do I give a woman who doesn’t like flowers?”

“Give?” Ada asked.

“I … I looked at her brother’s file. They’re twins. Their birthday is the day before Easter. I thought I could send her a present, as a thanks for all the inspiration she’s given me.”

“That would be very generous of you,” Ada said carefully.

“But not flowers.”

“I’m sure you’ll think of something,” Ada said, standing. “I’m off to the reckoning lab,” she said. “Prism asked me to look over a new design of his.”

“Shall I escort you?” Ernest asked.

“Don’t be silly,” Ada said. “Besides, you’d best start work on that present if you want to finish it in time.”

“You think I should make her something?”

“Nothing captures a woman’s heart more than something well crafted.”

“Heart?” Ernest said. Ada chuckled and began walking across the dining hall, not looking back. Servants were cleaning up, walking to and fro, taking plates away, and mopping parts of the floor. Ernest ran to catch up with her. “We’ll walk together,” he said. “I need to go to the mechanical lab to speak to Mr. Adams about a map.” Ada took his arm.

* * *



VIOLET was hard at work in the lab, feeling relaxed and happy. She had received another letter from the duke that morning, in which he had called her brilliant. She had carried that word around with her all day, glowing with it. So when she looked up and saw the duke staring at her, she instantly blushed and looked away to hide her smile.

“Ashton,” the duke said, “may I have a word with you in the hall?” Ashton, she thought. Of course. He’s here to speak with Ashton. She nodded and went out into the hall. She saw Volio sneer at her as she left.

“Yes, sir?” she said when they stood outside the door. He took her arm and pulled her toward a darker part of the hall.

“Ashton. I … Well, first I should apologize for that incident that happened … it was a while ago, and it was quite inappropriate of me. And frankly, I had been thinking about someone else.”

“Oh,” Violet said. Her stomach felt suddenly heavy.

“I hope you’ll forgive me.”

“Nothing to forgive, sir,” Violet said, keeping her eyes on the ground.

“And there’s one other thing. I hope you won’t hold this against Cecily, but she told me about your evening forays into the cellar.” At this, Violet looked up, suddenly very worried. “Don’t worry,” the duke said, laying a hand on her shoulder, “you’re not going to be punished. The truth is, I have no map of the basement. So I was hoping I could borrow yours and copy it for myself.”

“Oh,” Violet said. “Of course, sir. I’m sorry for breaking the rules, sir.”

“Ah, you’re lucky,” the duke said. “For in this case, your breaking the rules works in my favor, and so I am inclined to say boys will be boys. If you give me the map.”

“Of course, sir. Now?”

“Yes, if you can.”

“It’s in my room, sir.”

“Well, then let’s head there, shall we?”

Violet was very aware of the duke’s nearness as they rode the lift together and walked down the hall to her room. She opened the door to it and looked around. She never left any clues to her identity out, but the place was still a bit messy.

“It’s not quite clean,” Violet said apologetically, opening the door all the way for the duke. She took a deep breath. Being alone in her bedroom with the duke made her skin feel warm and her scalp damp. She smiled at the duke. After all, she wasn’t a woman alone with a man. She was a student alone with his headmaster.

“Don’t worry about it,” the duke said, coming in. “If I didn’t have servants cleaning everything, my place would be much worse, I assure you.” He grinned and closed the door behind him. Oscar, seeing someone new, bounced out from under the bed and began sniffing the duke’s shoes.

“He’s a cute one,” the duke said, reaching down to pet Oscar.

“F*ck off!” Oscar said. The duke quickly retracted his hand.

“One of Jack’s experiments…,” Violet said, then opened her closet and reached up for the map. The duke came up behind her and saw what she was reaching for, then leaned over her and took it, their bodies nearly touching.

“Ah,” he said, “so this is it?” He unrolled the map. Violet nodded and closed the door behind her. The room was small and dimly lit, and suddenly very warm. “Amazing detail,” he said, examining it. “Is this a train?”

Violet nodded. “It doesn’t work, though,” she said.

“You tried it?”

“Yes,” Violet said. “I tried fixing it, too. But I haven’t gotten it to work.”

“You’d ride a train when you didn’t know where it would take you?”

“It’s a train,” she said with a shrug, as if that explained it.

In truth, Violet had worked on the train only a handful of times since they first spotted it. They had ventured into the basement more cautiously after that, fearing the marching machines, but hadn’t encountered them since. Toby had suggested that it was a fluke—that the automata rose up once a year to make their rounds, and that they’d just been unlucky enough to see it. Violet wasn’t sure, but she wanted to work on the train, so she decided to accept it.

“Well, you have to be careful,” the duke said. “I can’t take responsibility for what happens down there, and I’m sure your father would be very upset if he returned from America to find you injured.” Violet nodded.

The duke turned to go, but then stopped and turned back. “Mr. Adams … I should tell you. That is. I’ve been corresponding with your sister.”

“She told me, sir.”

“And I confess I have grown very fond of her … of the way her mind works.”

“I’m sure she’ll be pleased to hear that, sir.”

“When the school year is over, I was hoping to see more of her, if you catch my meaning.”

“Meaning?”

“I’d like to court your sister.”

“Oh.”

“But as you’re my student, I wouldn’t want to make anything awkward for you, so if you object—”

“No, not at all, sir.”

“Of course, you wouldn’t get any preferential treatment from me, either.”

“No, sir.” Violet was blushing violently and looking down. Her heart was pounding twice as loud as the gears. She could power that train with her heart.

“Well, good,” the duke said. “And thank you for the map. I shall copy it and return the original to you after Easter, if you don’t mind.”

“No, sir. You should be careful, though, if you plan to go down there. There are many creatures, and some seem quite violent.”

“All the more reason for students not to wander,” the duke said, pursing his lips. “But I’m sure I can handle it. Escaped experiments, old devices that cling to their mechanical lives—I’ve seen them all.”

“Of course, sir.”

“Thank you, then,” the duke said, and exited.

Violet leaned on the wall and pressed her hands to her face, feeling the warmth. Then, realizing she had not done so in a while, she breathed in deeply.

“Bend over so I can bugger your arse,” Oscar said.