“Yes, I do,” answered Charlotte.
Now she just had to prove it.
CHAPTER 11
There was an electricity in the air. Though the lecture wasn’t scheduled to begin for another hour, a crowd was already beginning to gather. Wrexford crossed the entrance hall of the Royal Institution, his boot heels clicking an impatient tattoo over the checkered marble tiles, and mounted the grand double staircase. Turning left at the first landing, he hurried past a pair of elderly gentlemen and made his way into the cavernous library.
Rising from floor to ceiling, carved wood bookshelves filled the walls, the row after row of leather-bound spines muting the buzz of scholarly conversation. The earl paused, scanning the faces of his fellow members . . .
“Wrexford, I’m surprised you’re here tonight, given your opinions of von Krementz’s scientific method.”
The earl turned. “I try to keep an open mind, Children. I’m willing to listen—and perhaps learn.”
John Children allowed a tiny smile to flit across his broad, bluntly chiseled face. A good friend of the famous chemist Humphry Davy, he had won acclaim for his own scientific studies—including the construction of the largest voltaic pileever built while performing experiments with electricity. “I have a feeling our guest will find it a difficult challenge to impress your intellect.”
Wrexford shrugged. “I don’t suffer fools gladly.”
“Science,” replied Children, “has no place for fools.”
“True. But that doesn’t stop them from filling our journals and lecture halls with utter drivel.”
Another smile. “Which again makes me wonder why you have come.”
Wrexford suddenly realized how fortuitous this chance encounter was. “Because one does occasionally manage to strike up an interesting conversation at gatherings such as these.”
“I would hope so, seeing as many of the leading thinkers in the country make up our membership.”
“Speaking of fools,” continued the earl, “are some of our young jackanapes taking their interest in electricity beyond the boundaries of serious scientific experiments?”
Children frowned. “What have you heard?”
“Nothing specific. Just a few things here and there that made me wonder. And as you’re earning accolades for your work in the field of electrical currents, I thought you would know if anyone is making mischief.”
“Not that I’m aware of. But then, my research keeps me busy in my own laboratory. I don’t participate in the meetings of our young members or offer guidance. So perhaps your question is better directed to . . .” Children paused to give a small wave at the library entrance. “Ah, here’s DeVere now. I hear he’s been generous in sharing his knowledge with them.”
The earl watched as a tall, silver-haired gentleman acknowledged Children’s gesture and made his way to join them.
“Wrexford,” murmured DeVere, after greeting Children. “What a surprise to see you here tonight. You’ve become a rare sight at our evening lectures. Indeed, I was beginning to think you had abandoned chemistry for biology.”
It was, conceded the earl, a mildly amusing quip, given hisinvolvement in the investigations of several lurid murders. But not quite deserving of DeVere’s self-satisfied smirk. The man tended to have a lofty concept of his own cleverness—and a fondness for the sound of his own voice.
However, his scientific work was first rate, so Wrexford held back a biting retort.
“I do hope you haven’t stumbled over another dead body recently,” added DeVere.
“I’m making every effort to tread more carefully these days,” he replied. “My valet dislikes it when I get bloodstains on my boots.”
“Forgive me,” said DeVere, his expression turning more sober. “I didn’t mean to jest about Ashton. He was a fine fellow and a brilliant man of science. He shall be sorely missed.”
“Yes.” The earl paused. “And it seems our august Institution has recently suffered the loss of another member.”
“Ah, yes.” A mournful sigh. “Lord Chittenden was a young man of remarkable potential. It was a terrible shock to hear of his demise.”
“Children was just telling me you served as a mentor to him and his friends.”
“You must mean the Eos Society,” replied DeVere. “A very interesting group of young men. So full of enthusiasm and curiosity.”
“Wrexford was wondering whether some of the fellows are a bittoocurious,” murmured Children as he signaled one of the waiters to bring over a tray of champagne. “He was asking whether they are playing with fire within our august walls.”
