“Allow me to pick up the thread from here and return to Milton’s work.” said Carrick. “As mademoiselle and I worked with Cordelia to determine whether the documents that Wayland had intended to sell to the French radicals were actually Milton’s work papers, we quickly realized that not only were there too many mathematical errors, but also the handwriting wasn’t quite right.”
He shook his head. “Wayland tried to imitate Milton’s style, but Milton had a very peculiar way of forming the lettera. However, Wayland was clever enough to add some scribbled notes in the margins—which was something that Milton often did—in order to make them look authentic. And one of the things he wrote suddenly jarred my memory!”
A note of rising excitement shaded Carrick’s voice. “It was simply the name of the professor who served as a mentor to Milton during our university days. They had remained good friends, and when I saw Haverstick’s name, it reminded me of a very odd thing he had said to me regarding Milton and his ability to recall information when we had dinner several months ago in Cambridge.”
He blew out his breath. “I knew you would think me crazy if I tried to explain, so I arranged to escape and follow my hunch. And sure enough, Professor Haverstick confirmed that Milton had told him about his eidetic memory and said that was why he always burned the work papers containing his best ideas after committing them to memory. That way, he could be absolutely sure that nobody knew about the revolutionary concepts he was exploring.”
“Good Lord, what a tale,” said McClellan. “But if Milton was such an idealist, why did he agree to work with Wheeler and Fenway on a venture that was funded by the British government, turnpike trusts, and private investors?”
Carrick considered the question for a long moment. “Because he thought the Bristol Road Project would benefit the working man, not just the wealthy. Milton assumed the motives behind the project were all for the higher good, and my guess is that made him even more aghast when he discovered the corruption, and the fact that his friend Wheeler and Fenway had created the bribery scheme and were reaping the profits.”
He hesitated and looked to Cordelia, who was blinking back tears, before continuing. “So he reneged on his deal, and when Wheeler couldn’t change Milton’s mind, he murdered him and stole his work papers and notebook.”
A sigh. “But the problem is, Milton’s scribbling book was just that—incomplete scribbles of vague ideas. The only complete plans for the momentous innovation were inside his head.”
“One thing puzzles me, Carrick,” mused Wrexford. “You said that you went to make one last effort to change Milton’s mind on the night of the murder because you knew he was going to meet with the French radicals at the Three Crowns Inn to turn over the papers explaining his innovation.”
“That’s what I thought.” Carrick made a wry face. “However, Mademoiselle Benoit subsequently learned that Jasper was going to offerhimself, rather than any papers. He intended to accompany them back to France.”
“Bloody hell,” said Henning, then rose to pour himself another glass of whisky. “So you’re saying that his momentous idea did indeed die with him.”
“His scribbling book offers some tantalizing clues,” answered Carrick. “But in truth, we really don’t know exactly what he was thinking.”
“Mathematics are key in understanding architectural principles regarding things like mass, weight, and structural strength,” piped up Madame Benoit. “But as we have all discovered, bridges are far more complicated. There are so many variables, and we really don’t understand all the permutations of how they come into play. We think Milton was very interested in vibrations and was studying the work of the German physicist Ernst Chladni, who experimented with vibration patterns in oscillating plates. His work showed practical promise in figuring out ways for stabilizing bridges. In fact, Napoleon took a great interest in the subject.”
“Indeed,” said Carrick. “In 1809, the French Academy of Sciences offered a prize for the mathematical explanation of what they called the elasticity problem, and Napoleon offered to give a kilogram of gold to the winner.”
“My friend Marie-Sophie Germain should have won—indeed, she is recognized as the leader in formulating a mathematical theory of elasticity, which has practical applications for bridge design,” said Mademoiselle Benoit. “However, the male judges decided there were small errors in her calculations.”
“My brain is now not only oscillating,” said the dowager faintly as she looked back and forth between the two bridge experts. “It is spinning in circles.”
Cordelia gave a sympathetic smile. “I, too, am having trouble following the technical explanations.”
“I am sorry,” apologized mademoiselle. “I get very excited about the subject. But enough of theory. Let’s just say I am confident that with Mademoiselle Germain’s help, Oliver and I can use Milton’s notes and our own creative thinking to pursue new and innovative ways to improve bridge design through mathematics.”
But may it happen without any more deaths and deceptions, thought Charlotte.
The sudden rustle of silk drew her back from her brooding. She looked up to see Mrs. Guppy rise from her seat on the sofa and move to the center of the room.
“If I may be permitted to summarize the practical aspects of what we have just heard . . .”
Charlotte signaled for her to go on.
“It seems fair to say that Jasper Milton was working on a number of possibly brilliant theories on how to revolutionize bridge design. But with his death, it will likely be some years before our scientific methods are advanced enough to prove whether any of them are correct.”
“Wheeler and Fenway’s greed has done much harm to Progress,” reflected Sheffield.
“Yes, we have just seen the dark side of scientific thinking and the quest to bring new and wondrous innovations to life,” responded Mrs. Guppy. “But allow me to offer a brighter development.” She fixed the earl with a smile. “Thanks to you, Lord Wrexford, and your sworn statement to Mr. Griffin and the Bow Street magistrate that Wheeler confessed to you about murdering Jasper Milton, Oliver Carrick has been exonerated and is no longer a fugitive from justice.”
Cordelia leaned over to give her cousin a hug.
“And I am delighted to announce to all of you that Mademoiselle Benoit, Carrick, and I have officially formed a company to design bridges. Together we have been working on technological innovations involving traditional methods and materials, and we believe we will improve transportation sooner rather than later. At the same time, Mademoiselle Benoit and Carrick will continue Milton’s exploration into using mathematics to develop revolutionary new design concepts.”
She smiled at the couple. “My two young colleagues possess just the sort of creative minds to lead our scientific thinking about bridges and bridge building into the future.”
So perhaps some real good has come out of tragedy, reflected Charlotte. The thought helped her breathe a little easier, though sadness still weighed on her heart.
“And now,” added Mrs. Guppy, “I imagine you have a great deal to discuss among yourselves, so the three of us will take our leave and give you some privacy.” A twinkle lit in her eyes. “Assuming we are free to go.”
