Love Engineered (2 page)

“Not particularly, but the clay soil near the Tamar makes many standard designs unsuitable.”

She inclined her head. “Very interesting. And that is why yours was chosen above the others?”

“It was one of the main reasons, yes. But there were other aspects the panel liked too. It will hold a substantially larger amount of weight because of the height of the rungs and the specific type of steel.” He added with a gleam in his eye, “And I think they liked the shape of the towers.”

She gave a small laugh, then checked herself. She sounded like a flirtatious school girl. “I read your article in the Engineering Journal,” she said in a more serious tone. “The one about the railway tunnel under the Pennines. Do you think it will ever be done? I heard there is still much opposition from the locals.”

“You read the Engineering Journal?” A smile played on his lips and she noticed what a difference it made to his face.

“Oh yes,” she said. “I don't understand all of it, but I try my best. I wish sometimes that there was another journal, or a dictionary that explained the more complicated aspects of engineering, but then I suppose it's not written for people like me. I only seem to get the general idea of things most of the time.”

He nodded, not offering any other response. “Are you going to publish an article on your bridge design?” she asked, after an awkward pause.

“I haven't thought of it, but now that you mention it, I probably will.”

“Then I'll look forward to reading it.”

“I will make sure the bridge design is also printed.” Then he added, “So that you will not forget it and rely on your own sketches.” He twisted his head to look at her sketch.

“I apologise for my appalling artwork.” She blushed a little. “I have never been talented in the arts, and I have failed to do your design any justice.”

“It's no matter. I spent many hours drawing and perfecting my design, I wouldn't expect anyone to be able to copy it so quickly.” He leaned towards her and said quietly, “If the truth be known, I'm not a great artist either.”

She was grateful for his admission but simply smiled in return.

“Did you attend the lecture yesterday?” she asked.

“No, I had a prior appointment.”

Louise was about to comment on how awful she had found the lecture when they were interrupted.

“Ah, Louise, I thought you'd be here. I knew you couldn't resist a chance to hear Charles Lucas talk about his bridge.”

They both turned around to see a tall blond gentleman approaching. “Lord Philip!” she exclaimed. “I wondered when I would get to see you.”

They greeted each other with an affectionate kiss on the cheek. Mr Lucas retreated.

“I think you've frightened him off with all your questions,” Lord Philip whispered and looked over to the other side of the room where Mr Lucas now stood.

“I'm sure I don't know what you mean.” Louise commented. She watched Mr Lucas talking to a gentleman she concluded was probably his partner, Mr Ashton.

She sighed. “I had more questions for him too, and now he is gone! He didn't answer my questions about the tunnel either.” She shook her head. “Ah well, it seems I have lost my chance, but I do hope it wasn't out of offence at my queries. I would do anything rather than displease a man such as he. He is quite famous, you know.”

Philip offered his arm, and she took it. He led her to the door and before she left she took one last look at Mr Lucas.

“Robert Adams chose well to invest in his work,” she said.

“Indeed,” Philip replied and followed her gaze. “Robert Adams always chooses his investments carefully.”

The pair left the Institute and decided to walk about St James's Park to enjoy the last of the warm September sunshine. They made their way out to the more pleasing grass. Avoiding the pathways, they headed to where the ground was littered with the first fallen leaves, a hint of the autumn to come. A cool breeze rustled the brown and green of the landscaped trees. Louise looked around the park. London was so much more pleasant when the sun shined, and only half so oppressive.

“Why did you not come and see me sooner?” she asked in a playful tone. “I’ve been in London nearly four days.” She studied his face for a moment. His brown eyes had lines underneath them, but otherwise his features were not altered from the last time she had seen him.

Lord Philip gave a dismissive laugh. “Well, you know me, I’ve been busy, my dear cousin.”

“Doing what exactly?” she asked, looking at him with shrewd eyes.

He replied with a shrug and she knew he wouldn't answer even if she pressed the issue. Perhaps it was better not to know. Over the years she had heard many stories about her cousin's escapades; several of which involved widowed ladies of dubious reputation. But he was always the perfect gentleman to her and as one of her few blood relatives, she valued his advice and steadfast character. If she ever needed help, she knew he would do everything he could to assist.

“Our friendship is very one-sided, Philip,” she commented after a few minutes.

“My dear, you know it's best that we don't spend too much time together, otherwise people will start to talk,” he said in a dry tone.

“They do enough of that about you already without any encouragement. However much we say that we will never marry, someone is always saying we might or should. This strange notion that first cousins should wed has always been odd to me.”

“I suppose some like to keep their wealth in the family whatever the cost, but to me it's a peculiar idea.” He led her past the lake and they stopped for a moment and watched the swans.

“Sometimes I have the impression your mother would have us marry,” Louise said.

“She has mentioned it to me on more than one occasion, though I feel it was more a means to protect you than anything else. She first mentioned it when your father died.”

“Really? She means well, but you do a good job of protecting me without being my husband. I've always had this strange notion that you would continue to watch over me even if I were to marry.”

Philip gave a small incline of his head, indicating she was speaking the truth.

“How is my aunt?” she asked.

“She is in Edinburgh and in excellent health. She must be enjoying herself because I've heard little from her.”

“She certainly does know how to take pleasure in life.”

“And why not? She taught me well, after all.”

“Now I realise why my father didn't like me to spend too much time with her.”

Philip grinned and his eyes gleamed. “So what are the London gossips saying of me this year?”

“I'm not sure you'd like to know!” Her voice was playful. He prompted her to continue.

“Well, rumour has it that last week you danced twice with Miss Vine in the same evening, and now she expects your proposal at any moment.”

“Ha! Is that all! Miss Vine? Which one was she?” He stopped walking for a moment, turned to Louise and looked into the distance. “Oh yes, the pretty blonde one, just out, and desperate to impress. She thinks she can catch me, but she's wrong. She simpers and tries to get my attention like so many women. I find it all quite tiresome. If only they would realise I relish a challenge; they would improve their chances ten-fold.”

“Well I would only dance with Miss Vine once next time, if you do see her again,” Louise said with a note of seriousness.

“What? Are you jealous that I've never asked you to dance twice in the same evening?”

“You know I'd always refuse if you did.”

Philip gave a deep laugh. “Dear Louise, you do amuse me.”

They walked on. Louise was determined to try to keep Philip to herself at least for a short time.

“How is Glazebrook?” Philip asked. “I have been meaning to visit your estate again. It's been nearly a year since I've been there.”

“Everything is well. There will be a bumper harvest this year. I'm looking forward to returning.”

“You always look forward to going back. I wonder why you come to London at all.”

“It's true I prefer to live in Devon, but how could I resist these lectures? I have been looking forward to them for months.”

“How have you found them?”

“Today's was excellent. Yesterday's, however, was dreadful.”

After fifteen minutes of explanation of both lectures, Philip declared,“Enough of your engineering talk! I do not think I can stand any more. Please speak about something else.”

“Very well,” Louise laughed. “I will not mention engineering again, although you know how interesting I find such things.”

“Indeed, how can I forget the time when you were twelve and built your own bridge across the small stream at the bottom field at Glazebrook.”

“It was an excellent bridge, if not somewhat flimsy. I spent days constructing it. Well, the servants had to move the logs for me, but I added the handrail.” Louise grinned as she remembered it. It was a terrible construct and had fallen apart as soon as a storm came, but she was very proud of it at the time.

“Yes, a fine specimen of engineering it was. As I recall it was most unstable. You should explain the design to your Mr Lucas. Doubtless he will be impressed. Tell me, do you still keep those infernal miniature steam engines? And the workroom?”

“Of course.”

“I thought as much. I do believe that if you were to ever marry, you should marry an engineer. But don't expect me to come to dinner very often. Or if I do, sit me away from you both so I do not have to listen your conversations.” He spoke with a note of fondness in his voice. Louise was amused at the thought of Philip seated at one end of her grand dining table at Glazebrook and she at the other.

“You know I have not yet met a man I can marry.” She shook her head.

“Indeed, but surely one day you would like to provide an heir to your estate?”

“You wouldn't like to inherit it?”

“Certainly not. I have a big enough estate as it is, without yours. They are at opposite ends of the country too. Very inconvenient. I do hope you'll marry soon and not let me inherit. If you will do that for me, I would be much obliged.”

“Very well, but if I marry, you must too.”

“I will not. I have no desire to find some worthless female who simply wants a title.”

“Choice words Philip.” She shook a finger at him. “But one day you will find yourself in love and it will not be returned.”

“I hope you're correct,” he replied. “It will be what I deserve, I'm sure.”

Louise looked up and saw that they were outside her house. It was one of many in Grosvenor Crescent, an exclusive part of London where the streets were wide and clean. Trees lined the pavement at equal distances and added to the overall feeling of affluence. The houses, usually with four stories, looked small from the outside, but opened up inside. With the kitchens in the basement and servants’ quarters in the attic, there was ample space for the fashionable residents to live comfortably. Houses in this street were bought and sold at very inflated prices because of the prestige attached to them.

“When shall I see you again?” she asked with a playful smile, for she knew what the answer would be; it was always the same.

“I cannot say, but soon I'm sure.” He kissed her hand.

“I look forward to it. Whenever that might be.”

He let go of her hand, turned and made his way down the street. His steps were light and brisk. One of the things she liked the most about her friendship with Philip was its unpredictability. But even if she didn't see him again for a while, at least there was tomorrow's lecture to look forward to. Perhaps she might be lucky enough to see Charles Lucas again.

“It was very good of you to accompany me Jane, but there really was no need.” Charles Lucas handed his sister down from the cab. The horse's hooves clattered on the cobbled street as it waited, impatient to be moving again.

“I know, but I'm eager to see what sort of man Mr Bagshawe is.” Jane straightened her blue muslin dress and checked her bonnet.

He raised his eyebrows in query and closed the carriage door.

“I want to see what sort of man refused to give you an apprenticeship all those years ago,” she explained.

“I'm grateful for your loyalty, Jane, but you mustn't hold it against Mr Bagshawe. He probably saw my potential to be a better engineer than him and decided he couldn't let me out-do him. Besides, I did well with Mr Sanderson, didn't I? My career would have taken a much different turn if I had been accepted into Mr Bagshawe's employment, and I don't mean in a good way.”

“Is he that bad Charles?”

“Just wait and see.”

Charles held out his arm and his sister took it. They entered the auditorium of the Institution of Civil Engineers and found two of the last remaining seats near the back. He mused that it was certainly less fraught being an audience member than a speaker. Yesterday's lecture had made him somewhat edgy and nervous beforehand, though he hoped he had hidden his fears. It wasn't that he wasn't used to public speaking, it was just that being asked by the Institute was something he didn't wish to make a muddle of. It had all gone smoothly, and now he sat back and relaxed, glad that yesterday was over with.

Not long after they were seated, the lecture began. They had arrived late because Charles had been lost in his work. It was a common occurrence though Jane had been prepared and reminded him several times before they left home.

Charles took a long look around the place. It was mostly gentlemen, as expected. A few sat with ladies who were most likely their wives. A few rows in front, he saw the same fashionable lady who was present yesterday at his lecture; the one who asked so many questions, and even sketched his bridge. What was her name again? He wracked his brain for a few moments. Miss Thomas. That was it.

Her enthusiasm had amused him somewhat though he hadn't thought of her again until now. It was unusual for a person such as her to take such a keen interest in his work, though he was becoming well known as an engineer since winning the bridge competition. He hadn't been asked so many questions since the interview with the judges. Yesterday after the lecture, he had looked at her with amused wonder as she chatted to the man who interrupted them. Being asked such questions from such a smart lady was a new sensation. She seemed more knowledgeable about such things than any other he had met with, even his own sister.