The Hidden Man: A Phineas Starblower Adventure (Phineas Starblower Adventures) (36 page)

At least Mr. Howell and the chef had gotten back earlier than expected and were already loading the provisions. Although neither of them were happy that he sent Mr. Tanner to fetch the Colonel but they would get over it. I
am
the Captain, after all. Jerard issued a heavy sigh and got down one of the fine bottles of Scotch that seemed to be a trademark of this ship. He was just checking that the pair of glasses he found was clean when the expected knock on his cabin door sounded.

He opened it to a smiling Tanner and a somewhat annoyed Colonel. Carstares pushed past Tanner and demanded to know why he had been summoned like a lackey. Jerard ignored his out burst and smiled at the steward. “Mr. Tanner, if you would be so kind, I have further need of your assistance.”

“Of course Sir.” Tanner replied.

“In approximately 30 minutes, please ask Miss Smythe-Harris to join us here.”

“Very good Sir, will you be requiring anything else?” Tanner asked, purposely eyeing the two glasses in Jerard’s hand.

Catching the man’s hint Jerard laughed. “Yes, and a tray with Miss Smythe-Harris’ favorite libation.”

“Excellent Sir. I shall return in 30 minutes with Miss Smythe-Harris and refreshments.”

Jerard closed the door firmly and turned to the Colonel. “Sir, thank you for meeting me here and at this hour. I apologize that you felt summoned but I felt that my cabin would be the best place for this conversation.

“Oh?” Carstares replied dropping into one of the two chairs set at the end of Jerard’s bed.

Jerard did not reply, he just handed one of the glasses to Carstares and turned to take up the bottle of Scotch. Taking his time he poured a measure in his own glass and then poured for the Colonel. Jerard was determined to take control of this conversation from the very beginning and it would begin when he was ready. He set the bottle down on the chest between the chairs and sat in the vacant one. He raised his glass in salute to Carstares, muttered a faint “cheers” and took a sip. The Colonel raised a curious eyebrow and did the same. Jerard sat back in the chair and looked at Carstares for a long moment before he spoke.

“I have received a telegram from Mr. Starblower.”

“Well why didn’t you just say so man?” Carstares said setting his glass down with a thump and getting to his feet.

“Please sit down Colonel. There is much to discuss.”

“I would have rather thought there was much to
do
Captain Phillips. Do we pick up Starblower or not? Either way, you should be busy getting this ship in the air.”

Jerard leaned forward and set his own glass down sharply. He had been expecting something like this from Carstares and was ready. “
My
ship,
Sir
, will be refueled sometime in the next hour. At daybreak tomorrow we shall depart. As I said Colonel,
I have received my orders
. Now, if you will please resume your seat, I will be happy to relay them to you.

“Now see here Phillips, I am in charge of this mission...”

Jerard interrupted, “And I, Sir, am in charge of this ship.”

“That may be so Sir, but under the Crown…”

“Shut-up and sit down!” Jerard roared, leaping to his feet and facing down the irate Colonel.

“I beg your pardon!” Carstares shouted back.

“I think you heard me Sir.” Jerard replied calmly and smoothly resumed his own seat.

The Colonel raised his eyebrow again, and abruptly sat back down. “I see, the pup has a backbone. All right Phillips you’ve made your point. I am guessing from the Scotch and private meeting that I am not going to like what you’re about to say.” Carstares picked up his glass and took a long drink. “And, unless I miss my guess, the indomitable Miss. Smythe-Harris is not going to like it either.”

“I believe that to be true, Sir. Colonel, if we are to pull off what Mr. Starblower has suggested we must be willing to work as a team.”

“Go on. I find that I am anxious to hear this suggestion.”

"Mr. Starblower has been slightly injured during his expedition and will not be able to join us regardless of any one's wishes. While not entirely happy with the suggestion that he would become directly involved in our intrigue, Mr. Starblower conceded the idea of using his status to our advantage. He suggested that as he is not well known outside England..."

"The man’s damned near a recluse
in
England as well Captain," the Colonel snorted.

"...agreed Sir, but my employer pointed out that we might be able to, on this occasion, put that to our advantage."

"How so?"

"Were you aware that Mr. Starblower is about your own age Sir?" Jerard let the sentence hang in the air, waiting for the Colonel to make an obvious connection.

"Good God! He's not serious!" Carstares roared, as his eyes nearly popped from his face.

"Why not Sir? As you yourself just admitted his face is not well known outside, or even within, the Empire.” Jerard strove for a calm tone and even demeanor. If Starblower’s plan were to work then then this was the first hurdle. “Think about this Carstares,
you
know the intricacies of this mission. How much
more
useful will it be to you to frame our requests for aid directly to Gylendfeldt? This scenario completely removes the necessity of petitioning through a third party, one to which you'd have to explain what you needed at every turn?"

"The idea is preposterous Phillips!"

"Which is why it will hardly be expected by our foes and our friends alike. It has, as I can see it, only one real obstacle."

Carstares sat fuming in his chair. Brows furrowed as he considered the staggering proposal. Eventually he looked up. "What is the
sole
obstacle
you can see then Captain Phillips?" Sarcasm edged the disgruntled man's voice.

"Miss Smythe Harris. That's why I asked for you a full half hour before I asked to see her. Her aid in allowing you to pull off such a deception is mandatory. She has a seemingly encyclopedic knowledge of Mr. Starblower's holdings and appears to handle most of his business transactions, not to mention she has worked for him for years and knows the gentleman quite well.”

“Yes? Well I don’t see how that would be an obstacle, it seems to me that we have everything we need for me to pose as her…oh!” Carstares began to chuckle.

Jerard could not keep the smile from his own face nor squash the merriment in his voice. “Precisely Colonel,
her boss
.”

“Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!” Carstares exclaimed trying to stop laughing. “This is not going to go over well, not by a half! I really don’t think anyone could boss that woman around! This Starblower must be one amazing man, not to mention having the patience of a saint!” Carstares fished out his handkerchief and mopped at his brow. “I take it Sir that Mr. Starblower has left it to you to convince her to go along with this little intrigue?”

Jerard drained his glass before nodding solemnly. Oh please
,
Jerard prayed silently, watching the Colonel take all of this in, let him continue being the perfect gentleman. A stuffy and occasionally hide bound gentleman, but one none the less. They were both going to have to treat Tash with kid gloves for this to work, that is if Carstares agrees to go through with it.

“Alright Sir; I don’t see that we have any alternative here, do you?”

“No. So does this mean that you’ll do it?” Jerard asked, his face neutral while his thoughts silently begged the man’s cooperation.

Carstares picked up the bottle of Scotch and refilled his glass. Jerard held his up as well. When it was done Carstares raised his glass, “For Queen and Country!”

“For Queen and Country” Jerard repeated touching his glass to Carstares’, he was not able to squash the grateful sigh. He was, how ever, surprised that the Colonel repeated a seemingly identical sigh.

“God only knows I’ve done much more dangerous work but truly none a strange as this!”

Taking a good long pull from the glass Jerard fervently agreed.

“So Captain, how are we going to get Miss. Smythe-Harris to agree to this?”

"She is fiercely loyal to Mr. Starblower. I am hoping that when we explain that it is
his
wish that this be done she will agree; well, when she regains her composure at least…”

“At least.” Carstares repeated. He opened his mouth to put fourth a suggestion but was halted by a knock at the door. “A half hour already?” Carstares said as he pulled out his pocket watch and flipped it open. Phillips shrugged as Carstares said, “It's only now a quarter to, it’s been barely ten minutes since I sat down.”

“Come.” Jerard called.

The door swung open and in stepped Tash. “Why there you both are! I was looking for you.”

Both men hurriedly got to their feet, Jerard hated surprises and here she was doing it to him again. “Miss Smythe-Harris! What a lovely surprise, here, please take my seat.”

Mr. Tanner stuck his head through the door and made silent apology motions toward Jerard. He tried not to laugh at the man’s stricken face as he imagined Tash bearing down on him and demanding to know where the Captain and the Colonel were. Instead he just smiled and offered a nod of sympathy. “Mr. Tanner, would you be so kind as to bring Miss. Smythe-Harris some refreshment?”

“Oh no need Sir. I’ve had a bit to eat, and,” Tash eyed the bottle of Scotch, “I believe I will have what the gentlemen are having.”

Mr. Tanner’s eyes scanned the room before he raised an eyebrow at Jerard who shook his head. “Then madam, I shall bring some fresh glasses immediately!” He said and closed the door firmly behind his exit.

An uncomfortable silence invaded the room as Jerard and Carstares stood awkwardly watching Tash seat herself. The woman seemed completely oblivious as she smiled up at the gentlemen.

“Hmm,” she said, the polite smile turning slightly mischievous. “Oh dear, I believe I have interrupted something. You know, I just heard from the crew that we are taking off at dawn. I thought that was quite interesting.” Tash looked pointedly at Phillips.

Damn, damn and I’ll be thrice damned Jerard swore to himself. All hopes of taking control of this situation evaporated before his eyes and to make matters worse he felt himself blushing! “Yes, well...” he stammered and then cleared his throat. “I have received a telegram from Mr. Starblower.”

“Do be seated gentlemen; I am getting a crick in my neck from trying to see you.” Tash murmured, the small smile still playing about her lips.

The Colonel turned slightly away from Tash and rolled his eyes at Jerard, his mustaches were twitching with his effort not to smile. “Yes, well..” he began while taking his previous seat. “I caught the Captain in the hallway and he invited me in to tell me of a most interesting development. I did hear him instruct Mr. Tanner to fetch you madam to share the news. Don’t be cross with him, I pray you.”

Tash was prevented from replying by another knock at the door. Jerard turned and opened it to see Gopal.

“Come in man, your mistress is just there.” He said as he motioned with his chin towards Tash. “Oh, I see you’ve brought a glass, excellent!” And in a lower tone of voice he added, “I hope you brought one for yourself, you’re probably going to need it!”

Gopal raised an eyebrow in question and then raised his other hand to show that indeed he had brought two glasses. Jerard ushered him in and firmly closed the door.

Suddenly his spacious cabin seemed quite small with its current occupants, each looming large if not in body then certainly in personality. He did not pay any attention to Gopal’s greeting to Tash and Carstares; he was so focused on how to present the contents of that dratted telegram. So it was a bit of a surprise when Gopal handed him his glass. “Thank you.” He muttered. All eyes were focused on him, so he reckoned, it was time to begin, no use putting if off any longer. He grabbed his desk chair and turned it around backwards to straddle it and rest his arms on the back. Having the bit of wood, or what ever this chair was made of, between him and his audience gave him a small measure of comfort.

“Now, as I said a moment ago, I have received a telegram from Mr. Starblower. He informs me that he is currently at his hiking lodge resting his foot after a particularly arduous session on the Nigardsbreen glacier, as a result he is unable to accompany us. However he did suggest an alternate course of action that would gain us much the same advantage as having him along with us."

"I am not surprised at that in the least Captain. Mr Starblower is known for his astute mind." Tash commented.

"Indeed madam, astute if a trifle unconventional. He has directed that for the duration of this rescue we..." Phillips paused until he was sure to have her fullest attention "...I stress
we
madam, were to allow Colonel Robert Carstares here to assume the identity of Mr. Starblower so he may directly access Baron Gyldenfeldt without the need of a third party." Jerard took a long pause awaiting Tash's, no doubt, elevated reply.

Gopal covered his face and turned to the window rather than betray his reaction to the Captain's grave tone. Tash on the other hand merely took a sip of her drink before replying.

"I say that is quite a fabulous idea!" She declared gaily. "I wish I had thought to suggest it myself!"

Colonel Carstares stammered. "You agree madam? Just like that?"

Tash smiled sweetly at the discomforted man. "Well Colonel you must recall I am somewhat more used to my employer's whims and turn of thought. He is, as Captain Phillips so eloquently said 'unconventional' in his thinking. This has resulted in his fortune and fame over the last dozen years or so."

"So you do not object?!" Jerard stated incredulously. He had been expecting a long clash of wills, here.

"Well no, not as such Captain. Colonel, I assume you will need me at your side during any such public display to feed you correct information, especially if Starblower Company business questions arise?"

"Well in some cases that may be needed." The shocked Colonel allowed.

"Then I shall see if I can find an appropriate wardrobe for you directly Colonel" Tash declared rising to her feet. "Can I presume we are proceeding directly to Aalborg?"