Free Steampunk Holmes: Legacy of the Nautilus by P.C. Martin Page B

legacy at all costs, and rebuild the submarine myself. I had his fortune at my disposal, but it was only after long and arduous research that I traced the thieves, and discovered where the plans were secreted. You may well imagine my surprise and chagrin when I discovered that the man who had overseen and executed the so-called salvage mission for the British Navy was none other than the brother of Miss Valentine.”
    “You knew her already, then?” Holmes asked.
    “Indeed, sir, I did, for she attended a Young Ladies' Academy in Berlin, and we had often met at lectures and concerts. We had long been friends.”
    “Not only friends,” said Holmes, narrowing his eyes. “You were engaged by that time, were you not?”
    “I don't see how you could have known, Mr Holmes,” said our interlocutor, a flush extending over his swarthy face. “I suppose it is no use denying that we became engaged in secret some time before.”
    “Why in secret?” queried Holmes. “Surely you had no reason at the time to conceal your feelings for one another?”
    “Victoria was a vivacious girl, very full of life, and very young. She loved me, but did not want to marry so soon, and desired that our engagement be kept a secret in order to avoid the society conventions imposed upon a woman who is engaged. For my part, I was content with her promise, and did not wish to hamper her high spirits with a premature public pledge.”
    “I see. Pray continue your most interesting narrative.”
    “You can understand my confusion at that time, Mr Holmes. I knew not whether she had any part in her brother's affairs, or even any knowledge of them; how could I trust this girl, who was so dear to me and yet so near a relation to one who must needs become my sworn foe? Such thoughts were utterly unworthy of her, I knew, but in my distress, my heart was torn between my love and my doubts. Even if she knew nothing of her brother's doings, how could I exact revenge upon one of her own kin, and yet retain her love? I struggled for a long while, though I attempted to conceal my thoughts from her.
    “She is an intuitive soul, however, and having guessed that something troubled me deeply, she begged me to confide in her. At last I yielded to her insistence, and told her all that I had discovered. Then it was, Mr Holmes, that I regretted my previous mistrust. So sympathetic was she, and so moved in heart over the calamity that had befallen my family, at the hand of her brother, that she swore to assist me in any way she could to right the wrong that had been done me, even if it meant renouncing her own flesh and blood. Ah, words cannot describe the great load that was lifted from my spirit when I beheld her pain on my behalf. We were glad then that we had never openly associated ourselves with one another, as that gave us greater freedom to work together unhindered.
    “As soon as her term at the Ladies' Academy ended, she returned to England, and set about trying to discover how the plans might be recovered. Her brother was most reticent and protective about his work, and never allowed her into his confidence, though she exerted all her womanly and sisterly influence to gain any information which might assist us in our plans.
    “There was, however, a young man in the employ of her brother, who assiduously courted her whenever they chanced to meet. So dedicated was Victoria to my cause, she condescended, at great cost to her pride and even our future happiness, to become engaged to this man, Cadbury, for she believed it to be the surest way of getting at the Engine cards which contained the Nautilus' plans. Her loyalty, self-sacrifice, and pure nobility of character endeared her to me all the more; I have no doubt she would have seen through the marriage to the fellow, and stayed true to him—though she did not love him in the least—if it had been necessary in order to help me regain my lost heritage. A finer woman never walked the earth, Mr.