Part 30 (2/2)
Nothing.
d.a.m.n it.
Kesseley was furious. Why did Henrietta have to get hurt again?
She had left her chair and came to stand beside her father. His eyes seemed to lose focus, like he was receding into himself. She was whispering to him, holding his hand so tight her knuckles were white.
Van Heerlen brushed aside the a.s.sistant, who flung up his hands and gave Pond a disparaging eye. Van Heerlen used his persuasive powers on the man under the telescope. He flattened his palm at an angle to demonstrate what he needed.
The man removed himself from under the telescope and conferred with Pond. The Royal Astronomer considered.
Do it, man! Kesseley was beginning to share Van Heerlen's view of England's premier astronomer. Kesseley was beginning to share Van Heerlen's view of England's premier astronomer.
Pond flicked his wrist dismissively. The a.s.sistant, sensing his superior's disapproval, nervously s.h.i.+fted the angle of the telescope to Van Heerlen's specifications.
Still nothing. For thirty minutes, the beautiful instrument searched the skies.
Mr. Watson peered up beyond the telescope to the night sky, his eyes wide and desperate. Henrietta clung to him, murmuring soothing words. Her gaze drifted across the audience, finding Kesseley. He could see the tears r.i.m.m.i.n.g her eyes. She was trying so hard to be strong.
Van Heerlen reached to adjust the telescope himself, but Pond interceded. ”That will not be necessary. Might I remind you, the Royal Observatory is for the advancement of His Majesty's science, not the frivolities of amateurs.”
Van Heerlen's face whitened with rage. His voice was a constrained whisper. ”The planet is there. Our math supports it. Perhaps you English astronomers-”
”Is that what it is? The inferior English astronomers? Perhaps you can use your influence to better effect with the German astronomers. Good night, sir.”
Henrietta stepped forward, putting her hand on Mr. Pond's arm. ”Please try again. I'm sure the planet is there. I have checked the numbers myself.”
Pond smiled condescendingly. ”I am sure you have,” he said, as if he were talking to a child.
The audience snickered. They didn't know how close they were to being beaten to a b.l.o.o.d.y pulp.
”But they've worked so hard, perhaps a few more degrees,” she begged.
”As much as I like to please a lovely lady, I feel Mr. Van Heerlen has wasted my time, as usual. I beg you would excuse me-we must repair the telescope and close the ceiling.” He removed Henrietta's hand and strode from the room, leaving his a.s.sistants to do all the said ch.o.r.es.
Mr. Van Heerlen followed him out. Their heated exchange echoed up in the domed ceiling.
Her father's brows furrowed as if he were puzzled. ”Where is she?” he asked his daughter.
”Who?”
There was a small pause, then it seemed like her father mentally exploded. Words flew out of his mouth, incoherent numbers, terms, places. He flourished his hand about in the air as if he were writing.
Oh G.o.d! She looked for Kesseley, but she couldn't find him. Where was he? Was she alone?
Frantically, she searched inside herself to find some thread of strength, something she could hold to as she had to be the strongest she had ever been in her life.
The audience members began gathering their notebooks and other belongings, silent and embarra.s.sed. Careful not to watch her father go mad.
A firm, warm hand clasped her shoulder. Kesseley's familiar scent of apple and leather filled her nose.
”Come,” he whispered.
He took her father's arm, wrapped it around his shoulder and led him to the door. Papa shuffled like a feeble old man, his eyes vacant, as if he had retreated completely into his mind. He continued to mutter, having some fierce debate with an imaginary foe. He looked so old and broken. Would she lose him too?
Kesseley a.s.sisted her father through the courtyard to the entrance gate where his footman waited. He whistled to the man and ordered him to bring Henrietta's carriage. A single torchlight burned by the gate and the tree boughs shadowed the drive. He led Henrietta's father to a bench by the stone wall that ran the perimeter of the observatory. She sat next to her father and he slumped against her shoulder. She could feel his heartbeat pounding in his sagging body. His fingers quivered, still trying to write.
”She isn't in her place in heaven,” he said.
”Hush, Papa. You'll find that planet,” Henrietta quietly a.s.sured him, brus.h.i.+ng the loose hair from his eyes.
”I charted the entire sky to find Imogen again. She is lost in the heavens.”
Her throat tightened. She couldn't talk or cry, stuck in that suspended breathless state before one breaks down.
She felt Kesseley's hand on her shoulder. ”Henrietta,” he whispered.
”Don't touch her.” Mr. Van Heerlen had caught up. She could feel his anger as he glared at Kesseley. Kesseley stepped away, fading into the shadows under the arching branches.
”No-” she began, then fell silent.
Mr. Van Heerlen knelt before Henrietta's father and herself. Finding her hand, he squeezed it. His palm was warm, his voice rea.s.suring. ”We will take our case to Germany to real astronomers who will listen to reason, who recognize genius. Don't worry, our work will be heard by the world.”
Henrietta embraced Mr. Van Heerlen and cried, so grateful that he believed in her father. She was glad Mr. Van Heerlen had yelled at that contemptible Mr. Pond for calling her father an amateur, for caring so little about his life's work. Mr. Van Heerlen was right-English astronomers such as Mr. Pond were inferior.
”There now, Miss Watson,” he said soothingly, running his hand up and down her back. When she had collected herself, he rose.
”Come, Lord Kesseley,” he said darkly.
Henrietta interrupted. ”Mr. Van Heerlen, I'm indebted that Lord Kesseley came. Don't be angry.”
”Hush, dearest, don't upset yourself anymore.”
The two men walked a little way down the steep road running along the stone fence. She could just hear their terse voices, but couldn't make out the words for the rattle of their carriage rolling up the hill.
”Come, Papa,” she said, helping him into the carriage, then sitting beside him. He leaned his head against hers and curled his fingers in her hair. ”You're all I have,” he said, over and over.
Mr. Van Heerlen stepped up and swung into the seat. He handed Henrietta a flat rectangular box as the carriage lurched forward. ”This is your mother's necklace. Lord Kesseley won't be bothering you again.”
Henrietta peered out the window, but she couldn't see Kesseley in the darkness of the park.
Mr. Van Heerlen helped her father to his bed at The Green Man Inn and then procured some laudanum from the innkeeper. Her father drank it without protest, seeking relief from his relentless mind. Mr. Van Heerlen kissed Henrietta's cheek when he left, promising he would make everything better once they arrived in Germany.
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