Isabella meets Richard

Dr Jekyll had received a letter from a
gentleman of small fortune in Lancashire, which he had been trying not to think
about for some days. 
The writer was an enthusiast in science and
began with great compliments about the Society, saying he believed firmly in
the potential science had to do good in the world and greatly admired what Dr
Jekyll was trying to do. So far, so good.
He had a daughter living in London who he
said took "a great interest in new scientific developments", and
proposed that she should come to study with them, and that he would contribute
£100 towards the Society's funds to help them continue their valuable work.
Dr Jekyll had written a polite response
amounting to Yes to the money and No to the daughter, pleading lack of space.
But this, it appeared, would not do; his correspondent insisted on both or
neither. He added that the young lady would be lodging elsewhere, and not
sleeping in the house. Dr Jekyll paused at this. It was undeniable that not
having to find a room for another person would make a
difference, given the number of people staying at the moment - the extra room
could be kept free for the next emergency who might turn up. More importantly,
he thought, in that case she needn't see anything that needed to be kept
private.**
Might be too
much for her delicate nerves, said a small, sarcastic voice at the
back of his mind. 
Be quiet,
you. Anyway, it's an opportunity to spread scientific awareness - that's what
the Society was started for.
She probably
knows nothing about it at all. Just wants to be in the fashion. You've been
giggled at by enough of those now to know what you're in for. Admit it, it's
got nothing to do with scientific awareness and everything to do with a hundred
pounds.
After a brief and curiously vicious
argument with himself, Dr Jekyll wrote to agree to the girl coming, and spent
the next day trying to forget about it. 
* * * 
One week later, Miss Isabella Walker was
standing looking up at the gorgeous Palladian porch of the Society for Arcane
Sciences. 
"Fine place, eh, Bell?" her
father said at her elbow. 
She nodded. 
"Are you going to let that put you
off?"
"No." Miss Walker tried to put
her hat on straighter. 
"Good girl." He knocked at the
door and waited.
Tairais: Richard had been coming back from a visit to the
library in his usual roundabout manner when, once again and somehow by fate's
humorous antics, he heard the door knock. Swearing softly, he took a moment to
wrap his trademark scarf around his neck and face and made sure his eye-patch
was secure before he opened the door. Though he avoided eye contact with either
of the individuals before him, his voice was warm as he greeted them.
"G-good day. M-may I be of some assistance?"
He put on his best mask of calm confidence, leaning against his cane with all
the ease of the aristocrat he had once been, many years ago, and all the grace
of a dancer. Inwardly, his heartbeat skittered as both his natural distrust of
strangers and his habit of assessing threats clawed for attention. He didn't
let them show, but the feelings were there.
Wizardblizzard:  The
young woman makes a curtsey. "Isabella Walker and this is my father
Andrew. I've been invited to come and study here. We sent a letter a week or so
ago."
Tairais:  A
spark of recognition flickered in the back of his mind and he inclined his
head. "Ah, indeed. I r-recall.. s-someone telling m-myself and a f-few
others t-to keep an eye out f-for y-your arrival. A p-pleasure to m-meet you
both, I am D-doctor Richard P-Prince. D-do come in."
He stood aside to allow the two to enter, ever the courteous host when required
to be, no matter how much the mask seemed ill-fitting. Still, it satisfied
people's expectations of him. Him, the former aristocrat seen in his manners
and way of speaking. Him, the tinkerer and chef, shown in his attire and the
faint wisps of scent that clung to him. Him, the kindly doctor. whose eyes
seldom lost their curiosity and steady patience.
He felt a headache creep behind his eyes but smiled through it, though as with
all his smiles, it was only seen in the corner of his one visible eye as it
crinkled softly.
Wizardblizzard:  she
smiles, "Thank you". They enter the hall and she looks round in
obvious delight. "You certainly have an impressive display. Is that a
Tesla coil?..." *Mr Walker clears his throat, seeing that she looks all
set to remain there peeping into the glass cases indefinitely. She looks up
guiltily and carries on.*
Tairais:  Richard
chuckled, nodding in agreement. "I h-had much the same r-reaction when I
f-first arrived, d-do not worry. T-to answer y-your question, yes, I believe is
t-the answer."
He hummed softly, taking a look of his own around the atrium before he asked
his question. "Are the p-pair of y-you expected anywhere in p-particular,
or am I t-to play the p-part of t-tour guide?" He did his best to infuse
the question with levity, lest they think he was reluctant or irritated to do
so.
He was, partially, but it wouldn't do for them to know. Rudeness was
unacceptable, even from him.
The girl seemed kind and curious enough, though he wasn't entirely sure what to
make of the father. At the very least he presented the air of
an upstanding citizen. He pulled himself from his inner musings, tilting his
head slightly to match his inquisitiveness.
Wizardblizzard:  Unaware
of their host's worries Isabella laughed. "I'm afraid so, if you wouldn't
mind, because I don't think we are. "I suppose we'd better... um..."
She shakes her head, frowning. "We seem to have planned this badly. When I
think about it, we really don't seem to know who it is we should speak to. I
suppose it would have made more sense to arrive for a meal and meet people
then. I suppose at this hour everyone will be busy working. But here we
are." She gave her father a look of mingled helplessness and exasperation.
"I do have the letter here if that helps." She fished in her pocket
and brought out a letter in Dr Jekyll's handwriting.
...in that case we will be delighted for Miss Walker to visit us here. My
apologies again for being unable to have her to stay overnight, but all our
rooms are occupied at present; besides, I doubt if she would find the
accommodation to her taste. If as you say the young lady is interested in the
studies of psychology and chemistry, I believe several of our members are
working on projects which might be of interest to her, and we will be delighted
to see any work of her own. Thank you once again for your generous
subscription. 
Please let me know when to expect your arrival. 
I remain, 
Your obedient Servant, 
Dr Henry Jekyll.
"Not sure what I've done with my hat," she adds absent-mindedly.
"It'll turn up. I've an uncomfortable feeling that in the heat of the
moment I might have given it to that skeleton in the corner, and that the
skeleton took it. Is that likely?"
Tairais:  Richard
gave the letter a cursory glance, taking in the more basic details. Hearing of
the skeleton, he chuckled. "Y-yes, it is entirely likely, t-though I
suspect you will g-get in back at some point. As f-for the tour, I must confess
that I both s-seldom leave my q-quarters and have a t-terrible enough m-memory
that I k-know where very f-few places of n-note are l-located. I d-do, however,
know w-where Doctor Jekyll's office is, and w-we can stop b-by there at t-the
end of the trip t-to see if he m-may be of assistance, if t-that is
agreeable..?"
This was perhaps the most truthful thing he had said all night: Even after
months at the Society, he still managed to get lost on a frequent basis. The
thought caused a flicker of genuine amusement in his visible eye, and he had to
stifle a chuckle to keep up appearances.
Wizardblizzard:  This
seems to be the best thing he could have said. The young woman smiled and
seemed to let her guard down for the first time since entering. "Well,
whatever you think best."
"Dr Prince," Mr Walker said thoughtfully. "I believe I know that
name. Have you been involved with cryptozoology at all? Legendary
animals?"
Tairais:  Richard
nodded at Miss Isabella, and frowned slightly at Mr. Walker, tilting his head
perplexedly "A-ah.. No? Not t-to my k-knowledge, at least. I s-specialize
in m-most kinds of e-engineering and s-studies related t-to metallurgy and
g-geology. I d-dabble in c-cryptography on o-occasion."
In a corner of his mind, he wondered if the question was an attempt by the man
to learn about him. It wouldn't have surprised him, but still the question was
bemusing.
Wizardblizzard:  "Fascinating. My apologies for the
mistake. I must have been thinking of another Dr Prince." He smiled, but
his eyes remained worried. Odd. Isabella gave him a quizzical look; if anything
was on his mind, it was apparently a mystery to her, too. 
"Speaking of geology," she said, "I've got myself into a bit of
a difficulty involving some half-moonstone among other things. I don't know if
you could she- I mean, if you could give any ideas about it, if you can spare
the time? If there's anywhere dark we could go, I could show you," she
added cryptically.
== Obtained From ==
Introduction, Miss Isabella Walker
Introduction part 2, Miss Isabella Walker
Category:Side Story
Category:Introduction Stories
Category:New and Old Faces