The grail of clockwork and death

Chapter V

Dakoda stretches her arms up with a yawn as she strolls into her dressing room, her tired eyes lazily glancing over each gown as she decides what to wear. Eventually, her gaze falls on an elegant vermillion gown with a black dyed leather corset and a small black top hat with a red band. She takes the gown off the rack and picks up a pair of her plain but elegant black boots. Taking her time she puts the outfit on.

Leaving the dressing room she sits at her vanity table and using the mirror Fixes her hair to be pinned up immaculately under the small hat accessory. Glancing down At the tabletop she picks up the locket.

Looping the chain over her head she lets it fall down into place around her neck, she applies a light makeup then stands to start her day. As an afterthought, she picks up her pocket watch and leaves to go to the dining room for breakfast.

As she is Walking to the dining room her heels click against the hardwood floors and cause an echo to ring through in the large empty house.

She keeps her head down and gaze trained on the floor as she enters the dining room out of fear that she might look up and be forced to remember Virgil.

“Good morning, Lady Cipher, Shall you be wanting your guests inside today or out in the gardens?” Menachem inquires serving Dakoda breakfast. Glancing up that the large window Dakoda bites her lip

“inside, unless I decide otherwise later we shall host the party indoors,” Dakoda instructs lifting the cup to her lips to take a sip.

“What flavour tea is this?” She recoils roughly putting the cup back down on its saucer causing some of it to slosh over the rim of the cup and onto the saucer.

“I was told It is an English breakfast which was gifted to you by Detective Inspector Keeland before he left yesterday, it would seem he has not forgotten what today is either,” Menachem offers as she bows slightly.

“Is it not to your satisfaction, Lady Cipher?” She enquiries

“heavens no, it is far too sweet made like this and the tea leaves are far too weak, it taste like I am drinking mildly warmed dishwater, Very clearly not English breakfast, more likely to be a bohea tea!” Dakoda huffs turning her nose up in disgust at the cup.

“The numpty sod probably got horrible, cheap tea on purpose,” she pouts pushing the cup away.

“Take it away and throw the putrid stuff out, all of it, I would not dare even let my workers drink that vile stuff” Dakoda instructs picking up her cutlery and starts to eat,

“Affirmative, Lady Cipher,” Menachem chimes lifting the tea set back onto its silver tray and striding out of the room with it.

The room -now silent save for the delicate clinking of silverware hitting her plate- felt ten times bigger now that She was alone. Pulling out her pocket watch she checks the time.

Menachem enters and bows,

“Your guests will be arriving soon, Lady Cipher, Will you be satisfied in that attire or shall I retrieve one of your ball gowns from storage?” the main queries

“This shall be satisfactory, If I were to change it would be into an attire fit for a funeral,” Dakoda jokes pushing her chair back and standing, she moves to walk past Menachem

“I shall be waiting for my guests in the ballroom, I suspect everything is how it should be?” she says as she walks past.

“Affirmative, Lady Cipher,” The mechanical maid bows.

“Good, Once all the guests have left we are to go down to the workshop, my watch is in need of repair and one of my employers is in need of a disciplinary chat about the quality of work which we produce.

“Affirmative, Lady Cipher, I shall have the carriage ready to go as soon as all the guests have left,” Menachem affirms

“Good, Make sure all the guests know where to go once they arrive,” Dakoda Nods before turning and walking out the door and down the labyrinth of halls to the ballroom.

The walls had been decorated with hanging lace, placed in corners and on tables to the side of the room were cooper birdcages filled with vases of flowers from the gardens, three tables had been set with places for each guest to sit and were filled with tiers of tea cakes, slices and sandwiches, the room had an overall quaint beauty and a warm feeling to it.

“Well done, it came together quite nicely,” Dakoda murmurs to no-one as she glances around the large spacious room.

Dakoda walks to the tables and makes sure everything is perfectly in place, the clicking of her heels on the floor and the gentle thump of her heartbeat in her ears lulling her into a sense of tranquillity as she takes the time to relax a little.

“Lady Cipher, Your first guest has arrived, shall I Bring Lord and Lady Watson in?” Menachem announces.

“Yes, Please do,” Dakoda confirms. With a curt nod The Automaton maid leaves, Dakoda carefully straightens some of the silverware then walks to the centre of the room in order to prevent herself from fixing every microscopic thing she saw out of place.

The large floor to ceiling double doors swing open and Menachem steps aside and bows.

“baron and baroness Watson,” She announces

“Welcome, I am so very pleased that you have come,” Dakoda greets with a large false smile painted over her face, Lord and Lady Watson enter the room and towards Dakoda.

“But of course, child, It is the least we could do, I do deeply regret that we did not keep in contact after what happened with your parents,” Lord Watson says with a subtle nod.

“Yes, I visited the shop yesterday to buy a new watch and I must say it is far more efficient with you running it then when your father had, You have done well, Lady Cipher,” Lady Watson adds presenting Dakoda the pocket watch as proof.

“Ah, But It is still not good enough…” she says holding her hand out for the timepiece, “May I?” she asks politely. Lady Watson allows her to take the watch and inspect it. Dakoda pulls her own out of her pocket and compares them making sure to take into account that hers was late by three seconds.

“As I Thought, It is running early by Six seconds, A simple repair But I shall be needing to condition my employees to get it perfect first time,” She says handing the gold and silver timepiece back.

“How impressive, You have an even better eye for telling time than your father did, Though I must Admit I Had tampered with this one on purpose to test you, your workers were not at fault,” Lord Watson quips impressed.

“Earl, countess and Lord Thompson,” Menachem annunciates as the three walk toward Dakoda and the Watsons.

“Greetings,” Dakoda smiles as she shakes their hands, “Please, help yourselves to the tea cakes,” she adds

“So kind of you, Lady Cipher” Lord Thompson smirks as before immediately going towards the tables of food.

“How Have you been, Dear, I heard about what happened you must be feeling so utterly dreadful,” Lady Thompson utters in false sympathy, Dakoda had heard this tune many times before, Especially back after her parents death, It was the Sound of a woman pretending to be sorry for you in hopes of getting good gossip.

“Oh yes, the poor boy, He must have been Horribly unhappy,” Lady Watson adds with a soft tut.

“I must apologize but I shall not be speaking any details of My fiance's death -Unless it is to Lord and Lady Damarcus- until a Proper investigation has been done, I do hope you understand My choice,” Dakoda soberly reports

“Oh of course, of course, yes you must be absolutely stunned, After all, you were the one who found him, It must have been dreadful,” Lord Thompson mentions

“Yes especially with how your mental state already was,” Lord Watson divulges

“early and countess Damarcus,” Menachem addresses. Dakoda freezes in spot her muscles becoming visibly tense, all thoughts of how horribly rude Lord Watson's comment had been are abandoned to the back of her mind.

Although it seemed longer she had only stood in the petrified paralyzed state for a split second before taking a deep -but subtle- shaky breath.

“It is very nice to see you both again, my condolences,” she whispers softly looking up to her once in-laws with a sad look.

“Oh don't you start that now, dear, it was not your fault and we both know it so stop thinking it was and let him go if that is how he felt then that is how he felt,” Lady Damarcus quips pulling her into a hug.

“thank you, it would be so very nice if we could catch up later?” Dakoda utters as though it were a question and not a statement.

“Oh yes, of course, it would be so very wonderful to be able to catch up,” Lord Damarcus adds.

“baron and baroness smith,” Menachem announces.

“Welcome,” Dakoda warmly greets.

The two new guests nod to address her and then join in on the conversation which the Thompsons and Watson had been having.

“countess Humphrey,” Menachem annunciates bowing one last time bro moving off out of the way to complete other tasks.

Lady Humphrey sees the slightly separate groups and makes a beeline for Dakoda.

“Greetings, Lady Humphrey, my condolences for your loss. I am glad you could make it,” Dakoda utters softly with compassion and empathy.

“to you as well, My dear,’ Lady Humphrey nods in reply.

“Now that everyone has arrived in supposing we may begin, to be one hundred percent honest I have not a clue what to do, Virgil had organized most of this….” Dakoda admits in realization.

“Ah, that makes sense now, I will admit I had been curious as to why after all these years you suddenly had decided to have a celebration for your birthday, I can definitely believe that Virgil would be responsible, he always did worry you did not get out of your work enough,” Lady Damarcus quips with a bout of laughter.

“He did worry too much about me, always pestering me to throw balls and tea parties,” Dakoda chuckles along.

“He always would come home making a fuss because you would refuse,” Lady Damarcus mutters her eyes returning to their previous saddened state, slightly glazed over.

“I Do think It will Be my biggest regret in life, not spending as much time with him,” Dakoda murmurs, “I know it may not be what you want to hear… but I think you should know Lady Damarcus, I do not believe that Virgil's death was suicide… I...I am not sure if it was because I had been the one to find him or if it really was something else but something about the way in which he died does not seem right to me.” She admits in a low voice so only Lady Damarcus and Lady Humphrey could hear it. The comment Earning her looks of shock from both women, she looks down and starts fiddling with her hands nervously,

“I Know it must sound silly but… just last week when Virgil had convinced me to have this celebration… When Lord Humphrey… Virgil promised me that he would never Do such a horrible thing as to leave Us… To leave me alone...I can not fathom why he would say such a thing and then immediately go against it… Was He really that upset that he would hide it from us all and lie to us?” Dakoda addresses quietly.

“I Will agree it is strange but please, Dakoda dear child, don't think too much about it, He must have had his reasons and we must accept that we may never know them,” Lady Humphrey whispers, “Much the same with my husband, They seem so happy and carefree while they are around you but one might never know what they were really thinking.” She adds softly.

“Lord Humphrey was not in a bad state of mind?” Dakoda asks slight fascination in her tone

“One would assume he was as happy as he could have been with his life, but No one in the right state of mind would ever commit such an act as suicide,” Lady Humphrey says in a hushed voice.

“How...Odd?” Dakoda mutters.

“Tea will now be served, If all guests would please like to take a seat at one of the tables please,” Menachem instructs from the doorway. With a soft murmur of chatter, the small group of people makes their way to the tables.

As all the guest and Dakoda take a seat with Dakoda at the head of one table, Lady Humphrey, and Lady Damarcus to the side of her Lord and Lady Watson after them, Lord and Lady Thompson sat at one of the other tables with the smiths.

Standing Dakoda taps her glass with her spoon,

“Quiet down now for a moment please, I would first like to thank you all for coming, I am very much complimented by the mere fact that you all thought it worthwhile to join me in my attempt to socialize after I had distanced myself slightly from society,” Dakoda announces with a hint of humour in her voice, her statements earning a few chuckles

“I would like to invite you all to join me in a minute of silence, to remember Lord Virgil Damarcus And Lord Daron Humphrey, as the Great men, husband and son that they were,” She continues pausing and bowing her head to indicate to her guest that the minute of silence had already begun, “Thank you all again, I now welcome you to help yourself to the food, which has all been cooked and prepared by my chief Ezekiel, I Hope you Enjoy the rest of the celebrations and if you have any problems with anything throughout then I invite you to please come and let me know so I might deal with it in an appropriate fashion,” Dakoda finishes off her short speech then sits down and beacons Menachem forward to pour her a cup of tea,

“Menachem do go around and offer our guests some as well,” She whispers

“Affirmative, Lady Cipher,” The Mechanical Main nods moving around the tables offering each guest a drink.

Once The Automaton maid had poured a cup for everyone Dakoda gives her guests a sweet smile, the loud chiming of the doorbell rings throughout the room.glancing to the door with confusion Dakoda turns to Menachem

“Menachem, Go And see who that is,” She instructs. With a nod, the maid leaves to confront whoever had arrived at the door.

The room soon fills with the sounds of chatter and the clinking of silverware on plates as Dakoda's guest converse amongst themselves and eat that which had been set out for them.

“Detective Inspector Keeland…” Menachem starts only to be cut off by the inspector and three of his men entering the room.

“What In Heaven's name do you want now!?” Dakoda sneers glaring at the man.

“I am taking you up on the statement you made yesterday, Lady Cipher. If You truly Believe you can shoot a weapon with more accuracy than my men, then prove it,” Inspector Keeland chimes with a smirk of confidence.

“Oh, I see So you have come to make a fool of your men in front of my guests, Well, It would be rather rude for me to leave these people in the middle of celebrations, So in my duty as hostess I invite You all to join us out in the gardens,” Dakoda expresses with amusement.

As a small chatter of interest flows over the room Dakoda turns to Menachem,

“Go out and set up the shooting range, It seems we shall be hosting a competition as well on this day,” She orders.

“Affirmative, Lady Cipher,” Menachem bows before swiftly making an exit.

“Detective Inspector Keeland, You seem to think yourself and your men to be capable, Go assist Menachem and help her make sure It will Be safe,” Dakoda commands with a glint of humour and a smirk.

“...Yes, Lady Cipher, As you wish,” Inspector Keeland reluctantly agrees, leading his men outside.

“I apologize for that brief interruption, Shall we finish this lovely food off then join the detective outside?” Dakoda chimes lifting her teacup to take a sip. The room once again reverts to the -now excited and intrigued- chatter and clattering of silverware

______

Dakoda now stood by the temporary shooting range, her steam pistol and antique revolver in a harness belt which hung loosely on her hips, so not to tarnish her gown with gunpowder she had changed into a dark burgundy riding crop and apron,

“Shall I shoot first or would your men like the honour?” Dakoda quips pulling her revolver out of the holster and flicking her wrist to open the barrel of the gun checking each compartment contains a bullet, satisfied she flicks it shut and returns it to the holster.

“My men shall go first, to give you the benefit of seeing their techniques,” Inspector Keeland declares with confidence.

“Oh, I won't be needing to see their techniques to know how to beat them in this competition, but if you insist then I invite them to go ahead,” Dakoda nonchalantly hums as she steps away from the shooting range in order to allow the three men -who Detective Keeland had chosen as his best shots- to move into place.

“Ready,” Dakoda calls out, the three men get into an appropriate stance, their dominant foot slightly forward and other slightly back in a position which showed they were thinking about the recoil of the gun.

“Aim,” Keeland instructs once they are ready.

“Fire,” Dakoda yawn looking at her pristinely manicured nails, three shots are fired off and without looking up Dakoda points to each male,

“Missed the target, hit the target but in hit the outer rings, hit but missed the middle by a fraction,” She mutters, looking up she pulls her revolver from the holster and walks to the first target, without any warning she fires, not spending to much time fussing over how she stood, after the bullet hits she immediately moves onto the next again firing without much thought or warning, then moving onto the last she fires off three rounds into the final target, lowering the still smokin barrel of the gun she makes the gesture of a yawn.

“These are really your best men? How pitiful,” She sighs “I was actually hoping for a challenge, what say you, inspector, shall you try your hand at beating me, or will you admit your defeat?” Dakoda smirks slyly. Finally taking the time to inspect her shots as the inspector silently decides if it would be worth it to try to outshoot her. Each and every single shot she had taken had hit the centre target with ease and only one was close to the edge.

“Quite an impressive show, Lady Cipher, I do believe I will try to best you If Inspector Keeland is not up to it?” Lord Smith declares stepping forward.

“Go ahead, Lord Smith, I would be honoured to see you try,” Dakoda laughs with a genuine smile painting her features.

She re-loads new bullets into her revolver and hands it to Lord Smith, she clicks the safety on just as a precaution.

“Have at it, Lord Smith,” She chuckles handing him the weapon.

He mimics how Keelands men had stood and taken aim, he fires and the bullet grazes the edge of the target.

“Ah, looks like I missed, I guess you win, Lady Cipher,” Lord Smith chuckles handing the gun back.

“Yes, it would appear I Have indeed, Lord Smith, perhaps, inspector Keeland, it would do you good to remember that next time you degrade or challenge me, I am not just some housewife,” Dakoda gleams, “Now stop wasting everybody's time and go compete your duties as an officer of the law,” Dakoda sneers with a biting glare at the detective,

“Fine, I admit you are a good shot, for a woman, but might I remind you that you invited me,” Keeland quips,

“And invitation is merely an invitation, you were under no circumstances obligated to accept it unless you truly wanted to, and might I remind you, Detective Inspector Keeland, That This was before I found my fiance dead, so do kindly keep your opinions and comments to yourself unless they are actually helpful and get off of my property,” Dakoda demands turning to return to the manor,

“Menachem, see everyone inside and then tidy the gardens up,” She instructs before strutting away to get changed out back into her other gown.

________

Dakoda enters the Ballroom again, brushing off her skirts as she walks.

“My sincerest apologies, It would seem Detective inspector Keeland is even more helplessly useless than I had first assumed,” She jests taking a seat at the table,

“I must agree, But It is so very amusing to watch, “ Lady Humphrey banters as she leans forward and picks up a custard slice, with a slight nod of agreement Dakoda lifts her cup to take a sip.

“You did put on quite a show and a rather impressive one at that,” Lord Thompson jives.

“Hmm, Yes, Perhaps I should Hold little shooting tournaments more often,” Dakoda blurts with a hum as she sets down her teacup. Pulling her pocket watch out Dakoda observes the time with which it read with a small hum of disappointment, clicking it shut with a flare of drama she sighs

“As It would seem I am to once again express my deepest apologies, It would appear I must cut this luncheon short, I am needed elsewhere,” She announces standing, she rings a bell to summon Audrey.

“Audrey will see you out, it was wonderful seeing you all and I do hope we might catch up under some… more pleasurable circumstances… next time,” Dakoda states “I bid you farewell, until next time,” She adds before striding out of the room. As she leaves she hears the murmurs of her guests as, snippets here and there of what they say.

“....so very like her…”

“...was quite rude…”

“...she is rather eccentric, is she not…”

“Do not assume they are talking bad of you, you are not hearing the whole of it,” She mutters to herself, Biting her lip and scrunching her eyes shut She takes a deep breath before making her way up to her dressing room.

She changes into a frock composed of numerous intricately stitched layers of different shades of green fabrics accompanied by a pure white blouse and light tan corset. To finish the look she adorns her olive green double-breasted riding jacket.

Waiting by the large window -which looks on from her bedroom to out over the front entrance of her property- Dakoda watches as one by one the steam-powered carriages of her guests trail away off of her estate.

With a sigh, she pushes away from the window and briskly walks down to the grand entrance.

“Menachem, We are off to the workshop. Come along now,” She demands striding out to her horse-drawn carriage, the mechanical maid follows behind without a word of remark.

Dakoda clambers into the carriage while Menachem takes up the reigns of the horses.

As the carriage jolts into movement, Dakoda leans back into the seats and allows the movements of the carriage lul her into a sense of security with each bump and judder from the rough terrain of the roads.

After a short while the carriage comes to a stop outside of Dakodas workshop, the windows full of beautiful and grand clocks, ranging from large grandfather clocks, cuckoo clocks and small intricately designed pocket watches. As Dakoda approaches the shop she inspects the windows, with a nod of approval she enters.

“Mister Lucas, May I speak with you,” She calls out. A short man with greying hair and spectacles decorated with magnifying glasses of differing sizes walks out from the back room of the shop, a small child skips out behind.

“Lady Cipher, I was not aware you would be gracing us today, how might I be of assistance to you?” He voices,

“It was a last minute decision on my part. I have come to ask about a timepiece I had acquired while here last time, It appears to be running three seconds late, I would like to know who had made it?” She queries, handing the pocket watch over to the elderly man. Lucas inspects the timepiece from all angles then hands it back

“That would have been crafted by young Gregory hear, I must give you my sincerest apologies, My Lady, This would have been one of his first ones. You see I have been training him as my apprentice as I am getting old, I wish for him to be able to take my place if need be,” Lucas explains. Dakoda casts her gaze to the young scraggly looking boy,

“How old are you, Gregory?” she asks softly getting down at eye level with the boy.

“Eight and a half, Ma’am,” he replies with a toothy and proud grin.

“Eight and a half you say, Well, that is mighty impressive, If you keep practising then I am sure you will make a beautiful and precise timepiece, Until then I would like for you to practice fixing this pocket watch, would you like to try now? Or shall I demonstrate how to first?” she speaks to the child in a smooth tone.

“I Would like to try first, Ma’am, You only learn through mistakes, ain’t that right pa,” the young boy chimes,

“That is correct, Gregory,” Lucas agrees with a nod.

“Very well, young Gregory, I will leave this with you, for the time being, I shall come check on your progress in two weeks,” Dakoda declares standing up straight

“Lucas, Would you mind retrieving a new pocket watch for me,” she requests. With a polite nod, Lucas turns to one of the display cabinets and unlocks it retrieving a silver pocket watch engraved with an intricately carved raven,

“I have been holding onto this piece especially for you, Lady Cipher…” he mutters inspecting it to make sure it was running smoothly and correctly. “Your father had asked me to craft you a timepiece back when he had run the shop, It took a while to finish it as I had been very intent on making it better than perfect.” He finishes handing her the watch.

“It is absolutely beautiful, thank you very much, Gregory, Lucas, keep up the good work, good day.” she expresses with a curt nod, turning and swiftly exiting the shop.