Chapter 91: Failure is Necessary Part 3

"They don't know. I plan to keep it that way." Cal looked up from the seam she was inspecting. "Pentam and Crysabel here?"
"They have just arrived. I've put them in the parlour to wait for you."
"I'll hurry or some student will get Pentam talking and they'll be up all night."
"I believe it may be too late." Hans grinned at her. "He had me carry an extraordinarily heavy box up to your studio. Very pleased with himself, too".
"I will refrain from exploring it until after supper."
Cal ran to the back door and up the servants' stairs to her room. Donning one of her simpler gowns, she ran her fingers through her hair and checked for visible smudges.
"Crysabel, you're simply glowing." Cal ran into the parlour to take her friend's hands. "I'm glad to see you well."
"Mother decided a trip to the city to shop for her favourite ship's Captain wasn't going to wear me out too badly. Pentam needed to come in to arrange something for his thesis presentation too, so here we are, ready to help you dress to kill."
"Do you have a date set?" Cal looked over at Pentam, who twirled a glass of wine in his fingers.
"Tentatively, for October, after the baby is born. Crysabel is going to bring him to the presentation to get an early start on his education."
"Oh, you." Crysabel tossed a bun at him which Pentam neatly caught and devoured. "And what if the babe's girl?"
"She can still come, but I'll need a second job to properly keep you and her in dresses."
Beth knocked on the door to announce supper, so they trooped into the dining room to devour her good cooking.
After supper, Cal retreated with Pentam and Crysabel to her studio, the only room aside from her bedroom where they could have privacy.
"What's this mysterious box Hans told me about?"
"It's a gift for your friend in high places." Pentam crouched to unlatch the lid and lift it away.
"The strange drawing!"
"Yes, it was a great puzzle." Pentam ran his finger along the tightly coiled copper wire which made a C shape on either side of a piece of black metal. "You recall I mentioned batteries. I made one to play around with. Copper carries the current best of what I've found. When I was trying to make the coil at first I wrapped it around a nail. One time I forgot to unhook the battery from the wire. Imagine my shock when the nail acted like a magnet, but only when the wires were attached to the battery. That suggested the piece in the middle was a magnet. It took some doing to find one this big. The coils were easy from there. I've wound them on wood to hold them. Watch this." He attached a copper wire to each post of the battery, and the magnet began spinning.
"An engine?" Cal reached out but didn't touch the thing.
"It will carry a load depending on the size of the battery." Pentam unhooked the battery, then held the wires in one hand without quite allowing them to touch. He fastened a handle to the magnetic spindle and cranked. Sparks jumped between the wires. "I'm not sure what use it is other than a curiosity at this time, but I'm sure some bright engineer will come up with something." Pentam winked at Cal.
"This is amazing." Cal leaned closer to look. "I can see it used for small winches where a steam engine doesn't make sense. It depends on how long the battery will last, of course. If you were near a steam engine a couple of cogs would keep the generator going without a battery."
"What did I tell you?" Pentam grinned at his wife. "I can work with theory and ideas, but Cal's the one to put them to use."
***
In the morning Cal sent a message to the Admiralty asking for a meeting and for the Crown Prince to attend if possible. Then she and Crysabel hired a coach and went looking for a dress.
They finally settled on one with a cream-coloured skirt and sleeves. A black satin vest laced over top with front, back and each side tapering to a point which rested on the skirt. With the embroidered version of her Royal Engineer sigil sewn on the breast, it would look enough like a uniform to shock the stuffier members of society. When Cal compared it to her leather vest and goggles in the barn she had a fit of giggles.
The seamstress said she'd have the dress ready in a week for the fitting, so Cal and Crysabel paused for tea in a shop before heading home. Much to their surprise, a coach waited outside the house with the royal crest on it.
Pentam met Cal at the door.
"No, His Highness isn't waiting in the parlour, but he sent his coach to fetch you immediately upon your arrival at home. For some reason, he thinks you asking for a meeting is some kind of emergency."
"I have to admit; I spend more energy trying to get out of the meetings than I put into them. I must have piqued his curiosity." Cal shrugged. "No matter, let's grab your box and go show them your genius."
"Me?" Pentam's voice squeaked. "I don't want to explain that thing in front of the Crown Prince and the Admiralty."
"Who better?" Cal pointed upstairs. "Go pack it up and I'll send Hans to help you carry it down."
Pentam quivered all the way to the Academy. At least there, Cal could grab two burly guards to carry the box.
"You have gold in this thing, Commander?" one asked.
"Better." Cal pushed open the door and directed them to set it on the table.
HRH Hubert lounged in his seat, but three of the Admirals including Vice-Admiral Peysk sat bolt upright to get a better look.