The Inventor (The Legend Chronicles) Read Online Free PDF Page B

never could.
     
     
    Marley waited in Lord Hargrieve’s study. Since it was midsummer there was no fire in the grate, but the odor of cigar tobacco clung to the room along with the mellow scent of the old leather binding the hundreds of books in the room.
    Every wall of Lord Hargrieve’s study was covered in built-in shelving. Much of the shelving contained books, and other shelves were covered in far more curious items. Marley stared at the rows of glass bell jars on the shelves. Some held displays of unusual dried flora and fauna; others were filled with preserving liquid in which strange creatures floated in limbo. Marley was surprised to think of Lord Hargrieve as a naturalist. Certainly it was a hobby many appreciated, but Lord Hargrieve seemed more a man of industry.
    “May I get you anything, sir?”
    Marley started and glanced back at the butler, unaware that he’d slowly walked to the near middle of the room. “No. No, I’m fine. Thank you.”
    “Very good, sir.” Wattly closed the door, leaving Marley alone with the bizarre collection. One jar in particular caught his attention. It was a smaller jar, inside which were what looked like they could have been a set of human teeth; but upon closer inspection, Marley decided they had to be animal in nature. The canines were far longer, more suited to a large predator like a wolf or big dog. He bent closer to look.
    “I see you’ve found my collection.”
    Lord Hargrieve’s voice startled Marley. He jerked up. “I—yes. Most unusual. You have quite an extensive set of specimens.”
    Persephone’s father settled himself in the large, upright chair behind the massive mahogany desk. He leaned forward and pulled over a humidor, flipping it open and pulling a fat brown cigar from it. “Would you care for a cigar?”
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    Marley shook his head, unable to keep his eyes from straying to the odd mandibles in the jar. “No, thank you, my lord.”
    “Please take a seat.”
    Marley dutifully sat down in one of the two overstuffed chairs facing Lord Hargrieve.
    The man took several puffs on his cigar, held his lips closed for a second, then blew out a stream of fragrant smoke. “Sir Turlock, I assume you know of my interest in your work. But what you may not know is why I have an interest.”
    “I assumed it had to do with your involvement in the Aeronautical Society, my lord.”
    “Quite. But there are other, more pressing reasons for my interest and that of my colleague Lieutenant Frobisher. We are part of a special group of the military that answers only to Her Majesty. We deal with things of a questionable nature and are always looking for new ways to defeat our enemies.”
    “And what, may I ask, has that to do with my aeronautical display at the exhibition, my lord?”
    “We think you might be a very useful part of our cause.”
    Marley’s skin prickled with apprehension. Somewhere deep in his gut something told him this was no normal interview.Whatever Lord Hargrieve was involved with, along with that Frobisher chap, was serious business.

Chapter 4
     
    Thoughts of secret societies and strange rituals swirled in Marley’s head. What exactly was Lord Hargrieve into? He swallowed past the thick lump swelling in his throat to address the older man seated behind the enormous mahogany desk.
    “What is your cause, if I may be so bold as to inquire, my lord?” Marley tried to minimize the tightness in his voice.
    Lord Hargrieve tapped the gray ash from the end of his cigar into a small brass tray on his desk. “We are called Her Majesty’s Hunter Service.”
    “And what, do you, um, hunt, my lord?”
    Hargrieve chuckled and wedged his cigar back between his lips, giving it a few great puffs. “What we hunt isn’t mentioned in polite society, Sir Turlock. It isn’t fit to grace the hunting lodge walls. And if people knew, they might panic.”
    “You mean big game from Africa, my lord?”
    An odd twinkle sparked in Hargrieve’s eyes. “No.