Drowning Utopia

Chapter 16: Regret

Tessa couldn't believe how close she was to being caught. Her heart pounded, her ears rang, and everything seemed far louder than it should be. She wandered around a bit, trying to get her bearings and regain her composure. At length, she finally caught her breath and ended up at the prow of the ship, where she stood for a while, staring at nothing and thinking about all that she had heard.

"Ah, there you are, Miss Copperfield." Tessa jumped. She quickly turned to see Sir Cornwall waddling up the ship's deck.

Tessa gripped the railing, "Hello, Sir Cornwall, you startled me." she tried to offer a kind, reassuring smile.

"We have not had the privilege of your presence all day," Sir Cornwall said as he leaned against the railing beside her with a cheery smile.

"Oh, I have been about here and there, enjoying the commodities of the ship," Tessa lied. "And how has your day fared?"

"Respectable, all things considered," Sir Cornwall said, digging around his vest.

"And where is Miss Briggs?" Tessa asked, feigning innocence. She acted as if gazing down the deck, trying to spot the prim woman.

"Oh, she's resting. Not feeling too well."

"Not another episode?" Tessa asked.

"Yes, but we took care of it. Hopefully, she will recover quickly," he withdrew his golden pocket watch. Sir Cornwall observed the fine gold finishing on it before turning it in his hand and clipping it shut. He then handed the timepiece to Tessa with a small smile, "Here. I happened to notice that you took a liking to it earlier."

"I...I have no idea what you are talking about." Tessa feigned ignorance, but it was clear that it was not needed.

The older man twirled his mustache as he chuckled. "Certainly. Never mind, Miss Briggs can spot something out of place a mile away." He straightened his jacket and stated with a small harrumph, "But in all seriousness, that watch is yours, as is my attention for any questions you may have."

Tessa felt her face flush red as she took the watch. After admiring the intricate craftsmanship, she asked, "So, what do you get from offering me all of this?"

"You want to know what the catch is?" Sir Cornwall looked at Tessa squarely and with determination. "As I said before, my dear, I want to see my country succeed and regain its glory, and I think you are the one to make that happen, you and your grand ideas."

"Surely there are others far more capable than I." Gray Meriwether came to mind.

"Perhaps, but I also see in you a desire to do more."

Tessa opined her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. She closed it again, scratching her head, before admitting, "I'm not sure what I want, honestly. I'm not even sure why I'm here. I swore I would never speak to that man again, and yet, here I am, about to meet him at his stupid grand opening." Tessa clasped her hands as she leaned against the railing.

"Might I ask," Sir Cornwall inquired, "what exactly happened? Why would you turn down my offer?"

Tessa sighed, "It is complicated."

"Miss Copperfield, I am a politician. I deal with complications all the time."

Tessa smiled at that. Looking at the old man's kind, disarming face, she was reminded of her grandfather. He, too, had a kind face. Pursing her lips, Tessa asked, "What do you know about electricity?"

"Not much. One of the reasons I am going to this event." Sir Cornwall said.

Tessa nodded. "I was twelve when I first learned about it. The same day, Gray, Mr. Merriweather, presented his prototype for his light bulb. We became friends, and with his help, I was granted official entry as a student at Croft University." Tessa shook her head, "By the time I was sixteen, Gray Meriwether had made a name for himself, inventing and patenting the first reliable and cost-effective lightbulb, batteries, and his own version of an electric motor. He and your brother took me under their wings, helping me with connections and getting in front of the right people.