Mr Jasper's Christmas Adventure

Under more usual and conventional circumstances, Theobald Jasper would have considered Prague to be the most charming of cities. He was certain Rose would enjoy its intimate grandeur, the thrilling twists and turns of the city's back streets would have delighted his adorable girl, But alas Rose was home at Carlton Square, preparing for their first Christmas in town, and Mr Jasper was coping with circumstances that were less than conventional.

Snow was threatening; the evening sky was heavy with it. The air was brisk, but ripe with the smells of the street food sellers. Theobald Jasper eased his stride as he approached the toy shop of Pavel Mareček, though the warmth of the brightly lit shop called to him. The master toymaker was particularly well known for his automatons, all the rage in London this year. The man was a bringer of delight to child and adult alike. He was also the best damn spy Jasper had ever worked with. Mistr Mareček was an adept in espionage, a master at it in fact, his talents were legion. And, above all Mr Jasper could not deny, he was rather partial to the man's ebullient nature. Pavel Mareček was never at a loss, he treated all locked doors as challenge to his ingenuity, all codes as a puzzling diversion. A man of infinite invention, with added sensibilities that allowed him to see the hearts of men.

In short, the man was a marvel.

Outside the shop children clung to the window sill, gaping at the wonders within, dolls with impossibly long eyelashes, a tiny horse and cart, so complete in every detail, that Theo fully expected a tiny elfin driver to appear, mount the miniature wagon and drive it confidently through the wonderful chaos of the parade of toys.

The bell above the door tinkled as he stepped into the cozy, overcrowded shop.

"Ah, your order is ready, all packaged, and complete, come this way." Mareček addressed his new customer in French with a fine Prussian intonation, Theo replied likewise, but his was a halting, a awkward imitation of the superior tone. It was part of his veil, not a disguise as such, disguise implied false noses, and eye patches. No, you would see Theobald Jasper, just not notice him, obscured as he was by the anonymity of ordinariness. To this end he affected the manner and appearance of a prosperous, but dour English merchant. A fish out of his own pond, but respectfully genial.

Once in the quiet sanctum of Mistr Mareček's office, behind the closed door and busy hubbub of the workshop, Theo maintained his fiction, none listening would over hear dubious conversations, even guarded words might bring suspicion their way. The atmosphere of the city was taut, one had but to move sideways to step on a conspirator. "I was also looking for something suitable for a young female person, perhaps you could suggest something, small, but interesting?" The workshop was a glorious spectacle to any industrious and inquiring mind, he doubted there would be such a thing available. "Would you have anything to show me?"

"Ah, I may have the very thing, a little bit of scientific adventure if you will." With a flourish the toy maker produced a small spherical object, bright blue in colour, it tinkled as he lifted it to be admired.

"A ball?" Theo was not excessively impressed.

"Ah, but such a ball as you have never seen!" With that Mareček propelled the ball against the floor. It's instant, tinkling return to his hand shocked his visitor.

"That is certainly something I have never seen…" Theo imagined some trickery was involved, some sleight of hand, but could observe none.

"Rubber dear sir, rubber. 'Twill be the wonder of the age mark my words. I have been working with the substance for some time, and only now have hit upon the secret…heat!" The toymaker jiggled the ball and a pleasant jingling sound issued forth. "I added a chime for the children, but the implications for manufacture are limitless!"

It was certainly remarkable, Theo had to agree. But the thought of little Harriet's glee at the extraordinary toy made his decision simple. "I believe you have solved my dilemma good sir."

"Well, this is one of two only in the world, for you I will make a gift of it, may the child who receives it have many excellent hours of play."

Conscious of the honour done him, Mr Jasper carefully put the gently chiming rubber ball into his pocket.

"Now your order is in the yard ready for you, all securely packed for sea travel."

Theo nodded, the cases contained twelve automaton, beautifully crafted little scribes, with the turn of a key all would seemingly write upon the page before them. Who was to know that the pages did in fact contain troop deployments, numbers, and provisioning locations of la Grande Armée? It was perfect, simply elegance it's self.

###

One more stop before he could be homeward bound for Christmas in Carlton Square, it was to be their first formal Christmas soiree. Rose had begged him to make every effort to return in time. The prospect of the entertainment of the great and good of London society being on her shoulders had his delectable angel as nervous as a kitten. But he would be there, there was no doubt in his mind.

All that was left for him to do was to collect his export papers stamped and get the packing cases to Rotterdam, thence the discreetest of passages to London.

Things were going all too smoothly, until, as he waited patiently for the return of his documents at the custom office, he glimpsed a personage he had hoped never to encounter again. The lazy French, and drawing room drawl of 'The Nephew' as Theo thought of the bombastic young whelp he had rescued from Corsican brigands, offended his ears.

The right honourable fool, may God rot his ungrateful bones.

What the young ruffian was about Theo did not know, but he was damn sure it would be nefarious in nature. Stepping back and lowering his head, he paid discreet attention to the 'right honourable's' companion.

Ha, he knew him too, M. Laval was Tallyrand's man, which meant espionage was afoot. Theo Jasper stepped deeper into the shadows.

###

Much later, as Mr Jasper mounted the mail coach to London from Portsmouth, he smiled at the tinkling sound coming from his poacher pocket. He had never thought to consider the child of his wife's former…entanglement, anything but a minor adjustment in domestic arrangements. First she had been a flicker in the corner of his eye, a small presence, no more. Then her toddling walk had developed to a sturdy bounce, the bounce became a leap when he entered the room, with him as the thing leapt upon!

Now his title was 'Papa Jaz'.

Of course he may have encouraged her in some small way, a shared grin when her mother remonstrated at a piles of books on the library floor, used to constructed a rather less than sturdy castle.

A whispered words of alliance at an adventure in the kitchen when they teased cook into allowing them to taste bun dough.

All had been a revelation to him; the idea of family had been an abstract. But now he apparently had one, and it was not unpleasant at all.

Settling into the worn and none too comfortable coach seat, the tinkling sound from his pocket lulled him to sleep, hazy imaginings of a blazing hearth, a child's laughter, and the prospect of a night in his wife's arms, rest, for a while at least,

###

Arriving in London, Theo dispatched his duty and handed over the cargo of automaton and their accompanying information to the judicious care of Mr Herbert of the Admiralty. Mr Herbert was a quietly efficient man of indeterminate age and class, and Mr Jasper trusted him with his life.

"Some disturbing news precedes you sir." Mr Herbert measured his words. "Our friend has been Mareček beaten near to death, his shop apparently robbed. I fear someone was close behind you on this excursion."

Theo's expression darkened, he knew it, there were no such things as coincidences. "Tell me, what do you know of young idiot I had to retrieve as a favour to our betters?"

Herbert seemed unsurprised by the question. "He is not expected to rise, he favours the gaming tables, drinks to excess, and is a generally considered a bad lot. My personal opinion is that he should have been left to rot in Corsica. Why do you ask?"

"I saw him in Prague, deep in conversation with our 'friend' Laval. It was just a little too close for comfort." Drawing a deep breath Mr Jasper asked, "…and the toymaker will recover?"

"It seems so, though he'll be out of commission for some time to come, the vindictive thugs smashed his hands."

Both men became silent.

###

Theo had every intention of bathing and changing into his best bib and tucker, then taking his place next to his delightful Rosie. Under normal circumstances he would not allow business to encroach on the personal, but the report of the attack on Mareček had left him very gloomy indeed.

But his best intentions came to naught.

Having made his way through the kitchens and up the back stairs to his dressing room, he found his man Barnstable, as always, awaiting him, and well prepared.

"Would sir prefer the navy blue with the pale lining, or the maroon with the black?"

"The navy I think." Shrugging off his mud stained great coat, Theo allowed Barnstable to begin the process of disrobing him. "And what of my good lady's soirée, are all the guests come?"

"Yes sir, Madame's uncle, and lady aunt arrived yesterday, Sir Walter has been most vigilant of the proprieties." Barnstable cleared his throat disparagingly, his disapproval of the bombastic Uncle Walter, obvious.

"Good, good, and the package from Garrad's arrived?" Theo was in the midst of having his cravat uncoiled when his valet stilled. "What's wrong man, did it go missing?"

"No sir, but it arrived shortly after a visitor." Barnstable's pause grew longer.

"Well man out with it, what visitor?"

"Captain, the Right Honourable, Henry Smyth, a young person of some impertinence in my opinion sir." The astute gentleman's gentleman sniffed. "The gentleman called upon Madame, citing some previous acquaintance."

Theo gritted his teeth, 'some previous acquaintance', the words hung heavy.

###

The soirée was heavily attended, as a wealthy widower Theo Jasper had been a thorn in the side of the 'Almack's Mama's', and his marriage to a quiet 'nobody' proved a larger irritation. But Le bon ton was curious, Lady Jersey herself had chosen to attend, if her impressions were favourable, socially Rose Jasper could rest easy.

If only Theo had arrived in time to make the necessary introductions. And she could not help it, Henry Smyth's visit had thrown her into a slough of confused dread. Now of all times, unsupported by her husband, it seemed as if all of London's disapproving eyes were on her at the same time.

And she had, perhaps foolishly, allowed Harriet to stay and assist in greeting the guests. It was done to please and delight the child, also more than a little to annoy Uncle Walter. This was her home, and unconventional as the action was, the child's charm had softened even the most disapproving of the guests.

"The right honourable Mr Henry Smyth."

The Butlers sonorous tones caught Rose unawares, she shuddered in horror. Henry was back, in public! How could he?

"Sir Walter, mighty pleasing to be invited sir." Henry bowed, politeness itself. He kissed Lady Brown's gloved hand, all gracious smiles and firmly pursed lips. He knew he was a handsome fellow, knew the ladies took well to him. Now the army was done with him, all he needed was a bit of cash and he'd be fixed. To that end he fixed Rose with his most exultant smirk. He knew she'd find the loot for him. Why, her elderly husband couldn't even make it down the stairs to addend his own party! And of course he had the ace he needed, right there.

Harriet skipped to the forward and curtsied beautifully without the slightest toppling. Rose wanted to snatch her up and run away, but the child's father was quick.

"Ah, and who do we have here I wonder?"

Harriet shied away, turned in her mother's skirts.

"I have a present for you young lady, would you like to see it?" Henry reached into his waistcoat pocket.

"Egad me dear, we have more guests than I can shake a stick at!" Theo rounded the bottom of the grand stair way, fully certain of exactly what Henry Smyth was about to present his stepdaughter with…