Page 16 of An Inventor and An Inconvenience (Gentleman Scholars #5)

"H old the lamp higher," Faith whispered as she and Jasper made their way through the narrow maintenance passage behind the old library's east wall. The musty scent of ancient stone surrounded them, mixed with the faint trace of machine oil that always seemed to accompany Jasper.

Dust motes danced in the lamplight as Faith consulted the aged parchment map they'd discovered at the reflecting pool. According to their calculations, the marked spot should be directly ahead, behind a section of wall that had once been part of the original library.

"The stonework changes here," Jasper observed, running his fingers along the wall where newer mortar met old. "This section was rebuilt during the renovations."

Faith examined the intersection carefully. "Look at the mortar pattern. It's different—more haphazard, as though it was done in haste."

Jasper tapped the wall lightly, his ear pressed close to the stone. "It sounds hollow beyond this point."

Faith's pulse quickened. "A hidden chamber?"

"Perhaps not a chamber, but certainly a cavity of some kind." Jasper continued his methodical testing of the wall. "Here—this stone is loose."

Together, they worked to wiggle the stone free without damaging the surrounding structure. It came away with surprising ease, revealing a small niche beyond.

Faith directed the lamp toward the opening. Inside lay a small leather-bound book and another folded parchment.

"Your hands are smaller than mine," Jasper said, stepping back to give her access.

With careful movements, Faith reached into the niche and withdrew their discoveries. The book was remarkably well-preserved, protected from dust and moisture within its stone cocoon.

"It's a register," she breathed as she opened it to the first page. "Names and dates from before the papal rejection."

Her finger traced down the list, stopping suddenly. "Jasper, look at this."

He leaned closer, his cheek nearly touching hers as he examined the entry she indicated. "Elizabeth Holloway, Scholar of Natural Philosophy, 1523," he read aloud. "A female student?"

"Not just one," Faith turned the page, revealing more women's names. "Dozens of them, studying everything from mathematics to astronomy. This is proof that women were once formally accepted as scholars at Oxford."

The implications staggered them both. This wasn't just an historical curiosity—it was evidence that could challenge the very justifications used to exclude women from education in their own time.

"And the other document?" Jasper nodded toward the folded parchment.

Faith carefully opened it, revealing an intricate drawing of a rose window with unusual mathematical annotations around its perimeter.

"It's a code of some kind," she said, studying the numbers and symbols. "Mathematical positions, perhaps? Or a key to something larger?"

A sudden noise from the main corridor made them both freeze. Footsteps approached, accompanied by voices.

"—must be somewhere in this section," a man was saying. Faith recognized Professor Reynolds' imperious tone. "The old records suggest architectural irregularities that could indicate hidden spaces."

Jasper quickly doused their lamp, plunging them into darkness. His hand found Faith's in the blackness, squeezing reassuringly as they stood motionless, hardly daring to breathe.

"If there are hidden chambers," another voice responded, "they would be valuable university property. Any artifacts found within would fall under our jurisdiction."

The footsteps paused alarmingly close to their hiding place. Faith could feel Jasper tensing beside her, ready to provide whatever protection might be necessary.

"This wall bears examination," Reynolds said, his voice just on the other side of the stonework. "Arrange for a more thorough inspection tomorrow."

"Yes, Professor."

The footsteps receded slowly, but Faith and Jasper remained still for several minutes longer, their hands still joined in the darkness.

"They're looking for the same things we are," Faith whispered finally.

"But they don't have our map or the clues we've gathered," Jasper replied softly. "We're still ahead of them."

"For now." Faith carefully tucked the register and parchment into her satchel. "But we need to work quickly. If Reynolds finds the hidden chamber before we do..."

"He won't," Jasper said with quiet determination. "But we should replace this stone and continue our search elsewhere. The rose window drawing must be our next focus."

As they carefully restored the wall to its original appearance, Faith couldn't shake a growing sense of urgency. The treasure they sought wasn't just gold or books—it was proof that could transform the future of education at Oxford. And powerful forces were aligning to ensure such proof remained buried in the past.

Faith's fingers trembled as she traced the faded text on the ancient paper.

"This could change everything," he said softly. "Not just for your school, but for Oxford itself."

"If we can prove its authenticity." Faith carefully turned another page, her heart racing.

"These women weren't just studying domestic arts — there are records of them learning mathematics, astronomy, even engineering principles."

She looked up at Jasper, her eyes shining. "This is why these books were hidden, isn't it? Not just because of religious conflicts, but because they proved women had once been accepted as scholars."

"And someone wanted that forgotten." Jasper's expression hardened as he thought of the threatening notes Faith had received about her school. "The same way no one wants you teaching now."

Faith was about to respond when a sound from the library above made them both freeze. Footsteps crossed the floor overhead, and dust drifted down from the ancient beams.

"Reynolds again?" Faith mouthed silently. The professor had been asking too many questions lately, about both the old library wing and Faith's activities in town.

Jasper extinguished their candle, plunging them into darkness. Faith clutched the precious volume to her chest, feeling the weight of centuries of hidden knowledge in her arms. They pressed back against the chamber's cool stone wall, barely daring to breathe as the footsteps passed directly overhead.

When the sound finally faded, Jasper relit their candle. The flame illuminated Faith's determined expression as she carefully wrapped the register in oiled cloth before turning back to search the chamber.

Faith continued carefully examining the shelves, running her fingers along the spines of books that hadn't been touched in centuries. At the far corner of the chamber, partially concealed behind a fallen beam, she noticed an ornate wooden box.

"Jasper, help me with this."

Together they moved the beam, revealing an intricately carved chest secured with a tarnished lock. The wood was scorched along one side, as though someone had tried to burn it.

Using one of his tools, Jasper carefully worked on the ancient lock until it gave way with a reluctant click. Inside, nestled among velvet that crumbled at their touch, they found a collection of small leather-bound books and an object wrapped in yellowed silk.

Faith gently unwrapped the silk to reveal an exquisitely crafted miniature rose made of gold, its petals inlaid with what appeared to be tiny rubies.

"In shadows deep where secrets sleep, 'neath moonlit sky, the roses weep," she whispered, recalling Adriana's poem. "This must be what the clue referred to."

Jasper examined the golden rose with an inventor's precision.

"Look at this," he said, pointing to where one of the petals appeared slightly different from the others.

When he pressed it gently, the rose's centre shifted to reveal a tiny compartment containing a folded piece of parchment.

With utmost care, Faith unfolded the delicate paper. The writing was faded but still legible — a familiar verse followed by what appeared to be a coded message:

Golden tears from roses fall,

Where ancient waters mirror all.

Not in shadows but in light,

When three crowns align by night.

Below the verse was a series of symbols and numbers that made no immediate sense.

"This isn't about the library at all," Jasper said, excitement building in his voice. "The library was just where the clue was hidden. This is pointing to something else entirely."

"An actual treasure," Faith breathed, her mind racing with possibilities. "Adriana and Ellis were right. There is something valuable hidden somewhere in Oxford."

"Or beyond," Jasper added, pointing to a partial map sketched on the back of the parchment. The landmarks weren't clearly identifiable as Oxford, suggesting the treasure itself might be elsewhere.

Faith carefully placed the golden rose and parchment back in their wrappings.

"We need to document everything in this chamber," she said, her voice steady despite her racing heart. "Not just for the treasure hunt, but for proof that women have as much right to education as men — that we always have."

"And we need to send word to Lady Beaverbrook, and the others," Jasper added. "This confirms the treasure hunt is real, even if we haven't found the final prize yet. Sidney will be thrilled."

Faith nodded, already planning the letter she would write to Adriana. They had found one treasure in these hidden books — proof of women's rightful place in education. But another treasure still awaited discovery, one that might help fund their educational dreams for years to come.

"And we need better protection for your school while we gather that proof." Jasper pulled out his notebook, sketching rapidly. "I've been thinking about adapting my mining device's warning system..."

Faith watched his quick, sure movements as he drew. "Your father won't approve of you using your invention for this."

"My father doesn't approve of most things I do," Jasper said wryly. "But this — this is worth any risk." He looked up from his sketch, meeting her eyes in the candlelight. "Both the treasure hunt and your school. They're connected, Faith. It's all part of the same fight against ignorance and artificial limitations."

Faith felt warmth bloom in her chest at his words. Here was someone who truly understood that knowledge shouldn't be bounded by gender or class — that some treasures were meant to be shared, not hoarded.

"We'll need to be careful moving these books," she said, running her hand along a shelf of leather-bound volumes. "Not just to preserve them, but to protect ourselves. If Reynolds or his allies discover what we've found..."

"Then we'll face that together too." Jasper's hand found hers in the dim light. "We've already proven that the best innovations come from challenging tradition. Why stop now?"

Faith squeezed his hand, drawing strength from his touch. Tomorrow, she would face her students with new conviction, knowing she fought for a right that women had held before and could win again. But tonight, in this hidden chamber filled with lost knowledge, she and Jasper would continue their careful documentation, building a bridge between past and future, between treasure hunt and transformation.

Some revolutions, Faith reflected as they bent together over the ancient texts, began not with battles but with books. And some treasures were worth far more than gold.

~~~~

Faith's quill scratched across parchment as she composed her latest letter to Lady Beaverbrook. Outside, rain lashed against the windows of her father's study, but inside, warm lamplight illuminated the golden rose that now sat at the centre of her desk, its ruby petals catching the light.

My dear Adriana,

I can scarcely contain my excitement as I write these words. The clues you sent have led to a most remarkable discovery. Jasper and I have located a hidden chamber within Oxford's oldest library wing, containing not just the lost texts we sought, but proof beyond imagining that women were once accepted as scholars here.

The records we've found date from before the papal rejection. They document female students studying mathematics, natural philosophy, and even early engineering principles. These texts alone would be treasure enough, but there is more.

Within the chamber, we discovered an ornate box containing the golden rose described in your verse. The craftsmanship is exquisite—medieval, I believe, though Jasper thinks certain aspects suggest later modifications. Most intriguing of all, the rose contains a hidden compartment housing another clue:

"Golden tears from roses fall, Where ancient waters mirror all. Not in shadows but in light, When three crowns align by night."

I'm convinced this refers to the ancient reflecting pool near St. Mary's Chapel. The "three crowns" might indicate the triangular alignment of spires visible from that vantage point, though only at certain times of year.

Has Greta found any reference to crowns or alignments in her research? And what of the symbols accompanying the verse? I've enclosed a copy, though I confess they remain a mystery to me. They appear almost astronomical in nature.

Our work now proceeds along two paths—documenting the educational records for our school's historical foundation, while continuing to pursue the final treasure. Jasper believes, as do I, that whatever we ultimately find may have been hidden to fund future educational endeavours. Of course, that might be my personal obsessions talking.

Professor Reynolds continues to lurk, seemingly suspicious of our activities. The times grow both more perilous and more promising with each passing day.

I await your insights with great anticipation. Please give my warmest regards to Ellis and all your girls.

Your friend in this grand adventure, Faith

As Faith sealed the letter, a movement at the study door caught her attention. Jasper stood there, hair tousled from the rain, his expression alight with excitement.

"I've been studying the symbols from the parchment," he said without preamble, crossing to her desk and laying down several sheets covered in calculations. "I believe they're coordinates of some kind—using Oxford's ancient buildings as reference points."

Faith examined his work, her pulse quickening. "So if we can determine the correct alignment..."

"And the precise timing indicated by 'when three crowns align by night'..."

"We might find the final treasure," Faith finished, their thoughts flowing together as they so often did now.

"I've been calculating possible dates," Jasper continued. "The alignment of the three tallest spires—what might be called 'crowns'—forms a perfect triangle when viewed from the reflecting pool, but only during certain phases of the moon in late autumn."

He pointed to a specific notation on their map. "According to these symbols, it must be during the first quarter moon, when it rises directly behind the central spire."

Faith checked her lunar calendar. "The first quarter falls on the twelfth of next month—that's barely three weeks away."

"Yes." Jasper's eyes held hers. "And whatever we find, I believe it belongs to your school as much as to Adriana's treasure seekers. It seems increasingly clear that whoever hid these clues intended the treasure to support education—particularly for those traditionally denied access to it."

Faith nodded, thinking of the register of female students they'd discovered, the carefully preserved texts that documented a more inclusive approach to learning than Oxford currently practiced.

"We should inform the others," she said. "Meredith has been researching medieval funding practices that might help us understand what form this treasure might take. And we'll need to coordinate with Adriana's circle about the timing."

Jasper nodded, moving to look out the window at the rain-soaked spires of Oxford. "It's strange to think that centuries ago, someone crafted these clues, preserved these books, created this path for us to follow. What must they have thought, imagining the future scholars who might discover their work?"

"I think," Faith said softly, joining him at the window, "they must have believed that knowledge would eventually find a way—that artificial barriers couldn't hold forever."

Their hands found each other's in the gathering dusk, their shared quest bringing them closer with each discovery.

"Whatever we find," Jasper said, "it can only strengthen what we're already building."

Faith squeezed his hand, thinking of all they had accomplished and all that still lay ahead. Whatever treasure awaited them at the reflecting pool, they had already found something precious in their journey toward it.