Remarkable Creatures

Mr Buckland shrugged. 'Perhaps he needed the money. It is no bad thing for it to be on public display, but the College is full of men keen to exploit plesiosauri without the intelligence behind it. Conybeare is much more reliable in studying the specimen. He may want it brought to the Geological Society so that he can lecture on it as he did previously. I should think such a meeting would be very well attended. Did you know, Miss Philpot, that I am to become the Society's President in February? Perhaps I can combine his lecture with my inauguration.'

'According

to

the

Post the Annings are considering the Bristol or the British Museums.' I was a little humiliated to be quoting the newspaper account to someone who had seen the specimen for himself. It was like describing London from a guidebook to someone who has lived there.

'That is an indication of the newspaper's inclination rather than the Annings','

William Buckland said. 'No, Molly Anning mentioned Colonel Birch to me just now, and wouldn't consider my suggestions.'

'Did you tell her that Colonel Birch sold on the first specimen, and probably for a pretty profit?'

'She wouldn't listen to me. That is why I have come to you.'

I studied my hands. Despite my wearing fingerless gloves and applying Margaret's salve daily, they were rough and scarred, with puckered fingers and a rim of blue clay under each nail. 'I have little influence over the Annings and whom they choose to sell to. They run their own business now, and would not welcome my interference.'

'But will you try, Miss Philpot? Talk to her. She is certain to respect your judgement--as do we all.'

I sighed. 'Really, Mr Buckland, if you want Molly Anning to sit up and take note, you must speak in the language she understands. Not museums and scientific papers, but money. Find her a collector who will pay her substantially more than Colonel Birch and she will gladly sell to them.'

Mr Buckland looked startled, as if the thought of money had not occurred to him.

'Now,' I continued, determined to change the subject, 'I've a case of fish on the landing you haven't seen before, including the dorsal fin of a Hybodus that will amaze you, for the ridges along the spine truly resemble teeth! Come, I'll show you.'

When he was gone, I sat again by the fire and thought. Now William Buckland had enthused about the plesiosaurus, I wanted more than ever to see it. If I didn't while it was still in Lyme, I might never get another chance, especially if he found a private buyer who would keep it in his house, inaccessible to someone like me.

Mary would be cleaning and preparing the specimen for the next several weeks, rarely leaving it, and not at predictable moments. I did not know how I could get to it without seeing her. However, I could not face her. I had grown used to not facing her, to not thinking about the superiority she felt to me. I did not want to open that wound again.

On Sunday, however, I got an unexpected chance. We were walking along Coombe Street towards St Michael's when I saw ahead of us all three Annings enter the Congregationalist Chapel. I was used to seeing Mary in the distance. It no longer made me want to bolt, for she was doing her best to ignore me too.

Once inside St Michael's, I sat with my sisters and Bessy, and while Reverend Jones led us in prayer, I thought about the Annings' empty house just around the corner.

I began to cough, first a stray one here and there, then building up so that it sounded as if I had a persistent tickle in my throat I could not get rid of. Neighbours shifted in their seats and glanced around, and Margaret and Louise looked at me with concern.

'The cold is bothering my throat,' I whispered to Louise. 'I'd best go home. But you stay--I'll be fine.' I slipped into the aisle before she could argue. Reverend Jones gazed at me as I hurried away, and I swear he knew that I was putting fossils before church.

Outside, I discovered that Bessy had followed me. 'Oh Bessy, you needn't come with me,' I said. 'Go back inside.' Bessy shook her head stubbornly. 'No, ma'am, I has to relight the fire for you.'

'I am perfectly capable of lighting the fire myself. Some days I do, when I get up before you, as you well know.'

Bessy frowned, displeased to be reminded that I sometimes caught her out. 'Miss Margaret told me to come with you,' she muttered.

'Well, go back in and tell Margaret I sent you back. Surely you'd rather stay so that you can say hello to your friends