Cedric and I answered in unison, “No!” Feeling some relief at the suggestion that the letter had not come directly from Buttenshaw, I then added, “Kenneth may have been concerned about Sophia marrying, but I know the man well enough to believe that he would have told me face to face if he had any particular reservations about me personally. He cannot have failed to observe how close the two of us have become in recent months.”
Holmes continued, “If we take that as an accurate assessment, what possible motive would Ford have had for falsifying the letter?”
Cedric offered a suggestion. “Perhaps he believed that if Sophia married and was taken away from Darlington, the business might suffer, with Kenneth Buttenshaw unable to deal with all of the administrative affairs of the factory.”
“I think that unlikely, Mr. Stone. In fact, if Callum Ford had desires to take a more controlling role within the business, such a development would have played right into his hands. With Sophia out of the way, Buttenshaw would have little choice but to relinquish even more power to the chemist.”
“Then you do believe that Ford’s ultimate plan was to wrest ownership of the business away from Buttenshaw?” I then asked.
“Yes.” Holmes paused briefly, removing a small briar pipe from a pocket, which he proceeded to fill from a leather pouch. “Applying for and securing an industrial patent can take some time. I have little doubt that Ford registered the patent application as soon as he realised the new dyeing process worked effectively. And now that he has successfully obtained the patent, he could hold the factory to ransom. Without the dyeing process, Buttenshaw will be unable to continue to manufacture his lucrative Coburg Cloth.”
A brass band struck up somewhere in the distance. In the late afternoon there was still a lot of activity across the fair, although I barely registered any of it, so intent was I on listening to what Holmes had to say. He continued to expound on his thoughts. “Kenneth Buttenshaw must now know of Ford’s successful patent application, but he may not have realised the full ramifications of it.”
It was Cedric who then interjected. “Why do you say that?”
“I believe there is a more logical explanation for what has occurred, and the intentions that Callum Ford now has,” reasoned Holmes. “Let us suppose that his primary reason for intercepting and responding to the letter from Mr. Hughes was to stop the engagement happening. He pens his response and then tells Miss Buttenshaw what he has done, revealing his own affections for her.”
I choked at the suggestion, trying to stifle my anger. “Sophia would hear none of it! She would not be swayed by such a man. It is unthinkable, Mr. Holmes!”
“Not if he then threatened to ruin the business by taking his services and ownership of the patent with him. After her meeting with the patent lawyers, she would be fully aware of the position that Ford now occupied, news that she may well have kept from her father in trying to protect him. At the very least, I believe that Ford forced her to write to you, ending the courtship – a task she appears to have done with a very heavy heart. But he may still entertain the notion that he can win her affections and take over the business. A convenient marriage would enable him to achieve both.”
Cedric could see my obvious distress and intervened. “How much of this is likely to be known by Kenneth Buttenshaw?” he asked.
“I would say that he knows nothing of what has occurred,” came the reply. “If he is as direct and resourceful as you have suggested, Mr. Hughes, I imagine he would not take too kindly to anyone trying to blackmail one of his children.”
I regained my composure on hearing this. “I will not give up on this matter. How do you think I should now proceed?”
As with all of the revelations he had imparted that afternoon, his response was not what I had expected. “You must leave this affair in my capable hands. I cannot promise to resolve it overnight, but would hope to bring you some news within a few days.” And with that, he would speak no more of the matter. Some twenty minutes later he thanked us for our hospitality, and with a broad smile and swift wave of the hand left the fair to head back to London.
Two days passed, and on the morning of the third day he was as good as his word. I received a knock on the door of my private study just before ten o’clock. A young pupil handed me a telegram which had just been delivered. The message was short and blunt. Holmes would be visiting the school that afternoon with news – I was to expect him at three o’clock.
The arrival of the Clarence carriage that afternoon created quite a stir, the clatter of the growler’s wheels, and clip-clopping of the horses’ hooves on the fan-laid cobbles along the approach to the school turning many a head. I raced from the refectory to greet the carriage and was taken aback to see that Holmes was not alone. Accompanying him were Kenneth Buttenshaw and my dear Sophia. Kenneth was effusive in his greeting, removing his Derby, shaking my hand vigorously, and announcing how good it was to see me. Sophia held my gaze – just as she had
