Disclaimer: Doc Martin and recognisable storylines belong to Buffalo Pictures.

Initiative - Chapter 6

"Yes," said Gerry. "It was once the pride and joy of my father's. Kept it on a pedestal. Only 'e could clean it, wind it, know anything about it, for that matter. It's been sitting quiet in the ole 'ouse since me Mum passed away. And I thought, it's 'is 80th this year. Why not fix it up and chiming again? Anyway, long story short. I 'eard a funny sound when I was winding it."

As he spoke, he opened the box, lifted out a mantel clock, and set it on the counter. It had four glass sides, through which you could see the chiming coil and workings. It was ormolu decorated, and Louisa thought it was one of the prettiest things she'd ever seen. The enamel was particularly beautiful, colored in a light blue and rose pattern.

She had to admit, she also liked the way Martin looked at the clock. His brow furrowed, and he almost pouted. He was probably evaluating the external treatment of the clock before taking on its inner problem.

"Well, shall we get the formalities out o' the way?" asked Reg.

"Insurance papers," Martin said quietly to Louisa.

Martin and Gerry went with Reg, who carried the clock, to his office.

Louisa walked slowly around the shop, stopping to watch the movement of several pendulum clocks. She was smiling at a cuckoo clock chiming the hour, when Martin paused at the doorway to watch her. The way she tilted her head, her ponytail responding to her movements... he could look at her all day.

He came out and stood beside her.

"They are repackaging the clock in a proper shipping crate," he told her. "Because of the glass sides."

Louisa glanced back at the cuckoo clock.

"The first use of an automaton bird is credited to a Greek mathematician," said Martin. "In the 2nd century BC, he used water to sound a whistle and make a model owl move."

"So long ago! I thought they were always made in the Black Forest."

"They have been, for some time. Late 17th century.

"Da Vinci designed a more accurate clock around the turn of the 16th century, but the use of pendulums was not until 200 years after him. Timekeeping as we know it today wasn't important until the 20th century. Day and night, 12-hour shifts for soldiers, which week of the year to plant, and when the Nile would flood, that's what mattered."

Louisa wondered if anyone else was ever as mesmerised by his voice as she was at the moment.

"The controlling mechanism began with three parts in a vertical arrangement: the crown wheel, verge, and foliot balance."

She watched him use his hands as he demonstrated the different mechanical parts and their movements, making claw- and spider-shapes, twisting his wrists and twirling his fingers.

"Weights on the horizontal foliot could be moved to adjust timekeeping. The verge had two blades protruding at nearly a right angle so one would catch the teeth of the crown wheel and start it moving, and the other would stop it from moving too far. That type of clock was accurate to within two hours, in the 14th century. But later came the pendulum.

"Galileo had studied the regularity of swinging bodies, but through circumstance is not credited, as is the Dutchman, Huygens, for adding this device to clocks. The verge was now turned horizontal, and accuracy was immediately increased.

"Next, a device called an anchor escapement was added. It was basically a lop-sided C-shape. It controlled the swing of the pendulum, making it so it wouldn't have to swing so far. Also, minute hands could be added to clocks.

"Pendulums were replaced by the anchor escapement. Then, electronic timepieces overtook mechanical ones in the 1930s. Quartz watches are most accurate today, but I like having a mechanical watch."

He subconsciously half-turned his wrist and looked at his watch.

"Does it tick?" asked Louisa.

Martin brought his watch to his ear, saying, "Yes." Then offered Louisa a chance to listen.

She took hold of his arm and put her ear and the watch close together. She smiled at the lovely ticking sound, then continued smiling as she sensed Martin breathing in the smell of her hair.

Martin closed his eyes as he breathed in a mixture of scents, from wood and wood polish and bergamot, undoubtedly from steeping Earl Grey tea, to the most tantalising and close, Louisa's hair. Coconut, he'd decided as he opened his eyes. Louisa turned towards him, then, smiling, and Reg returned to the storefront.

"So, all that's done, then. Gerry's in the loo, and tea is ready, if you'd like a cuppa," he said, cheerily. "Oh, Louisa, forgive my manners. I haven't even offered you the facilities yet. Just through and at the back on the left."

"Thank you," said Louisa. "And I would love some tea. Martin?"

Trying to keep up, and act differently, Martin had already anticipated the offer and had his answer ready.

"Yes, thank you."

- oo0oo –

Gerry had to leave without tea, as he was meeting his family for their weekly dinner. Martin had used the facilities during the goodbyes, and returned to hear Reg gloating about the fixes that no one else could do, done by one Doctor Ellingham.

"He just has a way with clocks," said Reg. "Knows when cleaning, or a touch of sanding, or straightening a metal part is the answer."

"How did you two meet?" asked Louisa.

Reg didn't let Martin answer. "I had a clock that none of my regulars could figure out, so I started calling shops around Devon, who then recommended shops in Cornwall. One shop said he had a guy who hadn't done much work for him, but was surely the man who could solve any clock problem. He was right. So now I call on Martin when I have a clock that seems hopeless."

Martin's head hung through most of this, with a slight shake or two as he listened. Louisa looked at him until he finally met her eyes. She looked, dare he think, proud of him? He felt very warm then, in a good way. He looked at his watch for a distraction, and immediately realised how late it had become. Louisa had wasted enough of her Sunday already.

"Um, we should probably be heading back," he said. "Don't want to take more of your time."

"Well, you know that's no problem. But I wouldn't want to keep Louisa," said Reg.

"I have had a very nice time," said Louisa. "Learned some things about clocks, too." She sort of pointed towards the inner doorway, "I'll just... be a minute."

After she'd gone through, Reg smiled at Martin. "She's a keeper."

"Umm." Martin hadn't anticipated that. "We, umm. She..." He sighed. He was completely out of his depth, but he decided to just say it. "I hope so."

"It's okay, Martin. I always like to poke and pry, but I think you have nothing to worry about. Just be more sure when you deal with her." He winked and said, "I'll get the clock."

Martin said, "I'll get my car."

End of Chapter 6