"Kidnapped by constructs? That sounds ominous! Oh dear, oh dear, I thought maybe she had just gone to play with her friends or something while Helen was at work and Helen was just getting over-excited, but this sounds much more nefarious..."
"Can I see it?"
*He takes a look at Kharas's sorted pieces.*
"Your thoughts, dearest?" the Professor offers Elizabeth a chance to speak first.
"The design is passingly similar to several of our blueprints, especially these mithral wings, but a careful analysis proves that they are fundamentally different, despite surface similarities. Also, the inner gear material is exotic and doesn't match either the ordinary steel chassis or the wings."
"Excellent, darling--you are brilliant as usual," the Professor replies enthusiastically, kissing her on the lips.
*Kharas notices based on the Professor's expression that Professor Henley had already thought of all that but is proud of Elizabeth all the same. He probably let her go first because he wanted her to get a chance to originate a good idea, and he loves her and wants her to feel confident and proud.*
"Now then, based on the evidence pointed out by my dearest Elizabeth, as well as analysis of that mark, which seems to hold passing similarities to my own as well, I would think that this must be a clumsy attempt by someone to frame me or Elizabeth or both for the kidnapping. Whoever did so must have been hoping that the Watch or whoever got involved wouldn't notice the difference. I could never believe Helen would do anything like that, and besides, the framing attempt fails if competent Artificers check out the crime scene, and she hired you, so that rules her out..."
*His voice becomes grave.*
"Actually, I think I know what the problem is. You see...there was this dark tome being held in the Morgrave University library, but it was stolen, and I'm going to need you three to find it for me...Can you--"
*Elizabeth starts giggling delightedly as if at some joke.*
"Oh you! Stop!"
*The Professor grins and pulls her close for a side-hug.*
"Sorry, sorry. Just trying to diffuse the tension, my love," he turns to the others, "That was a bit of topical humour--it seems like every third day something exactly like that happens with a tome. Not this time--unfortunately, I don't actually have any ideas."