Heart of Gold

'That's what Bertie says too.' Aubrey slit open the envelope.

Aubrey read the letter carefully, then sat back. He studied George, who was enjoying a pastry. 'Aren't you going to ask me what the letter says?'

'No need, old man. You'll tell me when you're ready.'

'Hmm.' Aubrey took a roll from the basket. He buttered it and then added some strawberry jam. 'Have you ever been nagged by an heir to the throne of a major country, George?'

'I'll take that as a rather obvious rhetorical question.' George poured himself a hot chocolate. 'The Prince is looking for some results of our investigations?'

Aubrey folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. 'In the politest way. After hoping that I'm enjoying my holiday, and telling me of the extra work he's had to take on since the King's latest bad turn.'

'Ah. Which would made him even more conscious of his family's . . . indisposition.'

'Precisely.'

Aubrey applied himself to his breakfast with an appetite that he found most satisfying.

As he was finishing, Madame Calvert entered the room. She stood with her hands clasped. 'A young lady has called for you. Unchaperoned.'

Aubrey leapt to his feet. 'Miss Hepworth?'

'She's waiting in the parlour.' Madame Calvert paused. 'She seems a self-possessed young lady.'

'Yes. Well. She's Ophelia Hepworth's daughter.'

Madame Calvert looked impressed. 'Oh. Of course.' She smiled and her disapproval vanished. 'I didn't realise the Hepworths were in Lutetia.'

'Just Mrs Hepworth and her daughter. Professor Hepworth passed away recently.'

'I'm sorry to hear that.' She studied her hands for a moment. 'I was fortunate to be at Ophelia Hepworth's last exhibition. Tell me, is she painting at the moment?'

'I believe so. She's accompanying her daughter while she studies at the university.' As soon as I can sort that one out, Aubrey added to himself.

'Young Miss Hepworth is studying art, I presume?'

'Taxonomy.'

Madame Calvert shook her head, but she was smiling as she did. 'An unconventional family. In the best sense.'

'She's in the parlour?'

CAROLINE WAS SITTING ON A BENCH IN THE WINDOW. Aubrey paused a moment in the doorway, admiring the way the morning sun illuminated the hair that escaped her no doubt stylish bonnet.

She saw him. 'Aubrey.'

'Caroline. Good morning.' He decided to try gallantry. 'I like the colour of your jacket. Peach. Or apricot. Something fruity. Melon?'

She glanced down. 'I'd call it pink.'

'That was my next guess.' He sat in a high-backed cane chair opposite the window seat. 'What can I do for you?'

She shook her head. 'I want to know what I can do for you.'

'That's rather an open question . . .' he began, but she dismissed such frivolity with a glance. 'I'm not sure what you mean.'

'The Heart of Gold. We must find it.'

He studied her for a moment, which was an exercise he found extremely pleasing. 'You're enjoying this, aren't you?'

She made a quick flipping gesture that wasn't quite a denial. 'Lives are at stake.'

'True, but it's exhilarating, isn't it? The danger, the risk, daring to do great deeds.'

'That's how you feel, is it?'

He smiled wryly. 'My mother warned me about being a hero. She says it becomes addictive.'

Caroline stood. Aubrey was immediately on his feet. 'I understand what she means,' she said. 'But I simply came to offer my help. I feel you and George have a greater chance of success if I'm with you.'

Aubrey noted her evasions and decided that she did enjoy the thrill. She was an adventurer at heart, which meant she appealed to him even more.

He felt a twinge at his manipulation of her time in Lutetia, but he assured himself it would be all right in the end and everyone would understand. Or they may not even know about it, he thought, if I can do some very quick manoeuvring . . .

'George and I will meet you here in ten minutes,' he said. He wanted to make sure he was prepared. He decided a jacket with many pockets would be best.

'Where are we going?'

'On an adventure.'

THEY STOOD IN CONSCIENTIOUSNESS STREET, JUST OUTSIDE the university. The sky was brooding, as if it were about to rain but were holding off for the most inconvenient time possible.

Aubrey pointed. 'The Faculty of Magic. We can use the tower to track the Heart of Gold.' He told Caroline about the sensitivity of the old building.

'You'll need another brick,' George pointed out. 'And a map.'

'Let's go and see Maurice.'

Maurice took some time to answer their banging at the door. When he did, he listened to their request uneasily, shifting from one foot to the other. 'No,' he said when Aubrey finished. 'I cannot allow it.'

'Come now, old chap,' George said. 'Just one brick. It won't hurt.'

'You don't know this place like I do.' He beat at his chest with the flat of one hand, to emphasise his point. 'There's been strange smells and sounds coming from Professor Castillon's rooms after I took that last brick. I had to board up the door, but that didn't stop the whimpering.' He looked over his shoulder. 'The place wasn't happy.'

'We understand,' Aubrey said. 'But this is important.'

'So you say. But so is this place, for me, even if most people have forgotten it.' He shook his head. 'I wish you luck.'

He closed the heavy door. The sound of a bolt sliding home confirmed that he wasn't interested in further discussion.

Aubrey shrugged. 'A dead end, I fear.'

'Surely not, old man,' George protested. 'A bit of magic, get this door unbolted, then we can tie him up and choose a brick. Simple.'

'I think not. Apart from the rights and wrongs of such action, I'm not sure old Maurice is as helpless as he looks.' He slapped the wall. 'He's been in this place for a long time. If magic soaked into the bricks, I wonder what Maurice has absorbed?'

'Then how are we going to find the Heart of Gold?' Caroline asked.

Aubrey patted his pocket. 'These fragments have lost most of their potency, but if we can get somewhere close to the Heart, they might show us exactly where it is.'

George brightened. 'Don't forget the wolf. If we hear it again tonight, I'm sure we can track it down, which might bring us near enough.'

'Good idea.' Aubrey hummed a little. 'Until then, let's do some work for Bertie. He's asked me to look at the Church of the Innocents.'

'Really?' Caroline tilted her head. 'Are you sure that's the most pressing item on your list?'

'Hardly. But it will give us an excuse to move through the city. Lacking any better method, we might simply be fortunate and blunder close to the Heart of Gold. I'll feel the brick fragments stirring if we do.'