‘I’m pleased to help. An ally in time of need is worth more than gold.’
Aubrey was halfway down the stairs before he realised, with some astonishment, that his grandmother had been quoting the Scholar Tan to him.
I live with a family of first-rate surprisers.
He found his parents in Lady Rose’s drawing room, amid the ostrich feathers and papyrus tapestries. They were standing close to each other, holding both hands and talking in low voices.
‘Aubrey, good, I wanted to talk to you, too.’ His father’s face was drawn and the skin under his eyes was dull. He had monumental energy, but Aubrey could see that the times were taxing even him. ‘You’ve heard the news, I take it? Sit, sit. No need to stand around.’
Aubrey took an oriental lacquered chair he hadn’t seen before. It had a red velvet cushion. ‘War? It’s hard not to have heard.’
His mother and father took a small sofa directly opposite him. ‘Not that,’ his father said. ‘I’ve just come from the palace. His Majesty has taken a turn for the worse. After the King appeared to the crowd at the palace, he collapsed. He’s been confined to bed again.’
‘He has taken the news very poorly,’ Lady Rose said. ‘He was convinced that his cousin would never permit Holmland’s going to war.’
‘How’s Bertie holding up?’ Aubrey asked.
‘Stout fellow, Bertie,’ his father said. ‘He’s taken on even more of the royal duties.’
Aubrey was concerned for his friend. At a time like this, the nation was lucky to have Prince Albert, but it would be difficult to rally the nation and to tend to a dying father at the same time. He promised himself he’d visit Bertie when he could – but that reminded him that his immediate future was out of his hands.
He swallowed, circling around the delicate matter at hand. ‘And how is the mobilisation going?’
‘The fleet has already put to sea,’ his father said. ‘Every regiment is doing its best to ready itself. I’ve been promised that by the end of the week, we’ll be moving, but we’ll need to bring up troops from the colonies as well.’ Sir Darius touched his moustache. ‘We’re going to send an expeditionary force almost immediately – four infantry divisions and one cavalry.’
‘To the Low Countries?’
‘To north Gallia,’ Sir Darius said bleakly. ‘By the time we’re mobilised, it’s thought that the Holmlanders will have sliced through the Low Countries.’
The thought chilled Aubrey. The horror had begun. Towns, villages, farmhouses would already be trampled by the Holmland advance.
‘You went out today, Aubrey,’ Lady Rose said evenly.
‘Hmm,’ Sir Darius said. ‘I thought I’d asked that you stay here at Maidstone for the time being.’
This is it. He took a deep breath. ‘That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I know your time is valuable, Father, but it’s important.’
Sir Darius studied him, solemnly. ‘You’ve enlisted.’
Over the gasp of his mother, Aubrey felt as if he were a bowler who had just begun his run up and was tripped by an unseen foe. ‘You knew?’ Then his earlier irritation returned. Was nothing he did his own? ‘How many of your people are watching me? It didn’t take long for them to report.’
Lady Rose took her husband’s hand. Her knuckles were white. He glanced at her before answering. ‘I didn’t know. I simply asked myself what I would have done in your place.’
‘But you stuck me here to stop my enlisting!’
Sir Darius raised an eyebrow. ‘Did I? I thought the message was about stopping you from doing something foolish.’
We’re speaking the same language, Aubrey thought, his head spinning, but I’m not sure I understand at all. ‘Like joining up?’
Sir Darius sighed. ‘I knew that we’d have little chance of talking you out of joining up. So I thought what would be best is if George was alongside when you did. I hope he was.’
‘Oh.’ Aubrey sat back in the chair. The hard wooden back pressed into his spine, but he hardly noticed. ‘You wanted me to enlist?’
‘Well, I’m not going to say that,’ Lady Rose said. Her cheeks were pale, but her voice was calm. ‘I’d prefer to have you safe at home instead of bounding off in search of glory. But if you were happy with remaining behind, you must have undergone a radical personality change.’
Aubrey grimaced. ‘So you wanted George and me to enlist together?’
‘It seemed the best outcome,’ Sir Darius said.
‘But we haven’t. I mean, I’ve enlisted. And so has George. I think. The last I saw of him he was going to lunch with a very pretty Department operative.’
‘Aubrey,’ his mother said. ‘You’re starting to babble. Slow down. Tell us everything.’
He did.
‘I see,’ his father said when he’d finished. ‘The Magic Department. And you say George has been snapped up by the Special Services. I can’t say I’m surprised by either outcome.’ He gave a hoarse laugh, one with little actual amusement in it. ‘I wonder if they realise what’s ahead for them.’
‘What? The Department?’
‘No. The Holmlanders.’
Eight
Following the instructions on his enlistment papers – and still shaking his head at how his parents continued to confound his expectations – Aubrey presented himself back at Darnleigh House two days later.
It’s starting to feel like home, he thought as he glanced up at the glowering building. He was quite the veteran, being at the place so much lately. Standing on the pavement in a milling crowd, he probably was – at least, compared to those around him.
It was a mixed bunch, most of them holding papers similar to Aubrey’s. Drawing attention to themselves was the only characteristic they seemed to share, which made Aubrey wonder about their future in clandestine intelligence. Most of them appeared lost or befuddled, and not a few of them showed every sign of being daunted by the reputation of the building they were standing outside.
Before he entered, Aubrey allowed himself a wistful moment. Events had conspired against him and his mission to declare himself to Caroline. He was going to have to postpone it, much as he hated to. Although Caroline had no idea of his mission, he felt as if he were letting her down, which was something he’d vowed never to do.
Inside, Aubrey had to wait in line with more bewildered recruits. The entrance hall of Darnleigh House had the remains of its Gothic origins, with a soaring vaulted ceiling and narrow windows high in the pillared walls. It tended to automatically create a hush, once foot was set inside, especially given the rumours that were whispered about goings-on in the bowels of the edifice.
Aubrey took note of how varied his fellows were, even more than the volunteers at the recruiting centre. For a start, nearly a third of them were female, young and old. The males ranged in age, too. Quite a few looked to be Aubrey’s age, but others were mature adults, and some were middle-aged and even older. Aubrey saw one greybearded man hobbling toward the front desk with the assistance of a stick.
All Aubrey could assume was that Commander Craddock was untroubled by age or sex. Talent was his sole criterion. Although exactly what talents were of utility to the Department waited to be seen.
Doing his best to appear confident and assured, Aubrey presented his papers. They were stamped, filed, his name was crossed off a list, and he was given a sheaf of brand new forms and a slip of buff paper with instructions to go to Room 14a.
Aubrey hesitated, then turned back to the corporal who had processed him, but she was already working through the details of the next recruit. Aubrey nearly interrupted her but at the last moment he had second thoughts. He treated the situation as a test. What good would he be as a Department operative if he couldn’t find a room in the headquarters building?