‘She’s rich, old man,’ George said, chortling.
‘Less rich than I was.’ She glowered. ‘That last school cost a packet. Papa wasn’t happy when he saw how little was in my bank account. He was even less happy when he found out that I forged his signature.’
‘And thus Miss Jarvis,’ Aubrey said. At first he’d been taken aback at the new recruit’s unconventional ways, but he couldn’t deny that they made her an engaging colleague. Insouciant was the word that seemed to fit her best, as long as he looked past her striking physical characteristics. That golden hair, for instance, waves and curls of it...
‘And thus Miss Jarvis,’ she agreed. ‘I was looking to make it number seventeen when all this came up.’
‘All this? The war?’
She waved a hand. ‘That’s right. The war. What a relief. I was on the verge of doing something perfectly dreadful at Miss Jarvis’s School just to relieve the boredom, and the next thing you know I’m thrown in with people like George and life is exciting again.’
‘Just doing my best for morale. Teamwork, cooperation, that sort of thing.’ George plucked a loose thread from his sleeve. ‘Important stuff in today’s army. Or today’s Special Services.’
Aubrey wondered if Elspeth knew about Sophie Delroy. He’d ask George later, when they were alone. ‘How does your mother feel about your joining up, Miss Mattingly?’
She laughed. ‘So proper! I think “Elspeth” will do, don’t you? Since we’re part of the same unit?’
Aubrey swallowed. Her gaze was very direct, and disconcertingly beautiful. ‘Of course. Elspeth. I’m Aubrey.’
‘I know, remember?’ She touched him on the back of the hand and looked directly into his eyes. ‘My mother died when I was small. I barely remember her.’
Aubrey knew then that this was further proof that he had an unexpected magical talent: the ability to put his foot in it whenever he was talking with an attractive female. It was eerie how well it worked. It was probably ripe for further research and a paper or two in the leading journals. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘Sadness and loss are part of life’s richness, I always say.’
‘That’s remarkably philosophical of you.’
She smiled with a hint of challenge. ‘I’m a remarkable philosopher.’
‘And I’m sure the Directorate has “Highly Developed Philosophising” as one of its most keenly sought-after skills.’
‘And I’d call that that a joke, if I were being generous.’
‘Nicely done, Elspeth,’ George put in. ‘Most people can’t tell if Aubrey’s joking or not. Terrible delivery, he has.’
After this, they shared details of their lives in that slightly awkward, slightly thrilling way that Aubrey enjoyed. It was like opening a new book and plunging into an unfamiliar world.
Elspeth’s father was solidly well-off, coming from a family of wine merchants. Being the fourth generation in the firm, he was more of a businessman than a shopkeeper, and his travels on the Continent had meant that Elspeth was quite the polyglot. She spoke ten different languages fluently, and could get by in a handful of others.
In return for this disclosure, she probed him with delightfully naïve questions about spell casting. Those with no magical ability or background often wanted Aubrey to explain the most basic aspects of magic, but in this case he found Elspeth’s enquiries both charming and amusing, and was happy to spend time answering them.
An hour flew past in such appealing company and after George recounted a rambling and hilarious story about his training in explosives, he began telling Elspeth about Sophie Delroy.
Aubrey was willing to admit he was not entirely adroit when it came to matters of the opposite sex, but even he knew that telling one young woman how fascinating, intelligent and pretty he found another young woman was a poor way to open negotiations with any hope of a future.
Which means that George is loyal to Sophie, Aubrey thought with relief, and that he simply enjoys the company of attractive young women.
Elspeth proved to be an eager recruit. She could barely restrain herself when they arrived at the training facility, putting a hand on his arm and peering through the glass when the omnibus reached the gatehouse. When it pulled up at the commandant’s headquarters, she fairly herded Aubrey and George off in her keenness.
‘We’re going to be the best team in the Directorate,’ she announced as they alighted. In the warm sun and faced with such enthusiasm, Aubrey wasn’t about to disagree.
The rest of the day was spent on a variety of exercises that were handed out by instructors who appeared to relish the fiendishness of them. Elspeth’s linguistic abilities were tested by having to interpret newspaper clippings, business invoices, operational manuals and personal letters, in half a dozen different languages. When translated, these would give George and Aubrey complicated instructions on tasks that involved variously repairing machinery, casting spells or a combination of both.
When the light was fading, and Aubrey and George were tightening the last bolts on a detached ornithopter engine, the captain who’d brought them together strode into the workshop. Aubrey’s salute was tired, George’s even more so. Elspeth greeted him with a brightness that belied her weariness. ‘Captain Foster. Anything else you’d like us to do? A tunnel between Albion and the Continent, perhaps?’
‘Hrrrumph.’ He pointed with a riding crop. ‘You missed that fuel line, Doyle.’
‘He’s just leaving it until last, sir,’ Elspeth said. ‘That’s what the documents said to do.’
‘Hmm. Well, finish it off and then read these.’
Elspeth took the large envelope. ‘Details of our Exmouth Marsh mission, sir?’
Captain Foster shook his head. ‘There’s been a change of plans. Exmouth Marsh is off. You have new orders.’
‘Off?’ George echoed. He looked unreasonably disappointed, Aubrey thought, at the prospect of missing out on a muddy frolic, complete with mosquitoes and leeches.
‘We’re accelerating things. You’re to be sent on assignment.’
‘But we’ve just started training,’ Aubrey said. ‘They can’t send us into the field yet.’
‘Needs must when the devil drives,’ Captain Foster said. ‘You’ve been ordered to the Gallian Embassy to observe and assist an experienced team. Tomorrow. It’s straightforward, but useful experience.’
Aubrey wiped his hands on a greasy cloth. This was more like it.
Captain Foster frowned. ‘Mattingly, you’re general liaison and we also want you to talk to their coding department. Fitzwilliam, there’s some sort of magical mess that you’re supposed to help out with. You’ll be reporting to Major Morton, who’s already on site working on the unexploded bombs.’
Aubrey looked at George and Elspeth, then back at Captain Foster. ‘Bombs?’
‘Dropped by one of those skyfleets last night. Magical and non-magical, apparently.’
Aubrey remembered Woodberry’s news. ‘These attacks have been continuing?’
‘We’ve had a dozen strikes in the last week, but we’ve kept them quiet. Mostly on the coast, but we’ve had a number in the capital. Not to worry. Major Morton is our best man for this sort of thing.’
‘What about me, sir?’ George asked. ‘I’m happy to escort these two around, but I can’t imagine they’re in any physical danger in the heart of Trinovant.’
‘You’d be surprised,’ Foster said darkly. ‘Holmland spies are everywhere these days, but that’s not your role.’ He smiled in a calculating way. ‘You did the extra explosives training, didn’t you, Doyle?’