Craddock entered. He took his hat from his head and beat it against his leg. Behind him was Tallis and Prince Albert, who was accompanying Caroline’s mother. The Prince saw the party at Aubrey’s table, waved and escorted Mrs Hepworth across the room.
Requisite greeting, bowing and curtseying completed, the Prince waited until Mrs Hepworth was seated before taking a place himself. ‘Have you heard the news? Your friend Kiefer has disappeared.’
‘Not exactly a friend,’ Aubrey said, with a pang. He’d liked Kiefer, despite his eccentricities, and he hated seeing the way Dr Tremaine used people and then discarded them. ‘An acquaintance.’
Tallis glanced at the open notebook he held. ‘Hollows’s people report that he’s not been seen in any of his old haunts since his speech.’
‘The poor boy who made the speech at the symposium?’ Ophelia Hepworth said.
‘The poor boy who seems to have helped Holmland to the secret of ammonia synthesis.’ Aubrey stopped and blinked. ‘He was studying pressure containment magic while he was at Greythorn. I’ll warrant that Dr Tremaine organised his placement here to facilitate that.’
‘Used and then thrown away,’ George said.
‘He’s not the only one who’s missing,’ Craddock said. ‘I believe you know Professor Mansfield? Ancient Languages at Greythorn? She was meant to present at the symposium but didn’t appear. Our Holmland operatives think she’s been abducted.’
Lady Rose put a hand to her mouth. ‘Mercy. Anne.’
Sir Darius took her other hand. ‘We’ll do what we can?’
Tallis made a decisive note. ‘Of course.’
Ophelia Hepworth looked puzzled. ‘I’d still like to know why poor Kiefer’s work on ammonia is so important. I thought his revelation about the Prince was far more interesting.’
Aubrey went first. ‘Explosives. Munitions. Holmland’s war preparations have been hampered by uncertain supplies of nitrates – which can be extracted from guano.’ He paused. ‘If you don’t have guano, you have to get it from ammonia, and that process has been hideously expensive.’
‘Until now,’ the Prince said.
‘Oh dear.’ Mrs Hepworth folded her hands on the table.
Sir Darius touched his moustache. ‘Our best estimates have said that the Holmland armed forces only had three months’ supply of bullets, for instance. Not enough for a serious war.’
‘But that’s all changed now,’ Aubrey said. ‘Cheap ammonia means plenty of bullets. Plenty of bombs. Plenty of torpedoes.’ He shuddered at the prospect. ‘I’m starting to think war is inevitable.’
‘That’s depressing,’ George said.
‘Is Dr Tremaine behind this?’ Caroline asked.
‘If it was just him, I think we’d have a chance of doing something. But after seeing the state of play in Fisherberg ... Too many important Holmlanders seem to think war might be an opportunity.’
‘War as an opportunity?’ Lady Rose said. ‘What a depraved notion.’
Sir Darius shrugged. ‘They see it as a chance to expand Holmland’s borders, to seize resources, to become the dominant nation on the Continent.’
‘And don’t forget profit,’ George pointed out. ‘War’s good for business, if you’re in the right business.’
George’s suggestion suddenly threw light on something that had been nagging at Aubrey. ‘That’s it, George. Baron von Grolman. That’s what he’s up to.’
‘The consummate businessman,’ Caroline said softly, immediately following Aubrey’s lead. She clenched a fist. ‘He’s not against war. He just wants to be in a position to make the most money from it.’
‘That would explain why he was interested in getting rid of Dr Tremaine,’ George said. ‘Tremaine was keeping the baron away from power.’
‘Sorry, Caroline,’ Aubrey said. ‘Sorry, Mrs Hepworth.’
‘Ophelia, Aubrey dear. And no need to apologise. Siggy has changed. I was glad to leave him behind.’
Aubrey slipped away as the others pulled apart the revelations. He was pleased when Caroline and George followed.
Together, they stood at the rail and watched as the great ship edged its way toward the dock. The pretty town of Imworth was perched overlooking the harbour, white-washed houses cheery in the sunlight.
‘Well, George,’ Aubrey said. ‘I suppose our adventure had left you with enough to fill a few newspapers?’
‘I’m not sure if the papers would be after the sort of thing I want to write.’
‘Meaning?’
‘I wouldn’t mind writing about the Holmland people, the ordinary folk, not the politicians. Good sorts, they are.’
‘Sounds as if you’re talking about a book.’
George looked alarmed. ‘A book? Steady on, old man. An essay is the sort of thing I was thinking about. Find a place for it in one of the journals, perhaps.’ He put his hands in his pockets. ‘Speaking of such, I’m heading down to talk to some of the sailors. Get their opinion about things, their view of what’s going on.’
Whistling, he strolled away, leaving Aubrey and Caroline alone.
‘He did that deliberately,’ Aubrey said.
‘I know. He’s very well-meaning.’
‘To a fault.’
The breeze ruffled Caroline’s hair. Aubrey thought it was the most wonderful thing he’d seen since he last looked at her.
‘Let’s just see what happens,’ she said suddenly.
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘You were going to ask about us.’
‘I was?’
She smiled. ‘Your need to know everything is one of your most appealing and most infuriating traits.’
The ship sounded its horn as it neared the dock but Aubrey didn’t hear anything over the roaring in his ears.
Appealing?
Some response was necessary. ‘We should let things take their course?’
‘It sounds like the most sensible idea.’
‘Sensible. I like sensible.’
‘I thought you would.’
‘And you won’t get irritated, or upset, if I press my suit?’
‘Press your suit? What a charmingly old-fashioned way of putting it.’
‘Charming? I can see it’s working already.’
‘Don’t get your hopes up. I reserve my right to be irritated, or upset, at any time.’
‘I’ll endeavour never to give you cause, then.’
Caroline gazed out at the welcoming sight of Albion waiting for them. ‘I’ll be interested to see how that turns out.’
As will I, thought Aubrey as they made their way, at last, into a safe harbour.
The unthinkable has happened: Albion is at war. Aubrey and George are swept up into the military – but not in the way they expect. With Caroline drafted into the Special Services, Aubrey is sure the combination of his magic, George’s practical skills and Caroline’s fighting secrets will make them a formidable team. But what if the military hierarchy has other ideas?
When Aubrey’s top secret espionage unit is sent to Gallia to investigate mysterious magical emanations, what they discover is intelligence gold. Holmland is about to unleash an unstoppable horror upon the world. It could win the war within weeks. Aubrey is in a dilemma: should he obey orders and simply observe, or should he and his friends do their best to stop a bloodbath?
Book Five: Moment of Truth is available at
all good retailers in August 2010