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reason
for his visit. 'He is still recovering from that awful dirigible
crash.'
    'I won't be long,' Aubrey said. 'I'd just like to chat with
him.'
    'He can chat when he's well again.'
    'And when will that be?'
    'I can't say.'
    'Then who can say?'
    'The doctors.'
    'Can I talk with the doctors then?'
    'No. They're busy.'
    Aubrey was about to give up in the face of such a
formidable defence when a black-uniformed figure
marched down the stairs and through the reception area.
Aubrey waved and went after him. 'Captain Tallis!'
    The Special Services chief stopped. 'Ah, Fitzwilliam,'
he said suspiciously. 'What are you doing here?'
    'I thought I'd see how our Gallian airman is.' He
nodded toward the matron at the reception window.
She was following their conversation and frowning. 'But
I have substantial impediment.'
    'Why didn't you tell her that your father is Prime
Minister? That should do the trick.'
    Aubrey smiled back at him. That's the last thing I'd do ,
he thought. If I can't manage by myself, I won't manage at all. 'I thought you could help me. You're providing a guard
for Captain Saltin?'
    Captain Tallis studied him. Aubrey knew that the
Special Services operative didn't have a high regard for
him, summing him up as a rich and privileged busybody.
While Aubrey couldn't do much about the rich and
privileged part of that judgement, he thought that
'busybody' was going too far. 'Albion wouldn't want
anything to happen to one of our allies,' Tallis said. 'We
want him to be safe.'
    'I won't be long,' Aubrey said. 'And I guarantee I won't
harm him.'
    Tallis grunted and marched to the reception desk. 'He's
with me,' he said to the matron.
    'Is he really the Prime Minister's son?' she asked, eyes
narrowed.
    'Oh yes,' Tallis said. 'He has a lot to live up to, doesn't
he?'
    Aubrey winced. You don't have to tell me that , he thought.
    As they mounted the stairs, Tallis glanced at him. 'Have
you seen that Miss Hepworth at all lately?'
    Aubrey nearly tripped at the unexpectedness of the
question, but steadied himself on the handrail. 'Not
often. She's been spending time with my mother,
though, at the Albion Museum. She's become her assistant,
helping with classifying specimens.'
    'She hasn't mentioned my offer, then?'
    Aubrey stared at him. 'What offer?'
    'I thought you knew. After that business with the
Sorcerer Royal, I asked if she'd considered a career in
the service.' He paused at the landing. 'Competent young
lady. Without her, Dr Tremaine's plans to kill the King and
throw us into war with Holmland might have succeeded.'
    Aubrey felt both irritated and pleased. Irritated
because Tallis seemed determined to overlook Aubrey's
part in preventing Dr Tremaine's mad plans, but pleased
that the Special Services chief recognised Caroline's
remarkable talents. Expert markswoman, ornithopter
pilot and naturalist, as well as exceptionally talented at
hand-to-hand combat, languages and dancing – he could
see why Tallis thought she would be an asset.
    The Special Services operative outside the ward
saluted Captain Tallis and studied Aubrey closely. Inside,
the sole occupant sat up in his bed and inspected them
quizzically.
    'Saltin,' Tallis said. 'This is Mr Aubrey Fitzwilliam. He
was the one who saved you.'
    'Fitzwilliam!' Captain Saltin said in accented
Albionish. 'They told me what you did! I owe you my
life! I am in your debt, forever!'
    The Gallian had lost his eyebrows in the blaze, but
Aubrey noticed they were already starting to grow back,
thick and black to match his moustache. 'I'm glad to see
you're well.'
    'Well? I am alive, a second life you've given to me.
Why would I not be well?' Saltin beamed. 'When I
return to my home, I will tell my wife that we will name
our firstborn child after you. The entire town of Chrétien
will know of your deeds, then the province of Marchmaine,
then the whole of Gallia!'
    Aubrey blushed. 'You don't have to do that.'
    Saltin went to jump out of his bed, but Tallis restrained
him. 'But I want