Author's note: And this is the last of the 'buildup chapters.' All previous caveats apply!
*****
It was a moment Sarah would always remember, being announced with James as she entered the main ballroom of India House. She knew there were more than a few envious eyes on her as James escorted her on his arm and, for a moment, she allowed herself the little fantasy that she had been announced as Mrs. James Davidson.
Of course, the story behind hers and James' delay had circulated around the room, and when the Governor-General greeted the couple he remarked, "My Commissioner of Police is very cross with you, young man. Wants me to ask you to leave some miscreants for the official police."
As the young couple made their way to the sideboard, James waved at the young German Prince, who was standing next to a rather large, intricate model of the Prometheus and its launching platform.
"We'll stop by there in a few minutes, James," Sarah assured him, "but there are a few people you will need to speak to first. And, of course, there are certain ladies present you will need to dance with."
"I was under the impression that I would be dancing with you all evening, Lady Brent," James answered.
Sarah smiled and patted James on the cheek. "That's very sweet of you, James, but of course that's quite impossible." Before James could object, Sarah put a finger lightly on his lips. "I see that you are as unschooled on these matters as poor Willie. Fortunately, he's always had the good sense to listen to mother and me on these matters, and it would be wise of you to follow suit. The Japanese consul is in attendance and has brought his daughter. He will undoubtedly wish to demonstrate that he can conduct himself in a fashion equal to any European in attendance, which means he will wish his daughter escorted on the floor for at least one dance. Since the Prometheus is the event whose hour has come, he will undoubtedly expect an ethernaut to do the honors. And since you and Willie are the only two of that esteemed company who aren't complete wastrels," Sarah added with a smile, "the honor will fall to you."
"Where is your brother, anyway?" James asked, looking around.
"We'll get to him momentarily," Sarah answered. "I see that dreadful French woman is in attendance, and since her charge is a ward of the Peerage, it would be good form for you to lead her on the floor. The young charge, that is. She's something of an enigma."
"Anyone else?"
"Emily Waggoner." James stiffened at the mention of that name. "James, I believe it's time for you and Emily to bury the proverbial hatchet. She is a very fine young lady, and my very good friend. As amusing as this feud between you two has been, I believe that, after the events of tonight, the time has come for it to cease. So you will have at least once dance with her. And I think a private chat as well."
"As you wish, Lady Brent," James said with an affected sigh of defeat. "Anyone else?"
"My mother, of course. She will wish to take the measure of the man who has been such a good friend to both of her children on this island. There she is now." Sarah turned and led James toward Lord William Brent, who was standing to the right of a woman who appeared to be an older, sterner version of Sarah. On the other side of the older woman was a tall, willowy blond young woman.
I wonder if it's too late to go back to fighting Indians, James asked himself as Sarah led him over to meet the two women standing next to his best friend.
"Mr. James Davidson, may I present to you my mother, Lady Devon," Sarah said with a nod of her head toward the older woman.
James took Lady Devon's proffered hand and bowed over it, as Sarah had instructed him was the present custom.
"Willie you know, of course," Sarah continued, gesturing toward her brother, "and I have the honor of introducing the poor girl who mother has convinced to marry my rascal of a brother, Miss Kathryn Rice."
James bowed over the slender hand of the young willowy woman who would one day be the wife of the tenth Earl of Devon. She was certainly different from his friend's younger sister. For one thing, she was almost as tall as Lord Brent, who at five foot nine inches was second only to James himself in stature among the ethernaut corps. There was an enigmatic air about Miss Rice, and James was not quite sure what to make of her.
"From the look of that stripe on your chest, Mr. Davidson," Lady Devon announced tersely, "I may have to separate you from my son. I have the firm belief that the two of you compete to determine who will be the worse influence on the other."
That observation from Lady Devon quickly brought James out of his musing. Sarah was usually quiet and reserved until one got to know her, though she did have a forceful side, as she had demonstrated tonight. James wondered if Lady Devon's forthrightness would be a trait taken up by Sarah in the years to come.
"Mother! James was being chivalrous tonight," Sarah replied.
"I'm having a bit of sport with Mr. Davidson, Sarah. No harm done." James wasn't sure how to interpret the emotions behind the gaze Lady Devon leveled on him. "From all reports, Mr. Davidson is an American Lancelot. Or perhaps Galahad would be more fitting. Whichever it is, would you be so good as to escort me to the side table, Mr. Davidson? Sarah, you may stay behind and provide a suitable chaperone for Miss Rice and your brother." Sarah's mouth had been opened to issue a protest, but immediately closed when her mother deftly outmaneuvered any objections she could raise.
"It would be my honor, your Ladyship," James replied, offering Sarah's mother his arm, and wondering what lion's den he was being led into.
"So, Mr. Davidson," Sarah's mother began, as her and James stepped away from brother, sister and fiancée, "what are your intentions toward my daughter?"
James managed not to trip over his own feet.
"Strictly honorable, your ladyship."
"Of that I have no doubt, Mr. Davidson," Lady Devon responded. "Willie speaks very favorably of you. As does Sarah. By the by, let's take the long way around to the sideboard, shall we? And try to keep that look of disconcertation off your face. I do wish to speak with you about my daughter, but there are a few other topics I wish to touch on as well."
James, confused at the turn of the conversation, nodded dumbly.
"And speaking of my daughter," Lady Devon continued, "Am I assuming correctly that if the possibility of matrimony were to present itself, you might look upon such an opportunity in a favorable light?"
"Your ladyship, I have not allowed myself to dwell upon such a possibility," James responded neutrally. "Your daughter is part of your peerage, while I am just one rocket explosion away from living hand to mouth."
"Nonsense, Mr. Davidson. My husband informs me that the Company has already made back its investment even before the first launch. And he assures me a number of young men of ideas and adventure are making their way to this corner of the Empire because of you."
"Excuse me, your ladyship?"
"You heard me quite correctly, Mr. Davidson. Steer us to the right, if you please. I don't care to give that French woman the chance to eavesdrop on us." James dutifully redirected the two of them.
"Now, as I was saying, you are a young man of standing," Lady Devon observed, "and the British have always been fond of our explorers. I dare say if you were to put a notice in a London newspaper advertising for young men to follow you to the Moon, with very little chance of success, you would still have more volunteers than you would know what to do with. I would not doubt that there is a bent knee in your future, if you wish it. So I would think it safe to say that both my husband and I would consider a dashing young man who holds a high position in Mr. Edison's ventures to be a good prospect for our daughter."
"I...I don't know what to say, your ladyship," James managed to reply.
"Let it rest for now, Mr. Davidson. There are other matters I wish to discuss with you at present."
"First," Lady Devon began enumerating, "I wish to congratulate you on your handling of the Prince. More than a few wiser and grayer heads thought you might have made a mistake."
"Your ladyship, every man I have in my ethernaut corps has earned his spot," James replied earnestly. "The prince understands that now. And I think he'll appreciate it more if he earns his."
"His Highness had not led a life where he's had to earn anything, Mr. Davidson. He is a brilliant young man, but mercurial and without discipline. You and my son have managed to instill those virtues into him. What that mean for the future, I do not know." Lady Devon paused for a moment before continuing. "His father and grandfather are both strong, thriving men, so we may see a new century before his Highness sits on the German throne. But I think these years on St. Lucia away from Bismarck and his army of Prussian tutors will serve his Highness and the world well."
Lady Devon and James walked silently for a half a minute before she continued their conversation. "Now, Mr. Davidson, I'm going to share with you a confidence, because tonight you will be in a unique position to aid me."
"Me, your ladyship?" James was fairly sure he kept his voice from squeaking.
"You, Mr. Davidson. Twenty years ago, the older brother of a dear friend of mine met a young woman who was the younger daughter of a French Marquis. As you can imagine, such chance meetings can sometimes lead to...well, my dear friend's brother was an honorable man, and deeply in love. He was a Company man, a commander of one of their companies, and had obligations. But he did plan to return to France, and then England with his newfound love."
"Unfortunately, Mr. Davidson, the Company was embroiled in a small war in the northwestern part of India. Or perhaps further east, in Burma. It's been many years since the incident. My dear friend's brother did not return. The young French noblewoman who waited for him died in childbirth. When my dear friend discovered that her brother had produced a natural child, she immediately began a search for it, but the child had seemingly been swallowed up by the earth, never to be seen again."
"My dear friend came to me, knowing my husband's position in the Company, as well as my own friendships established in the Court. So my husband and I searched in a discrete manner, and found this natural child. Unfortunately, the child had come into the care of a certain woman whose unscrupulous nature I don't care to discuss. Because of the nature of the child's birth, my friend was not able to act in a straightforward manner. I have been able to act as my friend's agent and, using several ruses, have been able to provide for the child, but unfortunately, I cannot separate the child from her guardian."
