Echoes of Aether

by Gail B Williams

  Jade grinned right back. “Besides, I don’t have room for a lady’s maid, too.” The falsely superior tone earned him a swift elbow to the ribs. Clearly, this was a Forester family habit.

  “Just as well I can afford a hotel, then.”

  “Shame there’s not one around.”

  The siblings made faces at each other. This surprised Maker. While he and his brother and sister would quietly make fun of each other, even between themselves, they weren’t this easy. In recent years, the separation of his being in London and their being in Northumberland, and not welcomed by Violet, had robbed him of even that. Suddenly Amethyst looked at her brother seriously.

  “Come back to London.”

  Jade lost a certain amount of his shine too. “Can’t. You know what Father’s like.”

  “Forget Father. Stay with me. Emerald’s getting married in a few weeks, you have to come down for that.”

  “Emerald’s getting married?”

  “Who’s Emerald?” Bobbie asked.

  “The elder of our two younger sisters.”

  Bobbie frowned. “Indicating you have an older sister?”

  They nodded.

  “Sapphire,” Jade said.

  “I must have mentioned her to you.”

  “You’ve mentioned Sapphire, you’ve spoken of having a sister, but not sisters.”

  “Oh sorry. I’ll invite them all over one day, as long as you don’t mind being around two lively children.”

  “Two?” Jade asked. “Who had the second one? Good Lord, what else have I missed?”

  “Well,” Amethyst said, “you wouldn’t have missed anything if you’d tried staying in touch.”

  The rebuke landed well, but left no bitter aftertaste.

  “But, to catch you up, Sapphire had her daughter, Summer, before you left, and a few months ago she also had a son, Winter. And we’re currently waiting to find out if we’re going to have a Spring or an Autumn later this year. Honestly, our family and names – it’s like we’re always going for a full set. Who knows what’ll happen if Sapphire ever has a fifth.’

  ‘Holy days?’ suggested Jade. ‘Pentecost Forester? Lent?’

  Amethyst shot him a look, and he grinned at her, till she affected icy resolution and continued. “Jasper has sold the business he’d started before you left and at quite a profit. He’s started up three others since then and is in the process of negotiating the sale of two of those. Emerald is marrying Marlon Barnett in a fortnight, he’s a lovely man, I’m sure the two of you will get on famously. He’s a lawyer. He helped me with the patent applications on DMAC and the screen. Ruby is trying to avoid school and generally rebelling against being the youngest. And since I last saw you, I’ve invented prismatic glass, negotiated a good licencing agreement with the Sanderson Glass Company and inherited half a house in Belgravia, not to mention a small fortune.”

  Bobbie leaned towards the slack-jawed Jade. “It’s not that small a fortune.”

  “And I thought I was doing well. So, when you were talking about a housekeeper and a lady’s maid, you mean your housekeeper and lady’s maid, not Lord Montgomery’s?”

  She nodded.

  “Oh.” He paused, still assimilating. “Who did you inherit all that from?”

  “Professor Richards.” The smile that spread softened her face with the true affection she’d had for the man. “Wonderful man. He taught me so much about aetherics, and he gave up his free time to do it, since the university wouldn’t let me study officially.”

  Jade shook his head sadly. “Can’t believe how much I’ve missed. And to think you only started looking at it because it annoyed Mother.”

  “No, I was interested anyway. But her reaction kept me studying when I might not have, and that as a motivation faded rather quickly. Though truth be told, she’s still not happy with the field, given what it’s cost her.”

  Jade’s tankard thud. “Cost her? What’s it ever cost her?”

  Amethyst rolled her eyes. “You, you idiot. You’re still her son and she misses you. Come back to London. Please.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “You know why.” He glanced at Jenson.

  Jenson shrugged. “You don’t make a thing of it, I won’t.”

  “Of what?” Maker asked.

  Everyone looked at him, incredulous that he should ask. Amethyst looked to Jade, who offered a small shrug. Another moment of consideration, then she spoke softly. “You know how I like men?”

  He didn’t know where this was going. “Yes.”

  “She’s not the only one.”

  For a moment he looked at Jade, then the penny dropped. “Ah.” He shrugged. It wasn’t his business and like Jenson, if Jade didn’t make an issue of it, he wouldn’t either. It would be a little hypocritical, all things considered; like the challenging look from Bobbie. He turned to Jenson. “Duty?”

  Jenson shrugged. “I work to the law, but occasionally I get to choose how to apply it. Some laws don’t make sense, especially when they don’t apply evenly. I don’t have a hand in making the law, but you do. Perhaps it’s something Parliament should reconsider.”

  It probably was, but Maker doubted it was a battle he could win. Still, he wouldn’t dismiss the idea entirely yet.

  “Anyway, I have a business here,” Jade told Amethyst. “What would I do in London?”

  “Do what you said the other day. Set up a business manufacturing DMACs.”

  “I’ve no idea where to start.”

  “Start by talking to Jasp…” Her voice cut off and her eyes focused towards the back of the pub, then quickly to Jenson and back to her brother. “Talk to Jasper.”

  She might be carrying on as normal, but Maker noted Jenson’s attention swing, then he stopped Bobbie looking and ostensibly turned back to the conversation. When Maker turned to look, a tap of Amethyst’s foot brought his attention back to the table.

  “I’m sure he’d be interested in helping with the set up anyway, he is something of a serial entrepreneur. We’d need to find a precision engineering company to make the metal components, but there are loads of those in London. Sandersons would manufacture the glass. I’ve got the designs, but would need a mechanic to set up the production line and support Jasper with the sales, which would be perfect for you. And London offers the best opportunity to make sales substantial enough to make the business worthwhile.”

  “You mean go into business with you and Jasper?”

  “Well it would be you and Jasper really, I’d just licence my ideas to you. I tend not to be that interested once the solution is found.”

  “I don’t have the money for an equal share.”

  “I’d supply the money, you’d do the work.”

  “It’s called venture capitalism,” Maker surprised everyone at the table by saying. “She puts up the initial amount capital, then in the articles of partnership or incorporation you decide how that’s to be repaid and how you would work up into an equal share of the equity holding.” He turned to Amethyst. “You might need to remain involved for research and development, such enterprises tend to need frequent and renewed innovation to stay at the top of the market.”

  There followed something of a stunned pause. He looked around to see the small party all staring at him.

  “A good idea then,” Jenson said.

  “Full sentences and sage advice from Maker?” Bobbie said. “Must be.”

  It was Maker’s turn to have others laugh at him. It felt surprisingly good.

  Chapter 43

  “When are you heading back to London?” Chalmers asked of Jenson as the first course of dinner was served.

  Jenson sat at the far end of the table, seeming a long way away. Amethyst looked at Monty, so near at hand. She had to answer him, but she didn’t want to upset him. Under the apparently jovial surface, she began to see cracks in Montgomery’s armour.

  “Not yet,” Jenson answered evenly.

  “You intend to trespas
s upon our host’s good nature, then?” Violet asked.

  Amethyst carefully lay her knife down lest her grip betray how much she would like to stab the woman.

  “That’s hardly fair,” Willimena said.

  “Not when your job was actually completed by Madame Esmeralda,” Charlotte added. “After all, it was the séance that actually found Stephen.”

  Great-Aunt Flora pinned the youngest girl with a hard glare. “Your grasp on the facts is really quite unbelievable, deary.”

  Amethyst bit her lip at hid the laugh when Charlotte mistakenly took that for a compliment.

  “I am working with the local police constable on another matter that has arisen. He has asked me to consult and stay in the area.”

  “That’s hardly Lord Montgomery’s issue, why should he pay to house and feed a police inspector he doesn’t need.”

  “Especially a Jew,” Charlotte’s whispered sneer wasn’t missed.

  Amethyst didn’t miss the slight tightening in Jenson’s eyes either.

  “Of course, now that Stephen has been identified as being here, albeit incorporeally, if Lord Montgomery wishes to withdraw his invitation for me to stay, I’m sure I can find accommodation elsewhere.”

  “No stay, please.” Monty’s quick response surprised everyone. “At least while the rest of the party is here.”

  The rest of the dinner went without incident. While the others chattered, Amethyst tried to keep up. She wasn’t exactly making scintillating conversation, but as the others allowed the noise to rise, she leaned towards Monty.

  “We need to talk.”

  He smiled widely as he looked at her, but that didn’t last. She didn’t smile back. The nod was small, but agreement all the same. “Later.”

    

  Exhausted, Amethyst wanted to go to bed, to get some sleep, but she needed to talk to Monty, to give him his answer. Only tonight he was allowing himself to be monopolised by the Chalmers girls. She looked around. Maker and Jenson fought across the chessboard. Violet sat begrudgingly with Bobbie, Lady Garrington-Smythe and Great-Aunt Flora. Finally, Amethyst failed to hold back the yawn.

  Great-Aunt Flora commented, and Amethyst blinked and looked up, unsure what had been said. With a smile, she agreed bedtime had arrived. A glance at the clock confirmed midnight had passed. As she and Great-Aunt Flora bid all goodnight and went up to bed, the way they moved made her wonder which one of them was the elderly relative.

  “Did you finally answer the man?”

  She shook her head. “I told him at dinner that we needed to talk, he said later, but never broke away from the Chalmers’.”

  “Probably didn’t want to. He must have realised it’s not going to be a yes.” They had reached her Great-Aunt Flora’s room now. “Do you want to stay with me tonight?”

  She smiled and kissed the old cheek. “No, I’ll lock my door, and have the conversation in the morning.”

    

  The knocking rattled her dream.

  A door rattled.

  The sound was not in her head. Amethyst blinked and came out of the dream.

  The doorknob turned. Someone was trying to get in. Pushing back the covers, she reached for her dressing gown and pulled it on as she padded over to the door.

  “It’s locked for a reason.”

  “You said you wanted to talk.”

  Monty. Yes she did, but not in her nightgown. “In the morning. We’ll talk in private.”

  “We can talk in private now, if you just open the door.”

  Her stomach roiled. She wanted to get this over with. But she’d been locking this door every night for a reason.

  “Come on Amethyst, let me in.”

  Great-Aunt Flora would never forgive her.

  “You know you want to.”

  Her hand was on the key.

  “Please, Amethyst, I just need to talk.”

    

  “Worried?”

  Jenson glanced up at Maker as they made their way slowly up the stairs.

  “Yes.”

  They had continued playing chess long after they wanted to, just to keep an eye on what Lord Montgomery did. It seemed likely that he would be attending Willimena’s bed that night, but in silent mutual agreement, they wanted to be sure. “In pain?”

  “Indeed.” His obvious grip on the banister to help pull himself up the stairs couldn’t be ignored.

  “Blanchard has secured you a separate room now, hasn’t he?”

  Maker nodded.

  “Why didn’t you arrange that to start with?”

  “Violet.”

  “Why?”

  This time Maker shrugged. “Torture?”

  “You shouldn’t have to put up with it.”

  “Marriage.”

  Another painful step. “This is not what marriage is about. I don’t care how many vows you’ve made, she’s broken more. She acts like she hates you.”

  “She does.”

  That made no sense. “Why?”

  “My fault.”

  Jenson didn’t, wouldn’t believe that. They had just reached the top of the stairs and started moving towards the bedroom corridor.

  “One day,” Maker said as they moved slowly. “One day I’ll explain it to you.”

  “Ow!”

  A bang followed the yelp.

  “Amethyst.”

  Without a thought, Jenson broke into a sprint and, pushing aside his own pain, Maker was right beside him. They made Amethyst’s door, which stood open, Maker, being on that side of the corridor, got there first. Monty had Amethyst pinned to the bed. She had a grip of both his ears and given how she was pushing his head away, it seemed likely she’d rip them off. The problem was that Monty’s hands had dragged up the multiple layers of her dressing gown and night shirt, exposing thigh and hip.

  Maker moved fast, pain put aside in the moment of need. A dim part of Jenson’s mind recognised that that was adrenalin kicking in. Maker was on Monty in a moment, hands on the man’s shoulders, dragging him up and away. Amethyst let go and once free, she rolled away, covering herself.

  Jenson stepped into the room as Maker, his face for once full of expression, full of hate, propelled Montgomery against the wall.

  Amethyst slid on the floor, turned away from him. Shivers wracked her body, but no sound of crying came. Jenson went to her. Pushing away any concerns for propriety, he pulled her to him, held her close. She leaned willingly against him.

  “You know where Violet and the Chalmers girls are,” Maker snarled at Monty. “Use who you want, but you touch Amethyst again and I’ll break every bone in your body.”

  Jenson shared the sentiment, but was surprised by the venomous roar of words from Maker.

  “No, wait. Please.”

  Jenson looked up to see Monty cowering and Maker, arm and fist ready for a killer punch.

  He felt Amethyst take a deep breath.

  “Let him go.”

  Maker didn’t move. Amethyst did. She stood up and Jenson stood with her. Her hand sought his and he held on, offering whatever support she needed, careful not to press on her damaged finger.

  Monty was crying now. “Amethyst, I’m sorry.”

  “I’m sure you are. Sorry you got caught out. Maker, stand down. This pathetic man isn’t worth your trouble.”

  The fist unclenched, slow as a thaw. The arm lowered and Maker let go of Monty’s shirt front to step back and away, stopping only at Amethyst’s side. The three of them glowered over the lord, who sank in tears against the wall.

  “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  “Why did you even attempt it?”

  “You only had to say yes, but you didn’t.” He looked up at Amethyst, very much the sullen little boy. A spoilt little brat. “You have to marry me, I have to have you.”

  “My money, you mean?” said Amethyst. “You have to have my money. Just how much do you owe?”

  He named the sum, showing no surprise that she knew where his
real interests lay. Jenson doubted he’d earn that much in a lifetime. Amethyst gasped and even Maker looked a little shocked, for all the expressionless mask was reforming on his features.

  “But it’s not just the money. They would forgive the debt, well some of it, if Stephen had given them the machine they wanted. But he wouldn’t agree to it. He refused to help Vostock any more, wouldn’t give him the plans, not even a hint of what the mechanics were. Stephen even broke up the machine he was working on.”

  “The transmitter?”

  “No.” Monty shook his head. “No, that was his next project. The other one. I don’t know what it was.”

  Jenson had a sick feeling that the rest of them did.

  “Vostock says his boss is getting impatient. If I don’t get the money and the plans to him, they’ll kill me. Please.” On his knees now, Monty put his hands together in supplication. “Please, you have to help me.”

  “No.”

  Amethyst put her free hand on Maker’s arm, though she maintained the solid grip on Jenson’s hand.

  “Lord Montgomery, I don’t think there’s anything any of us can really do to help you. But we’ll think about it. For now, just get the hell out of my room and don’t come back, because next time I’ll have Stephen’s A-Gun, and it’ll be on the highest setting.”

  Chapter 44

  Breakfast was an awful, awkward affair, Amethyst ate quickly and rushed to the workroom, she really needed to get on and finish the job. She no longer felt safe in the house. Though she had put up a good fight last night, for the first time she realised that when a man was determined, she really was at a disadvantage simply because she was small and relatively weaker. If Maker and Jenson hadn’t come along, last night might have ended up very differently and she might now be shackled forever to a man she could barely look at this morning.

  Last night, after Monty had slunk away, she, Maker and Jenson had talked about possible moves. It would be wrong of her to deny that she wanted them to stay and help calm her nerves. She’d curled up on the bed, Gladstone purring and demanding her attention as they discussed options. Getting Stephen back had to be their main concern. Monty was best served by an absence of a public answer to maintain the status quo. It wasn’t a satisfactory conclusion, it was just all they had. They had agreed to meet to talk later. Talking it out, knowing she had the men’s support, reassured her. Stroking the cat was calming too, and at least the cat would stay the night for company.