with five hundred miles of sky to deal with.”
“I imagine Andrew is every bit as agitated about this as you are. Perhaps it will be a relief to know that I would rather act as your engineer than sit on the Lady Lucy staring out the window wondering how the girls are doing. We might even send a message to the count suggesting that he give Andrew a working tour of the Margrethe. After all, we do not know if he will get another opportunity.”
“I knew you would help me.”
“Didn’t you tell me once that we women must stick together?”
“I meant it.”
“And so do I.” Claire got up and extended a hand to pull Alice to her feet. “Come. Rosie and I will help you pack. I do not think all of your new clothes are going to fit into your locker on the Lass, so we will have to ask Davina if you may borrow a trunk.”
*
The Mopsies were delighted that they were to have the Lady practically to themselves for the flight to the diamond fields … though by the fourth hour, when it appeared they would not be called upon to defend the ship, they began to get restless.
“How much further?” Lizzie whined, gazing down at the endless stretch of land far below, covered in thin pines and punctuated occasionally by a lake or a river. “There ent a thing down there but trees.”
“And reindeer,” Maggie put in, pointing. “There’s another ’erd.”
“They call them caribou in these parts,” Alice said. “That’s a big herd. Must be thousands of them.”
“I do hope Davina does not want to put down and shoot one.” Claire came to join her at the window as they sailed over the enormous running flow of animals, which swerved under the airships’ three shadows and galloped in the opposite direction.
But the Lady Lucy did not alter her elevation, merely kept a steady speed and an unchanging heading of north by northwest.
Lizzie wandered back toward the engine, and a moment later popped back into the gondola. “Alice—we gots a pigeon coming.”
“A pigeon,” Alice repeated blankly. “Where on earth from? There is nothing here for miles.”
“It dropped out of the Land-whatsit’s belly, behind us. Maybe the count will fly over and visit.”
“Lizzie, the count is hardly likely to strap on a rocket pack at his age,” Claire said, smiling at the picture. “It is probably a message between captains.”
But it was not.
When the pigeon tucked itself into its landing bay, Alice pulled the pouch out of its belly and read the piece of paper within. Then, her lips thinning, she handed it to Claire and stalked forward to relieve a protesting Jake at the tiller.
Dear Alice,
In the absence of a single moment alone with you, and in the face of Claire’s sudden change of mind, I have contrived to communicate in this rather unusual manner. The count is a gracious host, and his pigeons being otherwise unoccupied, he has allowed me the use of one.
I wish to apologize for my behavior of last night. It was unpardonable and you have every right not to speak to me. sk tal manne
However, I hope that in time you will find it in your heart to forgive me. I should not like to see you take to the skies knowing that you had not.
Sincerely,
Andrew Malvern
Claire folded the letter under Lizzie’s inquisitive gaze. “I beg yer pardon, wot’s ’at?”
“It is a letter to Alice, and none of our business.”
“But she gave it to you to read.”
Drat Lizzie’s logical mind. “She did. It is from Mr. Malvern, on the Margrethe.”
Lizzie’s jaw dropped a little. “Mr. Malvern is sendin’ our Alice letters in the middle of the sky? Is ’e in love wiv ’er, now, and not you?”
Good heavens. “Lizzie, for pity’s sake, where on earth do you get your ideas?”
“Tisn’t an idea, is it, Mags?” She appealed to her sister, who was sitting at the map station cutting up a slab of chocolate with Jake’s knife. “Mr. Malvern’s sweet on t’Lady, innit?”
Alice’s back became ramrod straight as she tipped the wheel a degree to port, following the course of the Lady Lucy ahead of them.
“Aye.” Maggie handed Jake a piece, then Lizzie and Claire. “Want some chocolate, Alice? It’s ever so fine.”
To Claire’s relief, Alice released the wheel long enough to take some. “If you nosy nellies are done discussing my letter, you might clear out and let Jake see his charts. I want this route plotted before we moor, in case