gathered a small head of steam while she had paused it and forgotten to release the pressure valve, and with this, they leaped down the road at a headlong pace.
With one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the acceleration bar, Claire peered wildly into the night hoping nothing would smash their one remaining lantern.
“What happened?” she managed between chattering teeth.
“Dead, both of them.” Andrew’s tone was grim, his face carved in stone at the edge of her vision. “And while I was searching for signs of life, a bullet missed me by half an inch.” He raised his arm. “It passed right through my sleeve. The second one went over my head when I ducked behind the landau.”
Claire could not look, though she heard Alice gasp. Her gaze was fastened on the ribbon of road ahead and she could not look away.
“But who—how could anyone—”
“I do not know, but I fully intend to find out,” Andrew said. “It could only have been someone who knew when our party would leave Government House—and that the count would be piloting. For it must be he who was their target.”
“An assassination?” Alice squeaked.
“With a silent weapon.” Claire risked a glance at Andrew. “You heard no report, such as gunpowder would make?”
“None. Nothing but the whine of the bullet, and then the impact.”
“So no indication of where the gunman stood.”
“We must return in the morning to search the area, and notify the authorities.”
“We can’t go back to Government House,” Alice said. “Not now. It’s too risky.”
“We can only hope there is medical aid on the count’s airship.” Claire pushed the acceleration bar out as far as it would go, and they flew through the night on the landau’s towering wheels as though the hounds of hell were after them.
Chapter 10
Claire had barely brought the Daimler to a hissing, growling stop—something must have been punctured under the chassis during their plunging flight to the airfield—when it was swarmed by the count’s men. In less time than she would ever have thought possible, he had been removed from the rear seat and borne aboard the ship.
She was bundled off to sick bay herself, and a stinging concoction applied to her temple and cheek where the isinglass fragments had struck her.
“You were lucky,” the officer murmured, dabbing the excess away and applying sticking plasters. “The hood of your cloak protected your arms and shoulders, and the cuts are not deep.”
“I wish I could say the same for the count.” Claire’s voice wobbled. “Please, can you tell me if he will be all right?er t ^th="2bsp
“It is my first concern, after your welfare,” he said gallantly. “Please, rest for a moment and I will find out. In the meanwhile, mein herr und fraulein, you are certain you are not injured in any way?”
From the white-sheeted bunks next to her own, Alice shook her head and Andrew said, “No, not at all. Lady Claire and the count suffered the brunt of the first attack. When the captains tried to come to his assistance, they were shot. By the time I reached them, it was already too late.”
“Ist so?” The second officer’s gaze hardened. “We will send a detachment. They will bring in our fallen companions and search for the ones who did this.”
Claire had a feeling they would find as little evidence of anyone being there as they’d had warning of a shot, but all the same, she was glad that men of competence were swinging into action. This was an international crime, she thought, struggling to keep her mind clear. If the count took a turn for the worse, the consequences could be grave.
There might even be war, if Prussia blamed the government of the Canadas.
She did not want to be in a war. She wanted to go home, to the cottage by the river, to Carrick House, to Gwyn Place …
“Claire! Herr Doktor, she is going to faint.”
The darkness feinted at the corners of her vision, and no matter what she did, she could not stop its advance.
When she opened her eyes several minutes later, Alice’s and Andrew’s anxious faces were hovering over her. “Claire? Can you hear me?”
“Yes. I am perfectly well.” She struggled to sit up on the pristine white pallet. “I was merely overcome for a moment.” Her head still swam a little, but if she said so, they would fuss, and this was no time for fussing. “Have we heard anything of the count’s condition?”