moisture from his eyes. “Words express my gratitude poorly, I am afraid, but please allow me to thank you.”
“I did nothing that any friend would not.” Her own face was flaming scarlet by now—probably blotching in a most unappealing way. “Andrew risked his life kskeorly, I in an attempt to give chase and to assist your captains, God rest their brave souls. And Alice was the one to ascertain your injuries at first and suggest a course of action.”
He pulled Alice and Andrew close and somehow managed to enfold all three of them in a hug that made up in feeling what it lacked in finesse. “I will never forget it.” He released them and cleared his throat, seating himself at last in the chair the earl held for him. “You have only to say a word and I will do anything in my power to repay my debt.”
Alice shook her head. “There is no debt, sir. Seeing you on your feet is reward enough for me—for us, if I can make so bold as to speak for Claire and—and Mr. Malvern.”
Claire could only nod in agreement, and wonder why she did not look at either of them. Both she and Andrew seemed unusually silent this morning. Had some other dreadful thing happened? But how could it? Perhaps there had been more in the note Alice had received last night than she had believed.
They settled around the table. On either side of Claire, the Mopsies seemed torn between choosing a jam for their biscuits and staring at the count. They knew the entire tale, of course, but Claire wondered whether they knew exactly who their guest was. Or perhaps they did not need to know. Perhaps it was enough for them to count him as a friend, with no trappings of rank or strings attached.
Davina passed a tray of eggs on toast to the count, and followed it with another loaded with sausages. “We have just been discussing our plans to lift today, Ferdinand. I must confess to a mother’s fears for her child’s safety. Balls and visiting and outings to the theatre are all very well, but when laid in the balance next to last night’s events, they come up very short indeed.”
“You must not blame Edmonton for last night, my dear,” the count said, putting three fat sausages on his plate. “I have long since resigned myself to the fact that there are those who do not see progress and achievement in the same light as we.”
“Perhaps not, but when they start shooting to prove their point, something must be done.”
“Believe me, something will.” He glanced at Tigg, who was cutting a sausage for Willie. “But we will not speak of it in front of the children.”
“Why not?” Lizzie asked, suddenly as prickly as a cactus at this affront to her capabilities. “The Lady ent afraid to start shooting, nor Alice—and me and Maggie, we’re not so shabby with the gaseous capsaicin, neither.”
Count von Zeppelin choked on his sausage, and while the earl clapped him on the back, Claire tried heroically not to laugh.
Lizzie seemed rather pleased to have caused such a sensation. Maggie elbowed her and spoke up. “Jake’s the Lady’s second cos Snouts ent ’ere, so ’e can fire the lightning rifle when ’e’s got it. Even our Willie’s done his duty as a scout when ’e’s ’ad to. None of us is little babies in prams.” She considered for a moment, then added, “Sir.”
The count drained half his coffee and gave a mighty swallow. “I consider mys k coingelf corrected, and look forward to discovering exactly what is this gaseous capsaicin, to say nothing of lightning rifles.”
“Don’t forget the firelamps, Lizzie,” Willie said. “I like those the best.”
Davina stared at him. “What on earth…?”
“Getting back to our plans,” Claire interjected hastily, “I should be glad to go to the mine sooner rather than later. His lordship has been telling us of the great engines in use there to drill down to where the diamonds are embedded. I should like very much to see them.”
“From what I hear, sooner is better than later,” Alice said, and told them about the danger of the ice. “We’d have to lift and be out of here pretty soon, anyway,” she finished, “considering the snow will fly any day now.”
“Then let me tell you what my men have discovered,” the count said with a long look at the Mopsies, who smiled sunny smiles and addressed themselves at last to the