Free Word of Honour by Michael Pryor Page A

then gave a slight shrug.
Aubrey thought he looked tired. 'Father has an ulcer, the
doctor says, and that's a miracle in itself.'
    'An ulcer is a miracle?'
    'No, the fact that Father actually saw a doctor.'
    Sir Darius shook George's hand. 'I'm sorry to hear
your father's unwell, George. Please send my regards.'
    'I will, sir. He'll appreciate it.'
    'And let me know if I can do anything.'
    George made a face. 'Oh, sir, you know he won't have
any of that. The doctor says he must stop worrying, but
that's difficult right at the moment.'
    Sir Darius laughed. 'Still the same stubborn William
Doyle.'
    Harris, the butler, had been standing silently, but at
that moment he lifted his fist and coughed into it. This
discreet display was followed by an infinitesimal tilt of
his grey-haired head in the direction of a table next to
the front door. It was piled high with dispatch boxes.
    Sir Darius caught Harris's gesture, followed it, studied
the tower of officialdom, and groaned. 'Aubrey. George.
If you'll excuse me. I have some catching-up to do.'
    He took the top three boxes. Harris took the remainder.
Together, laden with the affairs of state, they started
up the stairs.
    Sir Darius stopped halfway. Without turning, he said,
'Aubrey. If you're not seeing the jewellers today, make
sure you put the ruby in the safe.'
    'Of course.' Aubrey fielded George's puzzlement
cleanly and knew something that might brighten his
friend's spirits. 'I'll tell you over lunch.'
    A few hours later, with the afternoon fully mature
and the table a picture of devastation, George sat back
and picked crumbs from his chest. Aubrey thought his
friend had begun the meal in a distant, abstracted mood,
but he'd grown more interested as the story unfolded.
Hands laced on his chest, he nodded at Aubrey. 'Magic
suppressors, valuable family heirlooms, attempted bank
robberies and the reappearance of Mr Clive Rokeby-Taylor. Have I missed anything?'
    'No, not really.'
    'Right. In that case, it sounds to me that we both need
a last bit of relaxation, fun and frivolity, before we go up
to Greythorn.'
    'You're not anticipating any fun and frivolity at the
university?'
    'Not me, old man. Watch. Next week I'll have my head
down in those books, the model student.'
    'That's something I'm looking forward to. I always look
forward to a miracle.'
    George ignored him. 'But tonight, let's take in a show.'
    Aubrey grimaced. He'd been thinking of how he
could see Caroline again. Without offending her. Again.
'Why would I want to do that?'
    'I've asked Caroline along.'
    'A show. Splendid idea, George. What time?'

    'Y OU'RE SURE SHE SAID SHE'D MEET US THERE ?'
    The hansom cab ambled along the street toward the
theatre district. Aubrey wished that they'd taken some
more speedy form of transport. A lightning bolt, for
instance.
    'No, not at all.'
    'What?'
    'She said she'd meet me there. I didn't tell her that you
were coming.'
    'George, Caroline Hepworth isn't a fool. She'll at least
suspect that you've invited me as well.'
    'She still agreed to come, didn't she? What does that
tell you?'
    Aubrey stared at his friend without seeing him. His
thoughts whirled. Caroline had left for the Arctic with
the express purpose of not seeing him, the polar region
being a renowned Aubrey-free environment. And yet,
here she was back in Albion and after a few days she
was already trying to find a way to see him. Or, at least,
she wasn't going out of her way to avoid him, which was
a great improvement on her project of putting thousands
of miles of icecap between her and him.
    'Don't jump to conclusions,' George advised. Then he
slapped his forehead. 'What am I saying? You've probably
leapfrogged a few dozen conclusions while you've been
sitting there.'
    'Perhaps,' Aubrey allowed.
    'Well, don't. Sit back. Relax. Think about how you're
not going to make a fool of yourself when you see her.'
    'Believe me, George, I'm always thinking that.'
    The theatre district was one of Aubrey's favourite parts
of the