Aubrey stared, then realised that Kiefer was simply continuing the earlier conversation. ‘I’m sorry to hear that.’
‘I wanted them,’ Kiefer continued, desolate. ‘Not just because of the findings.’
‘Catalytic magic. Much work is going on in this area.’
Kiefer shrugged. ‘This is so. The notes will help my career, that is true. But I wanted them because they belonged to him. My father.’
‘Of course.’
Kiefer pushed his spectacles back on his nose. ‘I will have my revenge, you know. With your help or without it.’
Kiefer’s quiet determination was impressive, but it also had a brittle edge, as if he’d fired his revenge for too long and while it had become hard, it had also become breakable.
‘Dr Tremaine is no ordinary enemy,’ Aubrey advised. ‘Don’t do anything rash.’
‘Rash? Rash is not my way. I am here after much planning, much pondering.’ His face fell. ‘My plans did not go as I had hoped, it seems. Tremaine must have intercepted the letters from Uncle Maurice, found the Beccaria Cage and prepared it for you.’
‘Perhaps.’ Aubrey had come to a different conclusion. While Dr Tremaine wasn’t above making the most of an opportunity, he was the great instigator of schemes. Aubrey could see him tinkering with a Beccaria Cage, secreting his mind-controlling spell, and then sending a bogus letter to Maurice alerting him to the presence of the artefact. The arch-manipulator, setting the wheels in motion, then moving on to his next scheme.
Aubrey couldn’t help but feel for the despairing Holmlander. ‘Don’t worry, Kiefer. I understand what you want. But we must be cautious.’
‘You have reasons to bring him down?’
‘I do.’
‘Then let us work together.’ Kiefer held up a hand. ‘But please do not mistake me. I am no traitor. I love my country and I will do nothing to harm it.’
‘I see.’
‘I am glad.’ He scowled. ‘Your Dr Tremaine is not good for Holmland. The sooner he is out, the better.’ Kiefer set off again, but after a few steps he stopped and turned around. ‘That way,’ he said, leading back the way they’d come.
A few minutes later, he clapped his hands together and rubbed them, his bony elbows posing a hazard to passing traffic. ‘We are here.’
They’d left Little Pickling and come to a neat, orderly street in nearby Crozier. The street was lined with townhouses, four or five storeys tall, all made of clean red brick. At the end of the street was the imposing bulk of the Showellstyle Station.
‘Von Stralick has rooms here?’
‘He owns the whole building.’ Kiefer pointed at the townhouse in front of them.
‘Really? The importing and exporting business must be doing well.’
Kiefer looked thoughtful for a moment, then shrugged. He mounted the stairs and clattered the brass doorknocker.
Aubrey was still gazing upward, trying to count windows and rooms, when the door opened and von Stralick stood there. ‘Ah, Otto. You’ve found him. Very good.’
Aubrey climbed the stairs. ‘Von Stralick. You want something?’
Von Stralick looked pained, then ushered Aubrey and Kiefer inside. He closed the door before answering. ‘I want to help you stop Dr Tremaine.’
Aubrey was immediately suspicious. Hugo von Stralick was both opportunistic and self-interested. An offer of help like this, unasked for, was something to be approached very, very carefully. ‘For purely altruistic reasons?’
‘I could say that getting rid of Dr Tremaine would be good for Holmland, but that all depends on how you see the future direction of our country.’ He coughed into his hand. ‘I know you may find this hard to believe, but I have a personal reason for stopping him.’
‘Go on.’
‘My late superior, the man I reported to, was more than a colleague. He was an old friend and a good man. A family man. He didn’t deserve what happened. I help you stop Tremaine, I will get great satisfaction.’
It sounded plausible. Perhaps too plausible? Aubrey wasn’t about to accept such a declaration at face value. He needed time to think. ‘Er. What about a cup of tea first?’
Von Stralick raised an eyebrow, then chuckled. ‘Tea. A standard Albionite delaying tactic. Otto?’
‘Of course. And what about some of those tasty Albion scones? I can make some if you like.’
He rushed down the dimly lit hall.
Von Stralick glanced at Aubrey and shrugged. ‘He does try to be useful.’
‘So I see. I hope he knows his way around the kitchen.’
‘Do not underestimate him, Fitzwilliam.’ Von Stralick winced at a crash that came from the direction that Kiefer had gone. ‘He is very talented, in a number of fields. And he is determined to succeed.’
‘In gaining revenge on Dr Tremaine?’
‘Yes. But Otto is ambitious in a more practical sense. He wants wealth and position and feels that he has missed out on it. That is why he came to study in your country, in hopes of the advancement he desperately wants.’
‘He thinks it’s owed to him,’ Aubrey said softly, ‘because of the unfulfilled promises made to his father.’
Von Stralick glanced sharply at him then smiled. ‘You are quick, Fitzwilliam.’
Aubrey shrugged. ‘Do you mind if I use your telephone while the water is boiling?’
The door knocker hammered while they were enjoying Kiefer’s surprisingly excellent scones.
Von Stralick left the drawing room, frowning, and returned, frowning. ‘I would have appreciated it if you’d asked me before you extended an invitation to my home.’
Aubrey stood and felt immeasurably better to see Caroline and George. ‘I thought I needed to even the odds.’
Von Stralick nodded his head. ‘Of course you did.’ He bowed. ‘Miss Hepworth. Doyle.’
Caroline was dressed in a grey outfit and she carried a small leather bag. She looked puzzled, but didn’t say anything.
George was in tweeds, as if he were off for an afternoon in the country. ‘Von Stralick. Nice place you have here. Who did you steal it from?’
‘Very droll, Doyle,’ von Stralick said. ‘You should consider a music hall career.’
He led them to the dining room. A large oval table took up the middle of the room, while windows looked over a small courtyard with hydrangeas. The dining room had sideboards and glass-fronted cabinets. On inspection, Aubrey could see that none of them were cheap.
They arranged themselves around the oval table. Aubrey and von Stralick faced each other at the ends, while Aubrey had Caroline on his left and George on his right. Von Stralick had Kiefer on his right. The balance was in Aubrey’s favour, which was how he preferred to begin an encounter.
Aubrey opened. ‘Before we were set upon at the café, I suggested that we move against Dr Tremaine. Together.’
Von Stralick raised a finger. ‘Point of order, Mr Chairman. Before we were set upon? It seemed to me that the telephonic assassin singled you out, Fitzwilliam.’
Caroline cut in. ‘Be that as it may. Dr Tremaine needs to be stopped, the sooner the better.’
Von Stralick turned to Kiefer. ‘Dr Tremaine was responsible for her father’s death. She seeks vengeance.’
Caroline clasped her hands in front of her and Aubrey saw that the quicks were white. ‘I seek justice.’
Von Stralick chuckled. ‘And isn’t it fortunate for you that justice and vengeance coincide, in this case?’
Aubrey could see Caroline making a mental note of von Stralick’s condescension, for later. Not a good start to our alliance, he thought. ‘Von Stralick,’ he said hurriedly. ‘What has Dr Tremaine been up to lately? Surely you have recent information.’