The Great Dame

Lady Emma Champerdowne, formerly Lieutenant Champerdowne of the 1st Devons Armored Infantry, lay sprawled on the bunk of her airship, Lilith.Her long legs, clad in riding boots, trailed onto the floor. Auburn hair cascaded down the back of her Imperial Red tunic with the green facings of the Devons.

Breton Thaws looked at Lilith’s commander from the cabin’s hatchway. Behind him, two big rotors turned over the ether containers that bore the ex-corvette through the sunny skies of Northern India with her cargo of Royal Mail. He sighed, then wedged his broad shoulders through the narrow door, ducking his bald head. Carefully, he deposited a silver coffee service beside the young woman. He was fond of his captain and hated to see her indulge her self-destructive bent. Last night in Rawalpindi had been particularly bad.

The smell of the coffee drew open a sea-green eye. With a groan, Emma rolled up to sitting. She held her pale elegant face in both hands, then slowly moved her jaw where a small bruise was beginning to show.

“Hello, Thaws,” she said. Her voice sounded harsh to her own ears.

“Good Morning, Captain,” he replied, pouring for her. “I brought you coffee, toast and jam.” He spooned in sugar and cream for her, the implements almost vanishing in his hands.

Emma’s jaw clenched at the mention of food but she took the coffee with a grateful nod.

“How’s the jaw?” he asked.

She drained a good bit of the cup in one long swallow and held it out for more.

“Thaws,” she said, giving him a mournful look. “Did I really belt that Seaforth officer?”

“Yes, Ma’am, and a right good shot it was too. Fortunately all in the room agreed that he was winding up on you and you merely got him first. Otherwise the Provost would likely have taken a more active role in the affair.”

“Well,” she grumbled. “It’s his own fault. That calumny about the Devon’s breaking square when the Russian Mercenaries came to the Pasha’s rescue could not go unanswered.”

Thaws poured more coffee for her then began to spread jam on the toast. “I believe his animosity was more for you than the Devons, Ma’am. I looked him up in Burke’s Peerage and Gentry. It turns out he is cousin to Lady Barbara Hazlett.”

“Oh dear,” Emma said.

“Also related to Reginald Fleming. I must say Ma’am it was rather indiscreet of you to become romantically involved with both sides of an engaged couple.”

“Please, Thaws. Didn’t I pay dearly enough? Forced out of my beloved Devons to avoid scandal and court martial? Besides, I didn’t know the little minx was engaged at the time and looking to preserve her virginity while still having some fun.”

“If you would pay some attention to the announcements in the Times—”

“I have no time for such tittle-tattle,” she said, nibbling on the toast and wincing at her jaw.

“I believe it was tittles that got you into this mess,” he said, rolling his pale-blue eyes.

“Thaws,” she growled.

“I’ll be on the bridge if you need me,” he said, rising. “We should raise Peshawar in about two hours if the winds leave us alone. You will find all is in order.”

“Yes,” she said, suddenly contrite.“Good of you to get us off when you did.I… I hope no one from the crew…”

“I brought you aboard discretely, Ma’am. No one saw. And if anyone did they would be too smart to recall it. Accidents on airships are almost always fatal.” Thaws gave a broad grin, then saluted properly and left her to breakfast.

Lilith came into Peswhar with the afternoon warmth. Spring had returned to the uplands of Khyber. Caravans were moving. The city was alive with trade, merchants, pilgrims and other wanderers. Europeans were common, but Emma, still chastened by her last experience, planned to avoid them. Yet what did that leave her to do?

“Thaws,” she said.“I feel as if my luck must change. I am bound for the Egyptian for a jug of wine and some rounds of cards. Tomorrow will be soon enough to look for cargo. There’s always the mail in any event.”

He looked at her but knew better than to argue when that mood and look were on her. “I’ll come for you if you’re not back by moonrise.”

“Thaws, you’re worse than a mother hen.”

The huge Englishman waited until Emma, pistol on her belt and white helmet on her head, started down the ramp between the catamarans before grabbing the youngest crew member, Afzal.

“Follow, Ma’am,” he ordered. “Hire a boy and keep him with you to send to me if there is need.”

“She will not be pleased at being followed.”

“Then don’t be seen at it,” he growled. Afzal scurried off. Thaws found the second mate, Tanweer’s eyes on him. The older man nodded.“I will keep rifles, pistol and knives handy.”

“Always,” Thaws said.

Emma walked into Peshawar. She was known there and the crowds of children that pestered Europeans ignored her and she them. Some merchants cried out her name, or tried to sell her something. Those that knew her better and recognized the grim set to her face, left her alone.

She made her way to the Egyptian, a casino run by a greasy local no more Egyptian than she, but also too smart to cheat his regulars in any significant way. Emma found two other airship crewmen there and a few caravaners she knew. A card game soon broke out and the wine began to flow, thin nasty stuff that it was.

It seemed that Emma’s luck had indeed changed as the cards came easily to her. She decided to take a break when nature’s call overcame her winning streak. Emma made her way to the bathrooms at the back of the two-story building, knowing which ones were the least noisome.

Afterward, she came out, buttoning her tunic and too self-involved to see the sack until two burley men put it over her head. The outside door opened and four more men took hold of her.Her gun was pulled from her belt and Emma felt ropes on her.

I’m for it now, she thought as the smell of ether made her senses swim.

The men ran down the street, carrying her to another even more dubious-looking bar. People scattered from their path and pretended not to see them. Save for Azfal and a bright-eyed boy in rags.Azfal trailed the men to the lair, then sent the boy running.