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"We have yet to solve the servant problem," Amelia told them as she poured the tea.
The Iron Orchid, to her credit, entered into the spirit of the thing. "Jherek had — what did you call them, dear? — serbos."
"Servos — mechanical servants in human form. But they were antiques, or at least of antique design."
"Well," said Amelia, handing out the cups, "we shall manage for a while, at any rate. All we had in Bromley was a maid and a cook (and she did not live in) and we coped perfectly." As the time-traveller accepted his cup she said, "It would be such a pleasure for me to be able to return your kindness to us, when we were stranded. You must, at least, come to di
He was cheered as well as embarrassed. "Thank you, dear lady. You ca
"Today?"
"Tomorrow morning, probably. It must be so, I fear, for Lord Jagged completes the circuit shortly and then it will be impossible either to leave or to return to this world."
She sipped and reflected. "So the last brick of the gaol is about to be cemented in place," she murmured.
"It is unwise to see it in those terms, dear lady. If you are to spend eternity here…"
She drew a deep breath. Jherek was disturbed to see something of a return to yesterday's ma
"Let us discuss a different topic," he suggested brightly.
"It is scarcely a prison, dear," said the Iron Orchid pinching, with finger and thumb, the wing of a straying butterfly tickling her chin.
"Some would call it Heaven," tactfully said the time-traveller. "Nirvana."
"Oh, true. Fitting reward for a dead Hindu! But I am a live Christian." Her smile was an attempt to break the atmosphere.
"Speaking of that," said the time-traveller, "I am able to do one last favour for Lord Jagged, and for you all, I dare say." He laughed.
"What is it?" said Jherek, grateful for the change of subject.
"I have agreed to take Mr. Underwood and the policemen back to 1896 before I continue on my journey."
"What?" It was almost a breath from Amelia, slow and soft.
"You probably do not know that something happened in the city quite recently. They believe that God appeared to them and are anxious to return so that they might…"
"We have seen them," Jherek told him anxiously.
"Aha. Well, since I was responsible for bringing them here, when Lord Jagged suggested that I take them back —"
"Jagged!" exclaimed Amelia Underwood rising. "This is all his plot."
"Why should Jagged 'plot'?" The Iron Orchid was astonished. "What interest has he in your husband, my dear?"
"None, save where it concerns me." She turned upon the disconcerted Jherek. "And you, Jherek. It is an extension of his schemings on our behalf. He thinks that with Harold gone I shall be willing to —" she paused. "To accept you."
"But he has abandoned his plans for us. He told us as much, Amelia."
"In one respect."
Mildly the Orchid interjected. "I think you suspect Jagged of too much cu
"It is the only question for which I have no ready answer." Amelia raised fingers to her forehead.
A knock at the front door. Jherek sprang to answer, glad of respite, but it was his father, all in voluminous lemon, his features composed and amused. "Good morning to you, my boy."
Lord Jagged of Canaria stepped into the sitting room and seemed to fill it. He bowed to them all and was stared at.
"Do I interrupt? I came to tell you, sir," addressing the time-traveller, "that the quartz has hardened satisfactorily. You can leave in the morning, as you pla
"With Harold and Inspector Springer and the rest!" almost shouted Amelia.
"Ah, you know."
"We know everything —" her colour was high, her eyes fiery — "save why you arranged this!"
"The time-traveller was good enough to say that he would transport the gentlemen back to their own period. It is their last chance to leave. No other will arise."
"You made sure, Lord Jagged, that they should wish to leave. This ridiculous vision!"
"I fear that I do not follow your reasoning, beautiful Amelia." Lord Jagged looked questioningly at Jherek.
Amelia sank to the sofa, teeth in knuckles.
"It seems to us," Jherek loyally told his father, "that you had something to do with Harold Underwood's recent vision in which God appeared to him in a burning sphere and ordered him to return to 1896 with a mission to warn his world of terrors to come."
"A vision, eh?" Jagged smiled. "But he will be considered mad if he tries to do that. Are they all so affected?"
"All!" mumbled Amelia viciously from behind her fist.
"They will not be believed, of course." Jagged seemed to muse, as if all this news were new.
"Of course!" Amelia removed her knuckles from her mouth. "And thus they will be unable to affect the future. Or, if they are caught by the Morphail Effect, it will be too late for them to return here. This world will be closed to them. You have staged everything perfectly, Lord Jagged."
"Why should I stage such scenes?"
"Could it be to ensure that I stay with Jherek?"
"But you are with him, my dear." I
"You know what I mean, I think, Lord Jagged."
"Are you concerned for your husband's safety if he returns?"
"I think his life will scarcely change at all. The same might not be said for poor Inspector Springer and his men, but even then, considering what has already happened to them. I have no particular fears. Quite likely it is the best that could happen. But I object to your part in arranging matters so — so suitably."
"You do me too much credit, Amelia."
"I think not."
"However, if you think it would be best to keep Harold Underwood and the policemen in the city, I am sure that the time-traveller can be dissuaded…"
"You know it is too late. Harold and the others want nothing more than to return."
"Then why are you so upset?"
Jherek interposed. "Ambiguous parent, if you are the author of all this — if you have played God as Amelia suggests — then be frank with us."
"You are my family. You are all my confidants. Frankness is not, admittedly, my forte. I am not prone to making claims or to denying accusations. It is not in my nature, I fear. It is an old time-travelling habit, too. If Harold Underwood experienced a vision in the city and it was not a hallucination — and you'll all admit the city is riddled with them, they run wild there — then who is to argue that he has not seen God?"
"Oh, this is the rankest blasphemy!"
"Not quite that, surely," murmured the time-traveller. "Lord Jagged has a perfectly valid point."
"It was you, sir, who first accused him of playing at God!"
"Ah. I was upset. Lord Jagged has been of considerable help to me, of late…"
"So you have said."
As the voices rose, only the Iron Orchid remained where she had been sitting, watching the proceedings with a degree of quiet amusement.
"Jagged," said his son desperately, "do you categorically deny —"
"I have told you, my boy, I am incapable of it. I think it is a kind of pride." The lord in yellow shrugged. "We are all human."
"You would be more, sir, it seems!" accused Amelia.
"Come now, dear lady. You are over-excited. Surely the matter is not worth…" The time-traveller waved his hands helplessly.
"My coming seems to have created some sort of tension," said Lord Jagged. "I only stopped by in order to pick up my wife and the time-traveller, to see how you were settling down, Amelia…"