I didn’tknow if she meant the stone or herself.
Slowly, holding me with her blue eyes, she stretched like acat. Her lithe movements spoke a secret language my body respondedto. But something even deeper inside of me sparked, and seemed tobe coloured purple. Was this another side-effect of imbibing SirPercival’s anti-aether medicine? There was no time to ponder thematter - something definitely seemed wrong here. I tore my eyesaway from her and turned to Sir Percival. Just why had he gasped afew moments ago?
His eyes were locked on those of the male servant. Did heknow him? I didn’t recall seeing him in the stately house. And thenit struck me – I had seen him in the stately house, butnot in the flesh - on the cover of a certain weekly publication. Ohdear.
I feltsomething touch my hair and quickly turned round to find the ladyvery close to me holding my hat. How had she managed to come soclose without me hearing? A strange feeling as if I were nakedbefore her stole over me as her eyes minutely scrutinised me fromslightly muddy shoes to the top of my now exposed pink hair. Herother hand stroked my dress and seemed to leave burning trailsacross my skin. For some reason I felt a hot blush over mycheeks.
“Beautiful,” she whispered, as if examining a statue createdby an Old Master.
My mouthfelt suddenly dry and I desperately swallowed before I spoke in acroak. “Hel… er, hello, I’m Miss Love… er, lady, and this is SirPercival.”
Her eyesheld mine and words seemed to form in my head, “We know. Come, letus leave the others to their own devices.”
I felt aburning heat on my arm as she insistently pulled me to go alongwith her, but the purple spark inside of me brightened and I foughtback against the movement. ‘Don’t go with her!’ it shouted. But shewas such a lovely lady and had my hat, why would it warn me ofsomething?
Herperfume seemed to intoxicate me, filling each and every sense Ihad. But the spark grew, burning away the scent. ‘Get away fromher!’ it cried.
As sheturned me to accompany her to a door I’d not seen before my feetrefused to move and I stumbled to the floor. The polished wood wascold against my hands and I saw the reflection of the red ladystanding over me. Somehow I hadn’t noticed it before but her lipswere bright red - the colour of blood, and her mouth was openslightly showing two overly long teeth. Suddenly the spark burstinto a purple blaze, ‘Get out!’ it screamed. ‘Get away!’
Pushingmyself up and avoiding looking at the red lady I grabbed myumbrella and Sir Percival and rushed him backwards towards the doorwe’d come in. But it wasn’t there.
Four
SirPercival’s eyes were glued to those of the servant behind me. Iheard the steps of their shiny boots head towards us, and felt thered lady’s hand against my arm. ‘Get OUT!’ the purple blazescreamed even louder.
The doorhad to be there! I forced Sir Percival to turn round and ran him atthe wall where the door had to be.
“Oof!” he said, bouncing off the wall. “Miss Love–” he beganbefore I pushed him against it again. Did I catch some movement inthe wall?
I didn’tdare look back - I just knew we had to get out and away from thethree other people in the room.
“Push, Sir Percival!” I cried. “We need to getout!”
“But–!”
Anotherpush ceased his inane question. There! I spied a thin vertical lineof light. Arms grabbed me from behind but I quickly raised my footand stamped at where I’d seen the line. The door burst open and Iyanked my arms away, wildly swinging my umbrella behind me andfeeling it gratifyingly smack against flesh. I grabbed ontoanything of Sir Percival I could and forced ourselves through thedoor. We stumbled to the floor into blessed daylight.
Umbrellaat the ready I turned to defend ourselves against the red lady andher companions, but the door quickly swung back closed. Thesplintered edge was the only evidence it ever existed.
Catchingmy breath I noticed the bright light from the porthole was movingover the floor. Why was it doing that?
QuicklyI got to my feet and looked out. My stomach jumped at seeing thecrowd far below. I was sure this wasn’t meant to happen when wewere still aboard. Where were we going?
Still onthe floor Sir Percival groaned. Better that than whatever thosethree planned to do with us, I thought grimly. Then realised thered lady still had my hat. I thought for a moment then decided Inever really liked it anyway.
GrabbingSir Percival’s arm I helped him to his feet.
“Miss Lovelady?”
Heseemed surprised to see me.
“We’re moving, Sir Percival.”
Still inslight shock he turned to look at the door we’d exited momentsbefore. “What happened?”
“I believe I saved us.”
Helooked around the corridor and peered out a porthole. “But we’restill aboard?”
“Yes.”
“And moving?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.”
Weneeded to get off and, although I resisted the thought, knew itwould help if we had the Liaison with us. I decided the best wayforwards would be to catch up with the portly officer and the restof the visitors. With that in mind I took Sir Percival’s arm andhastened up the corridor in the direction they’d taken. Stillslightly bruised and battered, and probably wondering what wasgoing on, he let me lead him.
Irealised that the corridor led along the side of the main receptionroom, and as I’d heard the other visitors in the other part of theroom there must be another entrance. Preferably one not disguisedas part of the wall.
Thecorridor split in two ahead of us with one part curving to our leftand the other heading up another set of stairs. Just how big wasthis airship?
The onlypossible route to the other part of the state reception room wasaround to the left so I dragged Sir Percival in that directionhoping that the others were still present.
As werounded the curve an ornate doorway appeared and I hastened towardsit. I heard no voices and looked in. Empty. The chandeliers werelit and I saw to each side
