Dawn's Early Light Read Free

Doctor Sound and the fixed bayonet on the end of the Guard’s rifle.
    Sound passed through a warren of passages and entry halls, and through additional screening processes where his likeness was examined in every detail. With each additional layer of security—far many more in place than on his last visit—the whisper of suspicion in his head grew louder.
    The Queen had only just recently returned to Buckingham Palace, having spent more than thirty years in various states of seclusion at Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight, or at Windsor Castle. Many said her return was too late to salvage the public’s perception of her. Sound could not decisively conclude if that opinion were true, but she was without question not the woman she had been before the death of her husband in ’61. In her early years Victoria had been quite the wonder—a veritable force of nature, determined to lead her country to greatness. It was one of the great sorrows of Director Sound’s life that he had not been able to save her from a life of widowhood.
    Such melancholy and fruitless thoughts were diverted however, when Manning, the Queen’s manservant, finally opened the door to the Marble Hall, and walked smartly over to Sound. That their meeting was taking place in the more intimate surroundings of these less formal apartments, the director chose to take as a good sign.
    He got to his feet, dusted off his trousers, and followed Manning into the Centre Room. It was not a simple room by any standards, but remarkably intimate by royal ones. It was painted a deep red that reminded Sound immediately of blood—another change from the last time he’d visited. Every light fitting, piece of furniture, and the whole ceiling was covered in gilt. It looked rather like a bordello he had found an unfortunate need to visit in Marseille. It was a fraction off-putting to be visiting one’s aging monarch in such a setting.
    So, the director was momentarily distracted when he found the veiled Queen seated at a modest desk close to a lit hearth, and at her right hand . . .
    â€œAh, Basil, old man, looking fit and confident, as always,” spoke the Duke of Sussex, Peter Lawson. “I was just talking about you.”
    Doctor Sound tightened his jaw for a moment, but then forced himself to relax. “Favourably, I hope.”
    Lord Sussex merely smiled in reply. “I am just heading out on holiday to Europe with my family, but before parting I needed a moment of Her Majesty’s time.” Sussex turned back to Victoria and bowed low. “Thank you for that most precious commodity. I now depart with a light heart.”
    â€œYour loyalty in this matter is appreciated,” the woman in black spoke gently. “Please give my regards to your lovely wife.”
    He straightened to his full height and made to leave, but paused on reaching the director. “Your agents, Sound, do live dangerously, don’t they?”
    â€œWe serve at the behest of Her Majesty,” he replied.
    â€œBut of course you do.”
    Sound gave a slow nod to him. “Bon voyage, m’lord.”
    â€œMerci,”
Sussex returned.
    The door closed behind him, but the director found no comfort whatsoever with the departure of Lord Sussex. In fact, Sound felt as if the heaviness of the room were threatening to suffocate him.
    â€œThank you for coming.” Her Majesty Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India, finally spoke, her voice muffled but as strong as it had ever been in her youth.
    Though what expression went along with it Doctor Sound could not tell. A heavy black veil obscured her face, and her body, swathed in voluminous yards of dark fabric, didn’t move as she addressed him. Her hands wrapped in black velvet gloves rested still on the desk in front of her. The fact that this woman had started her reign as a