The Transatlantic Conspiracy by G. D. Falksen Read Free Book Online Page A

silk—”
    â€œSubmersibles?” Alix interrupted. “Cecily can’t be telling the truth, can she? Is that true, Rose?”
    â€œ Once ,” Rosalind replied to Alix. Because truly : she, too, would rather discuss Cecily’s choice of hat. To Cecily she said, more forcefully, “Once. My father insisted I accompany him when he tested rescue boats for the railway . . . ”
    Cecily grinned and sipped her drink.
    â€œI think it sounds very exciting,” Alix said. “And dangerous. Were you not afraid of drowning?”
    With a glare at Cecily, Rosalind replied, “Of course I was.” Her voice rose. “Sitting in a metal box under New York Harbor? Wouldn’t you be afraid?” She bit her lip and turned back toward the window. “Perhaps drowning isn’t the best topic of conversation.”
    â€œOh, I don’t mind,” Cecily said impishly. “I enjoy a bit of a thrill. And I’m a very good swimmer.”
    â€¢â€¢â€¢
    Soon they were off. There was a small jolt, barely perceptible, and then bright sunshine as they steamed out of Hamburg and across the German countryside. Before long the tracks began sloping downward into the earth. Less than an hour after their departure, a tunnel closed over them. The train was already underground, and still there was no sign of Charles. Rosalind realized her palms were clammy. He was their chaperone. He should have come looking for them. He should have easily found them by now.
    â€œCecily,” she said, “shouldn’t we go looking for Charles and make certain he’s aboard? I’m worried he may have missed the train for some reason. Perhaps he was waylaid back at the station—”
    â€œDon’t be absurd, Rose,” Cecily interrupted. “Charles can look after himself. It’s not my sisterly duty to play nursemaid to him.”
    â€œBut Cecily, he’s our chaperone.”
    â€œNow isn’t that peculiar?” Cecily remarked.
    Alix nodded and stood up from the table, their lemonades long finished. “It is peculiar. I will say, this is the first time my parents have allowed me to travel by myself . . . ”
    â€œNo, not that,” Cecily groaned. “The tunnel is peculiar. I’d have thought we would be under the water by now. I was looking forward to seeing fish. Don’t tell me the tunnel goes underground the entire way?”
    Rosalind laughed in spite of her worry. Besides , she thought, he must be onboard. This is a huge train. He could be anywhere. “The ocean is a bit too deep for that. No, the train goes underwater when we reach the coast. It’s very difficult to support the weight of a train in the water, you see.” She began gesturing with her hands. Her mother always called this a horrible habit. But Mother said that about a lot of things, so Rosalind paid little mind to her admonitions. “And there are these buoys all the way along the tunnel to keep us afloat.”
    â€œBuoys?” Cecily asked, gazing into the window at her own reflection.
    â€œYes, but you see, when the train comes through, it changes the weight of the tunnel by tons,” Rosalind continued. She was actually excited at the prospect of Cecily’s fascination with something mechanical. If Cecily secretly enjoyed tinkering with clocks, perhaps she really did have interests beyond deciding on the right hat for the evening. Maybe it was even a good thing Charles hadn’t found them yet. Cecily might open up if there weren’t any men or boys around.
    But then she stopped herself. Cecily and Alix were both staring blankly at her, doing their best to be polite.
    â€œIt’s not really all that interesting, I suppose,” Rosalind said.
    Cecily patted Rosalind on the arm. “Oh, don’t be silly, Rose, it’s utterly fascinating. Just like that time when you told me all about ballooning.”
    Rosalind suppressed a scowl. Cecily