“Lord Martin? Well, the two of you have known each other since you were very small. I wouldn’t say you were particularly intimate friends, but you were amicable enough to invite each other to events.”

  “I see… it did feel like I’d known him a long time.” But we felt much closer than Elise has described us. What has me feeling so off about him?

  “He used to be playmates with Master Christopher, although I remember they used to fight like wildcats! His Grace would let it slip, saying it was all part of growing up. They never fell out for long, after all.”

  Oh yeah, I remember my little brother – the one from my previous life – getting into fights with his friends. Then the next day, it would be like nothing had happened! Ach, kids.

  “Perhaps I should write to him,” Artemisia mused aloud. “I did kind of just abandon him at the palace, after all.”

  “That would be very proper of you, my lady.”

  “It would be mean to not even send him a thank you.” Artemisia waved a hand, unaware of how Elise looked at her with proud eyes.

  Her maid was thinking, How my lady has grown! She’s so much more mature and kind now

  ?

  “Do you think I’m overdressed? I want to make a good impression, but maybe this is overkill. I don’t want the academics to think that I’m lording over them.” Artemisia looked at herself in the mirror, examining the dress she’d chosen to wear to visit the Guild of Natural Philosophers.

  It was subdued, but clearly of excellent quality, with velvet ribbon edging and intricate smocking across the bodice. Together Artemisia and Elise had picked out sapphire jewellery to compliment it, sparkling in the rays of sunlight streaming through the window.

  “My lady, you look perfect!” Elise said, gushing as always.

  You always say I look perfect. I need someone who won’t hold back. Perhaps Madam Blythe, the housekeeper? Nah, I wouldn’t want to bother her. She’ll be busy more likely than not. God, just stop thinking about this Artemisia! It’s just a dress – a very pretty one.

  Artemisia swished her skirt around a little, allowing her childish wonder to escape for a moment. Sometimes it hits me again: that this is a fantasy world where I get to wear gorgeous dresses all the time, although I do miss trousers – and underpants – every now and then. I wonder if I could get myself a pair on the sly, to wear at home when nobody’s around.

  “Excuse me, my lady. A carriage with the crest of the von Loambarns has just arrived at the gate.” One of the townhouse maids entered the room.

  “Thank you, Verena. Tell Duke von Loambarn I’ll be down shortly.”

  Artemisia scrambled for her reticule. Inside was packed a few minor necessaries, as well as a tiny notebook and pencil in case she wanted to take notes.

  “Alright, I’m ready! Wish me luck, Elise!”

  “With what, my lady?”

  “All of it,” Artemisia said with a half-hearted laugh. “It’d be very easy for something to go terribly wrong today.”

  “That’s… quite pessimistic.”

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  “I suppose it is. Well, you’re an optimist, aren’t you Elise?”

  “I would say so!”

  “There we go.” Artemisia patted Elise on the head. “I’ve got you to keep me from wallowing.”

  “Ah! Yes! Yes you do my lady! I’ll keep your spirits up! Come on come on, Duke von Loambarn will be waiting for you!”

  ?

  Simon von Loambarn stood in the foyer, his top hat in his hands.

  “Your Grace! Thank you so much for coming to meet me!” Artemisia hurried down the stairs.

  “It’s no trouble,” he replied. “You look very nice today, Lady Artemisia.”

  “Oh, thank you,” Artemisia drew up before him. “Um, you look well also.”

  He smiled. “You are very kind, my lady.”

  He said that quite lightly; did he think I was just saying it to be polite? Well, I kind of was, but man, does he not see himself as handsome?

  “Shall we go?” Artemisia said as Elise brought her her pelisse and bonnet. “We wouldn’t want to be late.”

  “There’s no need to rush,” Simon replied. “We should have a spare hour before the public lecture begins, and I’ve taken the liberty of asking one of the astronomers to meet us for the half-hour before.”

  “Who?” Artemisia asked eagerly as she adjusted her bonnet.

  “Viscount Aesernia. Have you read any of his work?”

  “Oh! I have, actually. I quite enjoyed his recent publication postulating the reasons for the star Aira’s dimming and brightening.”

  I’ve spent all my free time over the past few days reading all the academic treatises I can get my hands on! I had to check the recent discoveries, so that I don’t say something that’ll totally confuse the ‘natural philosophers’ of this period.

  “Ah, I haven’t gotten around to reading that one yet.”

  “Even though we’re meeting the person who wrote it today?” Artemisia raised her eyebrows. “I would think that it’s polite to be up to date on the work of someone you’re about to have a scientific dialogue with.”

  “Might I remind you that I’m only here to escort you,” Simon said with a rueful smile. “It’s you who will be participating in the dialogue.”

  “I suppose, but I thought you were interested in natural philosophy.” Artemisia strode towards the front door, which one of the servants hastened to hold open for her and Simon.

  “Oh, I am, but unfortunately I have not the time to fully devote myself to it. I do not have the same amount of liberty that you do, my lady, although I do envy you for it.”

  “Ah, my apologies.” Did I offend him a little? Oops. “The duties of a duke are never ending.”

  “That they are.” Simon sighed and shook his head. “That they are. Oh, let me help you into the carriage. The step is quite far from the ground, I’m afraid.”

  I mean, I could make that, but not without the possibility of tripping on my dress and faceplanting into the carriage. “Thank you, Your Grace.”

  Once situated inside the imposing carriage, Simon pulled back a panel on the front window to speak a few words to the driver, and they were off. Artemisia waved goodbye to Elise, who had come out onto the front steps to see her off. Then they drove down the gravel driveway and through the metal gates, out onto the streets of Seraph.

  “So what was the last publication on astronomy that you read, Your Grace?”

  “Hmmm… it wasn’t a publication, but an associate of mine sent me a letter regarding his observations on the freak meteor storm of earlier this year.”

  “Oh?” Artemisia couldn’t keep the interest out of her voice. “And what were these observations, might I ask?”

  “Well, this was a completely unexpected event, with an unprecedented number of meteors. It was also highly localised – from analysis of the path of the meteors, he believes they were only visible over the Seraphim Empire. He’s written to other astronomers who live outside the empire to gather evidence for his claim, but at the time had not yet received any responses.”

  “Fascinating.” A one-off and incredibly local meteor shower... that makes no sense. It’s almost as if something exploded in orbit and the remnants fell to the planet’s surface. “Have there been any falls documented? Any meteorites retrieved?”

  “Oh… not as far as I am aware.”

  “What about natural satellites?” Perhaps a small orbiting body reached the Roche limit and was torn apart. “Are there any missing?” No, that would be far too obvious.

  Simon shifted in his seat. “I apologise, my lady, but your knowledge in this field is greater than mine. I do not quite understand what point you are making.”

  Artemisia leaned back on the cushioned bench, suddenly self-conscious. “No, I… got carried away with myself.”

  A Fallen Star will be on a mid-season break until the 30th of January. See you then!