The Laws of Magic 6: Hour of Need (38 page)

Caroline looked toward where Sophie and George had disappeared. ‘Ah.’

Aubrey had tested both his courage and his nerve many times over the last few months but, even so, he wasn’t sure they were prepared for what he was about to say. ‘Perhaps we should, as well.’

Caroline smiled. Aubrey judged it a tiny smile, one that could have been called shy, if shy wasn’t such an inappropriate word to describe Caroline Hepworth.

She took his arm and steered him in the opposite direction from the one Sophie and George had taken. ‘Planning for the future is a perfectly sensible thing to do,’ she said after they’d ambled along in silence for a few minutes, past two stone busts and a sundial. ‘I have a university degree to resume, for instance. I need to decide what aspects of scientific classification I’m going to pursue.’

Aubrey found that as well as linking arms, they were delightfully clasping hands. It was an entirely appropriate state of affairs, to his way of thinking. ‘I’d come to the same conclusion. Not about classification – about magical studies.’

‘We have a few years ahead of us, then.’

They reached one of the exits to the maze. The stairs opened out onto the long, western slope of the gardens. From their position, they could see the exquisite arrangement of fountains, paths and ponds that led to the forest in the distance. They stood for a moment, enjoying the formality.

‘And after you’ve taken your degree?’ Aubrey asked eventually.

Caroline glanced at him. The smile was now tending toward a grin. ‘I’ll implement my plan to take your father’s job.’

Aubrey was proud of himself. All he said was: ‘A female prime minister would be a splendid idea.’

Caroline squeezed his hand. He felt a jolt nearly as profound as the one that once signalled his body and soul were parting. ‘It’s the next logical step, now that your father has procured votes for women.’

‘You may have to wait, though.’

One eyebrow rose. ‘Wait?’

‘I’m after his job as well, you know.’

Caroline tsked. ‘Aubrey, if we can’t work out who’s going to be prime minister first, how can we be expected to work out anything else about our future?’

‘Our future?’ Aubrey touched his pocket.
Now?
‘Do you mean you and me?’

Caroline didn’t answer his question. She inclined her head toward his jacket. ‘For three days, Aubrey, you’ve been fascinated by whatever it is you have in your pocket. I’ve restrained myself from asking, but it’s apparently important enough to interrupt your thinking about something very important.’

His heart thumping, Aubrey took out a small black velvet case. He opened it. ‘It belonged to my grandmother. She insisted that I bring it along to the conference. For you.’

Caroline didn’t take the ring. She put her hand to her mouth, her eyes wide. ‘Aubrey, don’t say anything.’

‘?’

‘Good. I take it that this is a family heirloom?’

He nodded.

‘And that it has a certain significance? To do with commitment, promises, that kind of thing?’

He nodded again.

Caroline lifted her chin and looked into the west, where the sun was hovering before its last plunge below the horizon. The softness of the light warmed her face and Aubrey thought that – no matter what she said next – he was the most fortunate person in the world.

‘Aubrey,’ she said, with a disarming and endearing catch in her throat, ‘we’re still young.’ She glanced at him. ‘You can talk now.’

‘Thank goodness. That we’re still young, I mean.’

‘We have no need to rush. Not with all the things we want to do.’

‘As long as we can do them together, I’m happy.’

‘This ring, then. It’s a sign that we understand each other?’

Aubrey hesitated. ‘I wouldn’t be arrogant enough to claim I understood you, Caroline. That implies a level of insight that I’m not sure I have. In fact, can a person really understand another? I mean, on a fundamental –’

‘Hush. Now isn’t the time to babble.’

‘You know, that suggests that there is a good time to babble.’

‘Aubrey, what I meant was that we are a pair.’

Aubrey considered this. ‘Simple and forthright. I like the sound of that.’

Caroline took the ring and slipped it onto her finger. The gold band looked as if it belonged there. ‘Excellent.’

Caroline kissed him. Aubrey kissed her back. It was magnificent.

Caroline, a little flushed, took Aubrey’s arm again. They started down the stairs toward the gardens.

Caroline nodded to the west. ‘I take it that this is the sunset we’re supposed to be walking off into?’

Aubrey studied it for a moment, then shrugged. ‘As long as it’s arm in arm.’

‘Oh, it’s bound to be that. And it’s bound to be full of adventures.’

‘I can’t wait.’

M
ICHAEL
P
RYOR HAS PUBLISHED MORE THAN TWENTY
fantasy books and over forty short stories, from literary fiction to science fiction to slapstick humour. Michael has been shortlisted six times for the Aurealis Awards (including for
Blaze of Glory
and
Heart of Gold
), has been nominated for a Ditmar award and longlisted for the Gold Inky award, and five of his books have been Children’s Book Council of Australia Notable Books (including
Word of Honour
and
Time of Trial
). He is now writing the first book in a new series.

For more information about Michael and his books, please visit
www.michaelpryor.com.au
.