The Buxton Chronicles by Victoria Chatham

Author:Victoria Chatham
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, gold rush, canada, california, historical, world war 1, britain, wartime romance, first world war, early america
Publisher: Books We Love Ltd.

Chapter Nine

“So, Buxton, that’s my proposition.” Hiram Stillwater stood in front of the window in his office and looked out over the flattened grass of the airfield and the row of hangars on the far side. “What do you think?”

Randolph sat back in his chair and casually crossed one leg over the other but his mind whirled with all the information Stillwater had presented to him. “You make it sound very attractive, but the returns you are talking about are based on the number of planes you can produce if war is declared and that hasn’t happened.”

“Yet. Not yet. Don’t forget that, Buxton.”

“Why are you so sure there’s going to be a war?”

Stillwater flung himself into another chair.

“Oh, come on,” he huffed. “You can’t sit there and tell me that you don’t know what’s going on in Europe. It’s a mess, man. Even before the Entente Cordiale, and maybe because of it, the news hasn’t been good. Bosnia got annexed by Austria-Hungary, there’s fighting in Morocco and that Balkan war has only just ended. And keep your eye on Albania, too. It won’t be long before the whole works goes up in flames.”

“I agree feelings are running high. It’s long been known that our King, the Tsar and the Kaiser do not see eye to eye, but that is still not a war.” Randolph frowned. “But I must admit that I am not quite comfortable with the idea of profiteering from that eventuality.”

“There will be plenty who will, but that’s the beauty of B-B’s design. It’s adaptable. For now we continue manufacturing the Stillbee Mark I just as an all purpose aircraft. If it’s necessary, it can be easily armed. We make money with it either way.”

“Hmm, I do see your point.” Randolph rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I must say, I am rather surprised at Sir Hilary’s skill. Not something I would have thought him capable of.”

“You’ve known him a long time then?”

Randolph laughed. “For as long as I’ve known Serena and of his family long before I met her. He was always something of a playboy but I think that came from being the second son with no real expectations.”

Stillwater shook his head. “You Brits and your hidebound traditions. I’ll never understand it. Makes me glad I was born in this country and not yours, no offense meant.”

“None taken.” Randolph shrugged, ignoring the undercurrent of dissatisfaction in Stillwater’s tone. “It’s our differences that make the world an interesting place, don’t you think?”

Whatever Stillwater might have thought evaporated as he narrowed his eyes and peered out of the window at something beyond Randolph’s vision.

“That’s odd,” he muttered. “I didn’t think we had any scheduled flights today. Come on, I need to check this.”

He heaved himself out of his chair and Randolph followed him out of the office, down a flight of stairs and out into the afternoon sunlight. Stillwater shaded his eyes, tipped his head back and scanned the sky intently.

“There.” He pointed at a black speck and Randolph had to squint to make anything of it.

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