The Impostor by Lily Lang Page B

nodded grimly. “Yes,” he said. “The first of the old Omega Group to disappear.”
    Tessa nodded.
    “The British, however, also lost interest in Fulton’s work after Trafalgar destroyed the French navy,” said Sebastian, once again consulting his notes. “Deeply frustrated, Fulton returned to America in October of 1806. But before he departed, he left his papers with the American consulate in London.”
    “Sevigny must have been the one to break into the consulate,” said Tessa slowly. “And when he failed to retrieve the papers and the Americans moved it here, he kidnapped Sir Francis and possessed him in order to access them here. My lord…” Her voice trailed off for a moment. “I believe Sevigny intends to recreate the Neptune . He has the Howard brothers, after all. With their particular Gift for metal work and their previous experience with Robert Fulton and the second Neptune , the task would not be difficult.”
    Sebastian was silent for a moment. “It doesn’t make any sense,” he said at last. “The war is over. Napoleon is in exile, the Omega Group was disbanded years ago. And yet Sevigny is rebuilding the Neptune . Almost all the other members of the Omega Group have disappeared or died.” He shook his head. “Why? Why would he want to do this?”
    Tessa turned back to look at him again. “Can you think of no one who could use such a vessel, my lord?” she asked. “Can you think of no reason he might wish to ensure the Omega Group ceases to exist? Can you think of no use to which Sevigny might put the Neptune and Dr. McGrigor, the only known Gifted healer in the world? Sevigny, who served Napoleon so faithfully through seven coalition wars and would have continued to serve him in an eighth?”
    Sebastian stared at her. “That’s insane,” he said flatly. “You are implying that Sevigny intends to build a submarine to rescue Napoleon, force Dr. McGrigor to restore him to his former strength and overthrow the restored Bourbon monarchy?”
    “I believe that is exactly what Sevigny intends to do, my lord,” said Tessa, standing.
    For a long moment, Sebastian continued to sit and stare at the plans in his hands. Finally, he gave a single nod.
    “I believe you are right,” he said at last.
    “Of course I’m right,” said Tessa, though she was feeling rather dizzy and breathless from the magnitude of this revelation.
    “And if Sevigny is building a submersible vessel with the intention of slipping past the Royal Navy to St. Helena’s, healing Napoleon of his disease and freeing him from exile…” Sebastian shook his head. “It sounds mad,” he said. “It sounds utterly insane.”
    “I know,” said Tessa. “Then again, I do not think anyone has ever accused Sevigny of being sane.”
    Sebastian stood up. “If Sevigny intends to do all this, he will need to be stopped. We had better get going.”
    “Where are we going?” asked Tessa, glancing back at the table strewn with papers. “Oughtn’t we put everything away? Brears—”
    “Never mind Brears,” said Sebastian. “We should go to Francis’s offices in Somerset House immediately. There might be something there.”

Chapter Nine
    Half an hour later, Tessa stood gazing up at the graceful façade of Somerset House, a large, beautiful, neoclassical structure that stood on the south side of the Strand, overlooking the Thames, which lapped at the south wing of the house. Sebastian had told her that in addition to the Royal Academy, the building also housed the Royal Society, the Society of Antiquaries and the Geological Society.
    “Why are Sir Francis’s offices here, instead of at Horse Guards or at the secret military annexes off Abchurch Street?” Tessa asked, as yet another elderly porter admitted them through the great front door.
    Sebastian kept his voice low, so it would not echo off the marble and stone. “His official cover is as a Fellow of the Academy, studying natural sciences. This way.”
    He had