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I inhaled the fragrant air. Potted flowers were surprisingly in full bloom in every direction, but other scents carried on the cool breeze. A couple standing nearby happily crunched on a new treat—caramel-coated popped corn called Cracker Jack. The Court of Honor was unlike anything I’d ever witnessed before—more ethereal and beautiful than even St. Paul’s Cathedral. The buildings gleamed even at this hour. I couldn’t wait to see them at the height of the morning sun. I found myself unable to fully describe the vast expanse of buildings fanned out around us, or how large they were. Giants could run from one end of them to the other, tiring even their long legs out well before they reached the end of the fairgrounds.
If heaven existed, surely this city must be fashioned after it.
I thought of Mr. Cigrande, the man whose daughter was missing, of his insistence that we were all walking blindly into Hell. He need only step into this White City to feel the presence of a higher power. Even someone like me, who wasn’t sure what to believe, felt moved.
“… he didn’t have much to add. Says the same story each time. Honestly, I’m not sure what to believe. I asked around and he did have a daughter, though neighbors recall hearing them argue at all hours. Dishes breaking…”
I tuned Thomas and Noah’s conversation out, not wanting any hint of darkness to invade this most sacred of spaces. It was selfish, but after our ruined wedding and the horror of our job, I longed for one hour to be swept away in the fantasy of our surroundings. While the sun continued its slow procession past the horizon, I studied the Statue of the Republic—my pamphlet stated it was sixty-five feet in height. One hand held a globe with an eagle aloft, while the other gripped a staff. She was
as fierce as a goddess and equally intimidating.
“It’s almost time.” Noah bounced on the balls of his feet. The sun was fighting for its last breath before the moon ascended to its heavenly throne. Pure golden light pulsed before twilight crept in. “Get your handkerchiefs ready.”
Thomas puffed his chest up, no doubt ready to unleash an entire litany on why that would be unnecessary, when electrical lights flashed on across the grounds. My mouth hung open. Words failed me. My scientific-centered mind understood the engineering behind such a feat, but my heart raced at the brilliance. Never, in my whole life, had I witnessed such an event.
Thousands of lamps evenly posted from one end of the grounds to the next, from each building as far as I could see, all of it illuminated in unison. Brilliant white light reflected off the pond, shimmering. I reached for Thomas’s hand the same moment he grabbed for mine.
“I-It’s…” My eyes stung as I struggled to put my feelings into words.
“Magic.” Thomas’s expression held pure wonder. “The magnitude…”
Noah offered a knowing grin, but I noticed his eyes also misted. “There are over two hundred thousand incandescent bulbs, according to the program. Nikola Tesla’s alternating current is going to be huge. You should see what else he’s done in the Electricity Building.”
“Tesla?” I asked, dabbing at my eyes with Thomas’s handkerchief. “He’s here?” I’d read of his mechanical experiments—how he’d perform feats unlike any other for patrons in his laboratory. I gripped Thomas, ready to drag him all the way into the exhibition hall to meet a man who truly made magic from science. Nathaniel would have loved seeing him. I couldn’t wait to—I sucked in a sharp breath. Sometimes, even now, I forgot my brother was dead. A bit of my mood darkened, but one glance at the shimmering lights and the sound of the cries of the people standing all around us kept my sadness at bay.
“Oh, Tesla’s here, all right.” Noah grinned. “He’s showcasing his polyphase system. He’s got fifteen feet of coil and oscillators in the electrical building. Steam hisses and sparks fly. It’s incredible. Last time I was there, a woman stood frozen for nearly an hour. She thought she’d seen God.”
“I imagine it would seem like that.”
I glanced from one building to another. There was so much to do and see and I wanted desperately to do it all. It would be daunting, trying to hobble over so much ground, especially in heavy crowds. I’d hate to hold my companions back. Thomas watched me in that uncanny way of his. “Taking a boat ride across the pond would be fun. I’m up for it if you are, Wadsworth.”
I bit my lip. We’d sent word to my uncle, asking if we might stay out a little while longer to visit the fair, and he’d instructed us to spend no more than two hours at the exhibition. We’d already been waiting an hour for the nightly illumination; judging from the size of the crowd, by the time we crossed the bridge and made our way to a boat, that’d take at least another hour alone. I wanted to go very badly, but I wanted to respect Uncle’s wishes.
“Perhaps next time, Cresswell. Much as I wish to spend eternity in this heavenly city, we have a devil to catch.”
Our carriage rolled to a stop outside a prim house that seemed to sneer at our arrival. I raised my brows. It was an interesting design; each arch was ornamented, reminding me a bit of—
“Is it me, or does it look like a witch owns this property and is gouging out children’s eyes and setting them in jars for her spell work as we speak?”
“Thomas,” I chided, swatting his arm. “It’s very… gothic.”
He snorted. “How magnanimous of you, Wadsworth. The spires look like fangs.”
“Don’t be snippy about the house,” I warned, “or it might bite you back.”
Ignoring Thomas’s further commentary, I pushed his assessment aside. It was a grand estate—a favor from Grandmama. She’d made the arrangements for us, claiming to know the perfect location for our endeavors. I had no idea she owned property here, but she was full of surprises. It was much too large for the three of us, though after leaving the chaos and clamor of our families behind, the extra space would feel welcome. A much-needed respite from meddling dukes and vengeful fiancées. I smiled to myself. Grandmama always knew what I needed.
I accepted Thomas’s arm as we got out of the carriage, tottering only a little until I secured my balance with my cane. I exhaled, my breath steaming in front of me, startled to see we weren’t alone. Uncle paced outside our temporary home, either unaware or uncaring of the snow that had started falling in earnest.
Thomas and I exchanged glances. Uncle hadn’t seemed to notice our arrival, either. His focus was directed inward, his hands clasped behind his back, his lips moving with words we couldn’t hear. Thomas cleared his throat, and Uncle swiveled to us, his expression stern. Whatever magic and merriment I’d felt upon leaving the White City vanished. Thomas helped me up the stairs, his attention split between ensuring I didn’t slip over the slick cobblestones, and my increasingly irate Uncle.
“Professor? What is it?”
“I spent the afternoon walking from one police station to the next, all across Chicago.”
I drew my overcoat closer, trying to ignore the bits of frosted ice that pelted my skin. I’d no idea how long my uncle had been out here, but he’d catch his death if he didn’t get inside.
“Uncle, we should—”
