A Utility?

Two weeks after King Edward's visit to Oriel Estate, another royal letter arrived.

Unlike the previous invitation, this one contained very little ceremony. There were no elaborate greetings or lengthy expressions of gratitude. Instead, it got straight to the point.

Baron Ernest Teucher was requested to attend a private meeting at the Royal Palace regarding the future application of electrical lighting within the Kingdom of Belfast.

The wording remained polite.

The timing, however, was another matter entirely.

The meeting had been scheduled only four days away.

Hollen stood beside Ernest's desk and read the letter a second time before folding it neatly and setting it down.

"They moved quickly."

Without looking up, Ernest continued reviewing a maintenance report for one of the hydroelectric turbines.

"They usually do," he replied calmly. "Especially when they see something they want."