The Armor of Light: A Novel

Amos’s candidacy to be Member of Parliament is announced at the Methodist church, and many of his fellow Methodists agree to help him. Amos plans to campaign on two simple issues: “bread and peace” (533). People are inspired by his advocacy for workers’ rights and his calls for the war to end. He insists that his campaign will not indulge in “bribery, nor any hint of bribery” (534). Elsie visits her mother, and they discuss Amos, including the rumor that he is the father of Jane’s child. They fear that this gossip may hurt Amos’s campaign, as it did Spade’s campaign to become alderman. With Kenelm away, Arabella agrees to ask Spade whether Elsie and her family can move into their spacious home. To combat the rumors against Amos, Spade visits Hornbeam. If Hornbeam’s people do not stop spreading malicious rumors, Spade says, he will unveil Hornbeam’s secret: that his mother was hanged as a thief, making Hornbeam “illegitimate” (540). Hornbeam is shocked and furious. When Spade returns home, he agrees that Elsie and her children should move in.

Hornbeam finds himself frustrated once again by Amos and Spade. Though he has agreed to stop the rumors about Amos, he visits the other voters. Since only certain wealthy men are permitted to vote at this time, Hornbeam has business with many of them. He threatens to cancel his business if they do not vote for him. The vote is held on St. Adolphus Day. Before the vote, Hornbeam and Amos deliver speeches. Hornbeam’s stilted, authoritarian tone is met with boos. In contrast, Amos’s frank honesty is much better received. Most of the crowd, however, is not permitted to vote. Hornbeam wins the vote, but his happiness is dashed by the realization that his beloved grandson Joe—now a teenager—has enlisted in the military. Hornbeam does everything he can to bring Joe home, but the army is unsympathetic. Donaldson compares the situation to Jim Pidgeon being pressganged, much to Hornbeam’s outrage. Feeling powerless and terrified for his beloved Joe, Hornbeam visits Kenelm and asks him to “keep an eye” (557) on his grandson. Kenelm agrees to do what he can.

Jarge struggles to find work. He drinks heavily to drown his frustration. He is increasingly sympathetic to the Luddites, though Sal warns him that anyone who smashes machines is in danger of the death penalty and unlikely to receive a fair trial. Sal joins Jarge for the bellringing practice. During the practice, he exits to use the toilet, and Sal takes his place. After, they find Jarge in the nearby pub. Sheriff Doye announces that someone has burned down a mill and smashed the machines inside. Jarge claims that he was at bellringing practice, and Sal is forced to confirm his false alibi. Spade threatens Jarge, warning that he will not perjure himself to protect the evidently guilty man.

Kenelm writes to Elsie about his difficult experiences in the war. He is adjusting to the conditions in Spain and hopes to offer “spiritual guidance” (565) to the soldiers. He has spoken to Henry Northwood about Joe Hornbeam; Joe has been made an officer as a result, which may offer better protection. Kenelm also writes about his interactions with Wellington. Elsie is pleased for Kenelm and notes that his letter seems more loving than usual.

The “outbreak of Luddism” (568) worries the masters in Kingsbridge. Amos suggests that they speak to the hands to reach a compromise, while Hornbeam wants the offenders to be harshly punished. Later, Hornbeam offers a reward for any names of those involved in the smashing of machines. He wants to hang anyone found guilty.

Kit hopes to sell more looms, but the war is affecting his business, while the Luddite attacks mean that masters are unwilling to invest in new machines for fear that they will be broken. He returns home to Roger, sharing his fear that there may not be any more profits this month. Roger is particularly worried because he has gambling debts. Sport Culliver arrives at the house and demands that the large debt be settled. Knowing that they cannot pay, Roger plans to join the military. Kit wants to stay with the man he loves, so he joins up as well. They leave Kingsbridge immediately. Sal receives a letter from Kit, explaining what has happened. She is “horrified and tearful” (580); she blames Jarge and his machine smashing. Culliver sends people to collect the debt from Sal and Jarge, but they are sent away as Sal evidently cannot pay. As they depart, they mockingly threaten Jarge with the “hangman’s rope” (582). Jarge is put on trial for smashing machines. Hornbeam oversees the trial, and Sal is called as a witness. She is unsure whether she can lie on the stand but she does so, affirming Jarge’s alibi. The case is escalated to the assize court, and Jarge may be hanged if found guilty.

Kit is stationed in Spain, unsure of when he will be thrust into battle. He and Roger are together, which comforts Kit as he fears going into battle for the first time. Roger is a lieutenant, and Kit, with his years of service, is a captain. As well as the soldiers, the numbers around the camp are bolstered by the women. Many wives travel with their soldier husbands, while other women hope to make money from the bored men. Kit has met Kenelm, who seems to have been changed by his experience. He is now “a more or less likeable fellow” (588). Napoleon is returning from his disastrous invasion of Russia, and no one is sure what will happen next, but a battle against a different part of the French army seems inevitable. The next day, Kit marches into battle. Amid the chaos and violence, his job is to make sure that the cannon can fire as much as possible. Kit makes it through the battle and immediately seeks out Roger, who assures him that they won against the French. Meanwhile, the assize court finds Jarge guilty. Sal fears that he will be executed, but as the judge announces his sentence, Amos stands up and suggests that Jarge be allowed to join the army instead, as “the regiment needs recruits” (596). The judge agrees, and Jarge is sentenced to join the 107th Foot Regiment.

The British and Prussian forces win battles against Napoleon’s France. Napoleon is defeated and exiled to the island of Elba. Amos is thankful that the war is over. He visits Jane’s house, where she reads a letter from her husband Northwood with updates from the 107th. Kenelm has been injured, and Kit has proven himself to be “particularly” (600) useful. Joe Hornbeam has survived. The 107th will now go to Brussels, where they will be stationed until the peace agreement is settled. In Brussels, Kit is annoyed to be separated from Roger. Kit has been recruited by Northwood as an aide-de-camp; he carries messages and runs errands for the earl. Since they are in peacetime, however, he has little to do, so he practices his German instead. He visits Kenelm, who is suffering badly from a bullet wound but is eager to return to his role as chaplain. Kit worries that Kenelm is feverish, so he writes to Elsie to suggest that she pay for a boarding house in which Kenelm can recover. While running errands, he runs into Jarge and has an emotional reunion with his stepfather. He is also pleased to see his mother, who has joined Jarge in Brussels.

Elsie receives Kit’s letter and decides to go to Brussels to oversee Kenelm’s recovery. She thinks about how the lives of Kit and Sal have been “transformed by industry and war” (605). She plans to take the children with her to Brussels, which she believes will be very safe now that the war is over. Many people are travelling to the newly fashionable Brussels. Sensing that many of these wealthy people will want to buy new clothes for their social events, Amos plans a business trip to Europe. Jane invites herself to travel with him.

Elise quickly feels that it was a “terrible mistake” (609) to travel to Brussels with five children. Through the Earl of Shirling, she is introduced to the Duchess of Richmond, and her situation improves. She rents a house near the city’s park, where she walks with Kenelm as he slowly recovers. She sees Jane with a handsome young officer and presumes that they are having an affair. She is shocked by how much Kenelm has been changed by his traumatic experiences of war; he is eager to return to his regiment, but she insists that he wait until he is fully recovered. 

Spade travels to Paris to drum up business. Arabella joins him. In Paris, they learn that Napoleon has escaped from Elba and has mustered his forces in France. Amid the confusion, no one knows what to do. Amos is crossing to Antwerp when he learns that Napoleon has escaped. He continues his journey, keen to ensure his merchandise reaches its destination and certain that Antwerp will not be affected by whatever happens. Napoleon moves through France, raising his old army. Spade, fearing for his family’s safety, pays handsomely to get them out of Paris just before Napoleon and his army arrive in the French capital.

Amos travels from Antwerp to Brussels. Worried about his son, he wants to be sure that Jane and young Henry are safe. Jane is enthusiastic about life in Brussels. This is the energetic social life among the wealthy and powerful that she always wanted. She is reluctant to leave, even though Britain, Prussia, and the allied powers have declared war on Napoleon personally. Next, Amos visits Elsie and Kenelm, who is “gaunt” (621) and still suffering from his wound. Kenelm is still desperate to return to the frontlines and offer spiritual guidance to the soldiers. To Amos, he seems “utterly transformed” (622). Amos is also surprised and relieved to see Spade and Arabella with Elsie; they fled to Brussels from Paris. In private, Kenelm asks Amos to escort Elsie to the duchess of Richmond’s ball. He would go himself, but he believes that drinking champagne at the social event would send “the wrong impression” (623). Amos agrees.

Kit finds his mother dressed in men’s clothing, following Jarge as part of the army camp. He wishes that she would return to England, but he cannot blame her for following her lover into a dangerous situation, as he has “done the same thing by joining up with Roger” (625). Sal tells him that she is making good money by buying and selling items to the soldiers. Whenever they can, Kit and Roger find time together in private. Kit attends a planning meeting, at which Duke Wellington prepares to face Bonaparte in a final battle. He believes that the allied forces outnumber the French. In the meantime, he plans to attend the duchess of Richmond’s ball.

Though there are “persistent rumors that the French [are] on the point of invading” (629), the ball goes ahead. Kit observes as Wellington receives updates; the duke must decide how and when to act. Kit is shocked that Wellington goes to the duchess’s ball. Amos escorts Elsie to the ball. He is shocked by her beauty, then confused at his sudden feelings for her. He is further taken aback by people suggesting that he and Elsie are a romantic couple. When they dance together, he feels her body against his and “gently [eases] her a little closer” (635). Kit accompanies Wellington to the ball. He waves to his mother on the way in, which wins Wellington’s approval. Kit is surprised that people can “dance when Bonaparte [is] on his way” (636). Wellington leaves the party at 3 am. The next morning, he is part of the entourage that rides out from Paris at 8 am. Wellington is tense, surprised by Napoleon’s actions. Jarge, Sal, Joe Hornbeam, Kenelm, and Roger all travel with the army for the showdown at Waterloo.