The Armor of Light: A Novel

Freddie writes to Spade, describing his traumatic experiences in battle. Commander Wellington, the leader of the British forces, weeps over the dead. The Earl of Shirling dies in 1812, and Jane’s husband becomes the new earl. When Amos meets her, he knows that he is no longer in love with her, but he is increasingly convinced that he is the father of her son. He is still alone but is “lonely only at night” (515). After, he meets Elsie, who encourages him to run against Hornbeam to be the Kingsbridge Member of Parliament in the upcoming general election. In recent years, the Napoleonic Wars have spread into a near-global conflict, and Amos could campaign on peace and workers’ rights. He agrees to consider the idea. Amos has grown his business. He has purchased machines from Roger and Kit, who have set up their own business after Kit served five years in the militia. He is now a prosperous “engineering wizard” (519), but Amos notes to himself that Kit seems uninterested in finding a girlfriend. Kit installs a new steam engine in one of Amos’s mills. Later, Jane visits Amos to complain that her husband is going to Spain due to the war.