A knight of the air : $b or, The aerial rivals

In bustling Victorian London, the inventive yet restless Harry Goodall is determined to prove that ballooning can be safe and practical. While racing through Trafalgar Square with a mysterious cab‑loaded contraption, he becomes aware of two shadowy figures who seem to be tracking his every move. Their silent presence hints at hidden motives—perhaps detectives, perhaps rivals—yet Goodall presses on, driven by his passion for the skies.

Inside the Crystal Palace’s vaulted laboratory, Goodall gathers a small, loyal crew: his quick‑witted assistant Trigger, the resilient Mrs. Chain and her daughter, and a striking young lady who watches his work with keen interest. Together they ready a sleek silk aerostat and a novel cone‑shaped airship for a daring lake test, hoping to demonstrate a safer, more controllable form of flight. As the wind picks up, the experiment promises both triumph and unforeseen complications, pulling Goodall deeper into a web of curiosity and intrigue.