Magnificent Devices 01 - Lady of Devices

Fifteen hundred. I know your position, my dear young lady, and that isn’t the kind of sum you can turn down.”
    The rage came bubbling up from under her corset and into her throat. Was it possible for a man to be any more insulting? “Isn’t it?”
    If she said one more word, her façade would split and she would scream blue invective at him, right here, right now. The glass above their heads would crack and rain down upon him and it would serve him right for treating her in this high-handed, criminal, cruel manner.
    Oh, if she were a lady in society instead of name how she would glory in crushing him to social powder under one kid heel! She would make it so that no one in their circles would receive him ever again. Even the King and Queen would frown when his name was mentioned. If she were—if only—
    “Lady?” Maggie tugged her hand. “Look, there’s Tigg and Willie with Mr. Malvern.”
    “Mr. Malvern?” James lifted his head like a wolf scenting the sheepdog.
    Claire pulled in as deep a breath as she could, feeling her corset cinch her sides like the twin hands of caution and propriety. “Yes. He has been such a gentleman today. We’ve spent most of the afternoon together deepening our acquaintance and he has told us all about locomotives and steam.”
    Ever so sweetly, she smiled at him and allowed the girls to drag her away.

Chapter 29

    Like the confluence of events that results in a battle at sea, nine people converged at a single point in the cheerful arcade next to the ice-skating rink. The chamber orchestra played “Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes” while the skaters dipped and twirled, vendors called the attention of customers to their hot meat pies and iced drinks, and Lady Julia Wellesley and Gloria Meriwether-Astor spotted Lord James and bore down upon him like two battleships under full steam.
    “Lord James, how very unexpected!” Julia trilled.
    “Such a pleasure to see you,” Gloria added, then halted in midstep, her skirts swirling forward like foam upon the waves. “Oh, hello, Claire.”
    “Claire? Claire Trevelyan?” Her focus on Lord James broken, Julia looked around, her eyes registering astonishment at the number of people who had witnessed her unladylike hailing of his lordship in public. “Heavens, we thought you’d gone to Cornwall.”
    So much for attempting to keep her name out of the children’s hearing. Well, that had been a thin hope at best.
    Then Julia seemed to register Lord James’s proximity to Claire, and her long lashes fluttered. “Are you ... and his lordship ... enjoying the exhibit?”
    “I am, very much.” Claire resented her implication that she and James were there together, and resented even more having to assure Julia that she was no threat to her pursuit. Honestly, what would it be like to live a life where such a thing was her only problem? “I cannot speak for his lordship, who was merely passing by.”
    Lord James had concealed all his emotion of the moment before, and had put on his public face. “Ladies, the pleasure of our meeting is all mine. Lady Julia, you look enchanting. Miss Gloria, you should build yourself a crystal palace of your own. The light of heaven suits you exactly.”
    Claire resisted the temptation to implore patience of that same heaven, and welcomed Andrew and the boys instead. Here was reality. No simpering exchange of insincere compliments. Instead, with them she could enjoy the meeting of like minds in pursuit of a common goal: a greater knowledge of how the world worked.
    Julia and Gloria smiled and blushed. Lord James went on, “May I introduce my business partner to you? Lady Julia Wellesley, Miss Gloria Meriwether-Astor, this is Andrew Malvern of the Royal Society of Engineers.” The ladies inclined their heads while Andrew bowed.
    “And what business are you working on together?” Gloria’s words were polite while her eyes said, What business does a Blood have with a Wit?
    Lord James chuckled. “I would not trouble your lovely head with it. Suffice to say we are working on making locomotive engines run more efficiently.”
    Lady Julia waved her hand in front of her face, as if she were overcome. “Goodness. How very droll. Do you own a railroad?”
    “Not yet.” He smiled at her. “But I like to engage my mind in such matters, and Andrew and I went to school together, so I knew a fine scientist who could do the practical work.”
    Dispensing with Andrew as unsuitable for her further attention,