Bitter Cold: A Steampunk Snow Queen (The Clockwork Republic Series Book 4) by Katina French

Author:Katina French
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: A Steampunk retelling of the Snow Queen
Publisher: Per Bastet Publications LLC
Published: 2014-11-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Lies Beneath

Isadora Halfacre crept nervously into Evelyn's parlor. The hour was late, but the old lady knew better than to hesitate when summoned.

She'd scraped her frazzled grey hair back into a bun beneath a black veiled hat. Her dress consisted of great swaths of fabric in blacks and muddy greys, still in mourning. Evelyn vaguely remembered her as she'd been when they first met, a plump matronly creature with fluttery hands and a high-pitched, girlish drawl. Widowhood had not been kind.

"Please come in, Mrs. Halfacre. Have a seat."

Evelyn gestured to an imposing wing-back chair. Instead of looking comfortable, or even regal, the odd angles and carvings made it resemble some Jacobean torture device. The mousy woman knew better than to risk offending her hostess. She gingerly planted herself on the chair's edge, leaning forward as if to listen attentively but actually to avoid having any more contact with the seat than absolutely necessary.

"You have some business for me, ma'am? Your driver said it was of the utmost urgency." Fear radiated from the frail woman's frame.

"It is indeed important. As usual, it will require your diligent discretion. No one can know about this assignment." Evelyn shook loose the folds of her satin dress, smoothing the azure fabric across her knees. The widow's rumpled appearance disrupted her otherwise immaculately neat room. After she'd replaced her human servants with 'gens, Evelyn had grown accustomed to everything remaining frozen in a state of perfect order.

Particularly since creating Gaskon, the fewer nosy hirelings poking around the house in her absence, the better.

"What do you need, Miss DeWinter? You know I'm always at your disposal." Try as she might, the woman was unable to conceal an edge of bitterness to her tone.

"Do you know anything of my holdings in the Kentucky Republic?"

"Yes, Miss. If you recall, I helped you solicit the services of a number of tinkers and engineers for some project installed in your airship, the Boreas. How are Mr. Gunderson and Mr. Whitley getting along with their task, if I may ask?"

"I'm afraid not well at all." A frown crossed Evelyn's fine features. "Blunderson and Witless" as she'd dubbed them, had not worked out at all, in the end. To their great misfortune.

"I am sorry to hear that."

Not as sorry as they'd been. But that was not important at the moment.

"Don't worry. You couldn't have possibly known, and I've since found a most acceptable replacement. However, I find myself needing to confide in you to a greater degree than usual, to help you understand the gravity of the situation. Let us be entirely clear. The consequences of your breaking my confidence will be . . . dire."

She did not raise her voice, which maintained its light tone and musical cadence, but there could be no mistaking the open threat.

"Mrs. Halfacre, I believe I may speak candidly with you. I feel that we have an understanding, and that, unlike most people, you know me for who I am."

"I . . . I believe that's so, yes.

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