Clockwork Image by L G Rollins

Author:L G Rollins [Rollins, L G]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781081035686
Published: 2019-07-24T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

“Please, Mr. Clark,” Tressa nearly begged. “Are you certain you have not heard from my brother?”

It had been over two weeks since Jasper left and no one had heard hide nor hair of him. She’d spoken with art dealers, and old friends. She’d even begun questioning the taverns and inns in town. She asked everyone who might know where Jasper was.

Tressa looked up from her conversation with Mr. Clark, noticing Brox as he strode down the hall of Westwood. Without sparing her a glance, he turned into a classroom on the right. Before the door shut behind him, Tressa caught a glimpse of his students, backs straight, sitting in orderly rows. Tressa tucked her hands back into her breeches, feeling invisible in her unshapely shirtsleeves and old boots.

She closed her eyes. She hadn’t asked everyone.

Tressa had not spoken to Brox since her mulish mishap several days previous.

Oh, how she missed him. They’d only known each other a couple of weeks. But, up until Tressa’s untimely memories ended their friendship, they’d spent at least some time together nearly every day. Now, that was gone.

It felt like a hole had opened up, swallowing all the sunlight and color out of life.

Worse still, she had no idea how to repair what was broken between them. Machines she could fix, but this? The only possible solution required her telling Brox about her past, which was impossible. Her few months on land had done nothing if not prove she simply could not speak of those events.

“I am sorry, Seawoman Wimple.” Mr. Clark spoke rather tersely. “I am rather busy just now and I am certain I haven’t seen Jasper.” He lumbered farther down the hall.

So much for questioning those in Westwood. She didn’t think Jasper would have come here anyway, not considering how much he hated the place. But after her search of all the inns in town proved fruitless, she’d wondered if he’d begged a room from the orphanage. As farfetched as the idea seemed, she was running out of options.

Soft footfalls sounded on Tressa’s left, but she ignored them. If Jasper wasn’t there, and hadn’t contacted anyone there to look for a room, where else could he be?

“Why do you want to see Jasper?”

Tressa turned to find Christina glowering at her.

The small young woman seemed positively livid, as though Tressa herself had defamed and ruined Jasper. Tressa didn’t have the patience for her accusations or judgements. Then again, the woman had seen Tressa holding Jasper quite firmly by the lapels.

“He’s gone off,” Tressa said with a wave of her hand. She didn’t feel like explaining herself to the delicate creature.

“I know.”

Tressa eyed Christina more carefully. She couldn’t recall a time when she’d heard the woman speak quite so firmly.

“How do you know?” Had Brox told her?

Christina’s gaze dropped momentarily, then she faced Tressa once more, drawing herself up to her full height, an unintimidating five-foot-naught.

“I asked why you want to see your brother,” Christina said.

Tressa’s jaw clamped tight. “Is he staying with you?”

Christina’s face turned bright pink.

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