Mechanical Rose by Nathalie Gray

Author:Nathalie Gray [Gray, Nathalie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Tags: SteamPunk
ISBN: 9781419961540
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Published: 2010-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

He had never dressed with such haste. Nor had he ever seen a woman throw on clothes in such a hurry. She ran out of his room in only her chemise and corset. Lightning illuminated her curvy form for a split second then she was gone.

“Eleanor!”

“I need my things!” came her voice from down the hall. She was fast.

“Meet me in the great room!” he yelled back.

With shirt undone, trousers and boots barely on, he rummaged around his room for his vest, cursed at the lost time but finally found it. He nearly ripped the lining when he fished out his watch and tucked it into trousers pocket with the little timekeeper. Leeford then sprinted down the stairs leading to the second floor, spent a while pounding on Lily’s door without success then made his way in the dark to the great room where he retrieved an old pair of steam pistols from the trunk. Family heirlooms. Ha. One was only charged halfway but it would have to do. And on top of things, he would have to draw very, very near to the target for the shots to be effective. Instead of keeping these for closer study—something for which he had never made time—perhaps he should have procured tried-and-true pistols that shot bullets. How was he to know he would need to shoot his way out of his own home!

Outside, the storm roared. Rain like black whips lashed the windows. He dared not turn on any lights. Not until he had ascertained the danger. Although he knew it must have been Spark outside flying some large dragon.

The folded note on the coffee table caught his eye. After a quick scan, he breathed a sigh of relief. Lily often accompanied Max to Aconia to get supplies. This was where they had gone, had probably left by coach not long after Eleanor and he had taken off. At least they were out of harm’s way. For now.

A faint sound caught his attention. He whirled on his heels, pistols aimed more or less the same way, and spotted a smallish dark form rushing out of the stairwell. Eleanor emerged into the relative light of the storm, a dark pack in one hand and a peculiar silver pistol that he would have loved to study in the other. She wore her black and purple corset over the rest of her outfit, which consisted of loose black trousers and matching shirt. Flat shoes made not a sound as she traversed the great room, planted a kiss on his cheek. She had tied her hair in a tail.

“We need to act fast. I do not know how long it will take my colleagues to realize what is happening.”

“They are watching us right now?”

She shook her head, pointed above. “They are watching him. Have so for a long time. Where is Lily?”

“She and Max have gone to town so the house is locked tight. Spark will need time to work the—”

Outside, a loud whir followed by a muffled thoop drowned the rest of his words.

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