Moonlight & Mechanicals by Pape Cindy Spencer

Author:Pape, Cindy Spencer [Pape, Cindy Spencer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises
Published: 2012-10-22T07:00:00+00:00

Liam watched as Wink and Nell entered the parlor where he waited with Connor and the irrepressible Jamie. Having the boy turn up was a surprise, though it shouldn’t have been. With the Hadrians, anything was possible. For just a moment, though, Liam couldn’t focus on anything but the picture made by the two young women, both lovely, but such a study in contrasts. Dainty and sweet, Nell’s exotic good looks were emphasized by the softness of her pale pink gown, trimmed with yards of ruffles and lace. Her serenity masked a well of fierce loyalty and protectiveness, and Liam knew he wouldn’t want to be on the wrong end of a sword or gun if he ever hurt anyone she loved. Wink, on the other hand, was magnificent, a Celtic warrior princess with no trace of softness in her manner. She wore a simple gown of gold-colored satin, unadorned except for a pair of amber earrings, almost the same shade as her hair. With all that amber and gold on, her eyes took on the same shade, glowing with warmth. She was so striking it nearly hurt to look at her, but he forced himself to offer each of the sisters a precisely equal bow.

Miss Dorothy Hadrian, in a purple dress even more severely cut than Wink’s, cleared her throat. “Well, since we’re all here, what’s the progress on our two cases?”

Liam didn’t even bother to correct her. If one Hadrian was involved, they all were, and Dorothy was a formidable ally. One by one, everyone related what they had learned or surmised over the last few days. The only one with nothing to add was Nell, who took everything in and nodded thoughtfully.

“I can’t help thinking,” Nell said when they’d all finished their reports. “That there’s a reason two such confounding problems are occurring at the same time. Do you think they’re connected? Is this army someone is collecting part of the plot against the Queen?”

All heads turned to Nell. Liam made sure his own mouth wasn’t hanging open like some of the others.

Jamie nodded. “Makes sense to me. Simplest possible solution, isn’t it? Occam’s razor and all that.”

Dorothy patted Nell’s shoulder. “You might be onto something there. Sometimes it’s easier to see a situation clearly when you’re not so closely involved.”

“Well, Lord Eustace certainly wouldn’t have the mechanical knowledge to build powered suits for his army,” Wink said. “But his oily little friend…well, perhaps. Kersleigh knows something. I can’t help but feel he’s got some secret joke he’s playing on society. This would certainly qualify.”

“I spent some time this afternoon investigating the honorable Mr. Victor Kersleigh. He does have several patents to his name,” Liam said. “His teachers at university all praised his brilliance but deplored his ethics. What he doesn’t have is funding.”

“But perhaps his collection of younger sons is providing that,” Connor said. “It bears further investigation.”

“Agreed.” Liam nodded. “I’ll get on that first thing in the morning.”

“I’ll print out any records the Order has and get those to you in the morning,” Wink said.

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