Steampunk Fairy Tales: Books 1-3 by Melanie Karsak

Author:Melanie Karsak [Karsak, Melanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Clockpunk Press
Published: 2020-06-21T22:00:00+00:00

14

Mannerly Gentleman

“Miss McKenna,” Isabelle called happily from the top of the staircase. She waved then came thundering down the steps. I had to look twice when I realized that under her apron she was, in fact, wearing trousers. As she descended, she craned her neck to look around me. Not seeing Kai there, she frowned but then quickly smothered her disappointment.

“How good of you to come,” she said, panting when she got to the bottom of the stairs. “Father is working in the basement. Is…will Doctor Murray be joining you? We haven’t seen him today.”

“One of the ship captains was injured. He’s needed on the ice,” I said, masking my worry. It was not quite the truth but good enough. “I came in his stead. I thought I could call on the gentleman.”

“Oh, you should. He’s making a marvelous recovery. The Bow Street Runners were here today. They think we may have a lead on identifying him. Someone is coming in the morning to pay him a visit.”

“Really?”

Isabelle nodded. “A gentleman went missing some days back. His family has been searching for him. We’ll see in the morning. Now come, you’ll want to say hello to my father,” she said, pulling me by the arm. She headed toward a door leading to the basement, pausing to scoop up a pile of books sitting on the floor by the door. “Watch your step, and don’t mind the smell.”

“Smell?”

Without another word, Isabelle led us downstairs. “Papa?” she called. “Papa, we have a visitor.”

“Ah, Doctor Murray at last,” Master Hawking replied followed by the sound of metal clattering. There was a strange odor coming from the basement, an odd mix of sulfur and vinegar.

“Oh, no. He’s not here. Miss McKenna has come.”

“She’s not…you didn’t bring here down here, did you?” I heard him ask a second before I turned the corner.

I understood his hesitation the moment I did so. On two long slabs, Master Hawking had cadavers laid out. Their delicate parts were covered, but the pale corpses lay exposed to the open air. That, at least, explained the smell.

“Isabelle,” Master Hawking said, chiding his daughter softly. “You must remember that not all ladies—” he began then sighed. “Some ladies have softer sensibilities, my dear. Miss McKenna,” he said, bowing to me.

“I may be an artist, sir, but I assure you that the human body does not frighten me. I’m afraid I’ve spent too many years at Doctor Murray’s side. I’ve quite gotten over any nerves.” Despite my bravado, I swallowed hard.

Master Hawking smiled then turned to the tables and his nearby workbench. “Doctor Murray and I have been working many months on ways to help the wounded,” he said then waved me to his workbench.

Isabelle hopped up on a nearby table to watch. “Do you remember the optics I showed you upstairs?” she asked.

I nodded.

Master Hawking tapped a glass jar filled with eyeballs then reached out and picked up one of the optics Isabelle had shown me. “Better than a glass eye, but not yet as effective as I had hoped,” he said then set it down.

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