Ultimate Nyssa Glass by H. L. Burke

Author:H. L. Burke [Burke, H. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2016-12-02T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

The next morning, Ellis sent the promised telegram to Amara at the Azores’s mansion. They then all filed into the shop to start the day.

“Do you think there’s any point to opening the shop?” Nyssa asked. “Or should we just wait to hear back from Amara?”

Ellis shrugged. “We still have our tools and enough spare parts to do most basic repairs. If we stay closed, it will feed the gossip.”

Nyssa nodded. Theo ran across the room and flipped the sign to “open.” He settled behind the counter, chest out, chin in the air, like a little shopkeeper. Nyssa stifled a laugh.

The boy’s great, patched coat swung about his body, making his twiggy frame look like the clapper inside a church bell. A pair of over-sized trousers dripped from his body. Though Mrs. H had washed them, they still were threadbare and stained.

Nyssa chewed her bottom lip. “I think I’m going to take Theo out for a bit. He could use a new wardrobe, especially if he’s going to be waiting on customers. Looking proper and professional is a big part of owning a business.”

The boy’s eyes widened, then a grin spread over his face. “Really? New clothes?” His smile died. “Can we afford it?”

Nyssa frowned. “We aren’t broke yet. Besides, we won’t make money unless we spend a little, be it for parts or in order to maintain a respectable appearance. We’ll call it a business expense. Do you want to come, Ellis?”

Ellis shook his head and ran a cloth over his tools. “I think I’ll stay and work on some small repairs. If by chance a customer does wander by, someone needs to be minding the store.”

“All right.”

They might be more likely to come if it’s just Ellis. After all, he doesn’t represent the criminal element. Not even seventeen and my reputation is more tattered than Theo’s coat.

After everything that had happened, Nyssa decided it was best to do their shopping away from their immediate neighborhood. Her satchel at her side, she led Theo to the corner and waited there for the trolley. A woman with a clockwork pram shied away from them, closing the pram’s canopy as if to shield the baby from their presence.

Yep, my reputation has definitely preceded me. Shock my uncle.

Theo hopped from foot to foot. “I’ve never ridden a trolley before.”

“Just remember to hold on tight if you can’t find a place to sit. They jerk a bit.”

With a hiss of steam and rattle of metal wheels over tracks, the trolley careened up the street then stopped before them. The woman with the pram tried to tilt it up the steps but couldn’t quite get it over. She cleared her throat, gazing hopelessly into the mostly empty car. There were a few people in the back, but none rose to help her.

Swallowing her pride, Nyssa stepped forward. “Here. They really should build these things with ramps.” She took the back of the pram and motioned for the mother to enter. The woman did so but with a pinched mouth and worried eyes.

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