A Clockwork Christmas: Wanted: One Scoundrel\This Winter Heart\Far From Broken\Crime Wave in a Corset (The Bustlepunk Chronicles) by Schwartz Jenny & Forte PG & Coi J.K. & Gail Stacy

Author:Schwartz, Jenny & Forte, PG & Coi, J.K. & Gail, Stacy [Schwartz, Jenny]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Carina Press
Published: 2013-07-14T16:00:00+00:00

Dario was passing through the foyer as Arthur came clattering down the stairs. “Slow down,” he advised and then, noticing the boy looked upset, put out an arm to stop him. “What’s wrong?”

“She wants to leave,” Arthur blurted, tears swimming in his eyes. “I told her I didn’t want to, but she still wants to leave.”

Dario sighed. “How many times have we talked about this? We’ll need patience to change her mind, Arthur, and gentleness. You can’t force these things. But, there’s time yet. No one is going anywhere today, are they?”

“No, but… But what if she never changes her mind? What then?”

Dario framed the boy’s face with his hand for a moment. What then, indeed? “Well, son, if all else fails, and we can’t convince her, then we’ll have to be brave for her—just as she was for you—and do as she asks. We owe her no less. Is that understood?”

“Yes, sir,” Arthur answered reluctantly.

Dario smiled at him encouragingly. “But let’s not worry about that now, shall we? Go and change your clothes. We still have a lot of work to do.”

Arthur ran off to get changed. Dario was about to do likewise when the sound of something heavy toppling over filtered down from the floor above. “Ophelia?” His heart in his throat, he raced up the stairs, taking them two at a time.

The first thing Dario saw when he burst into her room was the chair in which he’d so often sat overturned on the floor and Ophelia, half-bent over it, struggling to get her feet back under her. He went to her immediately and helped her to stand. Holding her close, he thrilled to the feel of her so soft and pliant, pressed so willingly against him. When she reached again for the chair to right it, he kicked it away. “Leave it,” he ordered, urging her back toward the bed. “What are you doing getting up? You could have hurt yourself!”

“I assure you, I’m quite all right.” But she didn’t pull away and she offered no protest when he pushed aside the bed clothes and settled her back in bed.

“Where were you trying to go, anyway?”

Ophelia eyed him curiously as he tucked the blankets in around her. “Actually, I was coming to look for you.”

Dario frowned, wishing she’d look away and stop staring so. His hands were shaking and it was all he could do to keep them from accidentally-on-purpose brushing against her. This was exactly the reason he’d been trying so hard to keep his distance—why he’d sent her away eight years ago in the first place. He was only human, after all, and this constant battle to keep his hands to himself was one he was doomed to always lose. “What was it you wanted to find me for?” he asked at last, steeling himself for her response. It was unlikely it was for anything good.

“I was speaking with Arthur just now,” Ophelia said, confirming his worst suspicions. “He tells me the two of you have been working on something.

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