The Perilous Journey of the Not-So-Innocuous Girl by Statham Leigh

Author:Statham, Leigh
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: YA, fantasy, steampunk, alternate history
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC
Published: 2015-03-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

The steward jumped back as the couple passed from observatory to lift. “You’ll have to come in the next load, Dixon.” Laviolette waved a hand of warning to the steward as he and Marguerite entered the lift. “Not enough room for decent folks.”

“Yes, Captain.” He looked genuinely disappointed as he handed Marguerite the fur coat once again.

“No thank you.” Even though she knew how cold it was outside she did not fancy feeling it against her face or its smell creeping up her nose.

Both men shrugged at each other and the bot with the pink apron stepped forward to latch the gates. Then she reached over and threw a switch on the wall that kicked the lift into action. It dropped suddenly, causing Marguerite to lose balance and grab Laviolette’s arm. He steadied her and smiled.

“Blasted engineers. You’d think that if they spend years designing a state-of-the-art aership they would at least put a little thought into the lifts.”

“I’m sure they were more concerned with efficiency for the crew, not creature comforts. Besides, you’ve been in the Navy for decades.” Marguerite deliberately stressed the word in hope of making Laviolette feel their age difference. “Haven’t you developed sea legs yet?”

“And just what would you know about efficiency for the crew?” Laviolette had to yell as they passed through the portals in the floor and into the open wind.

Marguerite started to holler her answer back at him but thought better of it. She still had her arm looped through his and desperately wanted to draw it back to hug around herself in defense against the wind, but was also aware that without the coat, Laviolette’s body was the only source of warmth available until they reached the lower decks. She started to shiver as the wind whipped around her, tickling through her dress with its icy fingers. Nevertheless, she gave up his warmth and pulled her arm back, wrapping it tightly around her waist.

She felt Laviolette look at her and was sure she could hear his sigh over the wind, but that was ridiculous. She focused on the gorgeous scenery and took a deep breath again, clearing her head and her lungs as they drifted slowly to the deck.

By the time the lift landed with a thud and a bot whipped the door open, Marguerite was shivering beyond that which she could hide. Laviolette snapped his fingers and hollered an order at a bot who ran into one of the small buildings connected to the large engine on the deck and ran back carrying a blanket. He nodded to the bot and held the blanket aloft for Marguerite’s approval. All along, the engine was thumping and the winds were howling as they flew at top speed toward New France.

She stepped up and grudgingly let him wrap the blanket around her shoulders. He let his hands rest there as he leaned in and spoke directly into her ear.

“Can you see just above that door there, a row of alabaster panels?” His breath was warm, his voice soft on her neck and ear as he pointed over her shoulder.

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