Magnificent Devices 07 - A Lady of Integrity by Shelley Adina Page B
Authors: Shelley Adina
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pretending to care about his daughter’s friends?
“Is that my Gloria there, with that tall harlequin?” he asked as they whirled past.
“She makes a lovely shepherdess, does she not? That tall harlequin is Ian Hollys, baronet,” Claire said with her best society smile. “I believe she may well have made a conquest—her first of the evening.”
“Is that so? About time she was good for something.”
Claire blushed, and even Alice winced at his willingness to shame his daughter behind her back.
“Are you enjoying your time in the Duchy, sir?” Andrew inquired, clearly hoping to deflect the conversation. “Have you been to the Exhibition?”
“I’ve no time for frippery. I’m here on business, and for Gloria, for her sainted mother’s sake. We have not seen one another in some months.”
“I understand you take quite an interest in engineering,” Andrew went on, “and in fact have achieved great recognition in those circles. Are you working on something presently?”
Meriwether-Astor glanced at him distractedly while he attempted to follow Gloria and her partner around the room. Did he think Ian would abandon her and he would need to tackle the baronet before he got clear away?
“I’m interested in underwater transport,” he finally vouchsafed. “Seems like a good place to sell it, don’t you agree? Excuse me, I’ve just seen someone I must say hello to. I’ve been waiting days to get in to see the Minister of Justice, and there he is in the flesh. Nice to have met you all.”
And he hurried off.
As a laurel leaf detached itself from his crown and wafted to the polished floor in the wake of his going, Alice realized he had not been watching his daughter dance, after all. He had been watching for an opportunity to do business.
And now, as they saw him approach a tall, dark-complected man wearing a sword and angel’s wings, thanks to him they now knew who the Minister of Justice was.
11
Lizzie rolled her shoulders in irritation, and the wire hoops of her fairy wings bobbed up and down. “This seemed like such a good idea in the costume shop,” she said to Tigg, “but so far all I’ve done is knock against people and irritate everyone within four feet.”
“You don’t irritate me.” His teeth flashed in the slow, lazy grin she loved. If anyone had been designed to wear the costume of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, it was Tigg. The pleated linen pants and wide jeweled collar—to say nothing of the dress scimitar and the cobra headdress—could have been designed for him. And if she caught any female sneaking glances at his bare chest, she would whip the gaseous capsaicin out of her pocket so fast …
“I’d say take them off and stash them in a potted palm, but I think they’re the point of your costume.” He took her hand. “Leave off fretting and come dance with me.”
“But the Lady said—”
“I know, and we will. But I must have one dance to remember after all this is over and I’m back aboard ship again.”
He swept her onto the floor, and Lizzie really did feel as if she were flying on her gauzy wings, her gossamer skirts floating out behind in a most satisfying way. Equally satisfying were the envious glances of the little cluster of Wilis, who had come without partners and had nearly reached the point of dancing with each other.
“Captain’s dancing a second with Miss Meriwether-Astor,” Tigg murmured. “Perhaps we ought to take up the watch on Alice?”
“Maggie is with her.” Lizzie’s sharp eyes picked them out of the crowd. “Come, dance me over behind that man with the angel wings. Meriwether-Astor is heading in that direction, and he’s never met me. Remember what the Lady said.”
“If we must, though I’d rather dance properly with you.”
She smiled up at him. “We have the rest of our lives to dance, and only a short time to find out all we can for Jake.”
She felt his hand tighten on her waist as he adjusted their course, and his
“Is that my Gloria there, with that tall harlequin?” he asked as they whirled past.
“She makes a lovely shepherdess, does she not? That tall harlequin is Ian Hollys, baronet,” Claire said with her best society smile. “I believe she may well have made a conquest—her first of the evening.”
“Is that so? About time she was good for something.”
Claire blushed, and even Alice winced at his willingness to shame his daughter behind her back.
“Are you enjoying your time in the Duchy, sir?” Andrew inquired, clearly hoping to deflect the conversation. “Have you been to the Exhibition?”
“I’ve no time for frippery. I’m here on business, and for Gloria, for her sainted mother’s sake. We have not seen one another in some months.”
“I understand you take quite an interest in engineering,” Andrew went on, “and in fact have achieved great recognition in those circles. Are you working on something presently?”
Meriwether-Astor glanced at him distractedly while he attempted to follow Gloria and her partner around the room. Did he think Ian would abandon her and he would need to tackle the baronet before he got clear away?
“I’m interested in underwater transport,” he finally vouchsafed. “Seems like a good place to sell it, don’t you agree? Excuse me, I’ve just seen someone I must say hello to. I’ve been waiting days to get in to see the Minister of Justice, and there he is in the flesh. Nice to have met you all.”
And he hurried off.
As a laurel leaf detached itself from his crown and wafted to the polished floor in the wake of his going, Alice realized he had not been watching his daughter dance, after all. He had been watching for an opportunity to do business.
And now, as they saw him approach a tall, dark-complected man wearing a sword and angel’s wings, thanks to him they now knew who the Minister of Justice was.
11
Lizzie rolled her shoulders in irritation, and the wire hoops of her fairy wings bobbed up and down. “This seemed like such a good idea in the costume shop,” she said to Tigg, “but so far all I’ve done is knock against people and irritate everyone within four feet.”
“You don’t irritate me.” His teeth flashed in the slow, lazy grin she loved. If anyone had been designed to wear the costume of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, it was Tigg. The pleated linen pants and wide jeweled collar—to say nothing of the dress scimitar and the cobra headdress—could have been designed for him. And if she caught any female sneaking glances at his bare chest, she would whip the gaseous capsaicin out of her pocket so fast …
“I’d say take them off and stash them in a potted palm, but I think they’re the point of your costume.” He took her hand. “Leave off fretting and come dance with me.”
“But the Lady said—”
“I know, and we will. But I must have one dance to remember after all this is over and I’m back aboard ship again.”
He swept her onto the floor, and Lizzie really did feel as if she were flying on her gauzy wings, her gossamer skirts floating out behind in a most satisfying way. Equally satisfying were the envious glances of the little cluster of Wilis, who had come without partners and had nearly reached the point of dancing with each other.
“Captain’s dancing a second with Miss Meriwether-Astor,” Tigg murmured. “Perhaps we ought to take up the watch on Alice?”
“Maggie is with her.” Lizzie’s sharp eyes picked them out of the crowd. “Come, dance me over behind that man with the angel wings. Meriwether-Astor is heading in that direction, and he’s never met me. Remember what the Lady said.”
“If we must, though I’d rather dance properly with you.”
She smiled up at him. “We have the rest of our lives to dance, and only a short time to find out all we can for Jake.”
She felt his hand tighten on her waist as he adjusted their course, and his
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