Chapter Four
While relief was uppermost in Dorothea’s mind, another worry began to nag at her.
She and Gen would need somewhere to stay for the night.
Her original plan had included a walk through the Undercroft, and locating a suitable inn.
She knew there were more than a few available, since business was brisk and required the attendance of those from other levels on a regular basis.
Now, however, she had an additional responsibility, and couldn’t just grab a room for herself anywhere convenient. It would have to be a family unit, where children were welcomed.
Much as she hated to do so, she had nowhere else to turn.
“Mr Gray,” she began. “I am loath to further trespass on your time, but Gen’s mother won’t be arriving until the morning, so she and I will need a place to stay tonight.
Could you recommend somewhere not too far from the Depot, where children are welcomed?
I’m afraid I had not planned for this eventuality, so I’m somewhat at a loss. ”
He smiled. “Why don’t you go and tell Gen that all is well, first? Put her mind at rest. Then we’ll work out something practical for you both.”
“I appreciate it, thank you.” Relieved, Dorothea smiled back and left the room, returning to Gen, who was laughing.
“Nelson is so funny,” she giggled. “He says Thim thinks I’m his favourite person, but he won’t tell me how he knows, because Thim doesn’t speak.”
Cooooo.
Clearly the tickerkins had done a great job of entertaining Gen, and Dorothea felt a little weight lift from her shoulders.
“Well, you’ll be happy to know that your Mama will be here in the morning to collect you.”
Gen’s eyes widened. “Oh, Miss Thea, really?”
“Yes, really.”
Gen jumped up and ran to Dorothea, throwing herself against her legs and wrapping her arms around as much of her as she could reach.
The muffled thank-yous were accompanied by a few sniffles, and Dorothea bent down, extracting Gen from her skirts. “Come now, sweetheart. My skirt makes a terrible handkerchief, you know.” She pulled one from a pocket. “Here, use this to dry these tears.”
“Thank you,” mumbled Gen, blowing her nose energetically into the fine linen. “I’m just so happy.” She held out the rather soggy bundle to Dorothea.
“Why don’t you keep it, Gen, as a little keepsake from our adventures.”
Silas strolled in and leaned against the doorjamb. “Well now, Miss Gen. I see Miss Thea has given you the happy news about your Mama.”
“Yes, sir, she has. Isn’t it wonderful? Mama is coming to get me after all. I haven’t lost her.”
“Of course you haven’t.” He straightened and went to the child, going down on one knee in front of her. “Mothers are very good at finding their children, even when it seems impossible.”
“How do they do that?”
Dorothea hid her smile at Silas’s somewhat bewildered expression.
“I think there are some special magnets in here,” he said gently, touching Gen’s curls. “And they send out signals between a mother and child.”
“Ohhh,” breathed Gen. “I never knew...”
“That’s all right, my dear,” chuckled Dorothea. “It’s a very well-kept secret, so don’t tell anyone, all right?”
The little girl raised her chin and looked at Dorothea with a serious expression on her face. “You can trust me, Miss Thea. I won’t tell a soul, I promise.”
“Well, now that that’s settled,” said Silas, “why don’t we all sit for a few moments and discuss our next steps?”
Dorothea cleared her throat. “As I mentioned, we’ll be looking for accommodations, just for tonight.”
“I understand,” he said calmly. “And in that regard, I have a suggestion to make.”
“You know a convenient inn?”
“Not exactly.” He shifted in his chair and crossed his legs, resting one boot on the other knee. It was a very masculine pose, and to her surprise, she felt a shivery tingle of awareness rocketing through her body.
As if he knew, his smile turned sensual, gentle, and Dorothea had to force herself to look away.
The man was a coggleblastedly alluring curiosity, and she was furious at her body for betraying her and responding the way it did. No other man had ever elicited shivers like that.
She raised her chin. “Well, sir. Your suggestion?”
He waved his hand around the room. “Stay here. With me.”
“Oh, but I...we couldn’t impose...” She stammered the words, shocked and confused at the same time.
“Nonsense. I have a very nice empty guest room upstairs, which I think would suit two lovely young ladies perfectly.” He grinned at Gen. “Do you think Thim might find staying here this evening acceptable? Nelson will take very good care of all of you...”
“Oh...” Gen’s eyes lit up. “Oh, Mr Gray. D’you really mean it? We could stay here?” She turned to Dorothea. “Wouldn’t that be the most special thing, Miss Thea? It’s so nice here, and Thim would be with both of us, and Nelson would be here, and Mr Gray too...”
“Well, I...”
“It would be just perfect, and I would so enjoy your company, as would Nelson.” Silas smiled benevolently, daring Dorothea to say no.
She sighed. “It certainly seems as though the decision has been made, but I will insist on reimbursing you for any extra costs our visit incurs.”
“Of course. Most thoughtful of you.”
His expression was calm and pleasant, and she wanted nothing more than to give him a good smack upside his head. He knew, damn him. He knew exactly how to present the offer in a way that she could not refuse.
“Nelson, would you make the guest room ready for Miss Gen and Miss Thea?” He stood.
“And a meal in an hour, I think.” He glanced down.
“You must both be quite hungry by now. I know I am.” He winked at Gen.
“How about we start with a Tickers’ tray, in honour of Thim and Nelson, and then perhaps a Smelter’s Stew? ”
Dorothea’s mouth watered in spite of herself.
She couldn’t remember the last time she had eaten.
So she tucked her pride in her pocket and smiled back at him.
“That sounds absolutely wonderful. And very kind of you. Smelter’s Stew has always been popular in my house, and I’m sure Gen will enjoy it, if she hasn’t overfilled herself from the Ticker’s tray, that is. ”
Gen blinked. “Oh no, Miss Thea. I am so hungry I think I have room for everything. Even pudding?”
“Boilermaker Pudding, perhaps?”
The look on the little girl’s face was indeed priceless as she gasped and nodded, speechless with delight.
“Very clever, Mr Gray,” murmured Dorothea. “Very clever indeed.”
He turned an innocent smile toward her. “I can’t begin to imagine what you mean, but I’ll take it as a compliment.”
“Of course. I meant nothing more.” Nelson returned just as she rose from her chair, but she caught Silas’s lips curve as those coggleblastedly gorgeous eyes did their twinkling thing.
“Your room awaits, Miss Thea. I look forward to our meal when you’re refreshed.”
“Hmm.” She nodded, grabbed Gen’s hand a little harder than necessary and led the girl from the room in Nelson’s wake.
*~~*~~*
Silas shot a glance at his tickerkin. “It was a spur of the moment decision.”
“I’m sure it was, sir.” Nelson turned silently on his wheels, and headed for the door “But in anticipation of your ‘spur of the moment decision’ I had already tided up the guest room. However, I will accompany the ladies and make sure they have everything they need.”
“Coggleblasted impertinent tickerkin,” muttered Silas.
“I heard that.”
Stifling a laugh, Silas stood, wondering what on earth he had just done, and why, on the devil’s forge, he’d done it.
Certainly he had an admitted weakness for blue eyes. Especially those that had a touch of steel in them which Miss Whatever-her-name-really was certainly possessed.
And she had a chin to go with that inner core of strength he sensed lay just beneath her simple exterior. ‘Determination’ could well have been flesh-pressed onto her forehead. Certainly an unusual and attractive woman, a pleasure to look at, and well-versed in intelligent conversation.
And, he reminded himself, she had an intimate knowledge of sophisticated Exchange equipment, not to mention a steampass which he was convinced bore the Renslow insignia.
And that was something he could research.
Heading to his office again, he closed the door behind him this time, and sat at his desk.
He took a few moments to scrawl a little drawing, then pushed his chair back a little.
One touch of a certain carved rosette, and another piece of the desktop swung upward, bringing with him his Archivo’scope.
Untangling the mouthpiece connection, he turned it on and waited for the little screen to brighten.
It was indeed a nifty gadget, and one of Silas’ favourite toys, truth be told. The first one had been purely experimental, but the consequent developments had turned it into a very valuable tool for record keeping. Almost all factories and companies had one.
Silas’s was, of course, a modified version of the original.
His not only spewed out his company’s records, it had a hidden connection to all the other Archivo’scopes in Arcvale.
Silas did not underestimate the power of this little device, and had kept those “adjustments” completely secret for obvious reasons.
In fact, he’d rarely used it for anything other than its intended purpose.
But tonight...well, he had an intriguing puzzle in his guest room, and this might help him find a few answers. He pressed a few buttons, rotated a gear or two, and then leaned forward, speaking clearly and quietly into the voice horn.
“Information request. Miss Thea Smith, affiliated with Renslow in some way, including a steampass. Capture image.”
The system buzzed, hissed slightly, then settled to a soft hum as he held up his rather quick and wiggly pencil rendering of what he’d seen on her steampass. Within a minute or so, the little screen flickered red, then white, and a green button flashed beside it.
“Aha.” Silas leaned forward, eager to read the information that was already appearing in front of him.
“Individual not identified by name. No THEA SMITH affiliated with the Renslow dynasty. The inclusion of a steampass, however, indicates a member of the Renslow family, since the pass thus described is restricted to top levels only.”
“Really,” mused Silas. “This is interesting indeed.”
He leaned toward the voice horn once more. “Information request. Renslow family female member, age perhaps early 20s, blue eyes, first name or other names similar to Thea.”
That took a little longer, and he shot a glance at his office door, just to make sure that nobody might catch sight of anything they shouldn’t.
The lights flickered again. This time, Silas was ready, close to the screen, wondering what had been discovered.
“One individual found. Possibility of match 85%. Lady DOROTHEA LANGLEY, age 23, Renslow family female, only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Renslow. Older brother Lord Randolph Renslow. No other siblings. Resides in Renslow House, Upper Level Six. Is listed as out of residence at the current time visiting friends. No other female with name resembling THEA found.”
He leaned back in his chair, staring at the words on the little screen. “Well, well, well. You’re way out-of-place down here in the Undercroft, aren’t you, Lady Langley? Did you come here on your own initiative, I wonder? Or were you sent?”
He pursed his lips in thought. It wasn’t out of the question that someone from the upper levels might have thought sending a spy would be a good idea.
Especially given the disaster that now faced the furnaces.
Could these two events be linked? Was her Ladyship here in disguise to root out conspiracies?
He snorted. If that was the case, then she was completely out of luck, since there weren’t any, as far as he knew.
It was, he thought to himself as he shut down his Archivo’scope, a most interesting conundrum. And one he couldn’t wait to solve...especially since those blue eyes were incredibly appealing...