Armored Hearts by Melissa Turner Lee Page A

Jessamine’s face as she thought of what her parents were doing. “Yes, ma’am. Girls and boys are educated together.”
    “Wonderful. Now, has Tabitha taken you to see what she’s been working on?”
    Jessamine shook her head. “Not yet.”
    Mrs. Collins gestured for them to lead the way. “Please Tabitha, introduce us to your automation.”
    Tabitha led them to a countertop full of appliances. “I’ve spent a great deal of time in the kitchen at home with Sarah, our housekeeper. Watching her work has helped me come up with great ideas for how to automate her labors. Automation should be for the common woman, too.”
    She pointed to a device on a shelf. “This simple flame under this steel barrel works to keep water heated at all times. No need to boil for tea or dishwashing. This coil also feeds from the flame to this metal box and is ready for small things like reheating a meal for lunch or for toasting bread.
    “And I’ve added springs to push the door open and the rack out once the desired temperature is reached. It triggers this bell and lets the person who is cooking it know it is done.”
    Jessamine tipped at her hat in salute to her friend. “Very smart indeed.”
    Mrs. Collins turned her attention to Jessamine. “Miss Keller, did you bring anything to display?”
    Jessamine grinned in anticipation. Her heart raced as she thought of finally sharing what she had been working on. “Why yes, I did.”

Chapter 5

    “Jessamine and her father have been invited to stay at the manor,” Tabitha told Gareth after dinner.
    “What? And now I’m to listen to the two of you laugh at me all day and all night, too?” Gareth flew to the other side of his bedroom and looked out the balcony door. He always did that when he felt trapped.
    “We don’t laugh at you.”
    “I heard the two of you.”
    “You heard us laugh but not at you. Really, you should know me better than that.”
    Gareth eyed his young aunt. “I do know you. It’s her I don’t know.”
    “Their staying here will remedy that.”
    “I don’t wish it remedied. How will they stay? The house hasn’t held a guest in years. We only have Thompton and Sarah.”
    “Lord Gerald has hired more staff for the visit. Besides, they’re American. They have no clue if what we do at dinner is proper or not.”
    Gareth flew to his trunk and got out his suit of armor. “So we are going deeper into debt to impress ignorant Yanks? Wonderful. Go on to bed and let me dress. I’m going out.”
    As she headed for the door, Tabitha shot him a hurt, slightly angry look.
    It pierced Gareth in the heart, and he felt guilty for a moment, but the feeling fled the moment she closed the door. He’d have his freedom, even if just for now.
    ***
    The next morning, servants carried in steamer trunks while Sarah directed everyone where to put things. Disgusted with what he saw in the foyer, Gareth retreated to his room. They never had house guests. And now, with the house fully staffed, how was he to fly about as he liked? He’d be stuck in the blasted chair for the whole visit.
    Gareth took to flying back and forth in his room, pacing from wall to wall, and dreaded the week ahead with guests. A knock sounded at his door. He came down and settled himself in the wingchair. “Yes?”
    Sarah entered. “A package just arrived fer ye, sir.”
    She moved out of the way while her husband, Thompton, carried in a long wooden crate.
    “Just place it on his bed, Sweeting,” she said, gesturing.
    Gareth averted his eyes, pretending not to notice Sarah pat her husband’s behind. The two were always like that, touching and calling each other pet names. Thompton placed the long crate on the burgundy quilt, and it took up nearly the length of it from headboard to foot. A white pine box with hardly a mark on it, and no return address. Thompton nodded, took out a crowbar, and cracked open the top. He left the lid down and bowed in Gareth’s direction before turning to