The Lady Machinist (Curiosity Chronicles Book 1) by Ava Morgan

his hair, feeling grit and sand in his scalp. “She burned her hand while attempting to stop it. I’m to blame.”
    “How?”
    “I shot the automaton at close range. A poor solution, given the machine’s tendency to leak hydraulic fluid. Oh.” Rhys blurted out the last thing Malcolm needed to hear.
    The bosun wagged his head with force. “Those monstrosities cannot be put on the ship. We’ll be sent to a watery grave or burnt to cinders.”
    “Pray that we don’t, Malcolm. Our interests rest upon Lydia’s inventions.” Rhys’ eyes followed Lydia before she disappeared over the hill. “Let’s get this agreement signed before more amendments have to be made.”
     
    #
     
    The purchase agreement weighed heavily on Lydia’s mind, although it rested light as sea foam in her hand when she added her name to the collection of signatures.
    She brooded as Rhys took the agreement from her and handed the duplicate transcription to King Sabba. Rhys gave her exactly what she wanted. That, and so much more. She shook her head in a bemused state. She thought herself capable of playing for her country in the ambassador’s game of high stakes when he so elegantly overturned her hand.
    Rhys tucked the envelope under his arm and stood to leave the counsel room of the palace. “We set sail in six days. Have the automatons and your belongings ready to load onto the ship in five. Malcolm will give further instructions.”
    The burly bosun, witness to the signing, had a frown frozen in stone for Lydia.
    She had yet to tell her parents of her impending journey. Her hands grew cold at the prospect, and worse, having to part for an indefinite amount of time.
    Lydia took the path to her residence once the signing ended. The windows were raised and the aroma of soup wafted outside. She concealed her bandaged hand in her pocket as she approached her mother inside.
    Iris sat rigid in the chair before the door, a cup of tea on the table beside her. “Something has happened to you.”
    Lydia exhaled. She never could hide much from her mother. “The ambassador requires that I go to New Britannia to oversee the automaton production.”
    Her mother sat mute for several moments as the teacup beside her sent curlicues of steam through the still air. “You must do what he says,” she said, finally.
    Lydia didn’t expect her mother be so acquiescent. “This sits well with you?”
    “I don’t wish for my daughter to journey over a thousand miles from me, but you have your duty to the king and to Aspasia. Was this part of the agreement?”
    “I pressed the ambassador to let me retain control of the automatons. He gave me my wish, but this is his way of making sure I don’t cheat New Britannia of its investment. He doesn’t trust me.”
    “You would do the same if the roles were reversed.”
    “That’s not true.” Lydia raised her eyes and saw her mother’s amused expression. “Well, I wouldn’t be nearly so smug about it.”
    Iris sipped tea. Lydia noticed her hands trembled. “Well, let’s be practical. You should think about what you will take with you. I hear New Britannia can get very cold in winter.”
    “It’s the journey I worry about.” Lydia pictured the great expanse of ocean she would traverse in order to sail north. There was much to prepare for and not enough time. “I’ll write often, mana .”
    Her mother cast a glance out the window towards the sea. “I will settle for often enough. If the ambassador is as demanding as you describe him, your hands will be very full.”
    Beneath the secure binding of Rhys’ handkerchief, Lydia’s injured hand smarted.

 
     
     

Chapter 7
     
     
    Within the end of the week, Lydia stood on the shore on the eve of her voyage to New Britannia, observing as the automatons were hoisted onto Rhys’ ship.
    Rhys supervised his six-man crew on deck. In stark contrast to his calm was Malcolm, roaming about the ship and giving orders for transporting the automatons to the cargo