Read Online Clockworks and Corsets by Regina Riley - Free Book Online

their parts as readily as clothes . Ruby had been disappointed by more than one performance in the past. This time she had chosen her actors more wisely, giving them each such suitable roles.
    Like Bloody Rose Madigan and her crew of merry widows.
    Ruby returned to her bed, smiling at her own ingenuity. Hiring the all female crew to retrieve the weapon was a stroke of brilliance in this new scheme. Ruby needed Doctor Loquacious’s invention, Rose Madigan needed work. One hand washed the other, and the men of the world were none the wiser. So what if they were? What was more innocuous than an airship crew of women?
    Who would suspect they carried cargo that would change the very power structure of the world?
    A weapon so powerful that it could level an entire city in less than a minute.
    The very idea of it made her want to come. Ruby dropped down to her bed, spreading her legs for her own satisfaction. She ran her hand under the triangle of fabric that covered her dripping sex. Closing her eyes, she envisioned a new America with her at the head. The promise of power was the only thing that could ever satisfy her. Her fingers fluttered over her slick clit. She groaned at the thought of the weapon, and how close she was to ultimate control. When her orgasm came, she rode it slow, trying to hang onto the high for as long as she could. Then it was over. She was back in her bedchamber, just another whore ready to turn her next trick.
    Ruby clutched herself with a sigh while visions of world domination danced in her black heart.

Chapter 6
    Open Arms, Empty Airs
    In which we find the laboratory as vacant as our coffers.
    In the low lamp light of the laboratory, Rose squinted at the massive mirror mounted on the stand. Before her was the image of The Merry Widow, tethered to the beach almost five miles away. Rose tapped the glass before she shook her head again. “I don’t understand how it works.”
    “It’s very simple,” Jayne and Atom said simultaneously.
    Atom motioned for Jayne to continue.
    Jayne seemed unmoved by his gesture, as though she expected nothing less from him.
    “Smaller mirrors are arranged all over the island, each one pointed at the other, until their images reach the end point here at the lab.” Jayne motioned to the series of lenses, ranging from a few inches to a full foot across, which hovered just over the mirror. “With the magnifying lenses, he can pinpoint the section he wishes to see and amplify it, thus eliminating the stacked image effect that multiple reflections are known to cause.”
    “You’re very correct and very clever,” Atom said.
    “I know,” Jayne said. “I feel it’s only fair to admit that I’ve seen it in action before.”
    “Where?” Atom asked.
    “The Orthinological Society in Atlanta employs a similar system to keep up with the bird’s mating habits without intrusion. I believe it was Doctor Loquacious who set that one up also.”
    “You seem to know a lot about the doctor.”
    “Yes, I...did a dissertation on him. When I was...” Jayne paused, looking to Rose before she added, “In school.”
    “Ah,” Atom said. “An educated woman. Excellent! Tell me, what university did you attend?”
    Jayne’s guarded look melted into panic. Like the rest of the crew, Jayne was on the run from a sordid past. One which, unlike the rest of the crew, she didn’t care to discuss.
    Rose came to the young tinker’s rescue. “How many of these are on the island?”
    “About fifty or so. I can adjust the main receiver to pick up five distinct reflective patterns.”
    Atom pushed the brass stand with his gloved hand. The whole frame swiveled in response while the image on the glass changed to some non-descript part of the jungle. “It was sheer luck that you just happened to stay right in my path most of the way.” He stopped to eye Gabriella, who blushed again before she looked away. Atom added with a whisper, “Luck or fate.”
    Magpie leaned in close to whisper,