Read Online Full Steam Ahead by Karen Witemeyer - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Karen Witemeyer
Ads: Link
only a rudimentary knowledge of science and mechanics, but I’m a quick study and have a logical mind that can grasp scientific principles with ease.”
His brows were arching again, and he opened his mouth as if to say something, but she wouldn’t give him the chance.
“Audition me, Mr. Thornton. I dare you.”
His head quirked to the side. “I beg your pardon?”
“Give me the chance to prove my value.” Nicole raised a brow of her own. “If I fail to meet your expectations, you may send me on my way, and I’ll leave without a word of complaint. But if I demonstrate myself capable of the tasks you demand, well . . . then we both end up with what we want. You’ll have your secretary, and I’ll have employment. Surely that’s worth wagering a few moments of your oh-so-precious time.”
His gaze sharpened—with curiosity, thank heavens, not anger. Despite her brave words, her knees trembled beneath her skirts. Thoughts of madmen and unpredictable rages had flitted through her head. Yet now that she studied him at close range, she noticed the deep slate-blue of his eyes and a glint of intelligence. Mr. Thornton might be eccentric and rather unkempt, but she doubted he was actually mad.
The man regarded her closely for several seconds, then crossed his arms over his broad chest. “All right. I’ll accept your wager.” He stalked over to the desk that dominatedthe center of the room and picked up a small leather-bound book. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it at her.
It sailed in a shallow arc, spinning like a well-wound top. No doubt he expected her to squeal and lunge out of the way. Instead, she snatched it out of the air with one hand, just as she used to do with the wood-carved guns and cutlasses Tommy Ackerman used to toss her when they were under attack from invisible pirate lords.
Mr. Thornton nodded in appreciation, and Nicole couldn’t quite keep her lips from curving in a small smile of triumph.
“What I am looking for,” he intoned, “is someone who can interpret my admittedly horrid handwriting, duplicate my diagrams and schematics, and reproduce my computations in an organized and thoroughly legible manner, so that I might submit my findings to the Franklin Institute, the foremost authority on advances in mechanical and physical science.” He stepped around the desk and balanced a hip against the flat edge, nodding toward the book he’d just tossed her. “Reconstruct the first five pages in suitable fashion, and we can discuss terms.”
Nicole examined the book, flipped it around when she realized it was upside down, then bent back the flexible cover and scanned the first couple pages.
Heavens. He certainly hadn’t exaggerated his poor penmanship. If she hadn’t spent so many months deciphering her father’s scratchings while overseeing his business correspondence prior to heading off to Miss Rochester’s Academy for Young Ladies, she would have truly despaired.
As it was, it would be challenge enough. But she hadn’t come all this way to give up at the first obstacle laid in her path.
Squaring her shoulders, she smiled at the man who loungedso smugly before her. “Would you mind if I used your desk?” She nodded toward the cherrywood furnishing that surely would have been quite lovely if it hadn’t been strewn with untidy papers, journals, and . . . was that a miniature engine?
“Of course.” Mr. Thornton stood and gestured for her to come around and avail herself of the chair. “You’ll find paper in the top left drawer, and here is pen and ink.” He lifted a stack of publications to reveal an ebony inkstand. “I’ll just be over here, reading.”
Taking the top journal off the stack, he dropped the rest onto the floor and moved toward an upholstered chair situated between a pair of towering bookcases. In less than a minute, he was fully absorbed in his reading, leaving Nicole free to inhale a large breath unobserved.
Collecting the papers scattered
His brows were arching again, and he opened his mouth as if to say something, but she wouldn’t give him the chance.
“Audition me, Mr. Thornton. I dare you.”
His head quirked to the side. “I beg your pardon?”
“Give me the chance to prove my value.” Nicole raised a brow of her own. “If I fail to meet your expectations, you may send me on my way, and I’ll leave without a word of complaint. But if I demonstrate myself capable of the tasks you demand, well . . . then we both end up with what we want. You’ll have your secretary, and I’ll have employment. Surely that’s worth wagering a few moments of your oh-so-precious time.”
His gaze sharpened—with curiosity, thank heavens, not anger. Despite her brave words, her knees trembled beneath her skirts. Thoughts of madmen and unpredictable rages had flitted through her head. Yet now that she studied him at close range, she noticed the deep slate-blue of his eyes and a glint of intelligence. Mr. Thornton might be eccentric and rather unkempt, but she doubted he was actually mad.
The man regarded her closely for several seconds, then crossed his arms over his broad chest. “All right. I’ll accept your wager.” He stalked over to the desk that dominatedthe center of the room and picked up a small leather-bound book. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it at her.
It sailed in a shallow arc, spinning like a well-wound top. No doubt he expected her to squeal and lunge out of the way. Instead, she snatched it out of the air with one hand, just as she used to do with the wood-carved guns and cutlasses Tommy Ackerman used to toss her when they were under attack from invisible pirate lords.
Mr. Thornton nodded in appreciation, and Nicole couldn’t quite keep her lips from curving in a small smile of triumph.
“What I am looking for,” he intoned, “is someone who can interpret my admittedly horrid handwriting, duplicate my diagrams and schematics, and reproduce my computations in an organized and thoroughly legible manner, so that I might submit my findings to the Franklin Institute, the foremost authority on advances in mechanical and physical science.” He stepped around the desk and balanced a hip against the flat edge, nodding toward the book he’d just tossed her. “Reconstruct the first five pages in suitable fashion, and we can discuss terms.”
Nicole examined the book, flipped it around when she realized it was upside down, then bent back the flexible cover and scanned the first couple pages.
Heavens. He certainly hadn’t exaggerated his poor penmanship. If she hadn’t spent so many months deciphering her father’s scratchings while overseeing his business correspondence prior to heading off to Miss Rochester’s Academy for Young Ladies, she would have truly despaired.
As it was, it would be challenge enough. But she hadn’t come all this way to give up at the first obstacle laid in her path.
Squaring her shoulders, she smiled at the man who loungedso smugly before her. “Would you mind if I used your desk?” She nodded toward the cherrywood furnishing that surely would have been quite lovely if it hadn’t been strewn with untidy papers, journals, and . . . was that a miniature engine?
“Of course.” Mr. Thornton stood and gestured for her to come around and avail herself of the chair. “You’ll find paper in the top left drawer, and here is pen and ink.” He lifted a stack of publications to reveal an ebony inkstand. “I’ll just be over here, reading.”
Taking the top journal off the stack, he dropped the rest onto the floor and moved toward an upholstered chair situated between a pair of towering bookcases. In less than a minute, he was fully absorbed in his reading, leaving Nicole free to inhale a large breath unobserved.
Collecting the papers scattered
Similar Books
