Read Online Imperial Clock (The Steam Clock Legacy) by Robert Appleton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Robert Appleton
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intended effect, and the poor woman’s sobs between outbursts made it clear this attack was her frustration speaking, and a pitiable frustration at that. She obviously blamed herself for the dangerous night to come.
At last she desisted, and her husband led her back in to the supply carriage. Dorcas Henshall, Aloysius’s twin sister, who probably hated Sonja even more than her obnoxious brother did, thumbed her nose from a carriage window and then, mouth wide like a grouper’s, scrunched her sly face into a hideous sideways laugh for her friends inside.
Incensed, Sonja hurled a juicy snowball. It found the open window and hit the litt le hellhound square in her fizzog. Sonja dove into the nearest carriage just as Dorcas spilled out of her own, wailing into the blizzard, eager to heap more trouble on her long-time enemy.
But Mr. Auric wasn’t so gullible. “Whatever’s to do, Henshall?” He quirked an eyebrow at Sonja while he held the drama queen crying into his jacket. “If you want my advice, throw one right back—that’s the way to get even.”
“ But Mister Aur-ric—she’s always picking on me.” More tears from Dorcas, even less sympathy from perhaps the only teacher in the entire school who saw through her vindictive theatrics. More than that, he was the one teacher who didn’t speak down to Sonja, didn’t talk at her, lecture her the whole time.
He listened.
Father was never there to listen; Aunt Lily was disinterested in anything but gossip and the latest fashions; and Merry didn’t care much for science; which left Derek Auric, five years her senior and soon to be a Leviacrum fellow, as her “huggable mentor”, as she’d written in her diary last term. A corny phrase perhaps, but it was true—they got on like a house on fire in matters of science, politics, history, favourite places they’d visited, even adventure literature, though he was a devout reader of Verne, while she preferred Rider Haggard. And the more time they’d spent together after class, or in his office during lunch hour, swapping books, chatting away at everything and nothing, the greedier she’d become for his company.
No, tarrying with him in the blizzard had definitely not been over-dramatic; she would have gladly sprained her ankle for real for that privilege.
But would he... could he ever consent to taking their friendship further? Beyond South Hampshire Grammar? Next semester, when he left for his new situation in the tower, they would be unbound from any teacher-pupil taboo but, when all was said and done, she would be seventeen and he twenty-one. Not an impossible age gap by any means, but how would his moneyed family react—not to mention Father and Aunt Lily, still refinding their footing in society—to such an unlikely pairing? And she was hardly Merry, a swan the boys flocked to whenever she spread her wings. No, Sonja was not feminine in that way. Not yet. Grace eluded her, as did obedience to fashions and social mores. But perhaps next season...with Lady Catarina’s instruction...
“ Now you run on back to your carriage. I’ll deal with McEwan. Here, these will help keep you and your friends warm until Mrs. Challender can see to you.” Mr. Auric handed Dorcas a couple of spare blankets, then joined Sonja in the empty carriage.
Like the segments of a br ass caterpillar, each steamcoach pulled a train of three spherical carriages. They each had large iron wheels with spring suspension for uneven terrain, and were coupled together by rigid iron knuckles. With both coaches stranded, the girls would have to share four carriages, with two left for the supplies and the two engine cabins for the staff. But the girls had packed themselves into three carriages instead of four, probably to console each other and keep warm, leaving one free. Sonja’s heart squirreled when Mr. Auric climbed in to share the empty carriage with her.
“ What will the others say?” She adopted her plummiest tone.
“ About
At last she desisted, and her husband led her back in to the supply carriage. Dorcas Henshall, Aloysius’s twin sister, who probably hated Sonja even more than her obnoxious brother did, thumbed her nose from a carriage window and then, mouth wide like a grouper’s, scrunched her sly face into a hideous sideways laugh for her friends inside.
Incensed, Sonja hurled a juicy snowball. It found the open window and hit the litt le hellhound square in her fizzog. Sonja dove into the nearest carriage just as Dorcas spilled out of her own, wailing into the blizzard, eager to heap more trouble on her long-time enemy.
But Mr. Auric wasn’t so gullible. “Whatever’s to do, Henshall?” He quirked an eyebrow at Sonja while he held the drama queen crying into his jacket. “If you want my advice, throw one right back—that’s the way to get even.”
“ But Mister Aur-ric—she’s always picking on me.” More tears from Dorcas, even less sympathy from perhaps the only teacher in the entire school who saw through her vindictive theatrics. More than that, he was the one teacher who didn’t speak down to Sonja, didn’t talk at her, lecture her the whole time.
He listened.
Father was never there to listen; Aunt Lily was disinterested in anything but gossip and the latest fashions; and Merry didn’t care much for science; which left Derek Auric, five years her senior and soon to be a Leviacrum fellow, as her “huggable mentor”, as she’d written in her diary last term. A corny phrase perhaps, but it was true—they got on like a house on fire in matters of science, politics, history, favourite places they’d visited, even adventure literature, though he was a devout reader of Verne, while she preferred Rider Haggard. And the more time they’d spent together after class, or in his office during lunch hour, swapping books, chatting away at everything and nothing, the greedier she’d become for his company.
No, tarrying with him in the blizzard had definitely not been over-dramatic; she would have gladly sprained her ankle for real for that privilege.
But would he... could he ever consent to taking their friendship further? Beyond South Hampshire Grammar? Next semester, when he left for his new situation in the tower, they would be unbound from any teacher-pupil taboo but, when all was said and done, she would be seventeen and he twenty-one. Not an impossible age gap by any means, but how would his moneyed family react—not to mention Father and Aunt Lily, still refinding their footing in society—to such an unlikely pairing? And she was hardly Merry, a swan the boys flocked to whenever she spread her wings. No, Sonja was not feminine in that way. Not yet. Grace eluded her, as did obedience to fashions and social mores. But perhaps next season...with Lady Catarina’s instruction...
“ Now you run on back to your carriage. I’ll deal with McEwan. Here, these will help keep you and your friends warm until Mrs. Challender can see to you.” Mr. Auric handed Dorcas a couple of spare blankets, then joined Sonja in the empty carriage.
Like the segments of a br ass caterpillar, each steamcoach pulled a train of three spherical carriages. They each had large iron wheels with spring suspension for uneven terrain, and were coupled together by rigid iron knuckles. With both coaches stranded, the girls would have to share four carriages, with two left for the supplies and the two engine cabins for the staff. But the girls had packed themselves into three carriages instead of four, probably to console each other and keep warm, leaving one free. Sonja’s heart squirreled when Mr. Auric climbed in to share the empty carriage with her.
“ What will the others say?” She adopted her plummiest tone.
“ About
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