Read Online Steam Guardians 01 - A Lady Can Never Be Too Curious by Mary Wine - Free Book Online

instructions to never ask about your mother’s parents. The doctor is correct. You have been infected by that Illuminist.”
    “It was but a single dance,” she countered in a smooth tone, despite the dread twisting her insides.
    “It was more.” Her father’s voice cracked, and he pointed a damning finger at her. “I witnessed you returning from the garden myself. Did you really think I did not follow you outside when you had departed on the arm of such a creature? You have carnal knowledge of that…that Illuminist. Your innocence has been tainted. His nefarious actions have planted a seed inside your mind that will sprout into a weed if we do not sterilize it.”
    She covered her mouth with her hand. Her father spoke the truth. Darius had unleashed something inside her.
    “You have defied me, Janette, and it led you to last night’s catastrophe.”
    Her father marched across the parlor and pointed at a wooden box. “Dr. Nerval was wise enough to instruct me to have your room searched, and look at what was found.”
    He lifted a science circular from the box. “You see, madam? It is plain you have been reading the writings of those Illuminists, and it has unleashed a craving inside you that made you vulnerable to that man last night.”
    “But—”
    “I will not hear your excuses. You are unwell, and it is my duty to see you are given proper medical treatment. Without treatment, you will be sneaking out in the dead of night to be with him. You will become a fallen woman and end up on the docks when he has had what he seeks from you. Giles!”
    Her father’s personal butler entered the parlor immediately.
    “Giles, be kind enough to escort my daughter to her room and see she remains there until tomorrow morning. You will escort her to the clinic where this Illuminist infection can be sterilized.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Father, you cannot mean this.”
    Her sire turned on her, his expression solid and unrelenting. “I assure you, I do. You shall respect my word in this matter or never set foot in this house again. I tell you truthfully: fail to embrace the treatment Dr. Nerval prescribes, and I will disown you. You will be left to take your chances on the street corners with the rest of the unfortunates.”
    He might as well have slapped her. England no longer had whores or thieves, only a great many unfortunates . The men who had stood next to her father the night before in their white vests and had aimed condemning looks at her when she returned from the garden liked to discuss what treatments might cure the unfortunates of their impulses. Those ever-proud members of upper society firmly believed that common blood meant a person lacked the ability to control their emotions. They argued against the Illuminists because the Order offered their entrance exams to those willing to prove their worth. A family history wasn’t required, and it didn’t matter what station or race they were. Black, Asian, or otherwise, if they passed the entrance exam, they could wear the badge of the Illuminist Order. The Illuminists did it all without hiding their emotions behind stiff, judgmental expressions.
    She’d enjoyed feeling her emotions running free. If that was a sin, so be it. She looked at the circulars, a desire kindling inside her to prove she was worthy of knowing more.
    “Miss?”
    Giles had moved closer. There was an unpleasant look in his eyes, but he remained firmly obedient to his master’s will. Of course he did. If he didn’t, Giles would find himself dismissed and on his way to becoming an unfortunate, for no good family would hire him without a reference from her father.
    Janette bit her lip but tucked her right foot behind her left ankle and offered her father a curtsy. “As you say, Father.”
    The lie passed her lips more easily than she’d thought it would, but she realized she’d been lying most of her life. In fact, she’d learned it from her father—little comments that were untruthful but