Read Online The Golden Spider (The Elemental Web Chronicles Book 1) by Anne Renwick - Free Book Online Page A

Romanichal gypsies camping on Putney Heath for the moment, but I was able to obtain little more than the victim’s name,” Black said.
    “Which was?” Lady Huntley asked in a hushed voice.
    “Marko Blythe. His family will be by soon to collect his remains if you’ve no objection.”
    “None,” Thornton replied. “Perhaps his relatives will find some peace in their traditions.”
    British gypsies called themselves Romanichal. In the late fall, starting about this time of the year, various groups converged upon cities for the winter, many upon London’s outskirts, including Putney Heath.
    “A mother, a father, several brothers and sisters and not one of them can think of a single thing that would have made him a target of our murderer,” Black said.
    Gypsies moved about the edges of society, performing essential, menial everyday jobs‌—‌farm work, scrap metal hauling, horse trading. Only their clockwork skills attracted notice, their mechanical contraptions‌—‌available to all for the right price‌—‌were highly prized. For this, they were tolerated.
    On the surface, gypsy life seemed unconnected to direct government concerns. But gypsies were known to go to great lengths to avoid the law and had the habit of slipping past borders unnoticed, habits that caused the government great concern as any number of unwanted foreigners might‌—‌for the right price‌—‌cross with them. Black was often tasked with looking into their movements.
    Black sighed heavily. “In any case, we’ve nothing else to go on from that end. Best to focus on the…‌” He snapped his fingers. “Neuro spider contraption.”
    “Neurachnid,” Lady Huntley offered.
    “Exactly,” Black said. “Where is she? Any progress?”
    “Lady Amanda will be in later. It’s been all of two days.” Lady Huntley stood to shift her patient onto his cotton bedding where the rat would recover comfortably from general anesthesia. She latched the cage. “We can only claim her spare time after lectures and dissections.”
    “So that’s a no?” Black asked.
    “She’s made progress,” Thornton snapped.
    The irritation in his voice surprised him, but Lady Amanda had been weighing on his mind. He felt guilty for not mentoring her directly, but with thoughts of her disturbing his dreams with activities that had nothing to do with research, he needed to keep his distance. Even in the lecture hall‌—‌especially in the lecture hall‌—‌he avoided eye contact. The pull he felt toward her might lead him to cross a line, and then what? He didn’t want a woman in his life. At least, not one that would expect an offer of marriage. The life he led was incompatible with matrimony.
    He continued, “Henri examined her plans and helped her assemble all the necessary parts and tools. It took her six months to build her last neurachnid. Let’s give her the better part of a week, shall we?”
    Black held up his hands. “You’re the one running out of time with that leg of yours.”
    Thornton ground his teeth together. “Rushing the project will only result in an inferior device.”
    “The nerve calming solution might prove a problem,” Lady Huntley added hesitantly. “The Duke of Avesbury has indicated that his daughter, Lady Emily, cannot be contacted.”
    “Ran off with a man, did she? And now they don’t know where she is?” Black looked from her face to Thornton’s. “What? I cracked that code among the ton long ago.”
    Thornton narrowed his eyes. Though Black was likely correct, it was not his place to speculate, but to solve the problem. “While we pursue that avenue, we’ll try alternatives. Somnic may work.” He named the very drug that kept his injured leg functioning.
    “Is that wise?” Misgiving laced Black’s voice.
    “You doubt my ability to control my dosages?” he asked, his voice hard. He hated that Black felt the need to watch for addiction.
    “What if I do?” Black countered, refusing to back down.