The Girl and the Clockwork Conspiracy: Clockwork Enterprises Book Two Read online

  “My mates don’t spend time around there.”

  Lucian placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Maeko. I think it might be best if you avoided your former companions under the circumstances. You might find those relationships strained by your change in status. I’m sure you can understand that.”

  She bit back a rising protest and nodded. Some of them might treat her differently, but Chaff wouldn’t, would he?

  “It is better this way. I’ll give you money for food and send a note with Miss Foster to put the dresses on my bill. Please, while you are out in public, do try to remember that you are dressed like a lady.”

  What did that mean? “Yes, Sir.” Macak jumped up on the end table next to her and she met his big bright eyes. “Can I take Macak along?”

  “The cat stays in the house where he’s safe.”

  That worked brilliantly for your wife and daughter. She winced, glad she wasn’t fool enough to say such a thing out loud. “He could stay in the coach.”

  “Absolutely not. He’s not a dog, Maeko.”

  “He’s probably smarter than one.” She scratched the cat under his chin. “Aren’t you?”

  Lucian’s look was unyielding.

  She relented. “Yes, Sir.” Poor Macak. No adventures for him, at least not when Lucian was watching.

  Before they even left the building, it became apparent that this wasn’t going to be her usual jaunt in the city. A month spent healing in Lucian’s high-class flat had transformed her world, or rather, had transformed her in the eyes of her world. The lift operator, the desk attendant, and the four guards–their numbers increased after the murder of Lucian’s family–all greeted her and jumped to offer assistance. They called her miss and tipped their hats instead of threatening to run her in to the Lits as they would have in her former street togs. It was more insulting than flattering.

  The driver offered her a hand up into Lucian’s private steamcoach, a luxurious bit of highbrow machinery that would carry them into town with Lucian’s instructions. One more thing standing between her and any impromptu side trips around the city. True to the rumors, the high-end coaches did have soft velvet seats and a small polished wood beverage cabinet installed in the center of the front seat. Comfortable as it was, the plush accommodations made her feel uneasy and conspicuous when they climbed out by the tailors on Regent Street to engage in the ridiculous business of buying dresses. Any decent pickpocket would be watching who stepped out of the fancy coach in search of a lucrative mark. She would have been.

  The shop they entered smelled of fresh flowers and tea. The tailor was a tall man with a high brow and a long narrow nose. After a brief exchange in which her lack of knowledge became readily apparent, he wrinkled his long nose and began to speak exclusively with Constance who excused Maeko’s inexperience by explaining that she was Japanese, which was only half true, but it appeared to appease the tailor. She was more than happy to let Constance deal with the stuffy old codger.

  The process of letting a shop assistant take her measurements went by fast. Then they began the tedious work of selecting fabrics and patterns. The tailor and Constance dove into that with a passion Maeko couldn’t pretend to share, which gave her the opening she needed.

  “Const… Miss Foster?”

  “Yes, Miss?”

  Maeko smiled and asked in her sweetest tone, “Since you’re far more experienced at this, would you be so kind as to select materials and styles for me while I take a quick look at a few things in the hat shop down the street?”

  The young maid’s brows pinched in consternation and she threw a nervous glance at the door as if Maeko had already slipped away. “I don’t know, Miss. I don’t think—”

  “I trust you. You have brilliant taste in clothing,” Maeko soothed, deliberately misinterpreting her concern.

  Constance flushed. “Well, thank you, Miss. You’re too kind, but I still don’t think—”

  “It’s settled then.” Maeko beamed at them. “I won’t be gone long.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Without giving the maid time to sputter out an argument, Maeko marched through the door and started down the street. Lucian would be brassed off when he found out she’d scarpered off on her own, but she had to at least get word to Chaff so he wouldn’t wonder what had become of her. Not only that, she wanted to make sure Detective Emeraude hadn’t turned him in to the Lits after they parted ways the night she took Lucian’s former business partner, Joel, into custody for the abduction of Lucian and murder of his wife and daughter. Regent Street wasn’t a typical haunt for Chaff’s boys, but a few of the better pickpockets and cheats frequented the Covent Garden area. That wasn’t far. She could get there and back before Constance had time to ratchet up to a full panic.

  For the first time, she wouldn’t have to keep an eye out for Literati patrols, but her fine clothing would make it difficult to approach the people she wanted to find. Perhaps she could lure one of them in with a little careless dangling of the lovely coin purse Lucian had given her.

  She hadn’t gone more than a few yards from the door, however, when she spotted a familiar figure loitering outside of a jewelers shop further down the block. The tall, lean woman dressed in men’s clothing turned and nodded to Maeko, a slow, opportunistic smile curving her lips. The detective’s presence couldn’t be a coincidence and her somewhat predatory smile reminded Maeko how short a time they’d been on peaceful terms with one another.

  Steeling herself, Maeko approached the woman. The smell of meat pies from a street vendors cart mixed unfavorably with the stenches of burning coal, sweating horses, and manure from the streets. The combination did nothing to calm the nervous roiling in the pit of her stomach.

  “I’ve been thinking about you, Rat,” Em started.

  “I don’t imagine that’s a good thing. I take it you followed me here?”

  Em pivoted to stare out into the street, her frosty gaze picking over the people there. Maeko also turned.

  How differently they must see the crowd before them. Did Em see a possible criminal in everyone or was her offended sneer reserved solely for the less reputable elements lurking in the crowd? Maeko searched out those individuals as well, habitually assessing them for their threat as rivals or potential as allies in a pinch. From Em’s expression, it was clear that the latter possibility didn’t cross her mind. What in her past left the unusual woman so full of loathing?

  “I did follow you. It wasn’t hard in that getup.” She raised a severe brow at the fancy coach parked along the street. “I’ve been thinking a lot about the Folesworth murders and Lucian’s abduction and your part in resolving all of that. I believe someone with your skills and connections would be handy to have around in my line of work.”

  “They would?” Maeko asked, sensing an opportunity in the making. Lucian might not appreciate where she came from, but she couldn’t forget that part of her life. She would never be comfortable trying to pass as a refined lady and Em appeared to understand that. Working with the detective might open up new alternatives.

  A wealthy toff and his lady on clockwork bicycles trundled elegantly by, weaving their way through traffic amidst horse drawn and steam powered coaches. Popular novelty items among eccentric nobility and wealthy tinkerers, the bicycles were one of the few items of new technology that didn’t bear the Clockwork Enterprises brand. A pair of Literati steamcycles rumbled down a cross street and a wave of tension rippled through every horse in sight. Maeko too. A month off the streets wasn’t quite enough to remove that deep-rooted fear.

  “If you were open to working with me, as an apprentice of sorts, I’d give you a cut of the profits.” She looked Maeko up and down, her lip curling with distaste. “And I could arrange for some more appropriate working attire.”

  They agreed upon that much. Dresses were dreadful awkward things. “Shouldn’t you be the apprentice? I did track down Lucian on my own after all.”

  Em responded with a tight-lipped smile. “Don�
�t push your luck. You withheld information I needed and almost got yourself killed for it. That better not happen again.”

  Maeko’s eyes tracked to a swell whose silk handkerchief had worked halfway out of his pocket. Fences paid good money for such items. Another passer caught her attention, a young woman out with a chaperone whose coin purse dangled loose in her hand as she pointed at something down the street. Easy marks both, but she wasn’t here for that.

  “You did threaten to shoot me at least once,” she defended.

  “It’s a bad habit of mine.”

  Maeko glanced up at her. “Shooting people?”

  Em shrugged as if they discussed some more harmless inclination, such as a tendency toward heavy drinking or gambling. “Are we doing this, or not? I’ve got other places to be.”

  Happily, Maeko no longer appeared to be on Em’s list of people who need shooting, at least not at the moment. She spotted out a few more good marks walking the busy streets. Lucian would be furious if she agreed to this. Best not let him find out then.

  “You must have had something particular in mind when you came looking for me.”

  Em nodded. “I believe you may already have some information I need for my current investigation, but we can’t talk about it here.”

  “Where then?”

  Em gave a nod and a quick wave to someone down the street. A few seconds later, the familiar worn coach drawn by two soot-darkened white horses pulled away from the curb and started towards them, weaving through the heavy traffic. Em glanced at Maeko as the coach pulled up in front of them. “How did you find Lucian?”

  “Trade secret.” Maeko grinned. “I’ll share it when you’re ready.”

  “Have it your way,” Em grumbled with a shake of her head before setting a foot on the coach step. “Are you coming?”

  Maeko hesitated. “Answer one question first. Did you let Chaff go?”

  Em exhaled and gazed into the shadowed interior of the coach for a moment. Maeko waited, refusing to move until she had an answer.

  The detective finally met her eyes. “Truth is, I wasn’t going to. He’s a criminal and a kidsman. He should be locked up. But he’s also slippery. He scarpered off while we were still getting Mr. Jacard secured in the back of the Literati coach.”

  Jammy dodger. Maeko grinned and followed Em into the coach. When she sat, the detective closed the door and knocked on the roof. The coach rolled out into traffic.

  Maeko nodded to a bandage on the side of Em’s neck. “Shaving injury?”

  Em narrowed her eyes, not amused.

  Maeko swallowed a giggle and pounced on a passing notion. “This is about Commissioner Henderson, right?”

  Em’s brows rose in surprise. “I find it hard to believe Mr. Folesworth lets you sit in on his private meetings?”

  Then Em knew the Commissioner visited Lucian. Which one of them was she investigating? “He doesn’t. I was curious what they were meeting about so I listened in.”

  Em sat back and crossed her arms. “The man must be daft to bring a corrupt little street rat into his home.”

  Anger flared, having the odd side effect of making the corset feel more suffocating than ever. “You better be paying well if you expect me to help you while you sit there and insult me.”

  “Really? How much does your pride cost?”

  Maeko grabbed the door handle. She had the door open before Em could react and, if not for the ridiculous clothing, she might have made good her escape. Instead, she stepped on the hem of the dress and would have done a face plant into the street if Em hadn’t caught her arm and yanked her back. The detective shoved her down into the seat and slammed the door. Then she sat back and Maeko waited for the mocking laughter in the woman’s expression to burst free, but Em wrestled her amusement into submission.

  “You’re right. If we’re going to work together, there should be respect, but it better go both ways.” She smirked then. “That’ll be easier when you have some sensible clothes on.”

  Maeko rolled her eyes.

  “Back to business then. Why did the commissioner meet with Mr. Folesworth last night?”

  “Lucian… Mr. Folesworth I mean,” Maeko amended, trying to maintain at least a token degree of proper, “offered the commissioner financial backing to help the Bobbies reclaim their lost jurisdiction and work toward gaining a foothold in the city. It sounded like he was looking to give the Lit’s police force a kick in the pants.”

  “Hm. Trying to reset the power balance.” Em leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “He must not trust the Literati at all now.”

  “Obviously.”

  Em gave her a warning glower for her haughty tone before continuing. “Then he must also believe there was more to the attempt on his life than simply a jealous business partner. Last night’s murder would lend support to that theory, assuming it had anything at all to do with their meeting, which seems likely. Do you know who Mr. Folesworth is leaving Clockwork Enterprises to in his new will?”

  “How would I know that?”

  “I assumed you would have nosed through his things by now.”

  Maeko drew in as deep a breath as the corset would allow, calming her temper. “Respect.”

  “Yes. Sorry. You can see where I…” Em trailed off and pursed her lips for a second, putting out a visible effort to be more polite. “Nevermind. He hasn’t taken a new partner, so I’d assume he left the company to his brother, though I can’t know that for sure. I need you to find out who his beneficiary is without him knowing about it.”

  “I see. You scorn my shady past until it’s of use to you.” Em didn’t argue. In fact, she didn’t seem at all bothered by the accusation. “Fine, but I expect adequate compensation.”

  “I’ll arrange appropriate clothing as payment for the information today. Meet me at the coffee house on the corner opposite the Airship Tower at three tomorrow. If you have the information about the will, you’ll be compensated.”

  “And if I’m not happy with the rate, it’ll be the last you get from me.”

  “I would expect nothing else. And do let me know about any other interesting information you might come across while you’re at it.” Em drew the curtain back to peer out then knocked twice on the roof and the coach maneuvered to a stop at the side of the street.

  She pushed the door open and Maeko stepped out. They’d come around a few blocks and dropped her one street up from the tailors. Constance stood outside the shop wringing her hands and peering up and down the street. The maid looked on the verge of tears. Maeko started toward her as the coach pulled away.

  At least she now knew Em hadn’t turned Chaff in to the Lits. Getting in touch with him would have to wait for another day.

  She tensed when a couple of Literati officers came around the corner and lowered her gaze. The taller of the two, an older jaded bloke by the name of Officer Tagmet with whom she’d had a few unpleasant encounters, altered his course to intercept her. His partner stopped, only following when Tagmet didn’t notice his absence. She kept to her course, heading for Constance.

  “Miss Maeko!” Constance spotted her and hurried over.

  The officers reached her at the same time. Maeko felt a sinking in her gut, but she forced herself to face them. She had done nothing wrong…today.

  The younger officer, Wells, shifted his feet, perhaps recalling the day he’d let her get away when she begged him to, insisting she had information that she had to get to Detective Emeraude. He wouldn’t meet her eyes.

  Tagmet sneered at her. “See that Wells, this area is going to the dogs.”

  “Sir!” Constance sounded truly offended. “This young lady is the ward of Mr. Lucian Folesworth. I beseech you to keep a civil tongue.”

  Maeko almost laughed at that, but she held back. The red glow suffusing Tagmet’s face was a sweet sight, worthy of a better comeback. She smiled back with sour sweetness, taking confidence from the knowledge that, if they did anything to her, news of it would get bac
k to Lucian through Constance.

  “Isn’t that funny, Officer Tagmet. When I saw you I thought exactly the same thing.”

  Tagmet stared at Constance a long moment, his face burning bright with furious disbelief. It took a good minute for him to regain control. He took a menacing step toward Maeko, his hand sinking to his gun. The threating motion was enough to make her shrink back a step.

  “You may clean up nice enough, but you’re still a rat on the inside and eventually you’ll muck this up. When you do, I’ll be there.” With that, he spun away and stormed off into the crowd.

  Wells hesitated a second, looking like he might apologize, then he blew out a quick breath and hurried after his partner.

  Constance stared after them, her face gone ashen. In a hushed voice she said, “I feared you’d run off for good.”

  The hint of disapproval in her tone only added to the bad taste the encounter left in Maeko’s mouth. “Feared or hoped?”

  Constance drew back, giving her a look of unconvincing dismay. “I don’t believe I deserved that. Especially after I selected a lovely dress for you for supper this evening.” She held up the package in her arms for emphasis. It smelled disturbingly of flowers and tea.

  Supper again. “What is so special about this evening?”

  “Mr. Folesworth is having some airship captain and his family over for supper.”

  Maeko felt a bit faint all of a sudden. “An airship captain?”

  “Yes, Captain Garrett, I believe is his name.”

  Of course it is.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Maeko watched her own eyes in the mirror, noting the alarming way they bulged out when Constance pulled the corset laces.

  “Exhale,” Constance ordered.

  “Must I?”

  “Yes.”

  Maeko blew out a breath and Constance expertly drew out the slack.

  How exactly was she supposed to breathe in now? There must be grounds in this for an assault charge. Truly? How did women justify punishing themselves in this manner? It was absolute rubbish. What could be the appeal of a waist that small?