Jessamine tugged the cap down low over her brow and rubbed her wool covered hands together as she hid in an alley next to a cigar shop. She knew when she had decided to sneak into the
Monigold Hearth and Steam
factory that it might dangerous. She just didn't think it would be so chilly.
"Balls." The young woman mumbled as she shivered in the gray pea coat she had "borrowed" from her older brother. It was a quarter past midnight and the majority of London society was abed.
If her parents ever found out they would be appalled. Mother would suffer from vapors and Father would bluster and shake his head. Amelia and Parker would most likely say "good show" and pat her on the back. Her two older siblings couldn't stand the Monigold cousins either. Amelia had once been adamant in her dislike for the two men, who were admired by the majority of unattached females of their acquaintance. But for some reason she had changed her mind and would even smile and nod at Bennett Monigold whenever he rode his chestnut mare though Hyde Park.
Jessamine did think Mr. B. Monigold was a dashing figure. His cousin and partner
was the one who grated on her nerves. Roderick Monigold made her angry to the point that the tips of her ears turned red whenever his name was mentioned. He had this horrible habit of sneaking up beside her during balls or picnics and taking over the conversation.
Jessamine shivered as the rain slashed down sideways. All she had to do was sneak into the factory and find out what the Monigolds had planned for the
Industrial Steam and Light Symposium
.
Jessamine snarled up at the dirigible flying high above in the late night sky. On the side of the machine was an advert for—"
Monigold Hearth and Steam
: the only steam run fireplaces available for eliminating soot and keeping a home smelling fresh."
Wasn't it bad enough they had cornered the market on fireplaces? Now they wanted to take over the dirigible aerostat field that had kept her family in business for over one-hundred years. As the turn of the twentieth-century was upon them, the Starlings had so much to look forward to as the aerostat industry kept evolving, Jessamine would do whatever she could to stop the Monigolds from stealing her legacy.
As the drizzle grew into a steady rain, Jessamine hunched down further into her coat, ran over to the metal fence surrounding the building and started climbing in her breeches she also had pinched from Parker.
The drop to the ground from the top of the fence wasn't far and she fell softly on the grass. Taking a quick peek around, she almost laughed. The Monigolds probably thought that no one would dare sneak in and try to steal their secrets. Well, the joke was on them!
Jessamine wiped away her damp forehead and pushed her dark braid under the collar of her coat. She rushed across the lawn and backed up against the wall, sliding around until she spotted a window slightly ajar.
She grabbed hold of the sill, propped herself up and climbed in on her stomach. She went down face first and fell on some boxes. She knelt and took a quick glance around. The main factory floor was covered in semi-darkness with only a few gas lamps lit on the far walls. There were many tables covered with belts, pulleys and gears, but no sight of a dirigible. Off in the far corner was an office most likely locked.
Jessamine slid down to the floor. She was almost soaked to the bone and her teeth chattered. She took off her gloves, pushed them into her coat pocket and fingered her tool set. Not only was she handy with fixing broken down mechanics such as miniature telectroscopes and semi-flying carriages, but many times when she had been punished and told to go to her bedroom, she would practice her skills at breaking the lock on her door. Her plan was to break into the office and search for any blue prints or ledgers for the secret dirigible project she had overheard being discussed last month by a few gentlemen during one of the many coming out balls.
She walked around some very large crates and boxes. A large boom of thunder and a flash of lighting lit up the floor, making Jessamine jump. She covered a gasp as she heard a low whirling sound. Jessamine backed against a crate and tried to steady her breathing, even though her heartbeat was pounding way too fast for her liking. She remained still until the sound disappeared.
Taking a peek out from behind the crate, she didn't spot anything out of the ordinary. It had to be her unsettling imagination responsible. Soon she would be jumping at shadows.
Releasing a soft snort, Jessamine slowly walked over to the office door, knelt down and took out her leather bound case of tools. The gold metal plate on the door with the engraved name of B. Monigold made her want to clap over her find, but instead she got down to the business at hand.
The lock was broken in no time, and when it made a small snick, she turned the knob, quickly opened the door and lightly shut it. Backed against the door, she pulled out a small light flasher and turned it on. The light gave the room a glow as Jessamine walked in further.
The office was spacious with a long leather couch off to the side and a massive cherry wood desk in front of a large set of windows. The far wall was covered with a white board where various drawings and blue prints hung. Jessamine stopped in her tracks and scratched her head as she glanced over near a large cabinet.
A contraption that looked much like a Gibson chair stood there. This was a typical one made out of leather and wood with mahogany and velvet pads. But it wasn't quite right. On the side of the chair was some sort of panel with buttons that were surrounded by intricate clockwork. A strange valve was also on each side. There was a small hole cut into the seat and down near the legs were tubes that had and brass gears on them. Four of these tubes hung over the back of the chair and had knobs that size of saucers one would serve a tea on. Jessamine walked closer and squeezed one of the knobs. It wasn't hard, as she first thought it to be, but hollow, and released a strange wheezing sound. She looked down at the seat, letting out a gasp when she saw a long and wide rubber tube that looked identical to a--
Jessamine didn't have any time to react as the door swung open and a beer-barrel object with a circular metal dome on top flew in the air. A set of red blinking eyes covered by small mechanical spectacles shot out a bright light on the floor. A puff of smoke went off in front of Jessamine and as she coughed, her head grew woozy. She had been hit with some sort of gas! As she slid down and fell to the floor, a set of tan trousers came into her line of vision. Her eyes rolled in back of her head and she passed out.
The last thing she remember seeing was a face with perfect dimples and dark wicked looking hazel eyes.
****
Jessamine moaned and blinked as she brought the room into focus. She tried lifting her arms, but they were stuck. She looked down and whimpered. She was sitting in the strange chair, with her wrists and ankles tied down, wearing only her camisole and linen drawers.
"Well Mac, it looks like we have an unexpected guest." The man wearing only a long sleeved ivory dress shirt that was rolled up under his elbows and an unbuttoned paisley vest spoke to the strange looking mechanical robot as it spun around the room.
"Oh no, not you," Jessamine moaned and dropped her head down to her chest. Having Bennett Monigold find her was one thing. But being caught by his cousin Roderick was another thing entirely.
"Oh yes, it is I Jessa
mine
," Roderick said, tilting Jessamine's chin up with his fist.
Jessamine almost let out a very un-lady like curse. Not only did Mister Roderick Monigold say her Christian name without permission, but the way he said it made her shiver. Her name was pronounced
Jess-a-meen
, not
Jessa-mine
like he said. He made the word "mine" roll off his tongue in such a way that made her itch in places a woman dare not mention.
"Release me this instant you blackguard!" Jessamine tried to bite Roderick's hand, but he just laughed and gave her chin a squeeze.
"Now why would I do that Jessa mine? You are the one trespassing on my property."
"I would not have to trespass if you and your cousin were not low down dirty thieves!"
Roderick flicked a finger over his nose and rolled his eyes. "Did you hear that Mac?"
The robot flew over and landed on Roderick's shoulder. Its face pressed up to Roderick's ear and spoke with a few muffled grinds and whistles.
Jessamine pouted. A
Mechanical Assisting Companion
like Roderick's was a much wanted commodity that only the most of London's elite owned. It stung that Jessamine's family didn't have one. Or that her father never even considered owning one.
Roderick snapped his fingers in front of her face. She blinked. "Good to know I have your attention again. Now what in the world do you mean about me being a thief?"
Jessamine wiggled her arms and sighed. "Do not play dumb with me Mr. Monigold. I know all about your plans to unveil a new high class dirigible next week to try and make my family look bad. I had to stop that from happening."
Roderick crossed his arms and stared down at her. "You silly girl. You just had to put your nose in a place where it didn't belong. You will be more than mortified when I tell you what Bennett and I plan to "unveil", as you say it, at the Symposium."
"Oh really? Could it have something to do with this strange chair you have me tied half naked to?" Jessamine moved around, almost tipping the chair over, when Roderick leaned down and placed his hands over her tied arms.
"Yes. You need to be punished. But I don't think you will mind this type of punishment I have planned for you. You see." Roderick's voice dropped and he blew into Jessamine's ear, placing his lips against the side of her neck. "The Monigold Company has been commissioned by the London Board of Health and Medicine to invent a new machine to help stop the growing hysteria in females. The chair you are sitting on is a prototype we have created. The only thing left to do is to test it out on a female suffering from the horrible disease."
Jessamine trembled and closed her eyes as Roderick place his hands around her neck and rubbed his thumbs across her collarbone. Hysteria in women had grown over the past decade. Her aunt had been the victim of the disease until her uncle admitted her into an institution. In less than a month her aunt had been cured and went on to have four darling children after her uncle used the specific devices given to him from her doctors after she came home.
"Oh really?" Jessamine asked and licked her lips.
"Yes. You will be my first subject." Roderick pulled down the straps of her camisole, took hold of her breasts in his hands, and started kneading them. Jessamine released a sob, and when Roderick covered her mouth with his, she clenched her fists and her toes curled.
Her nipples grew hard over the way Roderick manipulated them with his fingers. His tongue lapped over hers with such skill that Jessamine was lost in the sensation.
