Saving the Scientist (The Restitution League #2)(17)
A rising sense of panic made her jittery, made her vision jerk and dance in the most disconcerting manner. She was dimly aware that her breath was coming harder, faster. They couldn't move forward, and now he'd cut off yet another route.
He might have shrugged. It was hard to tell as they were being jostled from all sides now by the surging crowd. “We could not have anticipated this mess. They’ll understand. It's not like they're going to offer less for the device because they've been inconvenienced."
"This isn't about money." She stared up at him as his as if he was the stupidest thing she'd ever seen.
Her anger seemed to have no effect on him. He simply waited. Waited for her to attack him. Waited for her to calm down. Waited for her to make the next move.
Frustration and anger and worry melded into a lump in her chest so painful she couldn’t think, couldn’t find the words to make him understand.
She strode back and forth in front of him, moving so quickly, so stiffly, her skirts flared up about her ankles. Finally, having worn out a bit of her anger, she stopped straight in front of him, hands planted on her hips. "It's about respect, Mr. Sweet. Respect for my scientific skills, my mind, my inventiveness."
She shoved Briar’s hat back out of her eyes. “No matter how innovative my work, you do realize I have a greater chance of seeing a mermaid, than addressing the Royal College.” She turned away, not wanting him to see the angry tears that were welling up. “This is my one chance to be recognized, to be treated as a real scientist.”
When she trusted that no tears would fall, she gave him a quick glance. It didn’t appear he’d even heard her. His attention was on the surrounding crowd. She could almost see the calculations running through his brain as he assessed each exit point.
When he turned back toward her, his eyes were hard and focused. "How’s your play acting?"
"My… What?"
"I need you to faint."
Confused, Ada could only blink up at him.
"Faint." His voice held a sharp edge of impatience. "You've seen it done, have you not? I'm going to get us past that barrier.” He snatched her hand, and pulled her toward the side of the street, away from the crowds. "I need you to wilt in my arms."
"But—" Ada tried to swallow, but her throat was dry. Things were getting further out of control by the second. “Where is this leading exactly?”
Edison leaned a shoulder against the brick wall and waited. “Tick tock, Mrs. Templeton."
“Fine.” She drooped against him and let her eyelids flutter closed.
He scooped her up into his arms with disconcerting ease, nestling her against his chest. “Relax your limbs.” He shook her gently. “You’re overcome, not dead.”
The brim of Briar’s outsized hat flapped against her face, and her arms and legs swung disconcertingly through the air. It was all she could do to keep her eyes closed and her face devoid of tension as he strode across the square. "Pardon me. Excuse me." His deep voice vibrated through her as he squeezed his way through the crowd.
"Can't come through here, sir." An officious young voice halted them.
The sounds of construction were louder now, bricks being tossed into piles, shovels and pneumatic drills slamming into the earth. Ada tried not to smile as she realized his plan.
"It's my wife.” Edison had a convincing edge of worry in his voice. “She fainted. If I could just get through.”
“Can’t allow it. Too dangerous. There’s a bench there, out of the sun. You can rest there. I’m sure one of the other ladies passing by will have smelling—”
“What’s your name, son?” Edison allowed a hint of intimidation into his tone. “I want to be able to tell Admiral Helmsley just who required his niece to lie unattended in the street.”
“W-which admiral did ya say again?”
“Good lord, Mason, the man's got a fair load there. Let them by." Another, more authoritative vote for voice overode the younger man. “May we help, sir?”
“I’ve got her. Happens all too frequently now that she’s increasing.”
Ada gasped. Her face burned at his insinuation.
“Steady on,” he whispered.
She couldn’t be sure, but his voice seemed to carry an undertone of laughter.
Edison shifted her in his arms, as if he were tiring. Which she wouldn't have blamed him for in the least. She was a full grown woman. But the minute he maneuvered around the construction barrier, his grip solidified again.
Not many could have carried her so far without the slightest fear she’d be dumped on her bum.
It wasn't a moment later that he turned sharply to the side and allowed her legs to swing down to the ground. "That should do it. We're almost there."
His timing was exquisite. Any longer in his arms, and she thought she might never be able to throw off the fog of desire enveloping her. The hard muscles, the heat, the soap-scented skin generated an odd form of energy inside her. A pulsing, insistent energy that erased her anxiety and her anger, replacing it with an urgent, languid feeling.
Even though she knew full well she couldn’t afford the time, she had to dissipate the sensual fog. She straightened her hat, tugged down her sleeves, and gave the bodice of her gown a stiff pull.