The Watchmaker's Daughter (Glass and Steele #1)(63)

"He defended me," I said.

"Tosh. He's a Dorchester from Manchester. It even sounds ridiculous."

Willie snorted. "That it does."

I couldn't help smiling, even though I wanted to defend him. "That's not the point. He was kind to me, and I like him, but not in that way," I assured Miss Glass. "Nor will I be seduced by romantic gestures, if he performs any. It takes more than trinkets and promises to intrigue me now."

"Good," Miss Glass said with a satisfied nod. "I'm glad to hear it. Your mother will be pleased that I saved you from an unfavorable attachment."

My mother? Willie and I exchanged glances. She drew a little circle at her temple and rolled her eyes, then stuffed more bread into her mouth.

"Perhaps you should have a rest," I said to Miss Glass.

"I do feel a little tired." She wandered out of the kitchen, and I hoped she didn't wander out of the house altogether. When I heard her maid's voice, my concern eased. Polly would care for her.

Willie dragged over a stool and slumped onto it. She threw down her uneaten bread, smearing jam on the table. It would seem her mood hadn't been lifted by our discussion.

"You're still upset about your locket," I said, sitting too. I reached for her hand but she snatched it away.

"I went to see Travers."

Oh dear. I didn't need a crystal ball to see where this was going. "Did he speak to you?"

She nodded. "I offered to buy back the locket, but he refused."

I doubted she had any money left after the previous night, but I didn't ask where she planned on getting the funds.

"He said I could try to win it back," she went on.

"You told him no, didn't you?"

"I had to. I have nothing more to my name, and Matt, Duke and Cyclops won't lend me nothing. They hate me playing poker. They warned me this would happen." She placed her forehead in the crook of her arm on the table. "They must be patting themselves on their backs now."

"That doesn't sound like something they would do." I touched her shoulder, but she shrugged me off. "What if you offer Lord Travers double its worth, then ask Mr. Glass for a loan? I'm sure he'll help if he knows it'll get the locket back for certain."

"Travers won't accept it. He wants to play poker, and what the high and mighty lord wants, the high and mighty lord gets." She proceeded to call him a vile name that had me blushing.

I tried to think of another solution but came up with nothing. She'd brought this on herself, and I shouldn't feel sorry for her but I did. Although I couldn't see her face, I knew from her sniffing that she was crying.

"Do you think you can beat him?" I asked.

"Yes. If I'm dealt good cards and he doesn't cheat again."

I sighed. It was hopeless. "You should speak to Matt. I mean, Mr. Glass. Perhaps he can talk to Lord Travers, man-to-man. It's unfair, but Travers strikes me as a fellow who respects men and not women. Mr. Glass has a way with words and might be able to convince him to sell the locket back to you."

She sat up straight and swiped at her eyes and cheeks. "Don't tell him, India. What you're saying makes sense, and if anyone can convince Travers, it's Matt. But he's got so much on his plate right now, he doesn't need the extra burden. Nor does he have the time."

It was the least selfish display I'd seen from her, and it quite flipped my opinion. "He's quite ill, isn't he?" I asked softly. I hardly breathed as I waited for her answer.

It came in the form of a small nod, nothing more.

"What does his doctor say?" I pressed.

She hopped off the stool. "Matt wouldn't want me discussing it, so don't ask."

"But—"

"His health is not your concern." She grasped my shoulders and shook them. "Your job is to find the watchmaker. Even if Matt's caught up with other matters, you must continue with the search on your own." She shook me again, harder this time. "Promise me that you will."

"I will," I said. "I promise. There's an important guild meeting tonight. Several watchmakers will be there. Attending it will save a lot of time over seeing them individually."

She let me go. Relief flooded her face. She even smiled, sort of. It was twitchy and uncertain, but it was an improvement on her scowl. "Good."

Unfortunately, my plan to take Mr. Glass with me to the meeting didn't come to pass. He hadn't returned home by seven o'clock. Waiting longer might mean missing the meeting altogether. I would have taken Cyclops or Duke, but they were still out too. Willie would probably have come, but she was a volatile weapon that might go off at the wrong time. I would have to face the guild alone.

I wasn't looking forward to it.





Chapter 13





The Worshipful Company of Watchmakers met in their modern Warwick Lane hall not far from St. Paul's. The building had only been completed two years ago, and I'd never been inside. The red bricks and heavily carved arched doorway surround were clean compared to their sooty neighbors, and the colors on the coat of arms were still vibrant. The loincloth-clad Old Man Time and the robed emperor glared down at me from their position above the door, looking stern as they clutched hourglass and scepter respectively. Tempvs Rervm Imperator, so the motto reminded me. Time is the ruler of all things.