Rebel Magisters (Rebel Mechanics #2)(36)
I paused on the threshold to stare at the room. If I hadn’t seen Camilla using magic, I’d have thought I’d stumbled upon a Rebel Mechanics party. Most of the guests were dressed like Mechanics, in an odd mix of mismatched working wear and formal attire. The women wore either the Mechanics’ scandalous dress of shorter skirts and visible corsets or loosely flowing aesthetic gowns like Camilla’s.
But the “Mechanics” didn’t ring true to me. For one thing, they were too clean. Mechanics tended to be mechanically minded, so there were always traces of oil or soot on their hands and clothes. Some of their clothing might once have been of high quality, but it came by way of a thrift store, so it was worn and shabby. This clothing was all too new and clean. I also noticed that none of them wore the insignia of the Rebel Mechanics. I didn’t think it was a secret, but it also didn’t seem to be widely known among outsiders.
Henry and I exchanged another look. I could tell by his widened eyes and the slight wrinkles between his brows that he was as surprised by this gathering as I was. It did appear that the Mechanics had been correct about the rebel magisters impersonating them. Were they doing so to deflect suspicion, or were they emulating out of admiration?
Camilla led us to a group of young people sprawled on cushions—the only furnishings visible—in one corner of the room. “He’s here,” she announced.
A young man who was even taller than Henry rose quite gracefully from his cushion and approached us. “Lyndon! It was good luck that you happened to be in town, right when I needed you.”
“I was glad to hear from you. There was something I wanted to discuss with you, as well,” Henry said, but his friend wasn’t listening.
He veered slightly off course in his approach to Henry and went to me, instead, taking my hand and kissing my knuckles while bowing deeply. “The Honorable Bradford Seton, at your service, my dearest lady. If I’d known Lyndon was bringing someone so lovely into my presence, I’d have dressed for the occasion.” It was the sort of thing Colin would have said, but he’d have said it with a cheeky wink to show that he knew it was outrageous and that he didn’t expect anyone to take him seriously. I thought that this man might actually believe he was charming me.
I wasn’t sure how to respond. I didn’t want to insult Henry’s friend, but I was suspicious of anyone who flirted so obviously. In fact, I was getting rather tired of men insincerely attempting to charm me. Henry spared me by stepping in between us, forcing Bradford to release my hand. “Really, Seton?” he said. “Do you never stop? We’re here for business, and Miss Newton is no one to be trifled with.”
Camilla sank onto one of the cushions. “Honestly, Brad, are you trying to embarrass me?” she drawled, sounding as though the topic bored her. “We have better things to do. Now, please take a seat.” She gestured toward a couple of vacant cushions. Camilla might have been wearing loose, uncorseted aesthetic dress, but I was in proper attire for a governess, which made it difficult to sit on the floor with any grace. I had no idea how I would rise again. Camilla hadn’t taken our coats, and I realized after I was seated how warm the room was. I shrugged out of the sleeves of my coat and let it fall off my shoulders. Across the circle from me, Henry took off his own coat, folded it over his arm, and lowered himself to perch uncomfortably on a large cushion. Bradford resumed his seat on the cushion beside Henry.
Camilla pointed to the girl seated beside me. “That’s Maude.” Maude also wore flowing robes, but hers looked suspiciously like she was dressed in a nightgown. Her fair hair hung in loose curls down her back. She sat as though someone was painting her portrait, her limbs perfectly arranged and her body positioned to best show off her figure.
“And there’s Theo,” Camilla added. The young man to my right raised a hand in greeting. He had dark hair falling across his forehead and a bushy mustache. His collar was open, with no necktie, and he wore no coat.
“For those who don’t already know him, this is Lord Henry Lyndon,” Brad said. “We were mates in school.”
Introductions concluded, Camilla said, “We need to pick your brain, Henry. You might just hold the key to a little dilemma we have, and that will help us decide what we should do tonight.” I was surprised to find that she was apparently the leader of their group.
“What do you need from me?” Henry asked.
“Since you’re the expert bandit, we need your advice on how to break into a highly secured area to cause some wanton destruction of property.”
“I’m far better versed in armed robbery, I’m afraid,” Henry said. “There’s not much finesse required in holding a gun to someone’s head.”
“But surely you indulge in some subterfuge to get into places you want to rob and get out of them without being identified or caught,” Brad said. “I remember all the planning sessions. How do you sneak in before they have their guards up? And do you ever encounter magical security measures?”
“Normally we slip in as people who might be expected in such a place, put on our masks, re-emerge for the holdup, slip away, remove the masks, and then blend in with the rest of the people there. We don’t usually have to worry about security measures.”
“So you’ve never had to break into a bank vault? Or, say, board a ship that’s under heavy guard?” Camilla asked.