A Clockwork Heart Read Online Free PDF

success.”
    Marsh closed his eyes in exasperation. “And how do you suppose I do that?”
    Elle felt herself grow angry. She hated it when he condescended to her. She rose to her feet. “Hugh, flying and airships are my business and I was flying for years before you came along, so please stop interfering.”
    This was not a new argument. It had taken all her powers of persuasion to stop him from coming along to watch over her.
    â€œElle, you can’t keep the ship. You have to return it to the airfield in Amsterdam. Surely you of all people must know that.”
    She didn’t want to admit it to Marsh, but Captain Dashwood looked awfully angry the last time she had seen him. And yet, despite her rather rickety shortcomings, the Iron Phoenix was a beauty. She was a big freighter, almost a hundred feet long. With it, Elle would be able to take in bigger, longer charters for larger fees. And with larger fees she would be able to pay back the money Marsh had lent her to start the company.
    His money, the voices suddenly whispered out of nowhere. That was enough to make her decide.
    â€œNo. I am keeping the Iron Phoenix. My mind is quite made up. The captain knows he lost the bet fair and square. And I am hiring Ducky to pilot her for me. I could use the help, to be honest.”
    â€œI think that is a tremendously bad idea,” Marsh said.
    â€œWell, I don’t.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “The situation would have been very different if you had been the one doing the winning. You are only saying this because I am a woman.”
    â€œI am not going to change your mind, am I?” Marsh rubbed his face in resignation.
    She smiled and put her arms around his neck. “No, you are not. I want my charter business to grow and be successful and an extra ship is precisely what I need.”
    â€œYou know I would have bought you another ship. All you had to do is ask,” he said.
    â€œBut that wouldn’t be the same,” she said.
    Marsh put up a hand in defeat. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to stay here and wait for you to come home every time you take the air on some adventure?” His dark eyes pleaded with her in a way that told her he was serious.
    Elle felt a rush of affection for him and kissed his cheek. “Marsh, we have spoken about this at length. You know you can’t come with me on flights, because flying is something I must do on my own. We are both strong-willed people. And if we impose on one another, we shall end up despising each other over time. You have to leave me be on this topic.”
    â€œI don’t like it. Sometimes I think shall go out of my mind with worry,” he grumbled.
    â€œWell, now you know how the wives of soldiers and sailors have felt for centuries,” she said.
    Just then, Edie the maid rolled in the tea trolley.
    Elle clapped her hands in delight. “Ah, just what I need. And with strawberry tarts as well!” The little tarts filled with jam were Elle’s favorite.
    â€œI think I need something stronger than tea.” Marsh walked over to his drinks cabinet. He selected one of the decanters. It was filled with bright green liquid that could only be absinthe.
    â€œSpeaking of which, where is Adele?”
    â€œOh, she’s in the greenhouse. No one is allowed in there. She is driving the staff to distraction with her demands. Who knew that one so little could make so much trouble.”
    Elle laughed. “Well, she is an absinthe fairy.”
    Marsh turned and smiled at her. “So, could I perhaps persuade you to forego your tea and join me in a drink?” he said.
    Elle gave him her most alluring smile. “You might. And if you’ll bring mine to me upstairs in a little while, who knows? I might even invite you to join me .”
    Marsh gave her a wicked grin. “Invitation accepted, but don’t blame me if Mrs. Hinges is annoyed because we’re late for