Perilous Journey of the Much-Too-Spontaneous Girl Read Online Free PDF

lights flanking a huge mahogany door. “Lovely, of course,” Marguerite commented. “Where is Jacques now?”
    “He had an engagement to attend this evening. He wanted me to assure you that he would call on you tomorrow at your father’s home.” The driver pulled to a stop, got out, and opened the door for the ladies. They stepped from the autocart and walked to the front door. It opened before they touched the knob. An automaton stood at attention, beckoning they enter.
    “M’lady, your father awaits.” Its voice had none of the sweet inflection or lilt of Outil’s, but his gear work was magnificent and his metal shiny and new.
    Marguerite walked past, taking him in, followed by the grand foyer beyond. Outil replied, “Thank you,” and followed. Fresh flowers stood on delicate tables lining the walls of a round room with a vaulted ceiling. Windows lined the top of the space, each covered with a rainbow of stained glass. An elegant staircase clung to the wall, winding its way to the second floor.
    “Your room is at the top of the stairs. I will show you there if you will please follow me,” the bot croaked before stomping up the stairs in a very ungraceful fashion. Marguerite looked at Outil, who rolled her metallic blue eyes. The gesture was so human and so appropriate for the moment; Marguerite burst out a little giggle as they ascended the stairs behind the clomping bot.
    “ There you are.” Her father’s voice filled the rotunda and bounced off the gilt ceiling. Marguerite looked down at him from halfway up the stairs to the second-floor balcony. This welcome was decidedly less warm than the previous one. She was going to have to figure out how to apologize for ignoring his orders without giving up her hard-earned independence.
    “Yes, here we are,” she answered and walked down the stairs.
    “Faulks will show you to your room. Please rest and change for dinner. We have much to discuss, and I’m hungry enough to eat a brass elephant, so we’ll dine early.”
    “Yes, sir.” Marguerite’s voice dripped with sarcasm, but her father didn’t seem to notice. After all these months successfully navigating life on her own, she found it ridiculous to have someone telling her how to dress and when to eat.
    The room at the top of the stairs was gorgeous. Deep, ocean blue draperies flanked floor to ceiling windows. The bed filled most of the floor with four posts, a duvet that matched the curtains, and a mountain of pillows. Outside, Marguerite had a view of the city gardens and the river. It was truly glorious.
    Her father’s bot, Faulks, opened the doors to a towering wardrobe in one corner of the room. The trunk from her school and all of her books sat at the other side of the room. “These were brought in for her Ladyship this afternoon. We apologize for the lack of selection and possibly ill-fitting styles; we will do our best to update your wardrobe as soon as possible.”
    “That will do.” Marguerite waved the bot away and flopped on the bed in a very unladylike fashion. Faulks didn’t react. He nodded his shiny silver head and clomped out of the room. Outil shut the door. “Ah! This bed is like a cloud!” She spread her arms out and closed her eyes. “Outil, see if there is anything decent I can stand to wear tonight. I suppose I have to do something for Father.”
    Outil sifted through the contents of the closet and pulled out a light blue dress of fine linen and helped Marguerite dress for the evening. They left the room together and made their way down the stairs.“Best keep to yourself tonight. Father doesn’t like automatons with opinions.”
    “Yes, m’lady,” Outil answered.
    The dining room was through the main lobby and around a corner. It was just as opulent as the rest of the home. Her father sat at one end of a huge table with only two place settings. He rose when she entered the room.
    She decided on the spot to be kind to him. After all, she already knew she wasn’t going