Steam Guardians 01 - A Lady Can Never Be Too Curious Read Online Free PDF Page A

law.”
    “Neither of us would make it past the butler, much less into the parlor.”
    It irritated him to discover he admired her tenacity enough to toy with her. To what end? She would return to her father’s house, where an Illuminist like himself wasn’t welcome. No matter how bright the blush staining her cheeks, she’d turn her nose up when her family pressed her to choose him or her standing in society.
    He was an Illuminist, and he’d never leave the order. The last thing he needed was another lady of society looking down her nose at him. Better to be done with it quickly, no matter the fact that she was a Pure Spirit. At least she’d be blissfully ignorant of her loss. He wouldn’t be so fortunate.
    He’d know what she could have been, and for the first time in a very long time, he was going to lament not being able to get to know a lady better.
    ***
    She couldn’t see the crystals, but she could hear them.
    Janette moved around the desk and bent over to look beneath it. The top was a good inch thick, like a baking pan, with room beneath the frosted glass. Once she stood in front of it, symbols appeared on the top. They were vaguely familiar, and she leaned closer to study them.
    “Did you open the drawers of your friend’s wardrobe to discover that ensemble you’re wearing while she was fetching the tea service?”
    The door had opened, and she’d been too absorbed to notice. Janette quickly removed her hands from the desktop, the hair on the back of her neck rising with apprehension. Just the sound of his voice and her thoughts shifted back to her fascination with Darius Lawley. She forced herself to draw a deep breath before facing him, but it didn’t steady her as much as she’d hoped.
    “No, I did not. Sophia knows very well that I am wearing her creations.” At least her voice came out steady. “When are you going to stop insinuating that I’m some sort of criminal?”
    Darius closed the space between them. Beneath her corset, her nipples contracted in response. Her mouth went dry, the pure wickedness of the response stunning her.
    “What would that leave for us to discuss except improper topics?” His voice was low and suggestive, but his eyes were guarded again, almost as though he didn’t consider her worthy of his attentions.
    “Somehow, I’d always thought of an Illuminist as someone more interested in spending their time on facts instead of useless gossip.”
    He drew in a stiff breath, all hints of playfulness gone. “Your friend will no doubt be looking for you, Miss Aston. However, it is my duty to warn you not to be so foolish as to believe no one else shares your curiosity about what is inside this chamber.” He walked toward her. “Has it occurred to you that someone might be willing to harm you to learn what you now know about Deep Earth Crystals?”
    He half turned and extended his arm toward the door. At the same time he touched the device covering his ear, and the door opened.
    “My doorman will not make the same mistake twice, Miss Aston. Do the wise thing and stay where you belong. Only members are allowed inside our walls.”
    “But…would it be possible…to attend a lecture…”
    He tapped the gold lapel pin on his vest. “We share our knowledge only with those willing to announce their loyalty to us.”
    But there was a flicker of something in his eyes; it looked like hope. The man appeared to be waiting for her to jump at his offer. He tapped his lapel pin several more times, and she ended up staring at it.
    Did she dare?
    “It is not your intelligence I question, Janette, but your ability to sever emotional ties. Something society will require of you if you join our order. Think about that before you take any action.” His tone was harder than any he’d used before, setting off a desire to understand him.
    “Do you regret becoming an Illuminist?” She was being intrusive but couldn’t seem to feel ashamed. Something flickered in his eyes that betrayed