The Lady Machinist (Curiosity Chronicles Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

call me Rhys. After tonight, we’ll be seeing more of each other.”
    Lydia set the tambouras against her chair. “You’re very confident of your success when we have yet to hear the proposal, Ambassa- Reez . Is that how you pronounce your name?”
    “Close enough.”
    “You may call me Lydia, though not here. It would be inappropriate before the king.” The heat of the cooked food and the hall’s warm temperature prompted her to remove her jacket.
    Rhys’ gaze settled on her arms, bare from where her blouse’s sleeves capped at her shoulders. “So you do admit that we will meet again after tonight?”
    She was taken aback by his joviality. “Are you attempting to poke fun at me?”
    “Considering how you prodded me with your elbow, fair is fair, my lady.”
    A peculiar man. Lydia heard that New Britannia was a land of eccentrics. With Rhys, she began to believe it.
    The guards announced the king’s arrival. Sabba took his place at the head of the table, apologized for his queen’s absence due to headache, and the meal began. Lydia ate quickly, hoping the others would do the same.
    An hour later, after the dishes were cleared and the servants and musician departed, King Sabba finally broached the subject of Rhys’ proposal. “Ambassador, you may speak before us. But first tell me, what exactly is this COIC agency you hail from?”
    Rhys removed an envelope from his inside coat pocket. “The Cabinet of Intellectual Curiosities is an agency that promotes and funds the development of scientific innovations. We’ve partnered with The Crown to find these breakthroughs. Our agents are stationed all over the world.”
    King Sabba listened and nodded. “And your offer to purchase these innovations. Is this what your agency normally does?”
    “No, Your Majesty. We usually invite inventors to submit their work to us for consideration. But these automatons—Lady Dimosthenis’ automatons—are most impressive.” He stole a glance at Lydia.
    She crossed her ankles under the table. Was he using flattery to cajole her?
    Rhys opened the envelope flap. “This is the agreement to purchase the automatons. New Britannia will pay Aspasia eight thousand pounds.”
    One glance at the king and Nikolaos and Lydia knew they already converted the currency. The amount was substantial by any nation’s estimate, more than enough to replenish Aspasia’s coffers.
    “Eight thousand pounds is very generous,” Sabba voiced when he appeared to have survived the initial shock of hearing the sum. “In addition to restoring the coffers, Aspasia would be able to expand the port and build new ships to carry goods to the Continent and North Africa.”
    “And you would receive all the protections and privileges that an alliance with New Britannia affords,” Rhys added.
    “We would insist that several of the automatons remain in Aspasia so that we may continue to defend the island.”
    “Understandable.”
    Nikolaos entered the talks. “A grand offer, but all things carry prices. What else does the agreement entail?”
    “The timeframe for the acquisition and the rights of ownership.” Rhys removed his gloves at the start of dinner. Lydia watched his long, tapered fingers move as he took his time breaking the envelope’s seal and withdrew a document. “I’ll explain more once I see the soldiers in action.”
    “Lady Dimosthenis will provide a demonstration at ten o’ clock tomorrow morning,” the king promised. His gaze dared Lydia to object.
    She peeked over Rhys’ shoulder and squinted at the tiny print of the document. “You mentioned rights of ownership, Ambassador Cartret. Does it pertain to the automatons or their design schematics?”
    “Both.”
    She bit the inside of her jaw. To sell the automatons was one thing. To give New Britannia access to the mechanics behind their productions was quite another. “May I see that agreement?”
    Nikolaos reached across the table and intercepted before her fingers made contact