A Conspiracy of Alchemists: Book One in the Chronicles of Light and Shadow by Liesel Schwarz
Authors: Liesel Schwarz
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been cleared away.
“I am much better, thank you, little one. A good rest does wonders for the body. And madame’s poultices worked wonders.” He bit into a chunk of Mrs. Hinges’ excellent bread and chewed with gusto. “We French are much tougher than you believe us to be.”
The chicken arrived in all its roasted and glorious splendor. Eric shuffled off to fetch the platters of roast potatoes and vegetables, while Mrs. Hinges served. Normally this was the task of the butler, but as they had no butler to command, the housekeeper took it upon herself to step in.
“I wouldn’t dare trifle with Mrs. Hinges,” Marsh winked at the housekeeper as she set about carving the meat. Mrs. Hinges looked at him sternly, but Elle could tell as the meal progressed that the older woman was completely in his thrall.
“I must tell you about my latest discovery.” Patrice looked up from his pudding of apple sponge baked with sugar, cinnamon and sultanas. He pulled a newspaper clipping from his waistcoat and spread it open on the table before him, all manners and decorum forgotten. “It is a new machine that can emulate the workings of the human heart. The machine has a tiny spark core and runs on clockwork gears. Within this generation, people from the Light side will have employed science to achieve immortality,” he announced.
And how would they go about inserting said mechanical heart?” Marsh made a face.
“Actually, I don’t think I want to know. Especially not at the dinner table.,” Elle said. She wasn’t usually this squeamish, but this evening, she found herself feeling tired and hollow. A soft throbbing just inside her temple was threatening to erupt into an almighty headache. She did her best to smile and maintain the conversation, but her mood sank and dwindled as dinner wore on. It was as if an oppressive weight was bearing down on her and nothing she did seemed to make it go away.
Eventually she sighed and set down her spoon. “I fear that I am terribly tired. It has been a very long day and I am quite exhausted. If you’ll excuse me, I think I shall retire for the night. In my absence, please make yourselves at home with brandies and cigars in the drawing room.” She rose and they stood in response. Marsh frowned but he said nothing.
“If you need anything, please ask Mrs. Hinges,” Elle continued. “She will see to your needs.”
She took herself back to her room before anyone made a fuss. Mrs. Hinges would have words with her tomorrow for being rude and abandoning their guests, but the overwhelming urge to run away as fast as she could was so strong, she could not fight it any longer
CHAPTER 13
The girl was being followed by ghosts. I knew those ghosts once. They were not malevolent—at least not to her. They were wise ghosts, with the knowledge of the ages within them.
I heard them whisper. They chattered among themselves in wonderment. Could it be that the girl was finally free of the constraints that kept her away from them and her true self? The ghosts were excited at the thought. There was much they needed to teach the girl. Would she listen to them?
I was not so sure. The years spent separated from the tethers that held them to this world had made the ghosts naïve. But ghosts rarely worry about the fate of the living, unless, of course, the living had something to offer that directly benefitted them. These ghosts had been silent for half a generation, existing like cowards in the realm of Shadow alone. It takes much to prompt them to rise up from the folds of reality where they dwell and they care little about progress and science. Those already dead feel little for those of us who must face the awful truths of our shrinking world.
But, these were matters of which the girl had no awareness. But I could tell that she sensed that something was amiss. That something would change within her, very soon.
Back in her room, Elle pulled at laces and layers of clothes until she stood naked in
“I am much better, thank you, little one. A good rest does wonders for the body. And madame’s poultices worked wonders.” He bit into a chunk of Mrs. Hinges’ excellent bread and chewed with gusto. “We French are much tougher than you believe us to be.”
The chicken arrived in all its roasted and glorious splendor. Eric shuffled off to fetch the platters of roast potatoes and vegetables, while Mrs. Hinges served. Normally this was the task of the butler, but as they had no butler to command, the housekeeper took it upon herself to step in.
“I wouldn’t dare trifle with Mrs. Hinges,” Marsh winked at the housekeeper as she set about carving the meat. Mrs. Hinges looked at him sternly, but Elle could tell as the meal progressed that the older woman was completely in his thrall.
“I must tell you about my latest discovery.” Patrice looked up from his pudding of apple sponge baked with sugar, cinnamon and sultanas. He pulled a newspaper clipping from his waistcoat and spread it open on the table before him, all manners and decorum forgotten. “It is a new machine that can emulate the workings of the human heart. The machine has a tiny spark core and runs on clockwork gears. Within this generation, people from the Light side will have employed science to achieve immortality,” he announced.
And how would they go about inserting said mechanical heart?” Marsh made a face.
“Actually, I don’t think I want to know. Especially not at the dinner table.,” Elle said. She wasn’t usually this squeamish, but this evening, she found herself feeling tired and hollow. A soft throbbing just inside her temple was threatening to erupt into an almighty headache. She did her best to smile and maintain the conversation, but her mood sank and dwindled as dinner wore on. It was as if an oppressive weight was bearing down on her and nothing she did seemed to make it go away.
Eventually she sighed and set down her spoon. “I fear that I am terribly tired. It has been a very long day and I am quite exhausted. If you’ll excuse me, I think I shall retire for the night. In my absence, please make yourselves at home with brandies and cigars in the drawing room.” She rose and they stood in response. Marsh frowned but he said nothing.
“If you need anything, please ask Mrs. Hinges,” Elle continued. “She will see to your needs.”
She took herself back to her room before anyone made a fuss. Mrs. Hinges would have words with her tomorrow for being rude and abandoning their guests, but the overwhelming urge to run away as fast as she could was so strong, she could not fight it any longer
CHAPTER 13
The girl was being followed by ghosts. I knew those ghosts once. They were not malevolent—at least not to her. They were wise ghosts, with the knowledge of the ages within them.
I heard them whisper. They chattered among themselves in wonderment. Could it be that the girl was finally free of the constraints that kept her away from them and her true self? The ghosts were excited at the thought. There was much they needed to teach the girl. Would she listen to them?
I was not so sure. The years spent separated from the tethers that held them to this world had made the ghosts naïve. But ghosts rarely worry about the fate of the living, unless, of course, the living had something to offer that directly benefitted them. These ghosts had been silent for half a generation, existing like cowards in the realm of Shadow alone. It takes much to prompt them to rise up from the folds of reality where they dwell and they care little about progress and science. Those already dead feel little for those of us who must face the awful truths of our shrinking world.
But, these were matters of which the girl had no awareness. But I could tell that she sensed that something was amiss. That something would change within her, very soon.
Back in her room, Elle pulled at laces and layers of clothes until she stood naked in
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