man picked up his tools and began to repair the wires he’d snipped only a few minutes ago.
Mrs. Nemo gestured impatiently towards Minerva. “Come here, girl.”
Minerva dragged her feet forward, aversion mounting with each step. This was her own mother, this ruthless woman with her chilling blue eyes and murderous smile. As she drew closer, the cloying scent of tuberose perfume turned her stomach.
She would not show any weakness. Battling the faintness which threatened to overwhelm her, Minerva drew herself up. “So you would really harm me, your own flesh and blood?”
Irritation, not shame, flashed through Mrs. Nemo’s eyes. “Don’t presume to judge me until you’ve walked a mile in my shoes.”
All the past hurt she’d suffered at her mother’s careless hands welled up. “You’ve never cared about anyone but yourself, have you, Mother?”
“I told you not to call me that. I am Isolde Nemo. I am no one’s mother.”
“You are still my mother, though you may deny it out of mere vanity.”
“Vanity? Mere vanity?” Mrs. Nemo’s perfectly formed lips twisted. “What would you know about mere vanity?” With the speed of a striking snake, she reached out and pinched Minerva’s cheeks, her sharp fingernails digging in. “You, with your youthful flesh and dewy looks. You, who can have as many lovers as you wish. Who can pick and choose whom to take to your bed. Wait until you approach my age, and I’ll wager you’ll change your tune. Oh, my looks and figure are well enough for the moment, but for how long? How much longer can I stave off my younger rivals? I don’t have much time. In a few years I’ll be lucky enough to earn a shilling a turn down at the docks.”
Bilious revulsion rose in Minerva’s throat. But she could not deny a tiny spark of sympathy for the woman. All her life she’d prized her loveliness and her ability to lure men. More than that, it was her raison d’être. To watch her sublime beauty fade into obscurity must surely be wrenching.
“But, Mother,” she said. “Using Asher’s chronometrical conveyance won’t solve your problem. You may travel back in time, but you will not regain your beauty.”
“Of course I know that. I’m not a ninny,” her mother retorted. She spun away to inspect Quigley’s progress. “Hurry up, there. Your tardiness will get you nowhere.”
He paused to glare at her. “Stop now before this goes any further. This machine is not the answer. It isn’t even complete yet.”
“Don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes. You’re proof positive that the thing works.”
“But once you travel through time you cannot return here. You will be stuck in whatever period you arrive in.”
Mrs. Nemo lifted one shoulder. “That serves my purpose as I have no intention of returning.” Without warning she turned and pushed the barrel of the gun against Minerva’s neck. “Now finish the damn wiring before I blow her head off.”
Quigley turned white and immediately fell to his work, but strangely the cold circle of metal pressed against the side of her neck had little effect on Minerva. She was still stunned by her mother’s words. Once more her mother was leaving, leaving her behind. Her grasping selfishness and cold brutality could only be despised, but Minerva couldn’t suppress the echo of her eight-year-old self mourning the loss of her mother. She’d lost her mother once, and now she was about to lose her again. It made no sense, but this time the betrayal hurt even more.
“Mother, when I thought you’d died, I lit a candle for you every night,” she said. “For an entire year. I missed you so much.”
“How touching.”
“It’s still not too late. If you release us, I’m sure we can—”
“Lands sakes, be quiet, girl.” The gun barrel bit harder into her neck. “Your chittering is enough to make any mother run away.”
Minerva fell silent. Quigley had completed the re-wiring. Mrs. Nemo examined the cables, testing
Mrs. Nemo gestured impatiently towards Minerva. “Come here, girl.”
Minerva dragged her feet forward, aversion mounting with each step. This was her own mother, this ruthless woman with her chilling blue eyes and murderous smile. As she drew closer, the cloying scent of tuberose perfume turned her stomach.
She would not show any weakness. Battling the faintness which threatened to overwhelm her, Minerva drew herself up. “So you would really harm me, your own flesh and blood?”
Irritation, not shame, flashed through Mrs. Nemo’s eyes. “Don’t presume to judge me until you’ve walked a mile in my shoes.”
All the past hurt she’d suffered at her mother’s careless hands welled up. “You’ve never cared about anyone but yourself, have you, Mother?”
“I told you not to call me that. I am Isolde Nemo. I am no one’s mother.”
“You are still my mother, though you may deny it out of mere vanity.”
“Vanity? Mere vanity?” Mrs. Nemo’s perfectly formed lips twisted. “What would you know about mere vanity?” With the speed of a striking snake, she reached out and pinched Minerva’s cheeks, her sharp fingernails digging in. “You, with your youthful flesh and dewy looks. You, who can have as many lovers as you wish. Who can pick and choose whom to take to your bed. Wait until you approach my age, and I’ll wager you’ll change your tune. Oh, my looks and figure are well enough for the moment, but for how long? How much longer can I stave off my younger rivals? I don’t have much time. In a few years I’ll be lucky enough to earn a shilling a turn down at the docks.”
Bilious revulsion rose in Minerva’s throat. But she could not deny a tiny spark of sympathy for the woman. All her life she’d prized her loveliness and her ability to lure men. More than that, it was her raison d’être. To watch her sublime beauty fade into obscurity must surely be wrenching.
“But, Mother,” she said. “Using Asher’s chronometrical conveyance won’t solve your problem. You may travel back in time, but you will not regain your beauty.”
“Of course I know that. I’m not a ninny,” her mother retorted. She spun away to inspect Quigley’s progress. “Hurry up, there. Your tardiness will get you nowhere.”
He paused to glare at her. “Stop now before this goes any further. This machine is not the answer. It isn’t even complete yet.”
“Don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes. You’re proof positive that the thing works.”
“But once you travel through time you cannot return here. You will be stuck in whatever period you arrive in.”
Mrs. Nemo lifted one shoulder. “That serves my purpose as I have no intention of returning.” Without warning she turned and pushed the barrel of the gun against Minerva’s neck. “Now finish the damn wiring before I blow her head off.”
Quigley turned white and immediately fell to his work, but strangely the cold circle of metal pressed against the side of her neck had little effect on Minerva. She was still stunned by her mother’s words. Once more her mother was leaving, leaving her behind. Her grasping selfishness and cold brutality could only be despised, but Minerva couldn’t suppress the echo of her eight-year-old self mourning the loss of her mother. She’d lost her mother once, and now she was about to lose her again. It made no sense, but this time the betrayal hurt even more.
“Mother, when I thought you’d died, I lit a candle for you every night,” she said. “For an entire year. I missed you so much.”
“How touching.”
“It’s still not too late. If you release us, I’m sure we can—”
“Lands sakes, be quiet, girl.” The gun barrel bit harder into her neck. “Your chittering is enough to make any mother run away.”
Minerva fell silent. Quigley had completed the re-wiring. Mrs. Nemo examined the cables, testing
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