Clockwork Heart by Dru Pagliassotti

professional.”
    â€œExalted Forlore is my brother,” Cristof corrected her. He knelt in front of the clock again. “Master Clockwright will do, if you insist on being formal.”
    â€œWhatever you wish, Master Clockwright.” Taya jammed the letter into her pocket. “I’m going. Please don’t wait for my return.”
    â€œI didn’t plan to.”
    Taya shook her head and left the eyrie.
    Of course Cristof wouldn’t approve of his brother seeing an icarus— icarii were hardly better than whores, in some people’s eyes. But an outcaste should know better than to believe in stereotypes.
    Dinner with Alister Forlore. The thought of the decatur’s handsome face and bright green eyes was tempting, but Taya knew she’d be a fool to accept. Alister probably assumed the same thing as his brother. Even if he were an unusually polite exalted, it wouldn’t mean that he didn’t have expectations, and … and, well, what on earth would she wear to a restaurant on Primus, anyway?
    No, all things considered, it would be best if she turned Alister’s servant away tonight. She would meet the decatur at the Octavus party under safely reputable conditions, and then she’d see what happened.

Chapter Five
    The physician cleaned and bandaged her cut, warned her not to rescue anyone from a wireferry accident for a week or two, and sent her on her way. Taya hurried back to the eyrie and felt a curious twinge of disappointment to find the clock back in one piece and Cristof gone.
    â€œTaya!” Gwen shouted for her as she turned to head up the stairs, and Taya spun, changing direction to enter the parlor.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYour outcaste left. He gave me an estimate and took off looking like he’d been drinking vinegar.” The landlady sniffed. “So, you got an invitation to dinner from an exalted?”
    â€œYes.” Taya dropped into an overstuffed chair. “The cousin of the woman I rescued yesterday. He wants to thank me.”
    â€œAnd the outcaste disapproves?”
    â€œHis name is Cristof Forlore, and he’s the exalted’s brother.”
    â€œOh.” Gwen’s eyebrows rose. “It’s a family affair, is it?”
    â€œIt’s not any kind of affair at all,” Taya objected, nettled. “He doesn’t approve of me, and I don’t want to cause any trouble between him and his brother.”
    â€œWho is a decatur.”
    â€œDecatur Alister Forlore.”
    Gwen looked impressed. “Well, if a decatur is asking you to dinner to thank you for saving his cousin’s life, you can hardly say no. Is he well-mannered? Do you like him?”
    â€œI only talked to him once, but he was very charming.” Taya sighed. And dangerously good-looking. “I have to say no, Gwen. He probably has the wrong impression about me— you know how it is. And besides, I don’t have anything to wear.”
    â€œGo in your flight suit. That’s perfectly acceptable attire for an icarus on business,” Gwen said firmly. Taya wrinkled her nose.
    â€œI don’t think he expects this dinner to be business.”
    â€œHe said it was to thank you.”
    â€œYes.” Taya didn’t mention the letter’s greeting, which was less than businesslike.
    â€œWell, then he can’t complain if you wear your flight suit. And if you don’t want to give him the wrong impression, a flight suit is more than chaste.”
    Taya smiled. That was true. Alister might be disappointed if she showed up in a flight suit instead of a dress, but the few smocks she owned were more suitable for picnics in summer on Secundus than dinner in autumn on Primus. And a flight suit was safely difficult to get out of.
    She chewed on her bottom lip.
    â€œBut his brother doesn’t approve…”
    â€œHis brother’s a freak.”
    â€œHe is not!”
    â€œHe’s an exalted who walks around