The Earl of Brass (The Ingenious Mechanical Devices Book 1) by Kara Jorgensen Page A

the sink. Without turning, he stuffed a large chunk of bread into his mouth and readied the kettle for another round of tea. Eliza Hawthorne cleared her throat, causing her husband to finally face them as he guiltily swallowed the snack whole.
    “Eilian,” he smiled, “I had no idea you were here. I would shake your hand, but I don’t think I should, considering what I have been handling downstairs. Did you tell him about how the new arm Had—” he stuttered as Eliza shot him a sharp look over the armchair’s back, “happens to be for a missing forearm?”
    The young archaeologist shook his head in disbelief. “It’s as if this was made for me. May I have your friend’s address? I would love to pay him a visit before I leave town today.”
    “Oh, that’s impossible. When we spoke, he said he would be going out to the country to give a consultation today and would not be back until nightfall, but I can stop in tomorrow to make you an appointment for the following day.”
    His signature grin of genuine delight spread across his face. “Would you? That would be splendid. I’m planning on heading back to my house tonight, so send him there sometime in the afternoon. If that time doesn’t work for him, tell him to send me a date when he can come.”
    “I’m fairly certain he will be free then.”
    For the first time in days, joy fluttered through his chest, stretching his features back into their open state and making the scarce amount of light defiantly breaking through the velvet curtains seem so much brighter. He poured each of them another cup of tea and heartily snacked on the Hawthornes’ spread, allowing the warmth of happiness to soak into every part of his being.
    He cleared his throat, stifling his own mirth. “So how is that toy-maker cousin of yours?”

 
     
Chapter Eleven:
     
    Harold and the New Corset
     
     
    The sewing machine whirled as Hadley passed her makeshift corset under the needle for what felt like the hundredth time. The pattern had come from her mother’s trunk in the attic, but she hoped her design would eliminate the pinched waist and merely flatten her entire form. For two days she had ripped out the boning dozens of times, repositioning it until it finally nipped her curves in at the right point. Mid-stitch she took her foot off the peddle. She could have sworn she heard something, but assuming it was Adam, she went back to work with her head down. The window in the alleyway rattled, but Hadley didn’t notice until finally a waving, gloved hand bounced up and down in the high window. Donning her dressing gown, she unlocked the work room’s side door as Eliza Hawthorne strolled in. Her cousin pulled off her gloves with a flourish, but her eyes widened as they roamed over Hadley’s choice of outfit.
    “Do you always sew in your union suit?” she asked with a laugh as she brushed the dust from her skirts and carefully lowered herself onto the chair at Hadley’s old work bench.
    “I’m working on a corset, and I had to keep trying it on to make sure it was working properly. After a while, just staying in my unmentionables was easier than disrobing every fifteen minutes.” She hung her silk robe back on the coat rack and handed the corset to Eliza. “Help me get this thing on. I’m going to dislocate my shoulder if I do it by myself again.”
    With one hand, Hadley held the corset tight to her chest as she used the other to tuck the sides up to her armpits. Mrs. Hawthorne had never seen a corset of such design. Rather than having hooks and eyes in the front and lacing all down the back, the entire corset was one solid piece of material with tight lacing at the top third of her back and snaps running down below. She clicked the bottom portion in place before pulling the laces as tight as she possibly could without knocking the younger woman off balance.
    “What is this for anyway?” Eliza asked, stepping back from her cousin’s form. “It has flattened you like a