Free Clockwork Heart: Clockwork Love, Book 1 by Heidi Cullinan Page A

Johann was part of the plot?
    It made no sense—Johann had been left for dead. But of course, he could have been back in contact with his superiors. Look what’s happened—the fool’s repaired me and is falling in love with me while he teaches me French. I’ll let you know when everyone’s out of the house, and you can get the heart. I’ll bring him along after.
    Except Johann had the heart. And didn’t know it.
    If Johann were truly part of a plot, why would he wait so long? What made today the day to search? Johann could have drugged Cornelius and sneaked away at any moment. This wasn’t the first time the house had been empty, either— plenty of times Johann had been left alone and could have let anyone in.
    Yes, that works out tidily. Have you finished arranging it so the most likely suspect isn’t a traitor, simply because you wish him not to be?
    Groaning, Cornelius finished off the brandy and paced the library. The thought of leaving Calais made him ill. He hated sea travel—even crossing the channel made him vomit. Slogging all the way to Derbyshire in the belly of some smelly fishing boat would have him retching so badly he wouldn’t be able to walk by the end. She couldn’t smuggle him out in a dirigible? If she were that far inland, air travel was so much more logical.
    And wasn’t he a brat, fussing over how he was being rescued?
    Except…this whole affair made little sense . The letter was so odd. She didn’t sound like herself in almost any sentence. Please read this with tea ? He didn’t drink tea, which she well knew. And why was she in Derbyshire? A new paramour? Except why was she lounging in the country if Cornelius was in danger?
    The ransom was equally ridiculous. His father wouldn’t ransom him from the Austrian Army. Cornelius had no value, unless the Austrians truly did want him for his tinkering ability. Except Félix would be as good as himself, for that. And his mother, fickle as she might be, adored Félix. He’d been her contact, back in her spying days. When espionage was mostly keeping score, not life and death. In any event, she wouldn’t rescue Cornelius without bringing Félix along as well.
    Which meant perhaps he should show this to Félix after all.
    He walked quietly through the shop. Technically they were meant to be open, but Félix had locked the front door tight after the burglary, and the place was empty. Maryann had been sent home, and Louise as well. Dust danced in the afternoon sunlight, giving the illusion of glitter on the many brass and gilded parts on display. Cornelius stared, letting the hypnotic sight occupy his nervous mind while the better part of him sorted out what logic could be found in his situation.
    The letter didn’t make sense. She didn’t sound like herself. Not exactly. The situation made no sense. Her rescue was off as well. He didn’t know any childhood game that might be a clue to what the ship name would be.
    Valentin couldn’t possibly be involved. Félix was right, sorting through the vault with a set of tongs would overwhelm him. He hated clockwork. He hated politics more.
    Johann, however, remained an absolute mystery. Cornelius could neither damn nor exonerate him.
    Cornelius needed to sort out his pirate-soldier. He needed to put aside his attraction and ask hard questions and make certain he received decent answers. He had to make certain he could trust him.
    Then Cornelius had to decide if he should ignore it all and keep shutting out the world, escape to his mother in London…or escape somewhere else entirely.
    Except if he couldn’t trust letters from his mother, couldn’t count on protection from his father—where in the world was he meant to escape to ?

Chapter Five
    When Cornelius entered the room, Johann put down his book with a frown. “You are unhappy.”
    Cornelius rubbed his arms, but the cold he felt had nothing to do with temperature. He paced before the window for a moment, then leaned against the sill and