Free Chasing the Star Garden: The Airship Racing Chronicles (Volume 1) by Melanie Karsak

a dozen large ships tethered there. I eyed the symbols on the balloons but didn’t recognize any of them. I did notice a British diplomatic vessel parked in one of the private bays. About twenty feet below the international transports were ports for the local gondoliers, yachts, and personal crafts.
    A Venetian ground crew, all dressed in scarlet, guided the Stargazer into her dock. Soon, Jessup and Angus were hard at work getting the ship tethered in. Once we were anchored, Sal spoke with the stationmaster.
    “My Lily, it seems Lord Byron has cleared the path for you. The Stargazer was expected, and your docking account has been settled. The stationmaster saw the Stargazer come in. As Lord Byron requested, ground transport has been arranged to take us to our lodgings,” Sal informed me as the Venetian stationmaster smiled appreciatively at the Stargazer . “And he is a fan of yours,” Sal added with a lowered voice.
    Angus and Jessup leaned on the deck rail, listening to the exchange.
    “Ask him if he’d like to take a look,” I replied motioning to the Stargazer .
    Sal spoke to the man. The stationmaster smiled excitedly at me, and with a nod, Sal led him aboard.
    “Well, Miss Important Friends, our lodgings, eh?” Jessup said with a laugh. “Where you suppose Byron set us up, Lily?”
    “Us? Well, I am sure a palace awaits me. I think I saw some stables on the Lido for you lot,” I replied with a laugh.
    Angus chuckled.
    The look on Jessup’s face told me he had not considered that Byron had only arranged for me, not all of us. But, I knew Byron. He took care of those he loved and trusted. Despite his reputation as being mad, bad, and dangerous to know, Byron had a good soul and treated well those who did not abuse him—unless, of course, he had asked for it.
    After Sal’s tour was over, the stationmaster—who kissed me on each cheek and spoke excitedly to me in Italian, thanking me and blessing my next race, or so Sal told me-led us to the lift. I was glad a race fan was keeping watch on the Stargazer ; I knew she would be safe.
    The clockwork gears ground as the stationmaster operated the lift levers. The massive gears turned, and the lift lowered us slowly toward the sandy beach below. A warm wind blew in from the sea. As much as I disliked the water, Venice was truly beautiful.
    Sal and the stationmaster exchanged a few words, and when we reached the Lido, we headed off in the direction of the vaporetti, the steamboat taxis. Sal was wearing a knowing smile.
    “What is it?” I asked.
    “Ah, my Lily, how Lord Byron must love you.”
    “Why do you say that?”
    Sal only smiled.
    “Sal,” I warned playfully, sliding my hand under his shirt to tickle his ribs.
    “You’ll see,” he replied, grinning as he grabbed and kissed my fingers.
    Sal spoke a few words to the vaporetto taximan who transported travelers by water from the Lido to the city. The vaporetto itself was a sleek, dark wood boat with a thick coat of polish. A blue and white striped awning covered the taxi seats. The taximan guided us aboard. As we settled in, I followed Sal’s gaze to the copper piping that created the steam propulsion. Angus, too, was straining his neck to get a look.
    As we set off, the taximan eyed me over. My belongings were stuffed into a sack hanging over my shoulder, but under my arm I carried the box containing the gown Byron had sent. The sailor’s gaze had made me feel self-conscious, and though I was not inclined to wear the dress, I was suddenly glad I had it. As we approached the city, passing more Venetians, I better understood the look. The Venetian women looked like china dolls. Their hair was done perfectly. Their ornate dresses looked like bouquets of wildflowers strewn in the wind. While they had their intricately designed jewels and tinkered trinkets, overall their look was soft. English women had their own style. Air jockeys more so. In Venice, however, things were different. I now understood