Free Revenge of the Mad Scientist (Book One: Airship Adventure Chronicles) by Lara Nance Page B

her own business instead of selling the invention to some man more capable of organizing a major manufacturing endeavor. But when she’d succeeded, she saw the pleasure reflected in his eyes.
    A surge of fear stabbed her heart when she realized she was his only hope at this point. What if she failed? Her fingers tightened on the rail as a tear mingled with the rain on her cheek. The thought of losing her father was too painful so she pushed it away with determination.
    “My Lady.” The captain came to her side.
    “Will we make it?” She searched his worried face.
    “It will be close. I’ve got the ship moving as fast as possible, but the storm is overtaking us. I can’t lie. It would be best if you go below, My Lady.”
    She looked up to where Benji pointed out in front of them, talking to the pilot. “You must tell Benji to come below, Captain. I doubt he will listen to me.”
    The captain nodded with a slight smile.
    She took his offered arm and let him escort her to the door leading to the cabins, grateful for the steady support as the deck bucked beneath her boots. She held tightly to the stair rail as she descended to the salon area. Jasper sat there, pale but at least not green.
    He rose when he saw her and came forward to help her to a chair as she stumbled across the pitching floor. It was a good thing the furniture was secured or it would have been sliding all over the place.
    “My Lady, this seems quite perilous.” He frowned as he settled her in a chair. “What does the captain say?”
    “The storm is overtaking us. We must trust in his skill to get us to the port.” She sighed and unwound the scarf from her neck. “How is your airsickness?
    “Better with the ginger. Where is Master Benji?” he asked, brow furrowed.
    She was relieved of answering by the appearance of that young man entering the salon, face flushed and eyes bright.
    “I s, s, say Belle. This is most thrilling.” He flopped down on the sofa opposite her and glanced at Jasper. “Jasper, old man, you look better.”
    Jasper rolled his eyes but appeared gratified at Benji’s notice nonetheless. As much as they bickered, she knew Jasper had a soft spot in his heart for Benjamin Carter Wentworth just as she did. To think of him wasting away in that insane asylum made bitter bile rise in her stomach. What kind of parents did that to their child just because he was different? She shook her head and the disturbing thoughts vanished from her mind with a huge pitch and roll of the gondola.
    “Benji, we are certainly in no small amount of danger. Thrilling is hardly the word I would choose in this situation.” She removed her gloves and draped them over her knees so she could better grip the arms of her chair.
    “I suppose. But you m, m, must admit it is a bang up adventure.” He grinned.
    “Only if we survive, Master Benji.” Jasper grabbed the arms of his own chair as the ship dropped over a gust of wind.
    Benji frowned. “Yes I suppose it would ruin the f, f, fun if we were to crash.”
    Belle stifled a gurgle of laughter. She looked down at the large silver ring on her forefinger, the ambassador’s ring, and her heart skipped a beat. Was her father in this storm as well?
    The gondola shivered and Belle glanced up. Jasper’s face was white and grim, Benji’s expectant but subdued. Rain pelted against the windows of the salon and the booming sound of thunder echoed outside.
    “Are you scared, Belle?” Benji asked.
    She took a deep breath, determined to be a good example. “We have an excellent captain. I’m sure he has been in much worse situations than this.”
    A flash of light outside followed closely by a crack of thunder made Belle jump in her seat. The ship shuddered and her stomach rose in her throat as they dropped in altitude. Had they reached the aeroport at last?
    A clatter of footsteps on the stairs made the occupants of the salon turn as one. One of the crew hurried into the room holding on to the walls.
    “My