Free The Clockwork Wolf by Lynn Viehl Page A

out everything. That was wrong, I knew it, but . . .” She hesitated before she said, “Will she give me the sack for it, you think?”
    â€œShe’d be daft if she did. You’re the only one who hasn’t walked out on her. But if she does”—I dug a calling card out of my reticule and offered it to her—“you come and see me in town. I’ll find another position for you.”
    â€œWould you, really?” Her face brightened as she took the card. “That’s ever so nice of you, miss.” She hesitated before she added, “I know what they been saying the master done, but he weren’t like that at all. He always had a kind word for everyone, even me.”
    â€œIs that right?” In any other household a scullery would never have had any dealings with family. “When did his lordship speak with you last, Annie?”
    She smiled. “Every day, miss. He liked to come through the kitchens when he was leaving for town. Once, when Cook was at market, he stayed and had a talk with me.”
    I nodded. “And what did he say to you that day?”
    â€œHe asked after me parents, and said he was sorry when I told him they’d passed on. Then he wanted to know what I been doing on me half days. He told me about this nice place for a picnic.” She sighed. “Honestly, miss, he made me so nervous I forgot to watch the fire. Burned a whole pot of stew. Thought Cook would pull me ear off when she got back.”
    Bestly had been up to something, but with the scullery? “Did you ever go and have a picnic, Annie?”
    â€œOh, no, miss.” Annie shook her head. “I stay in me room on me half day. Only chance I get to sleep past dawn.”
    â€œThis nice place he told you about,” I persisted, “did it have a name?”
    She nodded. “Rosings Park. The master liked to visit it, too.” Her face clouded. “It’s where they found him when he died.”

C HAPTER F IVE
    When I returned to the city I went to the office and paid a visit to the Dungeon to see if Docket had recovered, but the old mechanic was nowhere to be found. I spent the next hour going door to door to make my apologies to the other tenants. Most of them were familiar with my business, and gracious enough to accept my explanation, which was a politic retelling of some of the truth: a poorly addressed parcel of powerful farming fertilizer had been sent through the tubes for weeks before being accidentally delivered to me. My clumsiness had caused the parcel to fall into a bucket of old tea, which had saturated it, activated the fertilizer, and resulted in the unpleasant smell.
    I would have given myself the credit for eradicating the stink, too, but I couldn’t think of a lie to explain how and instead credited an unnamed mage of my acquaintance whom I’d brought in for the cleanup.
    Everyone seemed to believe my tale except for Fourth, who was having none of it.
    â€œThere are no farms or farmers in the city,” Gremley informed me, “and even if there were, the merchants who sell to them do so in such quantities as would never fit in a tube.”
    I hadn’t thought of that. “Perhaps it was a sample of some sort.”
    â€œI should say not. The properties of fertilizer are universally known.” He regarded me. “To my mind I think this some sort of attack on you and your business, Miss Kittredge, and if it was, that cannot be tolerated.”
    â€œYour concern does you credit, Mr. Gremley.” And wishing he was a little stupider wouldn’t make it so. “I have met with Chief Inspector Doyle of Rumsen Main, however, and I know the police will be looking into the matter.”
    â€œI do not mean to badger you, Miss Kittredge,” he said, “but it is ever a gentleman’s strictest duty to protect the fair sex.”
    I smiled. “I feel safer already, Mr. Gremley. Now I will stop taking