noise in her throat, pushed away, and fled into the dark so fast that by the time he’d emerged into the light of the mooring mast, he could no longer see her.
Or apologize.
Or figure out what on earth was the matter with him for treating her in such a fashion.
Because was he not promised to Claire—in his heart at least, if not in words acknowledged on both sides? What madness had seized kss ze= him and compelled him to kiss a woman whom he respected as a fellow engineer and liked immensely as a person? Because such a stupid move was bound to shatter both respect and liking on her side. If she and Claire should happen to exchange confidences, then the jig was well and truly up, because he would not blame either of them in the least for giving him the air and sending him on his sorry way.
Stop lying to yourself, man. You know why you kissed her.
No. He was not that much of a cad.
You kissed Alice because Ian Hollys kissed Claire.
He hadn’t. That was ridiculous.
It was a jealousy kiss. And you used your friend poorly.
Oh, sweet mercy.
If he could have flung himself down the gangway and never come back, he would have. But no. He had to sit at this breakfast table and smile and smile, and be a villain—and see her opposite, pale and having clearly spent a sleepless night on his account.
He could not meet her eyes. The fact that she could not meet his, either, was almost a relief.
Claire handed the projectile’s engine casing to the count, who pocketed it. “Here is what I propose,” he said. “John, you and Davina plan to lift this morning, taking Lady Claire and Mr. Malvern along with you to the mine?”
“We do,” his lordship said.
“I’m going that way, too,” Alice said quietly. “I got a lead on my pa last night from a man who used to know my ma. He says pa might’ve been working the cargo ships up there, so I’m going to see where that takes me.”
“Excellent.” Count von Zeppelin nodded briskly. “I will leave an officer and six men here to make inquiries while I go also to the mine. I believe our discussions at Government House may bear fruit, but they need more in the way of tending, do you not agree, John?”
What discussions? Andrew would give a good deal to know what the two nobles had to talk about besides the merits of efficient flight, but that was none of his business.
“So we shall be a flotilla, then?” Claire asked with a smile. “An impressive sight, to be sure. One almost wishes one could watch from the ground.”
“I don’t.” Davina adjusted Willie’s sailor collar gently, and touched his cheek. “The sooner we lift, the happier I shall be.”
“One thing, though,” Alice said diffidently. “I’m going to need a navigator. The automatons are all very well, but they don’t read charts.”
“I do.” Jake lifted his head like a pointer scenting a pheasant. “I’ll go wiv you.”
“Me too,” Tigg said. “You’ll need someone in the engine compartment who ’as a foggy clue about ’ow to work the Lady’s power cell. And since you ent got a replacement steam engine yet, that would be me.”
“Power cell?” The count’s hawklike gaze stooped upon Tigg, who took a breath and bore up brav k bop>
“Aye,” he said. “It got kidnapped ’ere by—” Claire cleared her throat and Tigg changed course without missing a beat. “—by mischance and we put it in the Stalwart Lass when ’er engine burned up in midair.”
It was fortunate the count did not wear a monocle, for it would have fallen out when his eyebrows rose under his cap in astonishment. “Was sagst du? How extraordinary. You must tell me this adventure sometime soon. Tonight at dinner, perhaps.”
“Dinner in midair?” Maggie asked. “’Ow we gonna get from one ship to another?”
“The Firstwater mine is not far, as the crow flies, Maggie,” Davina said with a smile. “If we leave before noon, we shall reach it by sunset, even with the days as short as they are now.”
The count glanced over his shoulder, and one of his aides sprang to his side. Andrew didn’t know much Prussian, but it seemed he was giving instructions for the dinner party. He suppressed a sigh. Once again, it seemed, he would have to face Alice across a table. He must resolve this, and sooner rather than later.