“Kenneth Marshall.” His words rolled off his tongue with a slight accent. It reminded her of how her brothers spoke.
“Are you from the west?”
He blinked his clear, emerald eyes. “Yes, I am. How did you know?”
“I’m a language expert.” At least in regards to people who moved west. They developed that rolling drawl. This Kenneth didn’t need to know she was limited, though.
Kenneth shone that fabulous smile at her again. “I might sound a bit like… Well, I’ve traveled overseas for the past few years.”
“Oh my.” She removed her sandalwood fan from her sash to flip it open. “I’ve been longing to travel overseas. My uncle offered to take me, but it wouldn’t be wise for his health.” Plus, overseas they might not realize how important she was.
“Perhaps someday, I might be able to show you around there.” Kenneth extended his arm. “Would it be too forward of me to ask you to lunch?”
Amethyst glanced back at Mary, who ogled a painting of an enlarged pocket watch. “I’d be delighted.”
“Welcome to Charles Belle.” The hostess curtsied to Amethyst and Kenneth at the entrance to the café. “Will it be two this afternoon?”
“My favorite table please.” Amethyst flashed Kenneth a smile. He should know she knew her way around New Addison City. “I come here quite often with my uncle and my friends.” He should also know how important family was to her, and how popular she was. Men loved popular girls.
The hostess led them through the room to the stairs, leading them up to the second floor balcony where they could overlook the ocean. A steamship glided into port and smaller fishing vessels mingled along the docks.
Kenneth pulled out the chair facing inward. “For you, Miss Treasure.”
That seat wouldn’t do. She needed to be in full light to make her yellow hair glow, and her golden silk dress needed to shimmer. “I’d prefer next to the railing.”
He ducked his head. “At once.”
Good boy. He pulled out the high-backed chair and Amethyst slid onto it, smoothing out her two skirts. Her white lace petticoat showed when she crossed her legs.
A waitress appeared and handed them their menus. She wore the uniform required of all servers: a dark brown dress with a white shawl buttoned over the shoulders. The uniform fit her slender form exceptionally well. She had blonde hair that hung in ringlets.
Amethyst clenched her jaw, but Kenneth never glanced at the waitress, his gaze on Amethyst. Excellent.
“Two champagnes.” Amethyst waved the girl away. “Won’t you tell me about yourself, Ken?” A nickname always helped her get closer to a man’s heart.
He cleared his throat. “I was born in Hedlund.”
“Which business does your family run? My father owns a ranch in the west there, but he also dabbles in railroads and mining.”
“Banking.” Kenneth rested his hand over hers where she’d left it on the table. “I’ve heard your father’s made himself quite a name.”
Amethyst straightened her shoulders. “Indeed he has. He’s been said to have a king’s worth of money. He’s probably the richest man in the world, even wealthier than our leaders.”
According to her uncle, it was hard to judge wealth since it came and went so fast in investments, but she liked repeating what she’d read in newspapers.
“Is he here now, in the city? I would enjoy meeting him.”
“Oh no.” She tossed her head to make her hair shimmer. “My parents live out on the ranch. I prefer staying here with my uncle. There’s just so much to do in the city.”
“Speaking of things to do…” He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles, making her stomach clench and her nerves twitter. “I’ve been meaning to rent one of the small airships for a turn over the countryside. Would you be interested?”
She’d never gotten to do that before. How jealous her friends would be that she’d taken an airship ride with Kenneth! “I would love to! It’s so very kind of you to ask me.”
“Tomorrow morning? We can set out by ten?”
She wrinkled her nose. They needed to spend the evening together, perhaps see a show. She wouldn’t rise until at least eleven. “That’s terribly early. Shall we agree upon noon? You can call on me then.”
He narrowed his eyes and shifted in his seat, pulling his hand away. “I’d rather meet you at the airship rental.”
Amethyst stiffened. Gentlemen always called on her at her uncle’s apartment. Ah, Kenneth had to be shy about meeting her paternal figure. After the ride, he would feel more comfortable. “Fine, I’ll meet you there.”
“Your champagne.” The waitress materialized from the shadows of the café, piano music drifting after her.
“We’re going on an airship ride tomorrow.” Amethyst beamed. Hopefully, it would make it into the newspapers.
The driver opened the door to the steamcab and lifted his hand to Amethyst. “Miss Treasure?”
She slid her gloved fingers into his and descended with slow steps. Once on the pavement, she lifted her head and smiled to the awaiting photographers… only, the media didn’t wait outside the airship rental. The brick building had shutters fastened over its windows and a wooden cutout of an airship hanging over the closed door.
“Will that be all, Miss Treasure?” The driver held out his hand.
She pulled a wad of bills from her purse and yanked the drawstring. That should cover the fare and his tip. “Fine.” She must not have told enough people she would be there. At least Kenneth would appreciate her attire. She’d chosen a white silk corset high enough to be worn on its own, with detachable sheer puffed sleeves and a full hoop skirt. The top hat and choker matched the pristine, virginal white. Kenneth needed to know how sweet she was, even while she took charge.
Amethyst marched into the rental shop with her chin up, a single curl dangling down her neck from her chignon beneath the hat. Paintings of airships adorned the cream-painted walls. A man sat behind a desk in the corner, and across from him, Kenneth lounged in a sitting area of settees. He rose and removed his hat, bowing at the waist.
“Miss Treasure.” He took her hand to kiss it. “Greetings, my dear. I’m glad you could make it. I was worried.”
Worried? She almost flared her nostrils. She was only a half hour late. It was better to keep men wondering. “Of course I’m here.”
“The photographers were waiting. I don’t know how word got out. I called the police to send them away.”
“What?” Amethyst froze. “You sent them away?” How would her face be pasted across the newspapers the next day?
“Today will be just for us.” Kenneth slung her hand through his arm and turned to the man at the desk. “We’re ready.”
“Right this way.” He inclined his head to them before heading toward the back of the shop. “I have the one you requested outside, but if there’s another one you’d prefer, I can get a different one.”
“It will be fine,” Kenneth said. How could he know if he hadn’t seen it? It might have advertising on it, and then Amethyst wouldn’t be able to ride in it, unless it advertised something of her father’s.
The back of the rental contained a mile-long strip of gravel and grass. An individual airship rested in the center, tethered by ropes and metal hooks to the ground. She’d seen airships floating past in the sky, some large enough for groups of as many as three-hundred passengers. An individual would only house up to five.
“Did you tell your uncle where you were going?” Kenneth opened the door in the basket for her and Amethyst glided inside.
“Of course not.” She giggled. “He doesn’t trust these newfangled inventions, as he calls them.” With the giant balloon up top and the basket hanging underneath, he thought of them as floating deathtraps.
“Wise man.” Kenneth stepped in and latched the door.
“You know how to fly this?” Amethyst leaned over the basket to stare at the metal propeller, then up at the red and white striped balloon.
“We went over the directions before you arrived,” the rental owner said. “You have this for five hours. Any longer and I’ll have to charge extra.”
“Understood.” Kenneth fiddled with levers and buttons on a panel near the door. The machine beeped, sending a chill over Amethyst’s arms. Even if photographers couldn’t mark her passage, excitement still bubbled in her belly.
He pulled a cord hanging from the balloon overhead and the propeller whirled. The airship lifted, swayed, and lifted higher.
Amethyst waved to the rental owner as she called her goodbye. “Toodles!” How thrilling to be above everyone, watching people who couldn’t see her. The airship lifted over the brick buildings, higher toward the clouds. The people became doll sized, then ant sized, and the skyscrapers shrank. The ocean transformed into a blue blanket and a land of stone.
“This is very relaxing.” Amethyst held out her hand and spread her fingers, the air rushing over her skin. “Have you driven one before?”
“I have my airship license.”
“Really?” What a pity the individual airship didn’t have a bench to sit on, but leaning against the basket wasn’t too strenuous.
“I’ve flown a lot.”
“Is that your profession?” Plenty of her city companions studied to become lawyers or doctors, or businessmen like their fathers.
“No. I don’t have one anymore.”
She turned to face him, her bottom against the black wicker. “So, darling, shall we stop to luncheon somewhere? We should’ve brought along a picnic.”
“We’ll stop.” He gazed out at the world with his jaw set, the happiness gone from his straight demeanor.
“Before we have to land back at the rental?”
“Miss Treasure, did you mention my name to anyone?”
Amethyst licked her wind-chapped lips. She should’ve brought a gloss. “Um, yes. Lots of people. Why?” She’d told her uncle about charming Kenneth. She’d sent a note to Mary letting her know about the lovely evening they’d spent together.
“My full name?”
What was his last name? “Yes.” It hadn’t meant anything to her. She didn’t know of anyone else with that surname, so she’d forgotten it as soon as he’d told her.
Kenneth chuckled. “Good. When the police didn’t show up to arrest me, I’d hoped you’d forgotten.”
Amethyst curled her fingers into fists. “What does that mean?” Why did he have to ruin the romantic outing by spouting off nonsense? They didn’t even have an audience.
“Three years ago, your father ruined my life. He terminated my family’s reputation.”
“Um…” Amethyst wished she could back up further. Wind pushed at her top hat, so she shoved it up higher to straighten it. “I don’t understand.”
“Now, I’ll ruin his life.”
“Kenneth…”
“My family worked at his mine. My father was his mine master. My mother kept it shipshape and I worked the books.”
“Yes? I’m sure there’s a lot of that out west.” The airship swayed in a strong gust.
“Do you know how much we made?” Kenneth rounded on her, his nostrils flared. “Pennies. He paid us in pennies!”
Amethyst scurried away from him around the basket. “So? Isn’t that what people make out there?” She’d never had to work. Pennies might be special.
“Your father has millions of dollars, but he couldn’t spare that for his mine master? My father took what he had to. We all took it.”
“You stole?” She forced a giggle. “This is a funny story, but its ruining the mood, Ken.”
“It’s not a story.” He scowled, pushing a few buttons on the control panel. “You rich folk all think alike. You’re perfect. You don’t have to share. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was when I found you.”
“You didn’t find me…” Her voice trailed off. “You meant to bump into me at the art show?”
“My parents are in prison. Your father wouldn’t give them bail. I barely escaped. I found a way to hide on airships to get overseas. I drove these things for rich people. You won’t be so rich anymore.”
“Ken…” How stupid she’d been to get in an airship with a stranger. “Take me back. Now.”
“Never.” He chuckled. “Your father made my family pay, so now he’s going to be the one paying. If he wants you, it’s going to cost him his fortune.”
Her uncle had always warned this would happen if she insisted on staying in the light. “You’re holding me for ransom?”
“And more, pretty girl. My father deserves that mine.”
“You’re crazy.” She bit her lower lip. Calling him names might make him angrier. “Look, if you set me down—”
“You’re mine, Miss Treasure. All of you.”
They’d left the city behind and soared over farmland of fields and trees. Something on the control pad had to lower them. If wishes worked, it would pop out at her.
She could call for help. Farms had to have workers.
Amethyst lunged toward the control panel and slapped it with her purse. A lever caught in her drawstring; buttons flashed and beeped.
“Bitch.” Kenneth seized her around the waist to yank her backward. The wind tore off her top hat to send it spinning into the air. The airship teetered and swayed, the balloon groaning. As Amethyst tumbled back, she seized the hanging cord and clung to it.
“Let go!” Kenneth grabbed her wrist and she bit into his forearm where his sleeve exposed his skin. Amethyst kicked off him as the airship teetered harder, and the basket disappeared from beneath her feet. She gasped, clutching the cord tighter as she hung. The balloon groaned and vinyl tore. It bounced down so fast her stomach seemed to jump into her throat.
“Stop, it’ll blow up. The fire and the gasses—”
Something hit her foot and she released the cord. Weeds slashed across her arms and face, tangling in her skirt. The ground slapped her back.
Amethyst rolled to her knees before scrambling upright, turning in a circle, everything around her cornstalks and weeds. She’d seen those stalks decorating doors in the autumn, a bit of the country to spruce up the city.
To the right, something exploded and heat washed over her. Amethyst yanked up her skirts and ran, weeds slashing her ankles. When she reached a dirt road, she paused, leaning over to clutch her sides. Her lungs strained against the confines of her corset and her eyesight blurred.
Flames leapt in the distance where the airship had crashed.
No one would have to know how he had threatened her. Even if his family had committed crimes, they wouldn’t have to know Kenneth had tried to ransom her.
She could pretend the airship had malfunctioned. That wouldn’t make her look stupid or careless. Bad. Amethyst Treasure was never bad.
Lifting her skirts again, Amethyst stumbled toward the red barn.
utumn Rose, the young daughter of Lord and Lady Miller, peeked around the side of the stable. The wild haired boy who tended the horses turned toward the girl and said in the most serious of voices, “You’ll have me beheaded for sure, my lady.”
Autumn slid into view, her petite hands held behind her back and a curious smile on her peach-toned face. “Oh, Stenson, you know my father adores you.”
This time, Stenson smiled and said, “You are too kind in your thinking.”
She took three slow, wide, sweeping steps toward him. “Will you meet me by the gardens later?”
The black mare in the stall next to them neighed.
“Well?” she said.
Stenson sighed. “You should be spending your time with the other nobles, not a peasant like me.”
Autumn frowned. “Oh, foo, foo. You know I can’t stand any of those frilly types. Plus, who will teach me to catch fireflies with my bare hands.” She waltzed around him, lifting her hands as she spoke. “And who will ride bareback with me, far into the meadows?”
His lip curled at her vibrant expression and the memory of the last time they rode.
“Autumn Rose!”
Autumn frowned at the sharp sound of her nanny’s voice. “Say you will,” she begged.
Stenson guided her to the opposite side of the barn to another exit. “Quickly, before you’re seen.”
“I’m not leaving until you promise.”
He stared into her honey eyes, caving with every liquid sparkle. “All right.”
“Autumn Rose!” The nanny entered the stables, face tight with aggravation. “Where is that child?!”
Stenson heard the small patter of Autumn Rose leave and walked back to his duties. “My lady.” He bowed as the nanny passed.
Her face softened. “Stenson, have you seen Autumn Rose this morning?”
Before Stenson could conjure a lie, Autumn Rose appeared behind the nanny. “Here I am, Mammy!”
Mammy jumped and clutched her chest. “Dear child, don’t you scare me like that! Now, come along. You are late for your violin lesson.”
Autumn Rose nodded, then stood as straight as she could. She eyed Stenson, curtsied, and in a most polite voice said, “Good morning, Stenson. How fare the horses?”
Stenson lowered his gaze and bowed his head. “Very well, my lady.”
Satisfied with his reply, she nodded and skipped off into the afternoon light.
Autumn straightened her legs and watched the red and white angelfish kiss her toes. She giggled and wiggled her big toe back and forth. Her mechanical butterfly flitted in the air around her. Its shiny brass wings flapped, creating music. She had six different M-butterflies, and six wasn’t quite enough. Seven would be the perfect set.
“Autumn.”
She sighed, not wanting to discuss a very important topic. Stenson grabbed her hand, gently squeezed it, and repeated her name once more.
“Oh, Stenson, why do we have to ruin tonight with such talk?”
“Because tomorrow begins the last day of us.”
She looked over at him, tears already sprinkling the corners of her eyes. “Don’t say that. Things can change, maybe if I explained to Mother or Mammy.”
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