The Girl in the Clockwork Collar
In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling—or dangerous. Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her “straynge band of mysfits” have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper. Jasper lies in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade–the dangerous device Jasper stole from him for the life of the girl Jasper loves. One false move from Jasper, and the strange clockwork collar around Mei’s neck tightens. And tightens.To help those she’s come to care for so deeply, Finley Jayne must infiltrate a criminal gang, and more than ever rely on powerful English duke Griffin King to balance her dark magic with her good side. At war with himself over his secret attraction to Finley, Griffin will risk his life and reputation to save her. Only problem is, Finley might like the dark side a little too much…"Kady Cross never disappoints." —Sherrilyn Kenyon, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Читать The Girl in the Clockwork Collar онлайн беплатно
The
Girl in the Clockwork Collar
Also available from Kady Cross and
The
Girl in the Clockwork Collar
Kady Cross
All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II B.V./S.Ã .r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
Mira Ink is a registered trademark of Harlequin Enterprises Limited, used under licence.
Published in Great Britain 2012
MIRA Books, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1SR
© Kady Cross 2012
ISBN 978 1 408 98146 7
47-0612
For Kenzie Mae.
The worldâs a little brighter with you in it.
Contents
CHAPTER ONE
High above the Atlantic Ocean
July 1897
âWhat are you doing?â
Finley Jayne smiled in the darkness. She should have known Griffin would come looking for her. Gripping the slender prow with both hands, she glanced over her shoulder and saw him standing just inside the dirigibleâs softly lighted observation deck. The wind blew strands of hair into her face. âFinding out how it feels to fly,â she replied.
âYouâre over three thousand feet in the air.â His gravelly voice carried over the sound of the airshipâs engines. âFlying might prove fatal.â
Finley laughed. That was his way of scolding her for having ignored the signs that warned passengers not to climb out the windows or over the protective railings. Griffin King was the Duke of Greythorne, and sometimes he carried the weight of the entire world on his shoulders. That he was worried about her wasâ¦sweet.
âWeâre going to be landing soon,â he called, trying another tactic. âWhy donât you come in and make sure you have all your things?â
âIâm packed and ready,â she called back. âWhy donât you come out here and see how beautiful New York City is at night?â
She didnât expect him to take her up on the dare. It wasnât that he was a cowardâhe was anything but. However, as a duke and an only child, it would be irresponsible of him to risk his life for no reason but a pretty view, just because she asked. No, Griffin wouldnât be so foolish, but Jack would.
Finley pushed the thought of the notorious criminal Jack Dandy from her mind. Jack was in London, and it wasnât fair of her to compare Griffin to him when neither of the young men had an equal.
There was a faint noise behind her, and the next thing she knew, Griffin was there, sitting with her on this narrow shaft. All that was below them was the shipâs figureheadâa robust blonde woman of dubious virtue carved from woodâand thousands of miles of night.
âWhat are you doing?â Finley demanded, her tone a reflection of what his own had beenâonly slightly more panicked. She wasnât that breakable, but Griffin was. âYou shouldnât be out here.â
One of his legs brushed the back of hers. Beneath her striped stocking, her skin prickled. âI know, but I hear itâs the only way to experience the sensation of flying.â She could tell he was smiling without being able to see his handsome face. âIt is magnificent, isnât it? Look, thereâs the Statue of Liberty.â
It was magnificent, so much so that Finley couldnât find words to reply. Spread out before themâjust beyond the shipâs lanternsâwas a blanket of lights. It looked like stars covered the ground, and set a short distance from it all was the largest lady sheâd ever seen, the glow from her torch illuminating from her raised hand to just the top of her crowned head. The lights of the dirigible brought the rest of her into view.
âI asked the pilot to fly by her so we can have a better look,â Griff said.
