Page 35 (1/1)

The little man’s eyebroent up but he turned to Prim and Rue They were quite the pair, parasols closed and h there was no need for shade, ar Rue carried her ly to match any of her outfits, but was more sturdy than any of her fashionable ones This one, felt Rue, could really cause dah enthusiaseneral

The ladies regarded the man with eyes of steely disinterest Well, to be fair, Prim’s eyes were more atawny of barely contained ah the hats Rue spared a moment to wonder if Aunt Ivy’s insistence on hats wasn’t a precaution against sub-par acting abilities

Rue adjusted hers to a steeper angle, the better to hide her twinkle

The officiousthe at him in silence

Rue up-tilted her nose in the air, and drew her shoulders back, using physicality to grow more aristocratic Pris came naturally to her

Finally, the man bowed "Senior Tower Jerquer, Gresham Stukely at your service"

"Mr Stukely," said Rue and Pri

"Your, eral docking, add to that non-notification, add to that unauthorised personnel, add to that after-hours fees, add to that––"

"Oh dear me," said Rue to Prim "Daddy promised, didn’t he, that she would be on everyone’s books? How terribly upsetting He proainst the itation She channelled the most snobbish of Da all her vowels as though hae teeth

Priame "Yes, he most certainly did Silly Daddy Oh sister, what are we to do?" Her voice wobbled in distress

Rue ad distraught Rue’s forte was bluster, a native ability inherited froive us paperwork to that effect? I si of the notation inclination" She turned to the official, batting her eyelashes, and reached for the part of her that could talk like Dama at his most supercilious "Just a little world tour, you understand? Of course you do You have a very understanding brow Daddy thinks we need culture Of course, we had to come here first The Maltese Tower is the last word on culture Poor Daddy couldn’t come, sadly bedridden It’s the aetheric particles – they caused him to come over all flopsy But he did say it was settled I’m sure he did say that Or was that Mr Barclay? You know Mr Barclay, don’t you, Mr Stukely? Oh, you must – everyone who is anyone knows Mr Barclay the banker?" When all else failed – overwhel brown eyes in distress "Oh, sister, this is terrible, so terrible! What are we to do? Oh, no, are we going to be detained, or questioned, or searched, or…?" She trailed off, looking as though she ht cry "I feel faint Where’s my sal volatile? We won’t be locked ae? I don’t think I could stand it, not a small bare room No trim at all"

Rue put an ar her "I’entlemen will help us, won’t you, kind Mr Stukely? My sister, you understand, is delicate Très, très easily overcome by nerves Poor dear sister"

The jerquer was himself overcome with remorse and the need to be a hero to such obviously innocent and,woistered craft, well, ould have to at least question––"

Prian to sob One fat tear dripped down her perfect rosy cheek Rue suppressed the urge to clap

Quesnel watched this entire exhibition with a well-hidden grin He was not, Rue noticed, e his hat, but had h points of his collar and cravat in the manner of an undertaker

Mr Stukely twitched at Prim’s whimpers "Perhaps, just this once, a small fine? It is a very nice craft, very colourful, obviously not unlaith such carefree decorations" He glanced over at The Spotted Custard, deluded by the bright black on red spots into disregarding its smooth deadly lines

Rue compressed her lips This was, of course, part of her intent with the Custard’s decoration If Daeous was often one’s best disguise It is a very great thing, le, not to be taken seriously, he had once said If two young ladies of high society showed up on one’s tower claiible looked like an enormous, friendly beetle

Rue latched on to the little man’s last words "Remuneration for your troubles, did you say, my dear Mr Stukely? How kind you are How very kind How much did you say? Not that a lady should talk such details but, as you see, we are currently without our abigail"

The littlered, and then, so he would not have to mention the number out loud, scribbled it doith the stylus on a corner of his ledger and showed it to Rue Rue took note of the amount, as well as the details and rosters of the other ships in dock, helpfully listed on that very ledger There were no familiar names