Ministry Protocol: Thrilling Tales of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences
Page 58
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Serving as a silent valet, Wellington accompanied Doctor Blackwell to her meeting with the charming Lady White of the Taylor-Whites, a tall, woman who greeted Doctor Blackwell like an old friend. Lady White, in turn, escorted her to a series of talks, including a tea-service, panel discussion and group meetings where ladies discussed the current state of women in the Empire, the world, and current politics.
Doctor Blackwell gave a rather graphic presentation on “Independence though Self Maintenance.” Wellington had to excuse himself from the room in order to maintain his dignity. He was well aware Josepha made devices for the relief of hysteria in women. He knew all too well as during one rather upsetting night, she had made a mould of his forearm for one of her devices, a fact that he tried, repeatedly, to forget. The very idea that women all over the Empire were doing, God knows what, with his arm, was a horrifying thought.
Well, most of the time.
Still, on this grand airship, the sea beneath them, the sky around them, it was invigorating. The women bustled and talked, the smell of excellent tea around all of them. Wellington adored the archives, but this wasn’t nearly as bad as he thought it would be. Sometimes, he forgot how the world of the living could be so stimulating.
At exactly five o’clock, Doctor Blackwell retired to her rooms to dress for dinner. This was the time that they would set their mission to action. They decided that she would arrive fashionably late, after checking the engines to make sure they were clear of fault. Many of the servants would be busy with dinner preparations, so it would be an excellent time to sneak into the engine area, check for faults, and then return to dinner.
After that, it would be only two more days of panel discussions and dissertations. Fortunately, Wellington had brought reading, and with any luck, Doctor Blackwell wouldn’t set off any explosions.