“Come on, Kelly. Let’s go,” I said. I moved quickly, working my way as fast as I could through the narrow passage.
“Isabelle?”
The cave shook again. I put my hands over my head, fending off the falling rocks. My eyes adjusted to the darkness, and in the distance, I made out the light of Rhys’s optics.
“Rhys? Rhys, I’m coming.”
Kelly raced ahead.
I stepped out of the narrow passage as the cave shook once more.
“Rhys,” I said, reaching out for him, reaching out and knowing that the strange metal man for whom I had a growing attachment was no automaton at all. He was a real man cursed by a faerie. “Rhys.”
But then something overhead let loose, and a moment later, everything went dark.
Chapter 27: Say Something
Voices drifted to my ears even before I opened my eyes.
I heard Papa.
And...Gerard?
Why was Gerard at our workshop? Don’t tell me Papa was actually considering him as a suitor for me. I’d need to explain to Papa that I had a growing attachment for...
“Rhys.” I sat upright, my eyes flying open.
“Easy, Miss Hawking. Easy. You took another blow to the head. Some rubble fell on you, as I understand it. My dear, I don’t think our island is very good for your health.”
I looked around the room. I was in my chamber at the castle once more. I stared at the door and listened. I did hear Papa. And Gerard.
“Missus Silver...”
“Your father is here. And another London gentleman—so to speak. There is an airship docked in front of the castle. They arrived this morning.”
“Missus Silver, where is Rhys? I must speak with him at once.”
“Bronwyn, dear. Please fetch the master. Miss Hawking, shall I send for your father as well?”
I bit my lip. “No. Not yet.”
I stared out the window. The sky was sunny and bright. It was a perfect day for flying.
No.
Not now.
Not yet.
My head ached. I lifted my hand to my forehead where I felt a bandage.
Missus Silver busied herself nervously as we both waited. After a moment, I realized she was packing my things.
Heavy footsteps rushed down the hall. A moment later, Rhys appeared at the door.
“My lord, she just woke,” Missus Silver said as she set the stack of books on the Greek inventors into a piece of luggage. She’d also packed up all my sketches and my silk dancing slippers. My yellow gown hung by the wardrobe. From the sweet smell of soap that perfumed the air, I could tell all my clothes had been freshly laundered. Missus Silver had prepared everything for me to leave.
Missus Silver passed the lord, gave him a knowing glance, then closed the door behind her.
“Please, come sit,” I said, patting the bed beside me.
“Are you... How are you feeling?” he asked. Adjusting the tails on his jacket, he sat.
“My head aches.”
“The cave started to collapse. A rock fell on you. I was able to get us out in time. Isabelle, what were you thinking going there?”
“I was thinking...that it was time for me to learn the truth.”
“The truth?”
“Yes.”
“And...did you learn the truth?”
I slid my hand into his. The feel of his fingers, warm as flesh but hard as metal, made me sad beyond all measure. I stroked my finger over his, feeling the pins and bearings at his joints, the gears that worked the hand. A tear slipped down my cheek. “Yes. Rhys...why didn’t you tell me?”
“Who would believe such a story?”
“Such a terrible curse. The fey woman... Her punishment was beyond reason.”
“No. She was right. I lost my way.”
“But this? And not just you, the others too. What was their crime? They didn’t bring the mining company here.”
“No. They did not. I did. I am the one who knowingly disrupted that sacred place. And I’m paying the price. But it will be over soon. My heart,” he said, touching his chest. “There is no windup key for me. My heart is winding down. Each day it becomes a little harder. Soon, I will be done, and when I pass, the others will be restored.”
“Your windup key... Where is it?”
Rhys laughed. “Every day a chest appears at the castle gate. She told me when she cast this curse upon me that when I learned my lesson, I would be given my key. Every day a case of keys arrives. Every day I try them. None of them ever fit.”
I remembered the faerie woman’s horrible words. She had said there was no key, no hope.
“I will make you a key,” I said. “I will make you a key. That, at least, I can fix.”
Rhys shook his head. “No. No, you will let it go. You will return to London with your father and the gentleman downstairs who informs me he’s planning to marry you. You will return to London, and you will forget me. Let my heart stop. At least I can free the others from this curse.”
“But Rhys, you must at least let me try. I cannot bear the thought of you—of your heart stopping.” Another tear trickled down my cheek.
Rhys reached out and wiped it away. “You must. It is too late for me.”
“No. No, it’s not,” I whispered, unable to find a way to make him understand. The faerie woman had said that if he learned to love another, and if someone shared that love, the curse could be broken. But how could I say that to him? How could I tell him that if he just went ahead and loved me, all would be healed? I could not force him to love me no matter how attached I felt to him.
“It is. Please, Isabelle. Please return to London and forget me.”
I reached out and touched his cheek. “Can you feel my touch?”
“No, not as I did when I was living flesh.”
I sighed. “I will return to London on one condition.”
Rhys’s optics turned as he studied me. “And that is?”
“That you let me take an imprint of your heart. I will take the imprint, return to London, and make you a key. I will make it, and I will come back.”
“And the gentleman below—the one who claims he will marry you—why would he ever permit you to return? Or your father, who in my haste to get him away from this terrible place, I treated so unkindly?”
I laughed. “First, Gerard is quite mistaken. I will never marry him. And second, my father will forgive you when he understands what has happened.”
At that, Rhys seemed to brighten. He scanned my face, but then his expression fell into shadow once more. “I will let you make the imprint if it means you will go. You are too full of life for this place. Don’t try to come back.”
I rose and went to the writing desk. Grabbing a slip of paper and a bottle of ink, I turned and faced him. “I need you to lie down.”
“Isabelle,” he began in protest.
“If you want me to leave, do as I ask.”
“It’s not that I want you to leave, it’s just—”
“Do as I ask, you stubborn man.”
Rhys laughed. “At least now you know I am a man,” he said then lay down.
“Beastly, though,” I said with a grin.
“Yes, I have been. I admit. And I am sorry.”
I sat down beside him. I reached out for his shirt then paused. “I... I will need to see.”
“All right.”
My hands trembling, I untied his collar then unbuttoned his shirt. The body below was made entirely of metal. His chest had been shaped in the form of a man’s, but under his pectoral muscles and ribs, it was open to reveal the clockwork mechanisms inside. I swallowed hard, grief nearly overwhelming me when I saw.
“Isabelle,” he whispered.
A tear streamed down my cheek. I shook my head. “I’ll fix this. I’ll make the key and come back for you.”
On his chest was a silver piece of metal shaped like a heart. There, I found a small keyhole. His windup key was not like the others. First, it was not
on his back. Second, the shape of it was unusual.
Folding the piece of paper so it could slip inside the keyhole, I carefully poured a few drops of ink then slid the paper inside the opening. I concentrated hard as I leaned over Rhys. I needed to get the imprint just right.
“Does it hurt?” I whispered as I worked.
“It feels...strange.” He reached out and touched my hair with his other hand. “I can’t really feel your hair. I feel the sensation of something there, but not the feel of a beautiful woman’s locks.”
His voice sounded so forlorn that it nearly broke my heart. I choked back the sob. Working carefully, ensuring I got a good imprint, I put pressure on the paper within. Then, I pulled the paper back out. I studied the design on the paper.
“The key is grooved at the bottom,” I said. “Unless the grooves are right, a regular key will never work. Rhys, I’ll return in a week. I promise you.”
“Please, Isabelle. You promised.”
“I promised I would leave. I didn’t promise I wouldn’t come back.”
Rhys took my hand then and looked up at me. His optics turned, his lids low. He reached out and stroked my face once more. “I’m sorry that I cannot truly feel your skin.”
“Don’t give up hope,” I whispered.
The door handle rattled.
“Sir, please. Your daughter asked for a moment,” Missus Silver was saying.
“Isabelle?” Papa called, pushing the door open. “Isabelle?”
Rhys pulled his hand back, but I didn’t let go of him.
“I’m here, Papa.”
My father rounded the side of my bed to find Rhys lying there. Had he not been an automaton—at least in my father’s eyes, for the time being—the situation would have looked rather compromising. As it was, I felt a blush rise to my cheeks.
Rhys sat up. “Thank you, Miss Hawking,” he said then began buttoning his shirt.
I rose to embrace my father, tucking the print of the key into my sleeve.
“Isabelle. Oh, my sweet girl. They told me you were hurt in a mine collapse,” my father said aghast. “I saw you earlier today, but you were still asleep.” Papa reached out and lightly touched the bandage on my forehead. “My poor girl.”
“She should see a doctor as soon as she returns to London,” Rhys said, standing once more. He adjusted his coat and stood in a formal posture, his hands behind his back. “With the injury during the shipwreck, and now this, she needs a formal evaluation.”
“Yes, of course,” my father said dismissively. “Are you well enough to fly? The airship crew is waiting, and Gerard is here with me.”
“So I understand. Papa, why is Gerard here?”
My father laughed. “My girl, no one was able to help me discover the location of this island except Gerard. He had an ancient map, taken from the Roman account of the invasion of Britain, which marked the place. From that, he determined the island’s location. He is a clever man. And he was very concerned for you. You know, Isabelle, I do believe he genuinely cares—”
“Now is not the time, Papa,” I said, glancing back at Rhys.
“Yes. Yes. You’re quite right. Very well, then. Let’s have your things taken to the airship, and we shall leave this place at once.”
Standing by the door, Missus Silver choked back a little sob.
“I... Give me just a moment, Papa. I’ll have them bring the case down. I just need to change.”
“Very good. Oh, my Isabelle. I am so relieved. I shall get you home, and we will never leave London again!” Papa said, pinching my cheek. Then he turned and headed back out.
“Miss... Miss Hawking, shall I take your things downstairs?” Missus Silver asked, her voice unsteady. “I left your traveling dress in the wardrobe. The only thing left to pack is the gown.”
“Please leave it here.”
“Leave it here?”
“Yes, for when I return.”
Something inside Missus Silver clicked quickly and happily. “Of course, Miss Hawking,” she said then closed up the case. Casting a glance to Rhys and me, she grabbed the suitcase then left us alone.
“I should... I’ll go so you can change,” Rhys said.
I nodded, unsure what else I could say. I didn’t know whether or not Rhys cared for me as I had grown to care for him. My heart beat hard as I sought for the right words. There was something between us, wasn’t there? He felt it too, didn’t he? But I had been wrong about Doctor Murray. Maybe I was wrong about Rhys too.
Rhys stayed a moment longer. It seemed to me he was also searching for the right words, but in the end, he turned and went to the door.
“Rhys,” I whispered, tears trailing down my cheeks. “I will come back for you.”
He stared at the door a moment then turned and looked back at me. “I hope you can. But I fear I will never see you again,” he said then turned and left.
Chapter 28: Into the Clouds
It was startling to see the airship hovering over the metallic garden. The crew, who seemed content to mind their own business, waited patiently for us to depart.
“Isabelle, are you well enough to climb the ladder? I can have them prepare a stretcher to lift you,” Gerard said, his voice full of what seemed like legitimate concern.
“I... No, I’ll be fine. Thank you.”
“May I take your satchel?”
I unstrung my bag and handed it to him. “Thank you.”
Gerard beamed at me then turned and climbed up the rope ladder to the airship. The rest of my belongings, it seemed, had already been loaded.
I turned to Papa. “Is the climb all right for you?”
“I’ll manage it, my girl. I was climbing in and out of these machines before you were born. I must say, the relic I flew home in held up well. I have taken it to the London Tinker’s Society headquarters. The Rude Mechanicals have expressed an interest in the machine. Was the ship really designed by Master Boatswain?” my father asked, turning to Rhys.
Rhys nodded. “Master Boatswain was a friend of the lord of this castle. It was a gift. It is yours to do with as you wish, Master Hawking.”
“Very good. Very good. My thanks,” my father said then leaned in toward me. “Did you work on his analytics?”
I looked at Rhys who was smiling softly.
“In a way,” I replied.
Rhys chuckled.
Kelly trotted over to me. She pawed my leg gently.
“Stay away from the selkies while I’m gone,” I told her, setting my hand on her head. I turned and went to embrace Missus Silver who was holding back a sob.
“Please, Missus Silver, don’t get upset. You may overtax your core again.”
She nodded. “We shall miss you,” she told me, setting her hand on my cheek.
“Please, don’t worry. I’ll be back soon,” I said, hugging her once more.
“Thank you for all you did for me, mistress,” Bronwyn added, setting her hand on my arm.
“It was my pleasure,” I replied.
Missus Smith and Master Lucas were also there. I curtseyed to them then turned to Mister Flint.
“Thank you for taking care of me,” I told Mister Flint who also seemed upset.
“It was my pleasure, Miss Hawking. You brought life to this old, tired place. I hope we see you again.”
“You will.”
I turned then and nodded to Papa.
He headed toward the rope ladder and began the climb up.
Rhys walked with me to the ladder. When we arrived, he took hold of the rope. “I’ll steady it for you.”
“Rhys...”
He looked down at me, a soft smile on his face. “Farewell, Isabelle Hawking. It was...an honor to meet you.”
“Remember what I told you. I will come back. Soon.”
He smiled lightly then steadied the ladder.
I inhaled deeply then grabbed on. It wasn’t a far climb, but in my fragile state, it winded me all the same. By the time I reached the airship’s gondola, I felt diz
zy. Papa and Gerard reached out, helping me aboard.
The airship crew got to work hoisting the ladder and readying the balloon. I went to the side of the ship and looked over. Below, the automatons waved goodbye. Rhys stood slightly aside from the others, Kelly at his side.
A soft wind blew in from the forest, gently helping the airship become aloft. The ship lifted. The rudder at the back of the ship clicked on and the prow of the ship turned to the east.
I went to the back of the ship and stood at the stern. Waving, I watched as their figures became smaller and smaller as the airship lifted higher.
Soon, the others departed, leaving only Rhys and Kelly.
I waved again, unsure if he could see me until he removed his wide-brimmed cap and waved.
Tears rolled down my cheeks as the airship lifted into the clouds, the castle disappearing out of sight.
Chapter 29: Really, Gerard?
I sat weeping miserably, my head on my arms.
“Isabelle? What is it?” Papa asked, sitting down beside me. “Are you sick, my girl?”
“No, Papa.”
“Then what is it?”
“I’m just...sad.”
My father took my hand. “Don’t worry about anything. We’ll take you directly home. I’ll have Doctor Murray come at once. My poor, brave girl. Lord knows what you endured. It’s all over now. It’s all over,” Papa said, pulling me into an embrace.
I didn’t have it in me to tell him that it was far from over.
Papa kissed me on the forehead then left me to my thoughts.
The airship raced along. I breathed in the clean air. It felt good to be amongst the clouds, to feel the wind on my cheeks. It eased the sorrow that wracked my heart, and helped me clear my mind. It wasn’t a forever goodbye. All I had to do was make the key and go back.
I pulled out the small slip of paper, the imprint, and looked at it. It would take no time to make a windup key. I just needed a few days at the most. No more than a week. I slid my finger along the lines on the paper, the grooves of the key. For some reason, they seemed oddly familiar. I stared at the paper. The irony was not lost on me: I needed the key to his heart. I was sure that there had never before been a case quite so literal.
Beauty and Beastly Page 13
