The Golden Spider (The Elemental Web Chronicles Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

to her left, had informed her with a leer that, as his wife, her marital duties would leave her no time to practice medicine. Lord Lowsley, seated on her right, had droned on about a new, silver-coated cloth that the company Airship Sails was employing to make their dirigible balloons impermeable to aether.
    A bell rang behind her, the steambot alternative to knocking. “Lady Amanda,” Burton intoned in a formal, flat monotone overlaid by a horrible metallic screeching sound. His jaw hinge was acting up again. “Your father requests your presence in his study.”
    “It’s nearly midnight,” she objected, but found herself speaking to the clock for Burton had already spun about and wheeled away. She pushed to her feet. One did not ignore Father’s summons, no matter the hour.
    Heavy footfalls passing down the hallway had been what snapped her back from the edge of unconsciousness. Not that she’d paid them any mind. The Queen’s men came and went from Father’s study at all hours. The family had learned long ago to pay no attention to such activity. And to ask no questions.
    She staggered into the hall, pausing before a large mirror to re-pin a few stray locks of hair and smooth her crushed skirts, but there was not much to do for her tired, rumpled appearance. Why would Father summon her at this hour?
    Emily.
    Fear crystallized in her mind, shocking her awake and quickening her steps.
    Burton held the study door open.
    “Father?” she asked, crossing the threshold. Her eyes quickly sought out his face, but he looked unconcerned. “Is anything wrong?”
    “That remains to be seen.” Father rose from behind his desk. He waved toward an empty chair. “Please, have a seat.”
    That was when she saw him . The entirety of her body tensed, refusing to bend itself to a chair. Her stomach clenched like a naughty schoolgirl called before the headmistress, though she’d done nothing more than ask a question. “Lord Thornton.” She forced herself to politely incline her head. She very much doubted he would seek her out in her own home to apologize, to admit he was wrong.
    “ Lady Amanda,” he scolded without rising.
    She met his gaze. “Your assumption, not mine.”
    His eyebrows rose as he scanned her from head to toe, as if her appearance justified his mistake. It irritated her that despite the slight shadow darkening his jaw, his hair was neatly combed, his clothes were unrumpled and his eyes were bright and alert.
    She narrowed her eyes in return. Unfair. “But understandable, given your known indifference to ton affairs.”
    “It’s true. I have no interest in the marriage mart.” His voice, low and gravelly, rumbled across her skin. “Though some might think medical school provides…‌ alternatives.”
    She inhaled sharply. Did he dare suggest her sole purpose in attending Lister University was to find a husband? Meeting Mr. Sommersby was a happy coincidence. Her eyes widened. No. It wasn’t possible. Certainly Lord Thornton had not presented himself to Father as a suitor for his daughter’s hand? A smart retort eluded her. She told herself it was the hour.
    Something must have shown in her face, for she caught a faint twitch of Lord Thornton’s lips before they regained a bored expression. All that remained was a speculative glint in his blue eyes.
    Father cleared his throat. “Amanda, Lord Thornton has come to me with an interesting request. He wishes to view your…‌ spider.”
    “Neurachnid.”
    “Yes, exactly,” Father said.
    Lord Thornton’s expression hardened, his stare intensified. She stiffened her spine. Perhaps he could bend his minions to his will with such a look, but not her.
    “No.”
    The flicker of surprise in Lord Thornton’s eyes was unaccountably rewarding.
    “Excuse me?” Surprise echoed in Father’s tone. Not because she refused to comply with a lord’s implied command‌—‌he was accustomed to her arguments‌—‌but because she’d used Lord Thornton’s