He drifted down through the floor.
“Old family retainer,” explained the captain, “my grandfather’s valet and then my mother’s butler. He’s very wise, and possibly an evil mastermind, although he’d never admit to it, even after death.”
“How is he here?” Arsenic couldn’t help her curiosity, it was medical in origin.
“We have a preservation tank.”
Arsenic could feel her skin prickle. “You are equipped to transport supernatural creatures by air?”
“It’s only for Floote, although we have used… That’s a long story.”
Arsenic was disposed to be open to new ideas, even extraordinary ones involving the ghosts of butlers.
“Now, would you like to come along to my bally wedding or not?”
Arsenic was both touched and surprised. She gestured down at herself. “I’m na dressed for it.”
“My dear,” said Lady Akeldama with a grin, “at my wedding we are lucky if half the company stays dressed at all.”
Miss Tunstell added, by way of explanation, “Half the family is werewolves.”
Professor Tunstell snorted. “And the other half is vampires.” He gestured to his stunning cravat. “So the rest of us must be overdressed. I have to wear a top hat.”
Arsenic shuddered at the thought. Top hats were absurd affectations. She’d had to wear one back in her I’m na a woman, I’m a doctor phase of training. “Ridiculous things.”
The professor lost a little of his awkwardness at that. “Exactly! They wobble. Virgil has me in a stovepipe for this evening. A stovepipe!”
Arsenic gave him a sympathetic smile. He promptly became once more reticent. Perhaps he had taken against her, or was simply painfully shy. Pity, he was rather adorable.
Arsenic turned her attention back to the ladies, who were making their way into the hallway. The tall goddess awaited, wearing an elaborate silk robe over a long satin skirt. Her hair was down and she wore no hat and little jewellery. Arsenic didn’t feel so bad about her golfing outfit if that was allowed at the wedding.
“If you and Prim can come to favourable terms, you’re very welcome to stay aboard The Spotted Custard immediately, Dr Ruthven.”
I really have the position! I’m employed at last.
Arsenic wanted to hug her new captain. “Oh, thank you! I’m sure we can come to terms.” I’m na disposed to be picky.
Lady Akeldama smiled. “Good! Then Prim will show you to your quarters, get you settled and spruced up. Unless you don’t want to come along and see the pomp and circus? For which, of course, I wouldn’t blame you. I wouldn’t attend myself, except that’s rather the point.”
“Who are you marrying?”
“Oh, it’s only Quesnel.”
“Quesnel?” That name again.
“Yes. He’s chief engineer aboard ship, and rather a pip with devices and machines. Takes after his mother. Doesn’t look like her, though. He’s got this cute little button nose and blond hair and he’s charming and suave. He’s French, so of course he’s suave. Flirts like anything. I rather adore him, you see? Well, love him, really. And since there’s coal in the boiler, everyone is determined that we better had.”
Arsenic arched both brows. “Seems logical.”
“That’s what Quesnel said.”
“Are you na happy about it?”
“I think I will be, after the wedding. Right now it seems rather a fuss and bother.”
Arsenic nodded. She’d seen many a wedding over the years devolve into crisis. Her extended mess of sisters and cousins was a mixed bag. They tended towards the dramatic when gathered together for any length of time. There was a distinct possibility she’d escaped to Africa to get away from having to attend any more family weddings. Lady Akeldama’s, however, was someone else’s family. Much easier on the nerves.
“We’ll discuss your condition soon?”
“If we must. Everyone is insisting it might be complicated. It’s certainly awkward.” The captain patted her rounded belly, but her face showed no genuine annoyance. Then she turned away to yell, “Primrose!”
Arsenic suspected that she’d need to become accustomed to fast changes in topic and attention.
“Prim, do stop nuzzling. You’re being unduly romantic. There’s a wedding about to happen, romance has no place here! You must settle Dr Ruthven. Indenture isn’t necessary but I want a nice tidy contract. That way no one can poach her.”
Arsenic warmed to the captain further. She also tried not to stare at the way staid Miss Primrose Tunstell was wrapped in the arms of the silk-robed goddess who was licking her neck by way of greeting. Licking!
Miss Tunstell recollected the staid part of her personality and pulled away, although not far.
“Tash, stop. Later, darling. Now, Doctor, let me show you to the room we’ve set aside for your treatments. It’s directly across the hallway from a small bedroom, we thought that might work best. You could leave both doors open when necessary. If you have an overnight patient or whatnot. You can check them both over, and if you approve, we’ll discuss salary? Quickly as possible, please, the ceremony is supposed to start in an hour.”
Behind her, Arsenic heard the professor say, in an injured tone, “A stovepipe, Rue, must I?”
“Virgil knows best.” The captain was unmoved by his pleas.
“Virgil is a snob.”
“My vampire father extraordinaire will be there, you do realize?”
“Yes but…”
“And Lord Falmouth. You know how Biffy feels about hats.”
“Yes, but he doesn’t care about me. He only cares about—”
“And your mother’s drones, reporting back to her on every little detail.”
A long sigh. “Oh very well, if you really wish it.”
Arsenic turned in time to see him subtly assist the captain to walk down the hall. He might complain a treat, but he clearly had a good heart.
“Do I need a hat?” fretted Arsenic.
Miss Tunstell smiled at her. “Oh, that’s easily sorted, I’ve plenty to spare. Have you met my Tash? Tasherit Sekhmet, this is our new doctor, Arsenic Ruthven. We’re rather excited about her. She’s splendid.”
The stunning goddess said, without really taking her eyes off Miss Tunstell, “Splendid. Arsenic, is it? After the toxic chemical?”
“Sekhmet, is it? After the angry goddess?” Arsenic replied pertly. Not wanting to explain her mother’s questionable sense of humour in naming all four of her daughters after deadly poisons.
Liquid brown eyes glanced at Arsenic and the regal head tilted.
“Tash is our resident werelioness, so you won’t be treating her much,” explained Miss Tunstell as if a female werecat were an ordinary run-of-the-mill kind of thing.
“Your what?”
But the werelioness was focused on Miss Tunstell again. “Why aren’t you wearing that dress I love with the lovely ball fringe all over?”
“Because you always bat at it.”
Arsenic decided to hope that everything would become clear once she learned more about her new position. She was determined to like it aboard The Spotted Custard. It was an awfully confusing place thus far. But, if nothing else, it looked to be an amusing situation.