Shimmy and Steam: Book 3 - In The Queen's Service

By Michelle Kopra

This is book three in the Shimmy and Steam series.

When Lady Gertrude first joined The Gypsy, she was glad to escape the horrid nuns and her prison in the french covent. She vowed she would turn over a new leaf and prove herself to Lady C, the queen, and her parents.

Unfortunately for her, almost as soon as she boarded The Gypsy, she met Lord Barkley. The man with the cold eyes and teasing smile makes her melt, and want to give to her desires. But her fear of returning to the convent is stronger, for now...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michelle Kopra
• Release date: Jul 26, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476394084

Michelle Kopra

Lives in Texas!

Book preview

Shimmy & Steam

Book 3

In The Queen’s Service

By Michelle Kopra

2012 Copyright by Michelle Kopra

Smashwords Edition

Chapter One – Scotland

The Gypsy touched down on an open field of green grass, under a steel grey sky. The field was barren of any signs of life, leaving only the howling of the wind as their greeting in the Scottish countryside.

Lady Gertrude stood on deck and watched their descent. She tugged on the lapels of her heavy brown jacket, trying to block out the wind, yet it seared through her, as if she was air. This was not her first visit to Balmoral. However, after the balmy weather of Spain, it felt particularly harsh.

Footsteps across the deck stopped next to her. Morning Gertie. Lady Constance inhaled deeply. Ah, good old Scottish air!

Gertie smiled at the nickname and nodded. Bracing indeed, Lady C. I wonder if her majesty told my parents that I would be receiving the Royal Victorian Medal.

They watched as Cap moved through the last steps in landing the ship. Gertie had grown accustomed to the swaying and other motions and instinctively braced herself when The Gypsy landed with a soft bump.

Lady C gave her a sympathetic look. I doubt she would tell them about the ceremony, or how we received them in Dover. This particular medal is for personal service to the sovereign. One she uses for her secret service, so that she doesn’t have to go through normal ministerial channels.

Gertie sighed. Not that she was close to her parents. However, she had hoped to show them she had changed. The battle in Dover had not been her first. When she initially landed on The Gypsy, she thought all she would have to do was dance while they gleaned the secrets of other kings and queens of Europe. But her role as the queen’s spy took a fast turn as they arrived in Istanbul to save Constance.

Morning love. Lord Colin entered the deck, followed by Lord Barkley. Colin swung Lady C in his arms, and giving a kiss with such warmth that made Gertie look away.

Lord Barkley silently moved next to her, also ignoring the newlyweds, he scanned the field. We are walking, I presume?

Not today, Lord Barkley. Hugging her husband, Lady C’s eyes sparkled with merriment. I’ve been itching to use our latest toy.

She laughed when the lords and Gertie focused a questioning look at her, and then whistled to get Cap’s attention. I think it’s time to put The Beast into operation!

Aye, aye, Lady C! The captain saluted her then turned to the crew. Petyr, open the rear hatch. Abelardo prepare the lorry.

Petyr sprinted across the deck to the mast and loosened thick ropes that wound around a large wooden gear. As the rope fell away from the gear, it began to spin, slowly at first, accompanied by the sounds of groaning that overtook the wind, and echoed across the plain.

A large wooden door opened in the aft of the airship. Gertie leaned over the edge to get a better look, and watched with awe as Abelardo carried two large bucket, one filled with coal, the other with water. He disappeared into the hatch. Within moments, a noise even louder than the wooden doors burst to life with a boom that rocked the ship.

Her jaw sank as The Beast chugged out of its prison. It was a bulky contraption made of metal plates of steel, brass, and copper riveted together. A series of gears along the edges of The Beast were connected and turned so that the four large wheels were able to roll forward.

Gertie gasped. What on earth is that?

A pipe sat crookedly atop the contraption, it hissed as grey smoke belched out its rusty spout.

Indeed, wifey. What have you been keeping from us? Lord Colin winked at her.

Lady C chuckled. We acquired The Beast a few months before you came on board. The queen has a whole department dedicated to developing newfangled machines. It’s called the Ministry of Technology. As I said, we’ve had it a few months. However, we never got a chance to use it. That is, until now. Cap, we board The Beast in fifteen minutes. Spread the word!

Next to the long, crooked pipe, Abelardo sat in the driver’s seat perched over the machine. He looked pleased with his waxed and twirled mustachios, wearing his Sunday black suit and top hat, looking a bit like an overlarge penguin.

The queen does love her toys, Lord Barkley murmured into Gertie’s ear as they walked down the plank. His voice was so cool and calm with a hint of steel, yet the sidelong glance suggested warmth. "Tell me Lady Gertrude, what kind of toys