A Matter of Disagreement: The Mechanical Universe

By EE Ottoman

Two sworn rivals, a clash of ideas, and an attraction neither can deny.

A noted scholar of ancient literature and spellcraft, Lord Ashcroft "Andrea" de Bourbon, finds his world shaken when the new science of mechanical animation becomes the talk of high society. In response, Andrea takes to the presses gaining notoriety for his scathing critiques of mechanical animation and its founder the Marquis de la Marche.

Then one night Andrea comes face to face with the Marquis de la Marche and discovers he is nothing like Andrea expected. Leon Gregory de la Marche VI, Marquis de la Marche is handsome, brilliant, and charming. While their clashes on paper have become legendary in person they are even more explosive. As passions rise Andrea knows there is no backing down ...  

• Language: English
• Publisher: EE Ottoman
• Release date: Aug 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386239208

EE Ottoman

EE Ottoman grew up surrounded by the farmlands and forests of upstate New York. They started writing as soon as they learned how and have yet to stop. Ottoman attended Earlham College and graduated with a degree in history, before going on to receive a graduate degree in history as well. These days they divide their time between history, writing and book preservation. Ottoman is also a disabled, queer, trans man whose pronouns are: he/him/his. Mostly though they are a person who is passionate about history, stories and the spaces between the two.

Book preview

Dedication:

Thanks to Anne and Marie

Chapter 1

Andrea scowled at himself in the mirror. His suit was the latest fashion:  dark green silk waistcoat and jacket, fine black breeches, white silk stockings, linen shirt, and cravat. His shirt had wide ruffled cuffs of silk and he straightened them a little and then reached up to straighten the gold-rimmed spectacles that perched on his nose. He frowned at his reflection again. Andrea had never been a particularly tall man, and the last few years of hiding in his library and avoiding the regiment of horseback riding, weapons training and hunting his brother loved so much had only increased his already heavy-set figure. 'Husky' he told himself, but husky or no, what he was not was the tall and slender build most in vogue at court.

Which was just wonderful. Not only would people spend the entire evening gossiping and dropping barely disguised barbs about his refusal to marry and his life of scholarship, but they would also get to poke fun at his appearance as well. Poor, foolish, ugly lord Ashcroft de Bourbon, not the soldier his brother was and not the politician his father had been. Normally he didn't spend much time on what people would think or how he looked. Tonight, though the idea of all those eyes on him seemed particularly irritating.

Andrea turned away from the mirror and stalked across the room.

~*~

The party was the second of the season, after the gala ball at the royal palace. It was hosted by the House de la Marche. From his carriage Andrea watched the huge three-story manor house come into view, surrounded by immaculate lawns and gardens. He wondered who the Marquis de la Marche had needed to kill in order to get the second slot on the season's social roster. Whatever it had taken Andrea hoped it had involved groveling. The man was the most condescending and arrogant bastard ... His fists clenched in his lap and Andrea forced himself to relax. He was here as a guest, to support Mathis in whatever scheme he was trying for this time. He was also going to be one of hundreds at this party; the idea that he'd end up even in the same room as the Marquis was laughable. It was probably for the best. The only thing that had kept Andrea from punching him this long was that they had yet to actually meet face to face.

Why had he allowed Mathis to talk him into this? 

The carriage stopped, and Andrea climbed out. The gravel courtyard in front of the house was full of servants wearing the colors of the House de la Marche mixing with footmen, drivers, and manservants from different noble houses and newly arrived guests.

Ash.

Andrea turned to see Mathis striding across from the house towards him. Mathis cut a handsome figure in dark blue and black enhanced by the crisp whiteness of his shirt and cravat high around his throat. His dark hair was swept back from his face with a little bit of a wave, unlike Andrea's tangle of curls.

I was expecting you twenty minutes ago. Mathis's hand settled heavy on Andrea's shoulder. Primping in front of the mirror were we?

Andrea snorted. Hardly.

Well come on. Mathis pulled him in the direction of the house. I want you to meet Lady Amélie de la Marche.

So this was the reason Mathis had made such a fuss out of both of them attending the party. They were the sole remaining members of the House of Bourbon-Maine. An alliance of marriage between the illegitimate noble branch of Bourbon-Maine and the House de la Marche would be a great advantage for their family and especially for Mathis' career. Mathis was a fine soldier, well thought of at court; he could go far on his own, but much further if Andrea would also be willing to ingratiate himself with the House de la Marche.

Andrea stifled a sigh. He hated politics, and parties.

They stepped into the front room of the house, through which servants rushed back and forth and guests meandered with drinks in hands and Mathis turned right, pulling Andrea through two double doors thrown open and into a ballroom overflowing with people. Tall windows looked out into the gardens, and at the far end of the room, double glass doors had been opened, allowing the guests to wander outside. Servants circulated the room, holding trays with drinks and food on them, and the room was filled with the sounds of people laughing and talking to each other. Andrea wished he were anywhere else.

My Lady, Mathis called. I would like to introduce you to my brother, Lord Ashcroft de Bourbon. Ash this is Lady Amélie de la Marche.

She was tiny, thin and with a fine bone structure that made her look much younger than she probably was. She was wearing a pretty light blue silk dress with a neckline just low enough to be fashionable but not so low to be revealing. Her fine blond hair was swept up with silver pins in the shape of songbirds.

She curtseyed. Lord Ashcroft.

Andrea bowed. Lady Amélie.

Mathis looked at them. You both should speak a few minutes. I am going to get us drinks. I will be but a moment.

He darted off, both Amélie and Andrea watching him retreat before turning back to each other.

You teach, do you not? She took a sip from the champagne flute in her hand.

I  ...  yes. Andrea resisted the urge to reach up and fiddle with his glasses, but only just.

Mostly, though, I write and look after the library.

At Colline?

Yes, at the University at Colline.

The conversation lapsed into an awkward silence.

It must be fascinating working at such a place for a learned gentleman such as yourself.

I enjoy it. It is the perfect place to do my research on historic languages and literature. 

And that must be  ... Amélie hesitated for a brief second before pushing valiantly on. Fascinating. What do you focus on in particular for this book?

The use of magic to animate. You see, it is commonly believed that only through combining spellcraft with machinery such as clockwork can we achieve true animation with things such as message birds, but I hope to show through a close reading of ancient texts—

A hand fell heavily on his shoulder. Talking about your research again? Mathis smiled at Amélie. He does like to go on and on if you let him. He pushed a glass of wine into Andrea's hand.

It was quite interesting. Amélie did look a little relieved at Mathis' interruption though.

Mathis took her hand. If I can steal you away from my brother for a moment  I would love the honor of a dance, my lady.

She glanced over at Andrea and then smiled up at Mathis. I would love to dance, my lord.

Mathis whisked her off, back the way he had come where, Andrea assumed, another ballroom had been set up for dancing. Left alone, Andrea sipped his wine gaze sweeping the partygoers looking for anyone he knew and at least didn't hate.

The only people he spotted though were the Countess of Chalon and Godefroi of Challant, both of whom he made a point of dealing with only under duress. He scanned the room again, but no other faces jumped out at him. Had he really been away from court and society so long that everyone here were strangers to him? Draining his glass, Andrea went in search of another.

Hailing down a servant with a tray of drinks in hand, Andrea swapped out his empty glass for a full glass of champagne and headed out toward the gardens. Maybe he could find a quiet corner to tuck himself away and drink in peace.

Men and women strolled across the lawn chatting with each other, and a group of young ladies ran giggling towards the hedge maze which lay at the bottom

Reviews for A Matter of Disagreement

[Lillian LeCompte · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Nothing about this makes any sense. They’re supposedly on rival sides of science but from what I understand they do the same thing???? I’m so confused. I’m going to have to dnf this.

Update: I finished it. Nothing about this was good. Grammatical and punctuation errors everywhere. Confusing dialogue. Had potential too. Damn 0.5/5