Evie's Gift

By Piper J. Drake

Evangeline Dunn is attempting to fit into the role of a proper lady by English standards. Traveling to London for her first season, she faces the threat of an enemy submarine bent on destroying the airship carrying her across the ocean. Once she steps forward to help using her special gift, her knowledge is questioned by the captain, placing her and her brother's future in danger.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Piper J. Drake
• Release date: Nov 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781951821029

Piper J. Drake

Piper J. Drake is a bestselling author of romantic suspense, paranormal romance, science fiction, and fantasy. Foodie. Wanderer. Usually not lost. She lives in Seattle with her husband and beloved corgi.

Book preview

Chapter 1

C ome look, Evie! We're coming into port!

Evie gathered her skirts in both hands so she could hurry to the fore of the airship cabin and join her brother to enjoy the view of the slowly approaching Portsmouth skyline. With a series of excited clicks and chirps, Toby climbed from her wrist to her shoulder, the little mechanical activated by her excitement.

We're so high up, she murmured as Jeffrey made room for her at the viewing window. The ocean stretched out far below them, a vast blue expanse of marbled floor.

Well, we are on one of the most elite airships in the British Navy. Of course she can fly high. Jeffrey puffed his chest out with pride and he made no small boast. Few civilians were allowed aboard. She and her brother were two of just over a dozen wealthy passengers. The less affluent would have had to take the much longer journey by ship across the Atlantic.

A shadow caught at the edge of her vision, and the feeling of something dark and heavy brushed her senses from far below. What's that? She strained to see way down to the ocean surface, thinking perhaps a whale or some other leviathan swam in the waters. Is there something down there?

Jeffrey turned to her, flashing straight white teeth in a show of boyish delight she hadn't seen in ages, not since their parents died. Only you could spot something so far below, Evie. Just wait until we get to London. You'll see the finest technology and luxuries of high society. There'll be no need to strain to see wonders miles away. Everything will be at our fingertips.

For a moment, just a moment, she had forgotten the reason they travelled aboard the airship in the first place.

Miss Dunn. A deep voice stroked down her spine, rich with arrogance and good breeding. She'd come to thoroughly dislike the sound of the captain’s dialogue during the voyage from America, predominantly because of the way it continually reminded her of what she ought to be doing. May I suggest you return to the ladies' seats at the other end of the cabin? They would be much safer while we approach port and land.

She paused, her back stiffening in sheer annoyance. Amazing how such a wonderfully decadent voice could touch off her temper with every word. Sensing the change in her heartbeat and skin temperature, Toby reared on her shoulder and gave a tiny whistling hiss of steam.

She chose to ignore the recommendation and craned her head to find the shadowy shape that had caught her attention earlier. I felt sure I'd seen something, truly. Perhaps a fish or porpoise?

As high as we are, Miss Dunn, it is very unlikely. Only a whale would seem a shape of any size, and they don't migrate near these waters, the captain answered her, his tone flat with disapproval. How arrogant he was. I must insist you return to your seat for landing.

Jeffrey turned and quickly adjusted his expression to a more composed look, his brows drawn together and his lips pressed in a thin line. She supposed he meant to be stern.

Really, Evie, any proper lady should stay safely settled, Jeffrey admonished her.

To her mortification, heat rushed to her cheeks as her own brother chastised her in public when he had been the very person to call her over. Worse, he had changed face in front of the captain. She fought to take deep, even breaths against the confines of her corset, beginning a steady mental count to refrain from a very unladylike gesture, like swinging a grand right hook at his chin.

Jeffrey hadn't noticed her temper, or he would never have stepped so close, turning her to face the insufferably handsome captain.

I hope you'll forgive my younger sister, Captain Corwin, Jeffrey said in earnest. This is Evie's first trip to England, and she hasn't had time with a sponsor to help polish her manner. A diamond in the rough, my Evie.

Truly, enough steam hissed from Toby in response to her rising temper to power one of the propellers directing the great airship that had brought them literally across an ocean. Jeffrey's manners proved every bit as rough as her own, speaking of her so candidly to the captain, a man of consequence and not some schoolyard chum. Besides, he intended for her to marry a man of high standing and extensive means. He needn’t highlight her shortcomings.

Fortunately, Captain Alec Corwin did not add to her humiliation. He only nodded gravely, settling his unnerving ice-blue