The Armored Doctor (Curiosity Chronicles Book 2) by Ava Morgan Page A

milk his way. “And if you don’t mind my saying so, the husband and I don’t think anyone ought to be alone on Christmas.” She raised her head upon hearing a rustling in the kitchen. “Ah, speak of the husband, I hear him now. He’s returned with roasted ham. We’ll get it on a platter. Enjoy your tea and bread, Doctor.” She bustled back into the kitchen, shutting the door behind her.
    Jacob chewed on a warm morsel of cinnamon bread when the doorbell rang.
    He heard Struthers and Maria talking in the kitchen, their words interspersed with the clattering of dishes and the clinging of silverware. They did not hear the doorbell. Jacob pushed his chair back and went to the front of the house to answer it himself.
    “Hello, Dr. Valerian.” A giant of a man stood before him. He had the appearance of the Welsh, black of hair and dark-eyed, and spoke with the lilting cadence of one who made his home near the Swansea docks.  He held a large box in his arms. “I’m COIC agent Rhys Cartret, and this is my wife, Lydia. I know the Secretary briefed you on her work.”
    “The celebrated machinist.” Jacob’s eyes fell onto the woman at Rhys’s side. She had olive skin, dark curls, and unusual gold-green eyes. “Come in please.” He stepped aside so that they could enter. “Lady Dimosthenis, I read of your work with the voice-responsive automatons. Most extraordinary.”
    “A pleasure to meet you, Dr. Valerian, but my name is Lydia Cartret now.” She spoke in a Greek accent. “My husband and I just wed Saturday.” She trained a smile at Rhys, who lifted his eyebrows suggestively. The silent exchange between them spoke volumes.
    “Congratulations.” Jacob felt like he was intruding, even though they came to see him. “To what do I owe the occasion of your visit?”
    “We come bearing gifts.” Rhys raised the large box. “The Secretary approved of your findings from the ether solvent test of the Aspasian metal alloy sample. Here’s a larger supply for you to work with.”
    Jacob indicated for him to set the box on the settee in the parlor. While Rhys and his wife removed their coats, he raised the box lid. “There’s enough of the copper alloy and cast iron here to craft a working armor device.”
    “We thought you’d be happy,” Rhys remarked, with a droll smile.
    “I’m impressed with your findings, Doctor.” Lydia came beside Jacob and lifted one of the small samples of the copper alloy. “When I created the automatons, I thought the voice-responsive function worked simply because sound can be conducted through metal. I had no idea that the compounds of the copper alloy were what actually allowed the automatons to follow orders.”
    “Compounds that can only be found in your country of Aspasia,” Jacob added.
    “Yes. Fortunately, it takes just a very tiny portion of the alloy to make use of the function.” Lydia held the copper alloy sample between her thumb and forefinger. “I would say this is enough to give that capability to half a dozen devices, depending on their size.”
    Jacob lifted a sample of the cast iron, about the size of his fist. “And this will provide a conduit. I’ll have to find a way to incorporate as small amount of iron as possible in the armor. COIC agents have enough heavy firearms to carry.”
    Rhys stood behind the settee and looked down at the sample case. “Do you think voice-responsive weaponry will give our agents stationed in France the upper hand against Broussard’s men?”
    “It’s working with the automatons in India. Based on COIC reports I was granted access to, they’re defending the mercantile holdings in Madras and Bombay against French mechanized forces. The need for infantrymen has been reduced.”
    “My hope is to do the same for London’s factories,” Lydia said. “Having an automaton operate the boilers or some of the more dangerous machinery would reduce the number of accidents.”
    Jacob agreed. “We could surely do with a change.