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Hartwell.

       "You sure?" asked the woman, hitching her bosom up a little higher, though she was fighting a losing battle with gravity.

       "Enchanted as I am by your kind offer, I must put business before pleasure," said Hartwell. And I'll run like bloody hell after the business has been concluded.

       "Aw, bless you, cuptain," slurred the woman. "You is a toff, you is a real gent and I'll see to it, cuptain, that you has a best room here, you leave it to old Ruby, cuptain, I'll see you right. You just follows me this way."

       "Thank you, Ruby, you are too kind."

       The group made their way behind the staggering woman, threading through the crowd toward the wooden stairs that led up to a balcony that ran around the building, offering access to the various rooms.

       "Here," muttered a sailor who somehow managed to look even rougher than the rest of the clientele. "There are two new strumpets going to the stairs. What say we go and introduce ourselves?" His companions leered in delight. They waited until the group was on the stairs before moving over and surrounding Lady Mechatronic, who had strayed to the back as she looked about her.

       "Good evening, my dear," smiled the sailor. "Now don't you make a noise or cry out, little lady, or else it will be the worse for you. You're going to slip away with us and before your friends even notice you're gone, we'll be out the back and enjoying ourselves and they won't even know where to look for you in this crowd of vipers. One scream and it's all over for you.

       "I like a woman well wrapped up," he added, looking at the long gloves and heavy hood that hid all of Mechatronic's silver skin. "It makes the unwrapping so much more enjoyable."

       Mechatronic turned slightly and drew back her hood just enough so that the man could see her face. "You scum," she hissed. Although her cold blue eyes burned into the sailor's terrified face, she was focused on the past as the man's tone and intentions stirred up yet more memories…

       The sailor's mouth flopped open and his colour drained to a pasty grey as he gazed in horror at the silver demon in front of him, until with a squeak of terror, he turned and fled. His friends followed close behind.

       Mechatronic adjusted her hood and followed the rest of the group up the stairs and into a side room containing a table and a few chairs, where she was just in time to see the barmaid make yet another play for the captain's attentions.

       "Sure you don't want a taste of old Ruby on account? I don't mind if your friends stay or go, old Ruby has done all shorts, I mean sorties, I mean sorts in her life, has old Ruby."

       "I'm sure and he does not want your attentions," snapped Mechatronic, emotions flooding through her at the sight of the woman pawing pathetically at Hartwell's blue coat. She was disturbed to identify jealousy as the primary feeling.

       "Ooh, listen to the cat's mother," slurred Ruby, staring in dislike at the hooded figure. "No need to get in a twist, dearie."

       "Perhaps we should sit down and wait for Madrigal?" said Susanna loudly, holding her hand out to Mechatronic. The silver woman crossed the room and sat down at the table, her eyes never leaving Ruby, who returned the stare in kind, reminding Susanna of two cats getting ready to fight. She was glad when a knock at the door interrupted the scene and Madrigal peered into the room. "I have the men, Captain," he said.

hapterhirteen

    " ery well," replied Hartwell, crossing to the table and taking a seat facing the door. "Ruby, if you wish to serve, please keep this room private while we are here." He pulled a coin from his pocket. "Privacy is important to us." He passed the coin over to Ruby, who managed to take it at the third attempt.

       "Right you are, sir, you leave it to old Ruby," she simpered as she backed out through the door. "Don't you worry, sir, old Ruby won't let you down, old Ruby knows