Meet: Lady Beatrice
Occupation: bordello by night, spy by day
Location: London
Genre: Steampunk, Action
Now here is a different Society organization of not the so genteel kind like ours...
Teaser:
At once he delved into his valise and brought up a leather-bound box about the size of a spectacle case. He opened it with a flourish. Lady Beatrice saw a set of optics very similar to those revealed when Mrs. Corvey had removed her goggles, as she did now. Lady Beatrice involuntarily looked away, then looked back as Mr. Felmouth presented the case to Mrs. Corvey.
"You will observe, Ma'am, that these are a good deal lighter. Mr. Stubblefield in Fabrication discovered a new alloy," said Mr. Felmouth, unrolling a case of small tools. Mrs. Corvey's optics extended outward with a whirr as she examined the new apparatus.
"Yes indeed, Mr. Felmouth, they are lighter. And seem more complicated."
"Ah! That is because...if I may..." Mr. Felmouth leaned forward and applied a tiny screwdriver to Mrs. Corvey's present set of optics, losing his train of thought for a moment as he worked carefully. Lady Beatrice found herself unable to watch as the optics were removed. "Because they are greatly improved, or at least that is my hope. Now then...my apologies, Ma'am, the blindness is entirely temporary...I will just fasten in the new set, and I think you will be pleased with the result."
Lady Beatrice made herself look up, and saw Mrs. Corvey patiently enduring having a new set of optics installed in her living face.
"There," said Mrs. Corvey, "I can see again."
-chapter 5, page 38
The Women of Nell Gwynne’s
By Kage Baker
Published: 2009
Romance steam gauge: none
You can read two excerpts here.
Description from the amazon:Lady Beatrice was the proper British daughter of a proper British soldier, until tragedy struck and sent her home to walk the streets of early-Victorian London.
But Lady Beatrice is no ordinary whore, and is soon recruited to join an underground establishment known as Nell Gwynne’s.
Nell Gwynne’s is far more than simply the finest and most exclusive brothel in Whitehall; it is in fact the sister organization to the Gentlemen’s Speculative Society, that 19th-century predecessor to a certain Company...
and when a member of the Society goes missing on a peculiar assignment, it’s up to Lady Beatrice and her sister harlots to investigate.
* image source silhouette
