Read Steam Guardians 01 - A Lady Can Never Be Too Curious for Free Online

taken. Which makes me wonder if it isn’t time for you to emerge from your self-imposed mourning. Seems rather fitting, considering the pair of you were never married,” Lykos continued.
    “I have no interest in signing dance cards at some overcrowded event where the matrons can point at me and condemn me for being an Illuminist. Neither do you, so stop trying to annoy me.” And tempt him with the promise of seeing Janette again. The tie needed to be severed before he went too far and found out what her lips tasted like. Before she encountered his darker side. Ladies never suffered a man like him well—he had the scars to prove it.
    Lykos grinned smugly. “Ah, but you do have an interest in ensuring Miss Aston returns to her life among the unenlightened without any grime associated with us clinging to her ankles.”
    “What exactly do you mean by that?” Darius stopped and aimed a hard look at his comrade. “She is not my responsibility.”
    The moment the words were out of his mouth, he cursed. Lykos’s grin widened until his teeth flashed.
    “You know me too well. It was my door personnel who made the mistake of allowing her in and thereby exposing her to possible detection.” He resumed walking. “I do feel responsible for her.”
    “I’m glad to hear you say that.”
    Darius lifted an eyebrow suspiciously. “Why?”
    “Because tonight Mrs. Brimmer is holding a social gathering to which Miss Aston has accepted an invitation. Professor Yulric is not quite ready to abandon all hope of discovering a way to lure Miss Aston to our cause.” Lykos held out a sealed envelope. “The good professor procured an invitation, and I believe he promised you would attend. I suspect he is hoping you will change your mind about courting the fair Miss Aston and bringing your blushing bride back to where he can claim her as his student.”
    Darius glared at the envelope. For just a moment, he suffered the impulse to smile, which annoyed him even further.
    “And did the professor make it an official request that I attend?”
    Lykos smirked. “Indeed he did. Insisted I set off after you immediately, so you wouldn’t chance missing the event.” His friend patted him on the shoulder. “How is your waltz these days?”
    “Deplorable.” Darius paused to read the invitation in the light of a streetlamp. “Even you will likely perform better on the dance floor tonight.”
    Lykos lost his smirk, and Darius felt his lips rising at his friend’s expense for a change. “I’m sure the professor would want us to take the matter very seriously, considering she is a Pure Spirit,” Darius observed drily. “What sort of friend would I be to exclude you from a matter so vital to our order?”
    “A good one,” Lykos growled before shrugging off his ill humor. “Mrs. Brimmer’s husband’s factory benefits from our inventions a little too much for her to turn her nose up, even if many of her neighbors do. I believe she’s hoping to gain an edge against the competition by issuing invitations to Illuminists. It would be callous of me to ignore the lady’s attempt to charm my brethren.”
    It was risky. The Helikeians blended into society very well; no one knew that better than Darius did. Anyone might notice their interest in Miss Aston, but the Professor was on the council and had the right to command a Guardian in cases of Pure Spirits.
    “You can escort Decima,” Darius suggested smugly. “She’ll be delighted.”
    Lykos choked, earning a grin from Darius.
    He forced himself to consider the saving grace of the invitation. Watching Janette among her high-society compatriots would no doubt place her in a position to join them in their disdain of his Illuminist allegiance. Once she sneered at him or turned her back on his offer of a dance, he’d be able to sever the connection he felt. The fact that he didn’t like the way that made him feel sent him home in search of his evening attire. He would pay her court and recall