Ultimate Nyssa Glass, H. Burke [cat reading book .TXT] 📗

The trolley dropped them on their street. As they approached the shop, Theo’s feet began to drag.

“It’s okay,” Nyssa whispered.

“Ellis and Mrs. H thought I was a good kid,” he stammered. “Now that they know the truth …”

“They won’t blame you. You didn’t have a choice.” Still, his grip tightened on her hand as they pushed into the store.

Ellis looked up from behind his work bench and his jaw went slack.

“Theo?” He wheeled towards the boy.

Tears welled in Theo’s eyes, and his chin dropped towards his chest.

“I’m sorry. I’m s … s … sorry, Ellis,” he stuttered.

Ellis pulled the boy into an embrace. “Oh kid … I thought I’d never see you again.”

Nyssa’s vision blurred.

Ellis glanced over Theo’s head and smiled at her. “How in the world did you find him?”

She opened her mouth, trying to decide where to start. The visit with Amara? The note? Climbing down walls and scuffling with her uncle in dark alleys? Ellis will cringe when I tell him about that bit. “I’ll tell you later,” she said. “All that matters is he’s home now.”

Chapter Thirteen

Nyssa sorted through Theo’s school supplies on the shop’s counter. The boy leaned across with his chin in his hand.

“I don’t see why I have to go,” he grumbled. “I’d rather just stay and help you and Ellis here.”

Ellis laughed. “We don’t really need the help with business so slow.” He held up the fly zapper.

“You’re still messing with that thing?” Nyssa raised an eyebrow. “Do you really have such a vendetta against bugs?”

“Yes and no. I am going to make a more portable version for self defense, maybe even hook it into the engine that runs my chair. It could come in handy.”

“Just don’t—”

“I know, I know. I’m taking all necessary safety precautions.”

“See that you do.” She sniffed and slipped a pencil box into a canvas book bag then eyed Theo. “It’s not up for discussion, Theo. Your handwriting and spelling are awful for your age, but you’re a bright kid. It won’t take you long to catch up. You need to be able to write a legible letter and add up accounts if you’re going to help us, anyway. There’s more to this business than just fixing things.”

Theo sighed.

Ellis glanced up. “Is something going on? There’s a crowd in front of the shop.”

Nyssa went to look. Pedestrians pointed and gawked as the largest steam car she’d ever seen pulled up outside. The paint gleamed pearly white with golden ornaments and even the steam that billowed behind it managed to look majestic. A chauffeur emerged and opened the door to the back seat. Amara floated out, curls done up in a pristine tower, her dress a mass of black lace and red satin.

Nyssa tilted her head to one side. “Did Amara send a telegram?”

“No. I don’t think she even replied to the one I sent a week ago, thanking her for her help getting the police off our backs.” Ellis rolled to her side. “Oh, goodness, her highness has arrived.” He grinned.

The chauffeur warded off the gathering crowd as Amara pranced to the shop, her head held high.

Nyssa opened the door. “This is unexpected.”

“Yes, well, I had planned just to send a letter, but I thought seeing an Azores frequenting your shop might help your business.” Amara scanned the shop. “Has it picked up at all?”

Nyssa shook her head. “Unfortunately, it seems to take longer than a week to repair a busted reputation, even with the police no longer hassling us. Thank you for that, by the way.”

“Oh that was nothing.” Amara waved a gloved hand. “But the reason I’m here is something. Nyssa, do you remember the pantelegraph?”

“The machine you used to send documents?”

“Yes. It also sends pictures. Do you think you could learn to repair and service a machine like that?”

“In my experience there’s nothing Nyssa can’t fix if she puts her mind to it,” Ellis said.

Nyssa flushed but nodded. “I didn’t get a good look at it, but it didn’t seem that much more complicated than a videophone, and I can repair those in my sleep.”

“Good, good. My husband has been in contact with the company that makes the pantelegraphs. He wants to import more to the island. Renard’s goal is for San Azula to be on the same level, if not ahead, of the Continent in the realm of technical advances. Well, the company told Renard that he’d need to find a shop capable of installing and repairing the machines in order for them to risk a good sized order. Of course, I immediately thought of you.”

Nyssa’s ears twitched. “Would we be the only vendor on the island for them?”

“For the time being,” Amara said.

With an opportunity like that, business would have to improve. Plus we’d have the royal stamp of approval from Renard and Amara.

“I’ll have Renard’s secretary send over the contracts. You two will be doing a brisk business. Every office on the island is going to need at least one pantelegraph.”

“Are we gonna be rich?” Theo piped up.

“We’re not going to be poor at least,” Ellis said.

Theo opened his mouth.

“You still have to go to school,” Nyssa said.

Theo’s mouth snapped closed.

“Will you stay for lunch?” Nyssa asked Amara.

“No, I have an appointment with some society or other … for the betterment or advancement of … something.” Amara took out a compact and checked her rouge. “As much as I’d like to stay and chat, duty calls.”

“Sounds trying,” Nyssa said.

It’s probably a good thing she can’t stay. Mrs. H would blow her boiler if she found out she had to cook for Renard Azores’s wife at a moment’s notice.

Nyssa let out a long breath as Amara whisked out. Finally, things are looking up again.

“This calls for a celebration, I think,” Ellis said. “Theo, go tell Mrs. H we’ll need something special for dinner tonight. Maybe a cake.”

Theo grinned and rushed out. Ellis beamed at Nyssa.

“What is it?” She laughed.

“You look happy.” He took her hand and rubbed