Chapter SeventeenI went directly to the front parlour, which had a commanding view of the whole valley, and did my best to look comfortable and self-assured. The clock behind me had been carefully engineered to tick silently, so that the ticking of my heart would not give away the existence of a magical steam engine inside my chest. In all the weeks spent building my fortress, I had told no one in the valley about my heart.
Xiong kept Mr Dickens waiting for a suitable interval, and then showed him inside. He came with a small party of gentlemen, one of whom I recognised from Melbourne’s society papers. I wondered if he would be grateful if he knew that I was keeping Her Royal Majesty’s army from destroying his home and city.
‘Hello again, Miss Muchamore,’ said Mr Dickens.
‘Have you come
