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  “Will be the better for an evening’s holiday. A program of Bach, it is. You like Bach.”

  “I thought Watson preferred Chopin.”

  “He does. But Madame Neruda plays tonight and Sherlock has conceived a keen interest in the violin. He speaks of learning to play.”

  “Heaven help us,” Arthur said. “Very well. Bach, Neruda, and dinner, it shall be. And the Bootlace Murders. I do not wish to disoblige John.”

  Tacy had just reached the second murder when Mistress Angharad Cwmlech swept into the room on the arm of Mr. Mycroft Holmes, visible to all and very pretty indeed in a plaid walking dress, with a saucy hat perched on her dark curls. Her lips were soft against Tacy’s cheek, if a little chilly.

  “Going to a meeting, we are,” she announced, “with Rosebery and Ball, about the Bill of Mechanical Rights. Mycroft”—she cast a proprietary glance at the big man—“thinks it possible it may pass, if we can coax the prime minister into speaking in support.”

  Arthur groaned. “But, my work!”

  Mycroft Holmes fixed him with a keen and pearly eye. “This is your work, Arthur—or should be. The patent office will wait—this bill will not.”

  “Do I not deserve to be a person before the law?” Angharad demanded. “Does not Sherlock?”

  “To be sure,” Tacy answered her. “And so do all thinking mechanicals.”

  Sir Arthur sighed and rose to his feet. “You are right, of course. Tacy, ring for the carriage. There is not a moment to be lost.”

  About the Author

  Delia Sherman is a highly acclaimed fantasy writer. She lives in Boston and New York. You can sign up for email updates here.

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  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Notice

  Begin Reading

  About the Author

  Copyright

  Copyright © 2016 by Delia Sherman

  Art copyright © 2016 by Victo Ngai