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Ruth smiled as she sat back on her chair in the workshop, refining Michel’s new arms. They had better covering, which looked far more like their human counterparts, though they had a bit of intricate detailing because Ruth couldn’t resist, even though she knew no one was going to see them.
James was downstairs negotiating with Thomas, and Ruth was glad that he was no longer chasing after her. Ivy assured her that James had originally had feelings for both her and Thomas and her unavailability had shifted all of his focus to Thomas. She was downstairs serving them tea, mostly because she found it amusing to watch them blush around each other.
“Do you think we should go downstairs and see what they’re talking about?” Ruth asked, having reached a nice break in her work. “They are, after all, discussing my inventions.”
“That does sound like a good idea,” Michel agreed, though Ruth knew it was just because he was programmed to agree with her.
“I’ll just get changed and we can head down.”
As soon as she had a clean dress on, Michel accompanied her downstairs to where Thomas and James were talking.
“This is truly a work of genius,” Ruth heard James say and couldn’t help but grin as she and and Michel approached.
“You boys admiring The Owl’s new invention?” Ruth asked and she and Michel entered the room.
Thomas stiffened a bit but she didn’t notice as James was pouring over her plans.
“Admiring? This could revolutionise the Empire!” James exclaimed. “A mechanical soldier... Amazing!”
Ruth froze dead as she identified the plans on the table as the ones for Michel.
“Soldier?” she eventually managed. “It’s not a soldier, it’s... It’s... Well, anything else.”
James gave her an odd look and she realised that, as far as he was concerned, she had no authority on the matter.
She turned to Michel. “Tell them. It’s not a soldier design.”
“It’s not a soldier design,” he repeated.
James turned back to Thomas. “If you sell us it, we will use it as a soldier. Think of all of the lives we can spare. All those soldiers who no longer have to die.”
“And what about those on the other side, fighting soldiers who are so easily replaced?” Ruth demanded.
“Enemies of the Empire.”
“Human beings!”
“Alright,” Thomas said loudly as he stood up. “I have a policy against politics in my house. James, I will be in touch about these designs and about finalising Michel’s contract with The Crown.”
James nodded before leaving.
As soon as Thomas had finished seeing him out, he headed back to where Ruth and Michel were waiting.
“You cannot sell my designs as weapons,” she protested, her hands on her hips.
“What did you think I was selling them as? Why do you think the Crown was so interested?”
She drew up short at that. She hadn’t really thought about what happened to her designs once Thomas sold them. She hadn’t thought of any of them as weapons but, the more she thought about it, she realised that many had military applications.
Thomas sighed, shaking his head. “Why do you care? If these things are going to exist, better that they’re in Queen Victoria’s hands.”
Ruth felt a sting behind her eyes as she tried to fit the idea of her inventions being sold as weapons with her idea of them. As far as she was concerned, she was an artist who used metal instead of a canvas. Her inventions were about making the world a better place for people, not killing them. She had originally designed the parts for Michel to help people who had lost limbs, and now Thomas wanted to sell them as weapons that would probably take more.
“They were never meant to be weapons.”
“Intent doesn’t matter, Ruth. If they have military applications, someone will use them. As I said, better that it’s Queen Victoria.”
“No. Better that it’s no one.” Ruth turned to Michel. “Come on, let’s go pack.”
“Pack?” Thomas asked.
“If you’re selling my designs as weapons, then I won’t design any more. I’ll go home.”
Thomas sighed. “Fine,” he said as she reached the stairs. “I’ll try to alter the deal with the Queen. Lord knows how I’ll do it, but I will figure it out.”
Ruth smiled. “Thank you.”