She led me around the room, making introductions. She still didn’t tell me anyone’s name, but the people were warm and friendly. Most of Lizzie’s friends had brought friends who didn’t seem to be members of the group, and they came from all walks of life. Some were factory girls, others worked in government offices, and some were laundresses or seamstresses. Most were Irish, some were Chinese, some appeared to be of African ancestry, and a few were German. The one thing we all had in common was that we worked for magisters. Then again, it seemed as though everyone in the city worked for magisters, either directly or indirectly.

While I met everyone, I couldn’t help but glance around looking for Alec. Surely he wouldn’t miss the party, or was he away inventing some new machine?

Colin came off the dance floor, red-faced and sweating. “What, you’re not letting her dance, Liz?” he asked. “Come on, Verity, let’s have some fun.” The drink had gone to my head, making me feel fuzzy and fizzy, so I went eagerly with him, letting him spin me around to the beat of that strange music. I could barely keep up with him. Tickles on my cheeks and forehead told me my hair was coming loose, and I felt sweat running down the middle of my back, under my corset. Even so, I was having more fun than I could recall in years—or possibly ever.

Colin suddenly jerked and yelped. His style wasn’t conventional, but I didn’t mistake this for a dance step. He reached up and pulled something out of the air, then quickly released it after yelping again. It was a small model of an airship, with steam and smoke pouring from beneath it. Muttering under his breath, Colin batted it ahead of him as he stalked toward the edge of the room. I hurried to keep up with him.

“And what, pray tell, is this supposed to be, Everett?” he asked an ebony-skinned man in a red tailcoat. “An airship that hits people in the head is no airship at all.”

“I can’t help it if you’re a bloody giant, Col,” Everett said. Then he sighed deeply. “It’s the steam engine. Even in miniature, it’s too heavy to get enough lift. I’ve already got a ship, but I don’t have a power supply. Magic may be the only reasonable way to power an airship.”

“What about electricity?” Colin asked. “Tom’s created a storage battery, and it’s not too heavy.”

“Would it hold enough power to get us anywhere?”

“Talk to Tom. Maybe there’s something he can do. But in the meantime, watch where you fly these things. That’s gonna bruise, and I can’t afford to mar my good looks.” With that, he twirled me back onto the dance floor.