Nimisha's Ship Read Free Page A

of many pilots. He also taught Nimisha how to drive, preferring to be certain she was capable long before Lady Rezalla allowed her body-heir a personal ground vehicle.
    “I may be usurping some of her birth-mother’s prerogatives,” he told Jeska one day without a trace of guilt, “but I prefer to oversee her education in such matters. I’ve no doubt Lady Rezalla instructs her as efficiently in the purely feminine skills in which she herself excels.”
    Jeska nodded, understanding completely what he had not said. “I am very appreciative, Lord Tionel, of the benefits I have received while in Lady Nimisha’s company.”
    “You’ve an aptitude worth cultivating, my girl,” he replied honestly. “When Nimisha no longer requires your . . . companionship, this Yard would consider you an asset.” He smiled in his beguiling fashion, rubbing his hands together as if already anticipating the moment when he could make good on his offer.
    “Small wonder you succeed so well with the Fleet types, Lord Tionel,” she said, grinning impudently up at him. The current High Admiral of the Fleet was an attractive and highly efficient woman. Jeska knew he spent considerable time with her and her Design teams.
    His smile broadened and he accorded her a slight bow. “I like to encourage talent wherever I encounter it. Now,” he continued in a brisker tone, “what trinket would please my daughter when she receives her Necklace four weeks from now?”
    “A skimmer, sir,” Jeska replied promptly, sober-faced, though she couldn’t keep the glint of mischief out of her eyes.
    “A skimmer?” The uplift of his voice in surprised repetition made her grin.
    “Even Lady Rezalla will agree that Lady Nimi, at fourteen, should have her own transport. Especially as she will promise to service it herself.” Jeska paused, rather pleased that she had been able to astonish Lord Tionel. “That way no one but she and I will know the engine capacity, the optimum cruising range, or the versatility of the vehicle.”
    “Ah!” Lord Tionel’s eyes lit up. He gave Jeska’s back such an approving thump that only the girl’s superb natural reflexes kept her from bouncing off the worktable in front of her. “Oh, sorry about that, Jeska. Caught me by surprise, you did. Excellent. Excellent.” And he went off, chuckling to himself. “Capital idea! Just the thing.”
     
    Since Jeska had been Nimisha’s companion for six years, she was permitted to attend the important Necklace Ceremony, traditional in First Family circles. She stood well behind those who were related by blood, of course, but she was there when Nimisha celebrated her minor majority, colloquially known as the Double M.
    The adult majority was four years hence, but body-heirs were expected from the moment of their Necklacing to act in an adult fashion and leave childish practices and manners behind them. Beside Jeska, Nurse was sniffling, since this ceremony marked the end of her employment. That she was being munificently rewarded by Lady Rezalla and need never work another day in her life did not seem to compensate for leaving Nimisha. Since Jeska was fonder of Nimisha than she was of any of her own siblings, she quite understood Nurse’s sorrow. She would continue in her duties to the body-heir of Boynton-Chonderlee House, but she and Nurse had been of one mind in keeping certain aspects of Nimisha’s daily routines from Lady Rezalla. Once Necklaced, Nimisha was guaranteed more freedom from constant supervision. Indeed, during the festivities, other servants would be moving Nimisha’s belongings out of the nursery and into private quarters in the west wing of the House.
    Before relatives from both sides of the bloodline, as well as Lady Rezalla’s particular friends and confidants, Nimisha was led in by her dam’s mother, the Lady Astatine Boynton-Tatanovic, a formidable woman who had never approved of her own body-heir’s friends or her deplorable tendency to dabble in