Virginia Marybury

In an alternative nineteenth century, of a frozen and depopulated northern Europe, an Anglo-Welsh boy is crippled by a steam tractor, and goes into indenture in Italy to earn a mechanical leg.

Seven years later, Llewellyn-Gareth sells himself into a second apprenticeship, to learn the secrets of light-focussing lenses and bring an inheritance of Mediterranean warmth home to wintry England and Wales.

When his master's rat-like son tries to buy his way out of disgrace by offering the lenses to a powerful patron, Llewellyn-Gareth faces losing everything he has worked for: here in Italy, he is nothing but a crippled, infidel Protestant.

Yet when an offer of help does come, it seems the cost may be his inheritance at home, too.

(NB - This work has not been tagged "adult" because there is little or no sex contained within. However, it does contain a bit of effing, and some decidedly secular ideas. Also a bit of sectarian argy-bargy.)