Chapter 14 #5
Mayhew held up a hand. “Before you take a swing at me, please hear me out.”
The man’s nerve was breathtaking, but also intriguing, and, combined with his steady, direct regard, served to give Rand pause.
After a second of staring at Mayhew’s face—and recalling that someone must have hired the man—Rand stiffly inclined his head.
“I’m fascinated to hear what you have to say. ”
Mayhew drew in a deep breath, then stated, “When my uncle asked me to interfere with the Throgmorton invention enough to ensure it wouldn’t appear at this exhibition, I didn’t understand what he was, in fact, asking me to do.
I thought inventions and exhibitions such as this”—Mayhew glanced around—“were…well, more like games. Games played by men with the funds to tinker and dabble in such things—nothing serious at all.” Mayhew glanced around again and his lips tightened.
“Obviously, I was ridiculously naive, but this isn’t an area in which I’ve previously been interested—I had nothing more than popular notions by which to judge. ”
Before Rand could ask who Mayhew’s uncle was, Mayhew rolled on, “Then I got to Throgmorton Hall and met Miss Throgmorton and Mrs. Makepeace, and you, too, and none of you seemed silly and frivolous. You all seemed normal and, well, nice. Honest and welcoming—straightforward, sensible people. I started having second thoughts then. When I left the area the first time, I was debating whether I should continue, but then it seemed I had to, so I returned and tried to find some way to do what my uncle wanted.” Mayhew moistened his lips and lowered his voice.
“But then in the woods, when I was chasing Miss Throgmorton, I suddenly realized what I’d done—what sort of man I’d become, or rather, was on the cusp of becoming. ”
Mayhew met Rand’s eyes; Mayhew’s remorse was clear to see.
“I didn’t want to be that man. I ran from you both, but I also ran from what I almost became.
I waited long enough to see the steam carriage drive away from the Hall—that was the first time I’d seen it.
And instantly, I could understand why people get so excited by such things—by the promise they hold for advancements of all sorts. ”
Rand noted the spark that ignited in Mayhew’s eyes, the eager lift in his voice, and recognized the signs.
“And now…” Mayhew paused, then lightly shrugged.
“I’ve given you no cause to believe me, but I swear by all that’s holy that I will never lend myself to such a scheme again.
” He hesitated, then rather diffidently added, “I would like to make my apologies to Miss Throgmorton, but I felt it would be wise to clear the air with you first.”
That was undoubtedly true. And as well as that statement, everything Mayhew had said had rung with sincerity. He was, at base, an honest man, seduced into acting—into attempting to act—outside his nature. So why…? Rand fixed his gaze on Mayhew’s face. “What hold did your uncle have over you?”
Mayhew shrugged again, and his gaze wandered over the crowd. “The usual.”
“Debts?”
Mayhew tried to suppress a grimace. “Too many.” Then he pressed his lips tight.
That brought them to the most critical question. “Who is your uncle?”
Mayhew met Rand’s eyes. “Sir Horace Winthrop. Do you know him?”
Rand nearly laughed, although it wouldn’t have been humorously. His lips thinning, he nodded. “Oh yes. We’re acquainted.”
“Ah.” Mayhew glanced around. “Well, he’s here somewhere.”
So Rand had assumed. Despite his dislike of steam-powered machines, there were enough other inventions present to ensure Winthrop’s attendance.
“The main reason I came,” Mayhew continued, “was to tell old Horace that I hadn’t damaged the steam carriage and wasn’t going to. I told him if he wanted the thing sabotaged, he’d have to do it himself.”
Rand stilled. A frisson of premonition slithered down his spine. “When did you speak with your uncle?”
Mayhew frowned. “I’m not sure… Twenty minutes ago, perhaps? It might have been half an hour.” Mayhew glanced at Rand. What he saw in Rand’s face made him draw his hands from his pockets and straighten. “Surely you don’t think…?”
“You told him to sabotage the engine himself.” Rand turned to look over the heads at the Throgmorton exhibit.
“It was just a figure of speech.” Mayhew looked, too.
“Perhaps.” Rand started to push his way toward the exhibit. “But what if old Horace took it literally?”
“Would he?” Mayhew fell into step beside Rand. Together, they forced their way through the now-packed crowd—the Prince had just moved to view the invention next to the steam carriage.
After a moment of wondering if he was overreacting and deciding he didn’t care, Rand replied, “If Winthrop was prepared to pay you to sabotage the engine, I believe we have to take it as read that he’s willing to do just about anything to prevent the Throgmorton engine from working.”
Mayhew huffed—in dismay, rather than disagreement. Regardless, he didn’t argue but helped Rand force his way through the crowd.