Chapter 4 #2
The boy smiled and nodded. “Ooh, I like that. And I understand. I don’t want to go to the North Pole, so I won’t say anything about the cupboard or horrid Sir Bedivere or who I really am.
” Then he crossed to the window and looked down to the rose garden below.
“How long will I have to live here, Miss Davenport? It’s nice but it’s not like Highwood Hall or Fitzwilliam House.
” He turned back to look at Mina, his gaze melancholy. “I miss my room and my things.”
The young viscount asked a very good question.
If Sir Bedivere didn’t perish on his Arctic expedition, if he did make it back to England in one piece, Mina would have a rather large dilemma on her hands.
If Lady Grenfell had been right and the baronet was under the influence of an ensorcelled ring—a ring that made him act in such a way that put his ward in danger—Mina’s grave concerns for Lord Fitzwilliam’s safety would not be resolved by any means.
But she couldn’t keep the viscount here at Rose Cottage forever.
At some point she would have to enlist the support of others.
Her best friend, Emmeline, a former Parasol Academy nanny, was now a duchess—she’d wed her employer, the very clever and very wealthy Duke of St Lawrence—and she would no doubt provide Mina with help and advice.
But Emmeline had only married recently and Mina had just heard she was expecting.
Of course, Mina was over-the-moon thrilled for her friend and her husband, but that meant that Mina was also reluctant to drag Emmeline into anything that would definitely be deemed illegal.
She could also present her case to the Parasol Academy’s headmistress. The problem was, Mina really wasn’t sure how Mrs. Temple would react to the news that she’d taken it upon herself to remove Lord Fitzwilliam from Sir Bedivere’s guardianship. And all because Lady Grenfell had had a bad dream.
Mrs. Temple was once a nanny in the Royal Nursery, so she might have some influence with Queen Victoria if things went awry for Mina.
If the Queen could be convinced that the young viscount was in danger and decided to champion his cause, if Her Majesty could convince the Court of Chancery to appoint another guardian …
But those were a lot of ifs. Mrs. Temple could very well take against Mina for breaking the Academy’s sacrosanct rules and the law.
She might see it as her duty to protect the Academy and not Mina.
If that were the case, Mina would lose her licence to practice.
She could be arrested and hauled off to prison and incarcerated to the end of her days.
At this juncture, it was too dangerous a prospect to reveal everything to Mrs. Temple.
As awful as it sounded, part of Mina prayed that fate or Mother Nature might deal with the threat of Sir Bedivere before she had to.
As far as Mina knew, no one had ever navigated the Northwest Passage and lived to tell the tale.
Of course, Mina couldn’t share any of this with Lord Fitzwilliam.
No, Master Christopher Hopwell, she reminded herself.
Leaning down, she caught the boy’s solemn blue gaze and gave him the best explanation she could.
“Until I can make other arrangements, I’m afraid Rose Cottage will have to be your home for the time being.
I’m not sure how long it will take me to find another safe place for you to stay, but I will try.
I’m sorry, I don’t have a better answer.
But that’s the truth. Now”—Mina straightened and held out her hand—“let’s go and meet my mama and sister and then we can sort out your new bedroom.
I’m sure we can dig out a blue quilt and matching sheets from the linen press.
Something that’s not quite so pink. But I can’t promise there won’t be flowers.
” Last time Mina had checked, the guest room was covered in fabric patterned with blue-hued pansies.
Christopher smiled. “Blue is my favorite color, so that would be most satisfactory.” Then he whispered in his stuffed rabbit’s ear. “It’s all right, Mr. Hopwell. You know I really love mauve too.”
Mina led Christopher down the stairs—they were narrow and every step creaked, so Mina was worried her mother and sister might hear them.
But there wasn’t much she could do about that.
She certainly wasn’t going to tell her family that courtesy of the Fae’s leyline magic, she’d teleported into her wardrobe.
As far as her mama and sister knew, Mina was just an ordinary sort of governess.
Indeed, if her mother ever found out that her eldest daughter could perform magic, she’d surely expire on the spot.
It was no surprise to Mina that as soon as she and Christopher entered the drawing room, her mother was all aghast. Casting aside her embroidery, Edwina Davenport leapt out of her “peony” chintz upholstered armchair.
“Hermina! What are you doing here?” she cried, hands flapping about and eyebrows climbing toward the lace fringe of her mob cap.
“I didn’t hear you arrive. How did you get here?
” Then her copper-brown eyes darted to Christopher. “And who is this?”
“Goodness, so many questions all at once, Mama,” said Mina with a nervous laugh.
Her mother was a curious mixture of excess and parsimony, flightiness and firmness.
She had decided opinions and there was no naysaying her once she’d made her mind up about something.
For Mina’s plan to work, she’d somehow have to win her mother over.
But she did have a secret weapon up her sleeve.
(Well, really in her Parasol Academy pocket, but she wouldn’t employ it until the right moment.)
“It’s lovely to see you, Mina,” said Dorothea—or Thea, as Mina called her—rising to her feet as well.
She was three years younger than Mina and possessed a sweet, caring disposition.
Two years ago, when Mina had commenced her studies at the Parasol Academy, Thea had begun teaching at the local parish school that their late father had established.
She enjoyed the work and it also afforded her the opportunity to escape the frighteningly floral confines of Rose Cottage.
Thea’s soft brown eyes glowed with warmth as she smiled at Christopher. “I see you’ve brought a visitor.”
Her mother touched the cameo brooch at her throat. “But how did you get here?” she demanded.
“The train, of course,” lied Mina. “And you didn’t hear us arrive because we came through the kitchen.
” She summoned a smile as she laid a hand upon Christopher’s shoulder to reassure the boy in the face of Edwina Davenport’s persnickety manner.
“What does it matter anyway? You’re always telling me in your letters how much you miss me. ”
Her mother gave a haughty sniff. “You still haven’t introduced the boy?” she said, aiming a pointed look at Christopher. “I thought you were between posts.”
“I am,” said Mina. “And this is Master Christopher Hopwell. I’m looking after him as a favor for a friend. Just for a little while.”
Her mother gave a humph this time. “So what you really mean is that you want your poor put-upon mother and sister to look after the boy.”
Mina’s smile tightened. “His name is Christopher. And it will only be for a few weeks. Until I can make other arrangements for him. Possibly with my friend Emmeline, the Duchess of St Lawrence, when she returns to London. I also need to return to the Parasol Academy to secure a new position.”
Edwina Davenport did not look amused to be reminded that Mina’s friend had been elevated to the heights of a duchessdom whereas Mina was presently unemployed. “Because you were sacked,” her mother said bluntly.
Mina stiffened and squared her shoulders. “My last employer decided that he wished to employ a tutor for his ward, rather than a governess. There wasn’t anything wrong with the way I discharged my duties.”
Her mother leveled a considering stare at Christopher. “I take it he is well-behaved and says his prayers every night before bed and knows his catechism by heart.”
“He does,” said Mina. “He can even read and write and play the pianoforte. And he has a name too. Christopher.”
Edwina Davenport’s mouth flattened. “Sarcasm does not become you, my child.”
Thea, perhaps sensing that her mother and sister were about to butt heads like two disgruntled nanny goats, bravely stepped into the fray.
“Well, welcome to Rose Cottage, Christopher,” she said brightly.
“You may call me Miss Dorothea when we’re at home and Miss Davenport when we’re at school.
” Her gaze transferred to Mina. “I take it you would like Christopher to attend the parish school during the day to continue his education?”
Christopher bounced on his toes. “Oooh, I would like that.” He looked up at Mina with beseeching eyes. “I should like to go to school and meet other children. May I go, Miss Davenport?”
Mina’s heart clenched with sympathy. She’d sensed for some time that the young viscount might be lonely.
While it would be safer for Christopher to stay largely hidden within the environs of Rose Cottage, she didn’t have the heart to say no.
She smiled at the boy. “Of course.” To her sister she said, “Thank you, Thea.”
Edwina Davenport gave a huff. “It sounds like it’s all decided then,” she remarked.
Then her gaze narrowed. “Let it not be said that I have an uncharitable nature, but who’s going to pay for Master Christopher’s board?
You know I’m not made of money, Hermina.
Not since your father, God rest his soul, passed away. ”
Mina knew that her mother would bring up the subject of board money.
When Mina’s father had died five years ago, the family had been obliged to move from the Ablington Vicarage into the much smaller Rose Cottage.
Edwina Davenport had a small widow’s jointure.
But while she was quite parsimonious about many things—particularly when it came to meals (and most definitely when it came to dessert or anything sweet)—her penchant for decorating her new home in wildly extravagant floral-themed décor had cost her a pretty penny.
And Mina and Thea felt obliged to contribute to the cottage’s “upkeep” when they could afford to …
if only to keep their mother in an agreeable mood.
Because when Edwina Davenport was not agreeable—Mina inwardly shuddered—she could be quite the shrew.
Mina knew it was time to deploy her secret weapon.
“Have no fear on that score, Mama,” she said, reaching into her pocket for her coin purse.
“One of Christopher’s relatives entrusted me with a small bequest, so I can afford to pay his board.
” It wasn’t a lie—well, except for the bit about the bequest being “small” because it was actually rather substantial.
At least to Mina. Not long before she’d passed away, Lady Grenfell had given Mina a diamond-encrusted brooch to sell so she would have sufficient funds to take care of the dowager countess’s godson.
“How does three shillings per week sound?”
Her mother’s brown eyes gleamed like copper pennies. “Oh, that should do nicely,” she said with a sugared smile. She beckoned to Christopher. “Come, dear child. I do believe dinner is almost ready. We’re having corned beef, white sauce, boiled potatoes, and cabbage.”
After everyone was seated at the oak dining table, and Edwina began to supervise the cook and the housemaid—she was very particular about how dishes were set out and how the beef should be sliced and served—Christopher whispered to Mina, “I’m sorry, Miss Davenport, but I’m not very fond of corned beef or cabbage. ”
Mina sympathized because she wasn’t fond of them either. In fact, she detested them. “Eat a little if you can,” she said in a low voice, “and when you’re all settled in your room, I’ll see if I can procure a boiled egg and toast soldiers from the kitchen. Would that do?”
Christopher nodded. “It would.” Then his expression slid into resigned territory. “I know I shouldn’t complain. I’m truly grateful that I’m here at Rose Cottage and that I won’t meet any polar bears or walruses.”
At that moment, Mina’s mother snapped at the maid, Lizzie, for dropping a sliver of boiled cabbage on the hitherto pristine tablecloth of pressed white linen.
Mina couldn’t suppress a wry smile as she smoothed her napkin over her skirts.
While it was true that there was a decided absence of fearsome Arctic beasts in Ablington, she couldn’t say the same when it came to pettifogging shrews on the odd occasion.
She hoped that things would work out here for young Lord Fitzwilliam. If they didn’t, Mina would certainly be paying a visit to the newly wedded Duchess of St Lawrence sooner rather than later.