Chapter 25
Concerning Euphemisms and Failed Cucumberfication; Followed by a Reunion Wherein Some Much Needed Advice Is Given …
She had the entire afternoon off!
Mina couldn’t quite believe it. In fact, she hadn’t even had to ask Lord Kinsale. As soon as the marquess returned from Hyde Park with Christopher and Tom and Brutus, he sought her out in the schoolroom, where she’d been waiting for the boys.
“It occurred to me, Miss Davenport,” he began, his eyes as soft as moss-green velvet, “that you’ve been wor-workin’ for me for weeks and have gone above and beyond during that time.
Yet you … yet you haven’t had one minute to yourself.
And given the fact you stayed up so late last night, helpin’ me with Tom …
and then spend-spendin’ time with me … givin’ you the rest of the day off is the least I can do. ”
Mina couldn’t stop the blush that crept into her cheeks.
“Spending time with me” was undoubtedly the hugest euphemism in the history of euphemisms for the “late night shenanigans” (as Frobisher had put it) that Mina had shared with her employer.
Their “kissing lesson”—clearly another euphemism if Mina were completely honest with herself—might have been a once-only event, but she couldn’t stop going over it in her mind.
Locking it away in her heart—as she’d promised herself she would do—suddenly seemed like an impossible feat.
Especially since Lord Kinsale was being so thoughtful and kind. Again.
He was the most amazing man in the entire world and she suddenly wished with all her foolish heart that she could be his. His Mina.
It appeared that she had fallen hopelessly in love with her employer and that any attempts to “cucumberfy” herself were bound to fail. Indeed, they’d failed miserably already.
“Thank you, my lord,” she murmured, reminding herself that there were children present in the schoolroom; Christopher and Tom were presently sitting on the Turkish rug before the fire, playing with Christopher’s recently returned set of toy soldiers.
The children were her priority and her messy personal situation—or rather, her terribly inconvenient and totally unprofessional attachment to her employer—did not matter.
“Your generous offer has actually come at an opportune time,” she added.
“My dear friend, Emmeline, the Duchess of St Lawrence, has arrived back in London and she has invited me to St Lawrence House to take tea. At three o’clock this afternoon in fact. ”
“Make sure you have as much cake as you like,” said Lord Kinsale softly. “And … and do not feel guilty about it. Not-not one wee bit. As your employer, I insist.”
Mina smiled. “I promise you that I will enjoy my cake with alacrity.”
The marquess’s smile warmed Mina all the way to the tips of her toes. “As you should.”
Ack. You two are soppier than a syrup cake with extra syrup on top, complained Brutus, who was sitting on the window seat, watching them.
Well, don’t watch or listen then, returned Mina, casting the pug a narrow look. And what’s wrong with syrup cake? I thought you liked cake.
Sausages are better. Brutus sniffed the air. Got any more in that pocket o’ yours?
Mina ignored his question and turned back to the marquess. “I should be back in time to supervise the boys’ dinner.”
Lord Kinsale’s brow creased with a slight frown. “You have the whole day off, remember? That includes this evenin’. I’ll make sure Mrs. Aldershot assigns a pair of maids of your choice to take care of Christopher and Tom in your absence.”
“Thank you. But …” Mina drew a breath. “But won’t you require me for another … another etiquette and elocution lesson tonight? I know it won’t be long until you make your parliamentary speech.”
“As much as I would enjoy that,” said Lord Kinsale, “no. Not tonight. I have … I have other plans.”
“Oh … Very well then.” Mina’s heart sank and she tried to ignore the feeling of disappointment tightening her chest. She knew that Lord Kinsale had seen his friend Lord Hartwell this morning in Hyde Park, so perhaps he’d been issued with an invitation to a high society soiree or ball or dinner party.
Meeting Lord Kinsale’s eyes, she forced a smile.
“Whatever you do, I hope you have a wonderful time.”
Lord Kinsale smiled back, his eyes gleaming. “I’m sure … I’m sure I will. Speakin’ of plans, I did won-wonder if we might take Christopher and Tom to see the Great Ex-Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in the next day or two? It’s clo-closin’ next month, and neither Tom nor I have seen it yet.”
Mina blinked in surprise. “You haven’t? Oh, you must, my lord.
It’s truly amazing. I took Christopher several months ago and he loved it.
” And then her stomach rather than her heart sank as she contemplated how dangerous it would be to take Sir Bedivere’s ward to such a well-attended event.
The crowds inside and outside the Crystal Palace were always large.
What if Cheavers and his men were there, watching and waiting?
Or even the baronet himself paid a visit?
But then she reminded herself that Cheavers—from what she’d overheard last night at Fitzwilliam House—had yet to employ the men needed to search for her and Christopher; it might take him a few days to organize that.
He’d also said he would deploy them in various parks around London.
So they would be spread quite thinly. Indeed, Lord Kinsale had just taken Christopher to Hyde Park and nothing untoward had occurred. As far as she knew.
Aside from all that, hadn’t she taken the boys to various parks over the last few weeks without incident? Although, her senses had been on high alert and her heart had been in her mouth a great deal of the time. Especially after the close encounter with Sir Bedivere at Hatchards.
But it’s not as though you are defenseless, Hermina Davenport.
You are a Parasol Academy governess.
She was equipped with spells and self-defense skills, and as the Parasol Academy clearly stated, she was prepared for anything (even if she wasn’t quite as prim and proper as she used to be).
She certainly couldn’t keep Christopher locked up and hidden away forever. That wasn’t fair on the poor child either.
No, she would just have to trust that it would be difficult to pick out little Lord Fitzwilliam in a crowd. And if Sir Bedivere or one of his henchmen did, she would be able to deal with any threat effectively, just as she was trained to do.
Although, she might be easy to pick out. Cheavers apparently had a photograph of her. It was a pity she couldn’t employ the Glamify spell again. But then she’d appear different to everyone, including Lord Kinsale. So that clearly wasn’t an option.
Mina’s apprehension must have shown on her face as Lord Kinsale said, “You-you look worried all of a sudden, Miss Davenport. If you’d prefer not to go …”
“Oh no.” Mina smiled brightly. “It will be a marvelous excursion and I think we should go sooner rather than later. Tomorrow even, if that suits you, my lord.”
“It does,” said Lord Kinsale. “I shall secure tickets today.”
“Huzzah!” cried Christopher.
“Wizard!” exclaimed Tom. “I mean, cor blimey!”
Brutus yapped three times and twirled around on the window seat. I love Hyde Park. There are so many trees to cock a leg on. An’ ducks an’ pigeons an’ squirrels to chase.
The boys and the pug had clearly been eavesdropping. But Mina didn’t mind. It was lovely to see everyone so happy.
She might be as tired as could be, but she was happy too.
Despite all the terrible things that might happen, they hadn’t yet.
So she would embrace the here and now and all the wonderful, delightful things that filled her heart with so much joy.
Like seeing the bright smiles on the faces of two orphaned children from very different worlds who’d become firm friends.
Or the wicked glee dancing in a rumbustious pug’s eyes.
Or the boundless kindness of a nobleman who’d come from the humblest of beginnings and wanted to use the unexpected gift of his privilege to help those who weren’t so fortunate.
She would embrace it all … even if she’d never have what her heart truly desired: an Irishman with shamrock-green eyes whose kisses were the most glorious thing she’d ever tasted.
“Governess alert! Governess alert!”
Mina laughed as the Duke of St Lawrence’s pet raven, Horatio Ravenscar Esquire, greeted her in the grand entrance hall of St Lawrence House in Belgrave Square. She’d met him at Emmeline and Xavier’s wedding in June and found that he was both personable and vastly entertaining.
It’s so lovely to see you again, Horatio, she said via her mind as she handed her bonnet, cloak, gloves, and Parasol Academy umbrella (the afternoon had turned inclement) to a waiting footman. I trust you had a wonderful time at the seaside.
The raven spread his enormous wings, then soared from the chandelier above her head down to one of the carved newel posts at the foot of the townhouse’s grand sweeping staircase. The absolute best, he declared. Although it’s good to be back in London.
At that moment, there was a squeal of childish outrage followed by a shout, and then a girl cried, “Gadzooks, Bartholomew and Gareth! Don’t you dare feed my monarch caterpillars to Aristotle! I have a hard enough time keeping Horatio away!”
When Mina looked up the staircase to the landing, it appeared that Xavier and Emmeline’s oldest adopted child, ten-year-old Miss Harriet “Harry” Mason, was trying to wrest a glass jar from the clutches of one of her younger brothers—Mina thought it might be the middle sibling, Bartholomew.
The youngest child, Gareth, who was holding a terrapin in his hands (perhaps the aforementioned Aristotle) looked on with an expression of bored resignation; it seemed as though he was used to this sort of thing and had little time for it.