Chapter 25 #3
Emmeline snorted. “What nonsense. As if I’d ever abandon my very best friend—a good person and brilliant governess with the noblest of intentions—in a time of great need.
” She suddenly reached out across the small space between their shepherdess chairs, took one of Mina’s hands, and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
“You certainly have landed yourself in the middle of a right royal pickle though,” she said.
“So”—Mina released another shaky sigh—“what should I do now? Lord Kinsale and I are taking Christopher and Tom to the Great Exhibition tomorrow. But what if Sir Bedivere is out and about? Or Cheavers and one of his minions?”
Emmeline frowned. “In my opinion, the worst thing you can do is act like anything is amiss. You’ll raise the marquess’s suspicions that something is wrong if you go to ground.
Besides, Sir Bedivere, whether he’s wearing an ensorcelled ring or not, can’t be everywhere at once.
If he did visit Hyde Park it would probably be for an early morning ride.
And nothing happened today when Lord Kinsale took Christopher and Tom for a jaunt about the Park, did it? ”
“Not as far as I know,” said Mina.
“The truth is,” continued Emmeline, “you could run into Sir Bedivere, or this Cheavers chap or his men, anywhere. Even though you spotted the baronet outside Hatchards, he didn’t notice you or his ward.
He’s really searching for two very small needles in an impossibly large haystack if you really think about it. ”
“The fact that he didn’t see us is probably down to luck more than anything else,” said Mina dolefully.
“Perhaps,” said Emmeline. Her expression grew thoughtful.
“When you go to the Great Exhibition, I suggest you wear your Parasol Academy coalscuttle bonnet—the brim is nice and deep—and shield your face with your Parasol Academy umbrella or parasol as much as you can. And maybe sport some ‘against regulation curls.’ If you have an abundance of ringlets festooned about your temples and cheeks, it will help to obscure your face. My lady’s maid can show you how to style them with a heated curling tong or curling papers, if you like.
Oh, and throw a shawl over your uniform to hide the distinctive frogging on the bodice. ”
“All wonderful ideas,” said Mina. “I’ll make sure Christopher wears a wide-brimmed hat again. And that he doesn’t bring his purple velvet rabbit along. Cheavers and his men will be on the lookout for it, I’m sure of it. I suppose that’s the best I can do.”
Emmeline agreed. “I’m still intrigued by this Glamify potion that mysteriously manifested in your uniform pocket when you needed it,” she said.
“And on two occasions. It seems to me that the Fae are on your side. Why else would they have sent you such a unique magical tool? I do think you should confide in Mrs. Temple. And soon. You might be surprised by her reaction. Your concerns about young Lord Fitzwilliam’s safety are valid.
Surely she wouldn’t condemn you for doing your utmost to protect the boy. ”
“Perhaps,” said Mina. She wished she could be sure.
She picked up her discarded plate and nibbled at a tiny strawberry tart. It immediately brought to mind the Victoria sponge that she and Lord Kinsale had feasted on last night, and her cheeks grew as warm as the fire burning in the nearby grate.
“You know, it always amazes me that our magical pockets do seem to know what we need so that we might discharge our duties effectively,” she said when she’d finished the tart.
“For instance, an elocution book, entitled The Governess’s Guide to Fluent Speech Instruction, materialized in my pocket the very first time I planned on conducting a lesson for Lord Kinsale.
I hadn’t asked for it. It … it just appeared.
And it has been most helpful. Lord Kinsale’s stammer is hardly noticeable now. Especially after ki—”
Oops. Mina clamped her lips shut to stop herself saying the quiet bit out loud.
With her linen napkin, she dabbed the corner of her mouth.
Would it be wicked of her to suggest that she and Lord Kinsale kiss again tonight, just to see if kissing really was a “treatment strategy” that facilitated fluent speech?
But he has other plans, remember?
Mina swallowed her maudlin sigh along with a sip of tea.
Emmeline reached out and touched her hand again. “You’re in love with him, aren’t you?” she said softly. “Your Lord Kinsale.”
Mina couldn’t stop the tide of heat that flooded into her cheeks. Nor could she hide the truth from her best friend. “How-how did you know?” she murmured.
Emmeline smiled gently. “It’s obvious, my darling Mina. There’s a certain look in your eyes whenever you talk about him. A particular wistful warmth in your smile. Do you … do you think he’s in love with you too?”
Mina did let her sigh escape this time. “To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure.
It’s true we’ve spent a great deal of time together, alone at night as I’ve helped Lord Kinsale with his speech and to master all things ‘manners.’ We’ve both asserted we’re friends.
But …” She met Emmeline’s compassionate gaze.
“But last night, we kissed. It was actually my first kiss. With anyone.”
To Mina’s surprise, Emmeline squealed and clapped her hands together.
“I knew it. I knew it,” she exclaimed, her eyes dancing with unconcealed delight.
“How was it? Was it wonderful? Lord Kinsale is so very handsome in a rough and rugged sort of way, so I’m sure he must be very good at kissing.
And you so deserve a first kiss that’s lovely. ”
Mina couldn’t help but laugh at her friend’s exuberant reaction. “It was wonderful,” she admitted. “But we both decided that it must be a once-only event.”
Emmeline threw her an incredulous look. “Whyever would you make a decision like that? If you love him, and you suspect his feelings align with yours, how could one kiss be enough? For either of you?”
“I know. I know. It does sound idiotic when you put it that way,” said Mina.
“But I can’t ignore the fact that I’ve deceived the poor man.
The whole time I’ve been under his roof, working for him, cultivating a rapport with him, helping him with his stammer and giving him etiquette lessons, I’ve been living a complete lie.
I-I want to be honest with him, more than anything, but I simply can’t.
How can I tell him the truth about how Christopher and I came to be on the Kinsale Cloud?
Because if I do, then I’d have to divulge the Parasol Academy’s sacrosanct secrets.
And you know as well as I do that revealing the Academy’s association with the Fae might anger them.
And then the Academy will lose their Fae charter and Parasol nannies and governesses won’t be able to use magic anymore.
Children everywhere will be less safe. There’s so much more at stake than my feelings and Lord Kinsale’s. ”
Compassion and understanding lit Emmeline’s eyes.
“If you went to Mrs. Temple though, if you explained that you and the marquess are in love, she might grant special dispensation for Lord Kinsale to learn about the Parasol Academy’s secrets.
Because of the exceptional circumstances you’ve found yourself in.
” Her mouth quirked with a smile. “Stranger things have happened. Indeed, I’ve come to learn that the Fae sometimes move in mysterious ways and that happy-ever-afters are entirely possible.
But to arrive at that place, sometimes we must make difficult decisions and take chances.
We must risk all for what we believe in.
Because in the end, it might just be worth it. ”
Mina knew Emmeline was alluding to her own situation.
Of course, it had all worked out. She’d found true love with her duke.
Her only real “crime” in the eyes of the Fae had been to use magic in front of her employer, and that had been forgiven due to “exceptional circumstances.” But Emmeline had never stolen a child away from their legal guardian and then told endless untruths to cover it up.
“As I said, I’ll think about confiding in Mrs. Temple,” she said.
Emmeline nodded, seemingly satisfied with Mina’s response. And then the subject was dropped entirely as Xavier, the Duke of St Lawrence himself, walked in.
As soon as Emmeline’s husband entered the room, he commanded attention.
Attired almost completely in black, he was tall and lean with sharply cut features and an abundance of unruly raven-black hair.
When his frost-blue eyes locked with Emmeline’s, his wide mouth, which seemed habitually set in an uncompromising line, lifted into a warm smile.
A moment later, his penetrating gaze settled on Mina, who’d risen to her feet to curtsy, but he waved her back down with a gloved hand.
“Miss Davenport, I assure you there’s no need for such formalities,” he said in his rich deep voice.
“Any friend of my wife’s is a friend of mine. ”
My wife. Those two simple words sent an unexpected quiver of envy through Mina. Not because she coveted her friend’s husband. Far from it.
Xavier was undoubtedly a delightful man, but it was in that moment that Mina realized that she wanted a husband too.
And not just any man. She wanted Phineas O’Connell, the Marquess of Kinsale.
She wanted a blissful happy-ever-after with the man she’d fallen head over heels in love with.
She wanted a family—children—with him. She wanted to grow old with him.
She wanted it all.
She loved being a governess, but in her heart of hearts, she knew it would never be enough to satisfy her.
The problem was, Mina wasn’t sure if the things she truly desired would ever be attainable.
It was like longing for the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow—she could yearn for it all she liked, but securing such a precious gift seemed like an impossible feat.
At some point, Lord Kinsale would find out how deceitful she’d been. And when he looked at her and the soft light in his green eyes faded—as it undoubtedly would—she didn’t think she would be able to bear it.