Chapter 28
In Which a Visit to the Great Exhibition Turns into an Even Greater Exhibition …
The next morning dawned, gray and dismal and as rainy as could be, and Mina wondered if they should postpone their excursion to see the Great Exhibition. But when Tom and Christopher both grumbled, and Lord Kinsale pointed out that there was always a chance of rain in London, she couldn’t say no.
In any event, the fact that it might be raining in Hyde Park brought Mina some small measure of reassurance as she helped the boys to get ready.
Children in mackintoshes and rain hats and galoshes would be everywhere, making them all look the same.
Umbrellas, which concealed faces, would be everywhere too, making it virtually impossible to distinguish one adult exhibition-goer from another.
Although, Christopher had been particularly pouty when she’d asked him to leave Mr. Hopwell at home.
She couldn’t take the chance that Cheavers or his men might spot the distinctive toy—after all, they were on the lookout for “a small blond boy with a purple velvet rabbit.” But when Mina had mentioned the treasured toy might get wet, thus spoiling the velvet, Christopher had complied, tucking the rabbit into his bed.
The inclement weather also gave Mina the perfect excuse to take her Parasol Academy umbrella along.
She’d been remiss in not taking it with her on far too many occasions of late.
But not today. If Sir Bedivere or Cheavers or any of his hired minions came near her or Christopher, she’d be sure to jab them with the pointy end.
And if the Point-of-Confusion failed, a short, sharp whack to the nether regions would fairly incapacitate a man for at least a few minutes, which would be enough time for her and Christopher to get away.
(She’d witnessed as much in Hatchards when she’d accidentally felled poor Lord Kinsale.)
Of course, she’d attempted to disguise her appearance further—well, as much as she could without using a Glamify spell.
After all, Cheavers did have a photograph of her and no doubt knew she’d be wearing a Parasol Academy uniform when out and about.
So she’d done as Emmeline had suggested and had framed her face with an abundance of ringlets, then crammed on her coal-scuttle bonnet so the bunches of curls partially obscured her cheeks.
Last of all, she’d thrown a voluminous dove-gray shawl over her shoulders, securing it in place with a pearl brooch.
Hopefully her navy wool uniform could pass for an unremarkable day gown rather than scream, “Looky here. It’s a Parasol Academy governess! ”
If any other Parasol Academy nannies or governesses were about, they were sure to give her side-eye. They might even report her to Mrs. Temple for breaching the Academy’s strict uniform protocols. But it was a risk Mina had to take.
The promise Lady Grenfell had extracted from her echoed inside Mina’s head. She’d protect Lord Fitzwilliam, no matter what.
That’s what she told herself again as Lord Kinsale’s coach neared Hyde Park’s Albert Gate.
“What-what shall we see first, boys?” asked Lord Kinsale. He’d been subdued throughout the short carriage ride from Kinsale House to the Park, looking out the window and occasionally patting Brutus, who lay beside him on the leather seat.
Tom’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Christopher tells me there’s some wicked stuff inside the Crystal Palace. Like a tree made out o’ knife blades, and false teef made out o’ hippopotamus ivory. And stuffed tigers and frogs and cats and dogs, and even somefink called a dodo bird!”
Brutus lifted his head from his front paws. Stuffed dogs? What the bejeezus? Ye’ll not see me settin’ me paws in a place that stuffs dogs. I’d be the dodo.
Mina pressed her lips together to suppress a laugh. They’re established taxidermist exhibits, Mr. Brutus. No one is going to seize you and cart you off to turn you into a pug display.
The pug snorted. Well, that’s all right then. But if I see any stuffed rabbits, they better watch out. Because I’ll be seizin’ them an’ rippin’ ’em to pieces.
Mina gave an inward eye roll. Thank goodness Christopher had left Mr. Hopwell at home in his bedroom. To Tom she said, “We can indeed visit all of those exhibits. And the Dinosaur Court.”
Lord Kinsale caught Mina’s eye. “If you don’t mind, Miss Davenport, I might also visit the ag-agricultural displays to see if there might be any useful … any useful innovations to employ on me estate back home in Ireland.”
Mina offered the marquess a smile. This man was nothing but thoughtful. She couldn’t imagine that English absentee landlords took such an interest in their Irish estates and the well-being of their tenants.
It was also clear that the positive effects of their kissing session had worn off. But still, after all his hard work, Lord Kinsale’s speech was so smooth, his stammer was barely noticeable.
Mina suddenly wondered how long he would actually need her for elocution and etiquette lessons. There would come a time—fairly soon, she imagined—when Kinsale House’s schoolroom would be her only domain. And that was only if Tom stayed.
While Tom did seem more settled now, it was still early days.
Trust took time to build, especially in one so young, who’d never really had anyone he could count on.
But Lord Kinsale appeared to be doing all that he could to make the young boy feel welcome.
It was just one more thing that Mina could add to her ever-growing list of “Things Hermina Davenport loves about the Marquess of Kinsale.”
Mina permitted herself a small sigh as she looked out the carriage window and watched the passersby entering Hyde Park.
More than ever, loving Lord Kinsale yet not being able to be with him was so very hard to deal with on top of all the other monumental issues she was trying to manage.
Every time she looked at him, she thought about their kisses and the wicked yet wonderful things she’d fantasized about in her bed.
Her dreams last night had been even more salacious.
She was a lather of lust and longing and guilt and confusion.
If it were at all possible, she’d seek another post. But she’d never find someone as considerate as Lord Kinsale, who’d take Christopher in as well.
Mina’s fingers tightened around her umbrella as the carriage drew to a complete halt.
She suddenly felt like a piece of porcelain that contained a tiny fissure, but the crack was about to spread, and very soon she would splinter entirely.
As soon as she got through this visit to the Great Exhibition, she would contact Mrs. Temple.
It was time.
“Miss Davenport, are you all right?”
It was Lord Kinsale. Mina summoned a smile as she met his concerned gaze. “Yes, I’m perfectly fine, my lord. I’m just concerned about the weather. Let’s hope the rain holds off.”
A footman was helping the boys to alight from the carriage when the marquess murmured, “I’m-I’m sorry if everythin’ feels awkward after last night. I … I trust we can go back to bein’ just friends? Like we used to be?”
“Of course, my lord,” she lied. Could Lord Kinsale tell that her smile was as brittle as could be?
That she was about to crack beneath the strain?
He had a particular look in his eyes—it wasn’t just worry, it was more than that.
It was clear he cared for her, at least a little.
But somehow, that made everything feel worse because she was such an enormous liar.
He handed her down from the carriage and for a moment, Mina thought he was going to tuck her hand into his elbow.
But then he stepped away and called Brutus to heel while Mina made sure the boys’ rain hats were pulled low on their brows.
A light mizzling rain had started, so she put up her umbrella and lowered her head, hoping her bonnet’s brim and curls would sufficiently hide her face.
The decision was made to see the Dinosaur Court first before the rain got any heavier.
The group of four enormous concrete statues stood by the banks of the Serpentine, and despite the drizzle, at least half a dozen children were climbing all over them—sitting on the great beasts’ backs or swinging from their necks or crawling beneath their undercarriages while their adult “minders” looked on.
Mina explained to Tom that the “monsters” as he’d called them, were really replicas of ancient creatures that lived thousands of years ago.
“One’s called a Hylaeosaurus. Another is named a Megalosaurus and there are two Iguanodons. ”
“I’m not even go-goin’ to begin to try to pronounce those names,” said Lord Kinsale by her ear.
He’d leaned beneath her umbrella and for a moment, Mina closed her eyes to savor the scent of his utterly gorgeous cologne.
The drift of his warm breath against an exposed sliver of her neck between the edge of her bonnet and her uniform’s high collar was the sweetest of tortures too.
“I’m sure you could,” she murmured, as an acute wave of longing washed over her.
“Perhaps … after we’d shared a kiss,” he returned in a low voice that sent a delicious shiver down her spine.
“Sorry. I … I shouldn’t have said that.” He straightened and clasped his gloved hands behind his back.
“But I thought you’d like to know that our …
our experiment’s positive effects lasted for …
for a whole half hour. I stayed up a while, rehearsin’ me parliamentary speech and for the most part, I was flu-fluent.
It was quite remark-remarkable. Some might even say miraculous. ”