Chapter 30 #2
“But the rest? Do-do you have logical explanations for any of those things?” The set of Lord Kinsale’s jaw was suddenly anvil-hard. “And please don’t lie to me, Mina. I think … I think the time for bein’ completely honest with each other has arrived.”
“Are you … are you really asking me if I can perform magic?” she whispered.
Lord Kinsale’s mouth hitched in a wry smile. “I’m … I’m an Irishman. I believe in curses and ghosts and shape-shiftin’ goblins called púca. And wailin’ banshees, and leprechauns and pots o’ gold at the end o’ rainbows. I even believe in faeries, me darlin’ Mina. O’ course I’m askin’ you that.”
There was nowhere to hide. And Mina was so very tired of hiding the truth from this wonderful man. The man that she loved.
So she inhaled a fortifying breath and took a leap of faith, knowing that Phineas O’Connell would catch her.
That he would listen and believe her and that he would never laugh at her or let her down.
“Yes, my lord,” she said. “I can perform magic. While I’m not a magical creature or being, like any of the ones you just named, I was trained to use the magic of the Fae in the course of performing my duties as a Parasol Academy governess. ”
Triumph flared in Lord Kinsale’s eyes. “I knew it!” he declared.
“I feckin’ knew it. You’re a wonder, Mina Davenport, and I’ll nev-never regret the day that fate or the Fae or the north wind sent you into my life.
” Leaning forward, he gave her a resounding kiss.
Even though it was brief and fervent, it sparked bright joy inside Mina.
“So tell me, how did you end up on me ship? I’m bloody dying to know. ”
“Well,” she began, “Parasol nannies and governesses can travel between places by a magical process called teleportation.” And then she told Lord Kinsale everything.
About how te-ley-portation worked, but how it had somehow gone horribly awry when she’d tried to spirit Christopher off the Valiant and back to Bristol.
How Sir Bedivere was being controlled by the evil Fae Queen Mab, through his ensorcelled silver and obsidian ring.
But whether Queen Mab had an ultimate purpose beyond using the baronet to “steal” Christopher, she knew not.
She told Lord Kinsale about the Parasol Academy’s Fae Charter and that her uniform had magical pockets and that she possessed both an umbrella and parasol that could render assailants “pleasantly confused” for a minute or two when poked with the magical tip.
And how she’d been casting a protective Guardia Nimbus spell over Christopher’s bedroom every night to prevent any sort of supernatural minion from Queen Mab’s court sneaking into his room and taking the boy.
Lord Kinsale listened to everything Mina told him, asking questions every now and again to clarify anything he didn’t quite understand.
When she’d finished, he leaned back against the settee, folded his arms, and gave her a measured look.
“It sounds to me like this Queen Mab wants Christopher for herself and … and to leave a changeling in his place.”
“You know about changelings too?” asked Mina
“Aye. O’ course I do!” said Lord Kinsale.
“The lore is as old as éire itself.” He cocked a dark brow.
“In all your time trainin’ at the Parasol Academy, did-did you ever learn where this Queen Mab’s court is?
Because if Lady Grenfell and Christopher both dreamt about a place of snow and ice, and Sir Bedivere was hell-bent on ferryin’ the boy to the Arctic, then …
then maybe that’s where this evil Fae queen is. ”
Mina sighed. “Believe me, I’ve wondered that too. But the only one who probably would know for certain would be Mrs. Temple.”
“Who you’ve been reluctant to approach. And for good reason.” To Mina’s surprise, Lord Kinsale shivered. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. That wee woman even frightens me.”
Mina couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, Phinn, I can’t imagine you being afraid of anything or anyone.”
Lord Kinsale suddenly reached out and gently caught her chin between his fingers. “What did you call me then, Miss Davenport? Did I hear you call me Phinn, just like you did last night?”
Mina blushed. “I-I might have,” she murmured.
“And why would you be callin’ me that, lass?” The light in the man’s eyes was as soft and beguiling as his voice. “Could it be that you’re rethinkin’ your refusal of me marriage proposal?”
“I didn’t refuse exactly,” said Mina. “I simply said that I couldn’t let you propose because you didn’t know the truth about me. And now you do.”
Lord Kinsale smiled. “Aye, I do. If I recall correctly, you also didn’t let me finish tellin’ you about all the things I love about you.”
“No. No, I didn’t. You could tell me now. If … if you still feel the same way. I’d understand if you didn’t tho—”
She got no further as Lord Kinsale—darling Phinn—pressed a finger to her lips.
“Hush now. O’ course I still feel the same way.
In fact, I think I might love you even more.
Not only are you beautiful and clever and kindhearted, but you’re fiercely brave and noble.
And it’s clear you’d risk anythin’ for those you care about.
I think I’ve been under your spell from the moment I found you in me wardrobe aboard the Kinsale Cloud. ”
“Truly?”
“Truly.” Phinn smoothed away a stray lock of hair from her cheek. “So do you have any other objections? Are … are there any other reasons why we shouldn’t wed?”
“Apart from the fact that I’m a governess and you’re a marquess?
” said Mina. She had to make sure that Lord Kinsale knew what might lie ahead for him.
What was at stake. “Because people are bound to gossip and say unkind, perhaps even cruel things. And the last thing I want to do is harm your reputation. Not when you’ve been working so very hard to earn the respect of your peers. ”
Lord Kinsale snorted. “Regardless of any gossip whispered behind me back, I’ll …
I’ll still have a voice in Parliament that will be listened to.
I’m big and loud and I can tone down me accent when I need to.
I can even control me stammer now.” His expression softened and his eyes glowed with warmth.
“All because of you, Mina. And even though I bear the title marquess, deep down, I’m still Phineas O’Connell, a simple man from County Cork who’s …
who’s fallen in love with the finest English rose he’s ever set eyes on. ”
“Oh, Phinn.” Mina’s voice caught. “You say the loveliest things. Things that take my breath away.”
The crooked smile Mina loved so much, tugged at the corner of Phinn’s wide beautiful mouth.
“I’m a man who’s always struggled with expressin’ me thoughts,” he said softly, “but-but with you, Mina, I can be meself. I can speak me heart and me mind and quite honestly, I cannot imagine a life without you in it. Your smiles, your laughter, your every word and sigh completely captivate me, and … and I cannot bear the thought of not havin’ you by me side, in me arms, and in me bed for the rest o’ me days.
You are, quite simply, my everythin’. Marry me, my darlin’ Mina.
Please say you’ll be mine.” But then Phinn’s brow pleated.
“Unless … unless of course you don’t … you don’t feel the same way … ”
“Oh, Phinn. Of course I love you,” breathed Mina.
“With my entire heart. Like you, I’ve kept the secret of how I feel locked away for weeks.
I was so very frightened that when you found out that I’m not the woman you thought I was, that you’d be so very angry.
That you’d feel betrayed. So I told myself that you and I could never ever be together.
That the idea of an ‘us’ was impossible.
But it seems I was very wrong.” She caught Phinn’s scarred hands and brought them to her lips.
Her eyes locked with his as she said, “Phineas O’Connell.
I love you more than you will ever know, and I would be honored to be yours and to share a life with you. Nothing would make me happier.”
And then Phinn gave a loud whoop, gathered her close and kissed her without restraint.
His mouth moved urgently, his tongue plunged and stroked deeply, and Mina kissed him back just as ardently.
There was fire in this kiss. It spoke of passion and joy and adoration and the everlasting bond that she and Phinn were forging together.
She loved being a governess, but this, being in Phinn’s arms, knowing she was loved so fiercely—that she’d somehow captivated this man’s heart—was everything.
Even though she’d been living a lie, he’d seen through all the artifice to her true self.
He knew her and trusted her and whatever trials they may face in the coming days, Mina was certain that they could count on each other to get through them.
It was a truth as immutable as the rising and setting of the sun and the turning of the world.
Love made everything right and whole and beautiful.
Phinn pushed her down onto the cushions of the settee and very soon, Mina found she wanted more than kisses.
Her body was aflame and pulsing with need, so when Phinn began to undo the buttons of her bodice so he could kiss her neck and shoulder and décolletage without restraint, she whispered, “You can go lower … if you want to.”
Phinn growled, low in his throat. “Oh, I very much want to, sweetheart. But”—he searched her gaze—“are you sure about this? We can wait until after we’re wed.”
Mina bit her kiss-swollen lip. Desire was humming through every part of her from head to toe so she wasn’t about to say no. “The door’s shut?”
Phinn grinned as he released another button. “Aye.”
“And Tom and Christopher are being looked after?”