Chapter 32 #2
Phinn had heard the baronet too. Drawing back from Mina, he sighed then gestured over his shoulder with his thumb. “Do you have any idea what the hell we should do about Sir Bedivere?”
“That’s a very good question,” said Mina.
She and Phinn turned to discover that the baronet had pushed himself up to a sitting position.
His forearms rested on his bent knees, and his head hung low.
Brutus sat nearby and a low growl emanated from the pug’s throat every time the man made the slightest movement.
As Mina and Phinn made a cautious approach, Sir Bedivere looked up and regarded them both—and Mina winced in sympathy.
Courtesy of Phinn’s punches, he was rather a mess.
One eye was empurpled and almost swollen shut, and his nose was bleeding.
He wiped away the trickle with his sleeve then frowned in apparent confusion at Mina. “Miss … Miss Davenport?”
“Yes, it’s me, Sir Bedivere,” she said. Gesturing at Phinn she added, “And this is my fiancé, the Marquess of Kinsale.”
The baronet’s brow creased. Then he grimaced and gingerly touched his swollen eye.
“So I suppose it was you who knocked the living daylights out of me, Lord Kinsale? Although from what I recall, it seems like I deserved it.” His troubled gaze met Mina’s.
“Have I really been such an utter prat all these weeks?”
“What do you remember?” asked Mina. It would be a relief indeed if Sir Bedivere did actually recall at least some of what had gone on. And if he was willing to acknowledge his behavior had been odd, bordering on unhinged, it would be even better.
Sir Bedivere staggered to his feet. “It’s all a bit of a blur to be perfectly honest, but I recall there was this godawful woman with black eyes who kept hounding me in my sleep.
And that bloody ring.” He visibly shuddered.
“She made me put it on and then I couldn’t take it off, no matter how hard I tried.
It’s like I’ve been living in a nightmare.
I’ve not been myself. At all. And oh, God.
” His mouth twisted and his voice was tinged with remorse as he added, “My poor ward. That poor child. He must be terrified of me. No wonder he called me a gobshite.”
So Sir Bedivere did seem to remember some things. “Yes, he’s been through quite a lot,” agreed Mina. “But rest assured, Lord Fitzwilliam is safe and well. And the cursed ring that you’ve been wearing, it’s gone now. Destroyed. So that horrid woman won’t be plaguing you anymore.”
“Who was she?” The baronet seemed genuinely perturbed. “She made me buy a ship. She kept telling me that she wanted my ward.”
Mina sent him a kind smile. “I think it’s best if we all visit the Parasol Academy. Mrs. Temple, the headmistress if you recall, might be able to help with … explanations. And you’ll be able to see Christopher—that’s where he is at the moment.”
Of course, she didn’t want Sir Bedivere to take Lord Fitzwilliam away—in fact the very idea made her heart ache terribly—but unless the baronet agreed to relinquish his guardianship, there was little Mina could do.
Sir Bedivere was frowning. “Has my ward been at the Parasol Academy since he went missing from the Valiant?”
“No, he’s been residin’ here at Kinsale House,” said Phinn. “With-with me own ward, Tom. Miss Davenport has continued to act as Lord Fitzwilliam’s governess.”
Mina summoned a reassuring smile. “Lady Grenfell asked me to look out for him while you … while you were unwell.”
“Thank heavens you did,” said Sir Bedivere, his expression the epitome of harried. “Good God. What was I thinking, trying to cart little Christopher off to the North Pole? The North Pole! Who on earth would want to go there? I think even the walruses and polar bears don’t want to be there.”
Mina couldn’t help but laugh. “I think you might be right.”
Phinn lightly clapped the baronet on the shoulder. “Why … why don’t I have my valet assist you with tidyin’ up, and then we’ll visit the Parasol Academy. Then we can sort out what to do … to do about your ward.”
“Yes …” Sir Bedivere rubbed his furrowed brow.
“Dashed if I know what to do, though. I’ve made such a complete mess of things.
If Christopher were older, I could send him off to Eton or Harrow.
They’d do a good job of educating him at least.” He released a doleful sigh.
“No doubt I’ve been blacklisted by the Parasol Academy after all”—he waved his hand around the ballroom—“this. Perhaps I’ll have to employ that tutor Meecham again. ”
Mina gasped. When the baronet looked up and saw the expression on her face—she couldn’t hide her horror—his frown deepened. “What’s wrong with Meecham?”
“Well, aside from the fact he thinks nothing of rapping a child’s knuckles if they make a simple mistake,” said Mina, “don’t you think Christopher deserves to live somewhere where he feels safe and cherished and wanted? Not an encumbrance or nuisance?”
Sir Bedivere looked at Mina, his expression thoughtful. “He’s been happy here with you and Lord Kinsale, Miss Davenport?”
She lifted her chin. “I believe he has. Very much so. He looks up to Lord Kinsale and he’s found a very best friend in the marquess’s ward, Tom. And I … I’ve come to care for Christopher rather a lot. More than I can say, in fact.”
“Aye, me too,” said Phinn. “In many ways, I feel like we’ve grown into a … a family of sorts. It-it might be unconventional in some respects, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a home filled with love and laughter.” He caught Mina’s eye and smiled. “At least I like to think so.”
“Well then,” said Sir Bedivere. “I have a lot to consider moving forward. When Christopher’s parents asked me to be his guardian, when he was but a wee babe, I of course agreed.
The late Lord Fitzwilliam was a close friend of mine and I’ve only ever wanted his son to be happy.
Perhaps it’s time for Christopher to decide what he wants. ”
“And the money you’ve had access to, managing Christopher’s trust, that’s not a factor?” asked Mina.
Sir Bedivere gave a small snort. “Perhaps if I were still planning on navigating the Northwest Passage, an insane venture sure to end in financial ruin, not to mention disaster. But no, I have sufficient wealth, so that’s never been a consideration.
” He grimaced. “Well, until I put on that cursed family heirloom.”
Hope bloomed inside Mina’s chest. She was so very relieved that the un-ensorcelled baronet was willing to consider the idea of relinquishing his guardianship.
If Christopher wanted to live with Mina and Phinn and Tom at Kinsale House, no doubt there would be quite a long-winded bureaucratic process that would have to be slogged through in the Chancery Court. But in the end, it would be worth it.
After Phinn delivered Sir Bedivere into Frobisher’s capable hands, Mina asked her fiancé about one other matter that was niggling at her like a thistle in her stocking.
“Is there anything we should do about Smedley?” she asked.
“He expressly disobeyed your direct order not to let Sir Bedivere in. And while I know it might have been difficult to stop the baronet from barging his way into Kinsale House when he was under Mab’s control, it was Frobisher who raised the alarm. ”
They were in the hall outside Phinn’s suite of rooms. Nevertheless, Phinn glanced about to see if they were alone before he responded.
“Aye, we should,” he said. “I’ve lost count of the times he’s behaved in high-highly questionable ways.
Not to mention his continued lack of respect.
Not-not just for me, but for you too.” He caught Mina’s hand and kissed it.
“We’ll deal with him as soon as we return from the Parasol Academy.
None of us, Tom and Christopher included, need that sort of dis-disagreeable presence in our lives. ”
Mina couldn’t have agreed more.
With all her heart she hoped that Phinn’s dream—which was hers too—could become a reality. That she and the marquess, Tom and Christopher, and even Phinn’s wee beastie of a pug, could be a true family.
Finding out what the future held for all of them was only a trip to the Parasol Academy away.