Chapter 7
Seven
“It’s only me,” Frederick muttered quickly as he came to a stop behind Minerva, determined she would not escape him yet again.
He’d been searching all over the house for what felt like hours today, catching glimpses of her here and there as she managed her brother’s house party with quiet efficiency.
But she had always been in the company of one servant or another, and they’d done nothing more than utter pleasantries that left him unsatisfied.
And after yet another boring dinner without her company, he’d had enough and admitted to himself where he’d really rather be. With her. Not hidden away, either.
Now that he’d finally found her, spying upon her brother and Mrs. Franks in the deserted music room long after the dinner hour had passed, he was determined to get her alone and keep her.
Minerva observed the pair inside the music room silently, with such a strange expression on her face that his breath caught. Frederick watched her and wondered what was going on in her head. She did not look happy, or even sad anymore. She seemed resigned…and that wasn’t like her at all.
He leaned close to whisper in her ear, “I think it’s going quite well, don’t you?”
“How can you tell?” she whispered back.
“Because she’s still there. A sure sign of a lady’s, or gentleman’s, interest is when they don’t run away.” He moved closer, fingers itching to pull her into his arms as they settled on the small of her back. “Shall we join them?”
Frederick would rather not, though. He’d discovered during the course of the day, defending himself from Mrs. Franks’ eager advances, that he and Minnie had a lot more in common than he did with the widow.
They both liked to read, eat cake, and were fond of kittens.
Mrs. Franks claimed to be allergic when the kitten had been discovered under his chair in the dining room tonight, eating food Frederick had slipped to him. He’d quickly rescued the little beast when Humphrey threatened to banish it into the cold garden again.
“Could you still win the wager?” Minnie asked, turning a smile his way.
But he had grown suspicious of her smiles now.
He had come to suspect that when Minnie smiled, she wasn’t always as happy as she pretended to be.
She hid her moods well, which made it hard to know what she was thinking or feeling.
Especially about him.
And he’d like to know now, before another evening had passed, if she could care about him more than a little.
They were officially friends now, but their kiss was always on his mind.
He wasn’t sure how to procure another, and he usually knew exactly how to seduce any woman he fancied.
“I don’t want to win that wager,” he reminded her.
“A pity. I would like to see my brother’s face when he doesn’t get what he wants,” she said with uncharacteristic venom.
His brows rose, but he said nothing because there was movement inside the music room.
Mrs. Franks finally led Humphrey from the room with a soft, inviting laugh.
Frederick sighed in relief to see them both go away together.
He truly hoped to lose this bet tonight and be done with wagers once and forever.
With everyone else now gone off to bed, and unlikely to interrupt, he lured Minerva into the room by the simple method of pushing her there by force. Her cozy little hideaway was all very well and good, but Minerva should never have to hide from anyone in her own home.
She fussed with the tea tray that had been left behind on the table.
“Any chance for a cup of tea?”
“There’s only enough for one, I suspect, but it might be cold.”
“Cold or warm, we could share a cup if you’re thirsty,” he offered, thinking of her lips on his cup…and then against his own.
“Sharing will not be necessary,” she assured him. Minerva poured a cup of tea and handed it over to him.
When she sat, he dropped into the spot right beside her with more satisfaction than he’d felt all day. He was determined to devote more time to this new friendship and see where it led. And also, perhaps find out what the argument with her brother had been over.
Her gaze locked on the distant door that her brother had disappeared through, and then she smiled. “So, it’s not quite a week, and it seems my brother will win your wager. How much will you lose?”
“Twenty pounds.”
She did not look happy about that amount but turned to him with another one of her suspicious smiles. “I’ve been meaning to ask if you always bid on the outcome of your seductions.”
“Not usually. It was your brother who proposed a bet of ten pounds, and then I doubled it, just to see what he’d do to win the funds.”
“I see,” she said. “Are you disappointed with the outcome now?”
He started to chuckle. “What do you think I want? To take away the one woman your brother might actually want to marry?”
Minerva’s eyes widened. “Marry?”
“Your brother had his eye on Mrs. Franks during her first season, but I don’t think he had started courting her back then. You know your brother can be a bit slow.”
“I didn’t know he’d been interested in any woman, least of all her. It does explain her late inclusion on the guest list,” she said, a frown appearing on her face. “It explains so much, actually. But I can’t imagine my brother married to anyone.”
“Neither can I, and yet it will happen one day,” he said, laughing. “I imagine it might be nice for you to have some company around here.”
“Why would you imagine I’d still be here when he married?” she asked, one brow raised.
“Well, you’re not married yet, and…”
“Yes. No man wants me.” She shook her head. “I won’t be here when he marries.”
He was on the edge of his seat before he knew it. Her low opinion of her appeal troubled him greatly, but it was the latter remark that alarmed him most. “Where will you be?”
She considered him for a long moment, then shook her head. “I don’t know if I can tell you. You are his friend.”
“I’m also your friend now. I won’t betray you.”
She wet her lips, but it wasn’t to be seductive. She was clearly nervous about something, and his stomach pitted in concern.
“Tell me. I promise not to breathe a word to anyone,” he swore.
“I don’t know yet where I will go, but it will not be where my brother plans to send me.” She shook her head again. “I had hoped to go back to London for another season, but my brother refuses to take me there now.”
He clenched his jaw. “He actually refused you a second season?”
“Yes. The day you found me outside in the snow, I was furious about something he said, but I was too embarrassed to tell you. I’m sorry we’ll never get to dance together there.
I think I would have enjoyed it.” She shrugged, and then smiled in a way that he knew to distrust. “However, I think I found a better solution today.”
A newspaper clipping appeared in her hand and, after a moment’s consideration, she passed it over.
He read the words with a sinking heart, though, because it was not good news.
Not good for her at all—or for their friendship.
“You’d take a position as a companion to an old woman rather than stay here? ”
She wet her lips again and glanced at her lap.
“Well, since it has been made clear I’m no longer welcome here, and it’s uncertain if I could find a beau where he plans to send me, I’m considering doing as I please for once.
My brother scared off every gentleman with a glimmer of interest in me in my only season.
He won’t fund another. I happen to already have an acquaintance with the lady who advertised in this paper…
and who knows, perhaps she might introduce me to someone eligible who Humphrey can’t browbeat.
I’d have exactly the same duties with her as in Cornwall, but with her, I would actually be paid and hopefully appreciated. ”
He stared at her. If Minnie took up a position as an old lady’s companion, he would never see her again. Old ladies rarely came to London with any frequency, and no one missed them.
But Frederick would miss Minerva.
He burst to his feet, agitated by the idea of Minnie waiting on an old lady for money when she should be enjoying herself in society. Dancing in ballrooms, laughing when she was tipsy, and being thoroughly kissed in shadowy alcoves or secret sitting rooms.
“Where is your brother sending you?”
“The Cornwall estate.”
“But that’s in the middle of nowhere.”
“Yes, it is but the views of the sea are lovely.”
“You’d be alone there.” Everything about her confession tonight seemed wrong—and incomplete. “What did your brother say that made you so angry with him?”
She blushed and looked away from him.
“Was it he who insisted you wouldn’t find a husband next season?”
She nodded quickly and still wouldn’t meet his eye. “He has decided to send me away to where I won’t be a bother to his friends, too…but I think he’d just rather not be bothered by me anymore.”
Frederick stalked around the room, running a hand over his mouth to prevent a vile curse from crossing his lips.
He had to stop this nonsense, but what could he really do?
He couldn’t very well offer her an alternative to being exiled or taking up employment.
Or even find her a husband in one night.
Or could he?
He stopped dead in his tracks.
He turned slowly, rather stunned by his train of thought, and stared at Minerva Chase.
Four and twenty years old, hair like molasses and a figure he longed to hold against him. Sensible, accomplished, intelligence in abundance.
He liked Minnie. They were friends, and he hadn’t thought of another woman since he’d started talking with her. Even when he’d been blatantly offered female companionship, he’d refused to be tempted into another woman’s bed.
He moved toward her now and sat at her side, the knots in his stomach suddenly unraveling, but his heart was beating wildly.
Frederick could take Minnie away from her brother…if he married her.