Julian closed his eyes and regretted ever trying to explain Mina to his business partner one night when they were both in their cups.
* * *
Mina pokedher head out of the carriage window at the sound of booted footsteps approaching. It was only Julian…with another man. Julian was not smiling, but his friend sported a wide grin. She jerked her head back inside, like a turtle at the first sign of danger.
She retreated to the farthest corner of the carriage from the door and squeezed her eyes shut tight, feigning sleep, but forgetting to erase the grimace from her lips.
The coach door swung open, and there stood the pest, Julian. “Stop pretending, Mina. I know you’re not sleeping. You just now were hanging out the window like a housewife looking for the fishmonger.” Julian accompanied his scold with a deep sigh. “Open your eyes. There’s someone here who wants to be introduced, though God knows why.”
Mina stuck her tongue out and then buried her head in the squabs in the hopes she’d somehow disappear and he’d leave her alone.
Julian cleared his throat and began the introductions, even though she still hid her head. Miss Wilhelmina Tindall, I would like to introduce you to my friend, Hugh Elliot, Earl of Westfalia. Milord, may I introduce Miss Tindall? She’s the daughter of Viscount Rumsford.”
When Mina continued to burrow her head into the carriage seat in silence, Hugh said, “My pleasure Miss Tindall. Sorry to have disturbed you.”
She heard him turn to leave and then overheard his aside to Julian. “I’m going to go over and place a wager on Gentleman Jenkins. He’s in one of the matches late this afternoon, and I’ve heard great things about him.”
At that, Mina leapt to her feet and leaned out the carriage window toward the two men. “Milord Westfalia—.”
Hugh spun around at the quiet utterance of his name coming from her mouth.
At the surprised look on his face, she motioned for him to come nearer so that she could whisper in his ear. When he was close enough for her to lean over and speak low, she said, “Don’t waste your money betting on Jenkins. He’s going to throw the fight.” After that cryptic warning, she started to shuttle back turtle-like again into the darkness of the carriage, but he stopped her with his hand on her shoulder. “Why would a child like you know a thing like that?”
“I overheard him talking to his manager in the stables when he thought no one was listening. Stable boys like me are invisible.” With that, she dropped out of sight.
“What on earth is she up to now?” Julian demanded.
Hugh merely smiled. “That’s between the two of us,” he said, and disappeared back toward the betting booths.
* * *
Mina refusedto break eye contact with Julian. She would die before letting him know he’d out-maneuvered her. Just as she thought she’d explode from their game of who would blink first, he leaned over and opened an enormous wicker basket.
He pulled a long, narrow box out of another box layered with straw and placed it carefully onto the carriage seat beside him. They’d already made the turn out of Grantham headed south on the North Road.
They were homeward bound toward the Abbey…not to mention Mrs. Phippen’s ire, Lucy’s terror, and Bridget’s disappointment. The latter was the most difficult to contemplate. No matter how noble Mina’s ideas at the outset, they always seemed to end this way - her headed for a meeting with the people she cared most about, but had let down again.
When they’d first rolled out of the inn yard at the Angel, she’d tried to maintain her tough tomboy person until Julian had asked her about the cheese-cloth. And then she’d confessed her shame at growing into a woman in spite of her best intentions and not being able to move freely anymore like a boy. Finally, shame of shame, she’d cried like a small spoilt urchin all over his jacket. There was Julian, whom she’d always strived to impress, now a witness to her ultimate downfall.
She’d meant only to see the boxing matches. She’d never attended one, and it seemed to be one of the things her brothers and Julian greatly enjoyed. She’d assumed once she’d survived the long trip without being noticed, she’d be able to stay and enjoy the matches. She hadn’t counted on her plan to blend in with the other stable boys going so wrong.
Her father was still in London attending sessions at the House of Lords, but he’d be home within a few weeks. And of course, she was certain Mrs. Phippen would be duty-bound to write to him about the latest mess she’d created.
She finally managed to croak out, “How will George and Wills get home?”
“Lord Westfalia will take them back to London in his carriage.”
“You mean the man you introduced me to?” She puffed out a sigh. “At least they won’t hate me for leaving them without a carriage. Of course, they hate me for all sorts of things anyway, not to mention for the mere fact of being born.” After a few moments of silence while she chewed on her bottom lip, she demanded, “Is he a rake?”
“Who?”
“You know - your friend, the earl.”
“Mina—.” Julian’s tone held a threat that brooked no further questions.
“Well, I just thought I ought to…”
Julian interrupted. “How the devil you know what it means to be a rake is beyond me.” He handed her a bowl of berries from the huge, mysterious hamper where he’d rested his booted feet earlier.
