“Yes. I would have given up my freedom, spent lots of Papa’s money, and all just to spend the rest of my life the exact same way I’ve spent the first part.”
At the puzzled look on Hugh’s face, she continued. “I now spend most of the year rattling around Montcliffe Abbey with no one but my governess, her niece, and our servants to keep me company.
“Papa and Sir Thomas show up after Parliament adjourns in late summer or fall, and then they leave again for London after Easter. If I were to marry any of the suitors who offered for me this Season, my life would be no different.”
Hugh left his chair and settled down on one knee in front of her. “You are the most beautiful and clever woman it’s ever been my privilege to know. And that includes the way you looked in groom’s clothes the first time I met you when you were only thirteen. You’re the only woman I know clever enough to sneak in to a boxing match.
You would make a much better duchess than Julian would ever deserve.” With that declaration, he reached out a forefinger and tapped her upturned nose. “However, in my opinion, you’d make an even better countess. Marry me.”
* * *
Hugh kneeled in stunned silence.He’d never intended to whisk Mina away from beneath Julian’s nose, but here it was. He couldn’t lie anymore, especially to himself.
Seated in her chair, Mina looked as stunned as he felt. She was so jaw-droppingly beautiful, he wanted to race through the pub searching for a vicar.
“I thought I just spent a good bit of time explaining why I have no intention of turning my life over to a husband.”
“If you were to make me the happiest man in England by acceptingmeas your husband, I’d never leave your side. You’d get sick of me.”
“But surely there’d be a mistress or two on the side.”
He shook his head briskly. “Never.”
Just as Hugh was about to stand and embrace Mina, he was jerked violently from behind, whirled around and dealt a teeth-loosening blow to the side of his head. Spitting blood with a roar, he lunged for Julian, and the two of them tumbled into the inn’s courtyard filled with a coach changing out horses and at least a dozen grooms and stable boys hard at work.
They rolled on out in spite of the crowd, the cold, the blinding snow, mud and horse manure littering the courtyard.
Hugh got the better of Julian momentarily before being rolled ignominiously beneath the mud-splattered duke for a further pounding.
* * *
In the open doorway,Mina drew closer to John Taylor who said nothing, but simply put his arm around her and pulled her back inside to the warmth.
Since no one remained in the private dining room Julian and Hugh had recently vacated, Mina told the barman to have her food and hot wine brought there, and to bring enough for John Taylor and Bridget as well.
She took one last look out the archway to the courtyard. Both men were bloodied, but neither one seemed ready to concede defeat. This wasnother fault. She didn’t care if they fought to the death. She wouldn’t intercede. However, she’d come to a monumentous decision. She would go home after the storm broke. She had no desire for any further “husband-hunts.” Her mother could sort out her own life. Mina didn’t need the approval of theton,or anyone, for that matter. She could live out her days in relative peace at the Abbey.
* * *
Mina took a long draughtof her hot mulled wine and sighed in contentment. She looked from Bridget to John Taylor and back. The two letter-writing friends obviously had moved on to deeper feelings. She could see the depth of their devotion on their faces.
“Could someone please explain why we’re all here together, snowbound at a coaching inn?”
When they tried to explain at the same time, Bridget nodded toward Mina’s natural father to take the lead. “I never meant to insert myself into your life, but the letters from Miss Walsh have meant so much to me all the while you’ve been growing up.
“And now? Why did you decide to substitute as my coachmen for the trip to the house party?”
He hung his head. “Your mother.”
And then he swung his gaze directly into Mina’s mirroring blue stare. “She had me fired when you were coming to town for your Season and then Lord Rumsford…he helped me with a retirement stipend.” He reached across the table and squeezed Bridget’s hand. We’ve opened a small grocer’s provisions shop on Piccadilly. “You don’t have to do anything your mother wants anymore. You can come live with us above the shop.
The door slammed open suddenly and Julian strode in, a drying cloth to his head to stanch the flow of blood from all the cuts on his face.
* * *
Julian was soterrified Mina would rebuff him, his hands shook. He was about to undertake the most important event of his life. He had to convince the woman he’d loved as long as he could remember to marry him.
So worried was he about losing Mina that he didn’t flinch when John Taylor rose and moved close.
