aethersphere? I can’t risk that.”
“But if, as you say, there’s no time to waste, then you may have no choice.”
“Maybe, but it will only be a last resort.”
“Should we go to his house now, as it is so urgent?”
He ought to have agreed, but he found himself hesitating. In all likelihood this would be the last time he’d have Minerva to himself. When they returned to Asher’s house, she would no longer be his. She’d never really been his anyway, deuce take it. He’d just been borrowing her, taking what didn’t belong to him, but demmitall he was only human, and when his mission was completed who knew if he would feel this woman’s love again.
“Why don’t we enjoy our ride in the park first?” he said.
She nodded as if she understood his selfish needs. “Yes, why not?”
He drew up the blinds, and the horse slowed down to bear into the gale. The sky was raw, the winter trees groaning and bending under the scouring wind. Hardly an afternoon to be outdoors. But with Minerva curled up beside him, her arm tucked into his and the cold pinking her cheeks, for the first time in ages he felt peace stealing over him. She began to tell him about Mrs. Pettigrew and the piece she intended to design for the poor lady. The commission would pay her handsomely and enhance her reputation. Everything augured well for her fledgling business. Half an hour flew past. He could have sat all day with her, but eventually he signaled the driver to turn towards Kensington.
As they drew closer to Asher’s house, Minerva grew quiet and somber. “Where have you been living this past fortnight?”
He shrugged. “A boarding house not far away.”
A puzzled look crossed her face. “You could have been in Manchester. With me.” A rosy hue crept over her cheeks.
His heart skipped a beat as he read the message in her blush. “If I had stayed in Manchester…” Heat warmed his loins. He took a breath to steady himself. “But I could not have deceived you to that extent. You would never have forgiven me.”
“And yet you made me believe you’d had a change of heart.” White teeth fretted her soft lower lip. “You wrote me love letters every day. Was that not a deception too?”
Sighing, he lowered his head. How could he convey his desperation for her without betraying the truth? “You’re right. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“I cherish every one of your letters. Nevertheless, if it weren’t for them, I would never have shown up without warning on your doorstep.” She chewed her lip some more. “And then I would never have seen my mother.”
His neck cricked as his head jerked up. “I meant what I said earlier, Minerva. Your mother is not someone you would wish to associate with, and you must promise me not to see her anymore.”
“You haven’t given me a good reason why I should avoid her.”
“She abandoned you when you were eight and allowed you to think she was dead!” Asher gesticulated with some feeling. “Isn’t that reason enough?”
The line of her chin grew mutinous. “No matter what she’s done, she is still my mother.”
“A fact she does not want to be reminded of,” he retorted. “A woman like her would not enjoy being seen in the company of a grown-up daughter who would only highlight her true age.”
“A woman like her?” Minerva turned to him, glowering. “You look down on her because she’s a mistress? Circumstances must have forced her into such a position. After all, Herr Schick is hardly the most agreeable of men. You’re too harsh on her.”
Not after what he’d discovered last night. He wavered on the edge of telling her everything he’d found out about Mrs. Nemo but couldn’t do it. The discoveries had disturbed him, a hardened man of the world. How much more upsetting would it be to learn such things about one’s parent? “Let’s not argue over her now,” he compromised. “First, we need to convince Asher.”
Glancing out the window, he saw they’d
“But if, as you say, there’s no time to waste, then you may have no choice.”
“Maybe, but it will only be a last resort.”
“Should we go to his house now, as it is so urgent?”
He ought to have agreed, but he found himself hesitating. In all likelihood this would be the last time he’d have Minerva to himself. When they returned to Asher’s house, she would no longer be his. She’d never really been his anyway, deuce take it. He’d just been borrowing her, taking what didn’t belong to him, but demmitall he was only human, and when his mission was completed who knew if he would feel this woman’s love again.
“Why don’t we enjoy our ride in the park first?” he said.
She nodded as if she understood his selfish needs. “Yes, why not?”
He drew up the blinds, and the horse slowed down to bear into the gale. The sky was raw, the winter trees groaning and bending under the scouring wind. Hardly an afternoon to be outdoors. But with Minerva curled up beside him, her arm tucked into his and the cold pinking her cheeks, for the first time in ages he felt peace stealing over him. She began to tell him about Mrs. Pettigrew and the piece she intended to design for the poor lady. The commission would pay her handsomely and enhance her reputation. Everything augured well for her fledgling business. Half an hour flew past. He could have sat all day with her, but eventually he signaled the driver to turn towards Kensington.
As they drew closer to Asher’s house, Minerva grew quiet and somber. “Where have you been living this past fortnight?”
He shrugged. “A boarding house not far away.”
A puzzled look crossed her face. “You could have been in Manchester. With me.” A rosy hue crept over her cheeks.
His heart skipped a beat as he read the message in her blush. “If I had stayed in Manchester…” Heat warmed his loins. He took a breath to steady himself. “But I could not have deceived you to that extent. You would never have forgiven me.”
“And yet you made me believe you’d had a change of heart.” White teeth fretted her soft lower lip. “You wrote me love letters every day. Was that not a deception too?”
Sighing, he lowered his head. How could he convey his desperation for her without betraying the truth? “You’re right. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“I cherish every one of your letters. Nevertheless, if it weren’t for them, I would never have shown up without warning on your doorstep.” She chewed her lip some more. “And then I would never have seen my mother.”
His neck cricked as his head jerked up. “I meant what I said earlier, Minerva. Your mother is not someone you would wish to associate with, and you must promise me not to see her anymore.”
“You haven’t given me a good reason why I should avoid her.”
“She abandoned you when you were eight and allowed you to think she was dead!” Asher gesticulated with some feeling. “Isn’t that reason enough?”
The line of her chin grew mutinous. “No matter what she’s done, she is still my mother.”
“A fact she does not want to be reminded of,” he retorted. “A woman like her would not enjoy being seen in the company of a grown-up daughter who would only highlight her true age.”
“A woman like her?” Minerva turned to him, glowering. “You look down on her because she’s a mistress? Circumstances must have forced her into such a position. After all, Herr Schick is hardly the most agreeable of men. You’re too harsh on her.”
Not after what he’d discovered last night. He wavered on the edge of telling her everything he’d found out about Mrs. Nemo but couldn’t do it. The discoveries had disturbed him, a hardened man of the world. How much more upsetting would it be to learn such things about one’s parent? “Let’s not argue over her now,” he compromised. “First, we need to convince Asher.”
Glancing out the window, he saw they’d
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