“From what I can gather, this man he made a deal with will decide, and my father is to simply fill in the name on the license.”
“And then you just… marry this man and live with him and that’s your life?” Ada said.
“Just like most other women, yes,” Minnie said. “The difference is that I have no idea who will await me. The man will have enough money to pay for me, but that is all that I know.”
“Oh no,” Emmaline said, shaking her head. “That will not do. Not at all.”
They were sequestered at a table in the corner of The King’s Head after the Manchester Central practice that evening. Tonight, Minnie had simply left with Lily, not bothering to provide any explanation to her parents as to where she was going. What was the worst they could do to her?
“What are you going to do?” Ada asked with wide eyes.
“I haven’t quite figured that out yet,” Minnie said, wincing. “But I cannot go through with it.”
“No, you cannot,” Lily said decidedly. “You can come live with us.”
“You have a little one at home now,” Minnie said. It was a rare evening that Lily spent away from her daughter, but one look at Minnie’s face when she showed up on her doorstep had convinced her to leave her daughter for a couple of hours.She was in good hands with Colin’s mother. “You also have Colin’s mother and sister.”
“So, what is one more?” Lily asked with a small smile.
“I couldn’t,” Minnie said, shaking her head, and Emmaline stepped in.
“You are also welcome with me and Rhys,” she said.
“You are just starting your lives together in your new home. I couldn’t invade,” Minnie protested.
“Even if it’s for a short time, you have space with us. I promise you that,” Emmaline said.
“I would like to say you are welcome with me, except that our parents know one another too well,” Ada said. “But if you must run away, I could always accompany you.”
“You would do that?” Minnie said, incredulous.
“Of course,” Ada said brightly. “At this point, I am only awaiting the same fate as you. And you shouldn’t be alone.”
Minnie blinked away the tears that threatened at the generosity of her friends.
“You are all truly too good to me,” she said. “I’m not sure what I did to deserve friends as good as you.”
“Oh, Minnie, you deserve everything in the world,” Lily said with a small smile as she patted her hand. “Don’t ever think any differently.”
“I’m sure my sister would also take me in, but I don’t want to force her to choose between me and our parents,” Minnie said, biting her lip.
The door to the tavern opened, revealing Lily and Emmaline’s husbands, accompanied by some of the other players. Minnie’s eyes immediately narrowed in on Tommy.
Goodness. Tommy. She wondered what he would say if he learned of her future.
The more she looked at him, however, the more he also appeared rather… concerned. She hoped his sister was well.
“Does Tommy look as though he’s turned rather green to you?” Emmaline asked, cocking her head to the side.
“Yes, I would say so,” Ada agreed. His hair was also all over the place, as though he had run his hand through it a few times too many.
“Interesting,” Lily mused.
The men approached their table, although Tommy hung back for a moment, his eyes locked on Minnie. She stared at him, wishing that, somehow, he could provide her a lifeline, saving her from whatever horror might await her. She had been enjoying spending time with him, was excited about starting something with him. It was all for naught now.
Colin leaned in to embrace Lily, his expression showing surprise to see her there awaiting him, while Rhys immediately pulled Emmaline onto his lap. Ada and Minnie exchanged a glance before Ada nodded over Minnie’s shoulder, and she found Tommy standing there, waiting expectantly.
“Minnie, could I have a quick word?” he asked, his glance flitting from her to her friends.
