Emmaline snorted in disbelief. “Now what?”
“Now,” Minnie said with a sigh, “I try to keep my marriage intact as my father tries to find a way to annul it.”
“I suppose it is possible, considering how you were married,” Lily said. “But Tommy talked to Colin, and he agreed that if it comes to that, he will represent him.”
“We are fortunate that your husband is a solicitor,” Minnie said.
“It does come in handy,” Lily agreed before wincing as Manchester was scored on.
“Get your heads in the game, lads!” Emmaline yelled out, surging to her feet before looking at the rest of them. “This conversation will have to be on hold for a moment,” she said. “The boys need us. Get ready to cheer. And cheer enthusiastically.”
Tommy couldn’t help but look over at the stands as the roar surged forward.
In the center of the fans who had stood and cheered loudly for them were four women, the rainbow of their gowns standing out among the muted colors worn by the gentlemen watching.
He was both proud of having Minnie as his wife in thestands and concerned that he couldn’t be next to her to protect her. The crowds could become raucous.
“How do you do it?” he asked Colin as he ran by. “Have Lily so close yet not be by her side?”
“I have a man watching her,” he called over his shoulder as he ran away. “And he’ll watch over your wife too!”
Well, that was a relief, even if Tommy didn’t like the idea of another man watching over Minnie, for he couldn’t think of a man alive, save his friends who were in love with other women, who could look at Minnie and not be instantly drawn toward her.
He had spoken to his teammates before the game, filling them in on what had happened.
Besides Colin, Rhys, and Jonny, most of them were completely flabbergasted. Never one to keep much close to his chest, Tommy had also told them about Minnie’s father and the troubles he had found himself in with Blackwood.
“I’ve heard of him,” Mickey said. “I think he supported Lord Montgomery when he attempted to bring down Manchester Central.”
“But what interest would he have in seeing the demise of a football club?”
“It was more Lord Harcourt’s mill he wanted to see brought down. Not the club.”
“For what reason?”
“He is trying to take over the entire underbelly of Manchester,” Mickey said. “One business at a time.”
“So, you think he is trying to take down the shipping business?”
“I think he is trying to make it so that the businesses rely on him for protection. So he gets a cut of all of it.”
Tommy wiped a hand over his forehead. “This is not for a blacksmith to figure out.”
Colin looked at him wryly. “It isnow.”
“We’ll work on that later — together,” Rhys promised, clapping his hands together. “But right now, we have to win a game if we want a chance at defending this cup.”
They all nodded in agreement, gathering around him as he went through their strategy against Old Etonians. They weren’t happy about facing such a tough team at the beginning of their cup bid, but all they could do was play as hard as they could with the hand they had been dealt. They had a target on their backs with their success over the past two seasons, however.
Tommy tried to forget it all as he took to the field, but it was hard with his wife in the stands and the metal band around his finger.
He knew he likely should have removed it to play, but he didn’t seem to have the will to take it off, even for a couple of hours.
Tommy's heart raced as he sprinted down the pitch, the roar of the crowd pulsing in his ears. He could feel Minnie's eyes on him from the stands, the weight of her gaze mingling with the pressure of defending their title.
The Etonians were putting up a fierce fight, their forwards relentless in their attacks. Tommy's mind kept drifting to his conversation with Mickey about Blackwood's plot to take over Manchester's underworld. How much danger was Minnie in now because of her father's debts? Especially now that she had married to escape her fate. He shook his head, trying to focus on the game. He would have time to worry about all of that later.
The ball soared toward him, and he leapt to head it, but his timing was off. It glanced off his temple, and the Etonian striker seized possession, darting past Tommy with alarming speed. Tommy swore under his breath and gave chase, his legs burning as he pushed himself to catch up.
