Page 20 of Once Tempted

“Your brother had his eye on Mrs. Franks during her first season, but I don’t think he had started courting her back then. You know your brother can be a bit slow.”

“I didn’t know he’d been interested in any woman, least of all her. It does explain her late inclusion on the guest list,” she said, a frown appearing on her face. “It explains so much, actually. But I can’t imagine my brother married to anyone.”

“Neither can I, and yet it will happen one day,” he said, laughing. “I imagine it might be nice for you to have some company around here.”

“Why would you imagine I’d still be here when he married?” she asked, one brow raised.

“Well, you’re not married yet, and…”

“Yes. No man wants me.” She shook her head. “I won’t be here when he marries.”

He was on the edge of his seat before he knew it. Her low opinion of her appeal troubled him greatly, but it was the latter remark that alarmed him most. “Where will you be?”

She considered him for a long moment, then shook her head. “I don’t know if I can tell you. You are his friend.”

“I’m also your friend now. I won’t betray you.”

She wet her lips, but it wasn’t to be seductive. She was clearly nervous about something, and his stomach pitted in concern.

“Tell me. I promise not to breathe a word to anyone,” he swore.

“I don’t know yet where I will go, but it will not be where my brother plans to send me.” She shook her head again. “I had hoped to go back to London for another season, but my brother refuses to take me there now.”

He clenched his jaw. “He actually refused you a second season?”

“Yes. The day you found me outside in the snow, I was furious about something he said, but I was too embarrassed to tell you. I’m sorry we’ll never get to dance together there. I think I would have enjoyed it.” She shrugged, and then smiled in a way that he knew to distrust. “However, I think I found a better solution today.”

A newspaper clipping appeared in her hand and, after a moment’s consideration, she passed it over. He read the words with a sinking heart, though, because it was not good news. Not good for her at all—or for their friendship. “You’d take a position as a companion to an old woman rather than stay here?”

She wet her lips again and glanced at her lap. “Well, since it has been made clear I’m no longer welcome here, and it’s uncertain if I could find a beau where he plans to send me, I’m considering doing as I please for once. My brother scared off every gentleman with a glimmer of interest in me in my only season. He won’t fund another. I happen to already have an acquaintance with the lady who advertised in this paper…and who knows, perhaps she might introduce me to someone eligible who Humphrey can’t browbeat. I’d have exactly the same duties with her as in Cornwall, but with her, I would actually be paid and hopefully appreciated.”

He stared at her. If Minnie took up a position as an old lady’s companion, he would never see her again. Old ladies rarely came to London with any frequency, and no one missed them.

But Frederick would miss Minerva.

He burst to his feet, agitated by the idea of Minnie waiting on an old lady for money when she should be enjoying herself in society. Dancing in ballrooms, laughing when she was tipsy, and being thoroughly kissed in shadowy alcoves or secret sitting rooms.

“Where is your brother sending you?”

“The Cornwall estate.”

“But that’s in the middle of nowhere.”

“Yes, it is but the views of the sea are lovely.”

“You’d be alone there.” Everything about her confession tonight seemed wrong—and incomplete. “What did your brother say that made you so angry with him?”

She blushed and looked away from him.

“Was it he who insisted you wouldn’t find a husband next season?”

She nodded quickly and still wouldn’t meet his eye. “He has decided to send me away to where I won’t be a bother to his friends, too…but I think he’d just rather not be bothered by me anymore.”

Frederick stalked around the room, running a hand over his mouth to prevent a vile curse from crossing his lips. He had to stop this nonsense, but what could he really do? He couldn’t very well offer her an alternative to being exiled or taking up employment. Or even find her a husband in one night.

Or could he?

He stopped dead in his tracks.