A Bride for the Prizefighter - Alice Coldbreath Page 0,110
teapot but could find no words for a response. “I don’t mind tellin’ you,” Effie continued. “All the fellas was talking of it yesterday after that exhibition he put on in the bar. Not in his hearing, mind. None of them had a death wish.” Effie winked and Mina poured the tea.
“He is not so bad as all that,” she protested weakly.
“Oh, isn’t he?” Effie snorted. “You didn’t see how he ripped at Frank when he reminded him of how he’d left you standing at the altar all forlorn. Proper fuming, he was. It’s my belief if my Jeb hadn’t got between them, Nye would have planted him a facer there and then and he wasn’t even down to fight Frank Toomes!”
“He fought Mr. Dabney, did he not?”
“S’right,” Effie agreed, taking a large swig of tea. “Shame he wouldn’t let you watch, but I daresay it’s not a very genteel thing for a lady to do,” she sounded sympathetic.
“I hope Nye does not think of me as a perfect lady,” Mina murmured absently, remembering what he’d said about fine ladies not being worth the bother.
“Maybe you’ll bring him round given time,” said Effie, who was clearly one of life’s optimists.
“Perhaps,” agreed Mina who was not sure she’d ever be a boxing enthusiast.
The door opened and Mina was surprised to see Dot sail around it dressed in a lilac spotted gown with a profusion of pleats. Mina noticed that the mole on her cheek was a good deal less prominent this morning and realized with surprise that she must enhance it with charcoal to make it darker as some people did with their eyelashes. Her hair, however, just as Edna had predicted, was tightly ringleted in a profusion of jet-black curls showing evidence of her curling iron.
“Good morning,” she greeted her, getting to her feet. “Please take a seat Mrs. Jones and I’ll fetch you a cup.”
The newcomer gave her a level look. “That’s not my name, Mina,” she said, pulling out a seat at the table. “Though Jones is my name, funny enough, it was because my father bestowed it on me, not Nat. It’s Miss Jones, but you can call me Dot,” she said handsomely.
Mina fetched her a plate, cup and saucer and made haste to pour her a cup from the silver teapot.
“You are an early riser, Miss Jones. I had thought you might sleep in after my husband told me you had manned the bar last night.”
“I couldn’t loll abed like the Quality,” said Dot agreeably. “Not for a hundred pound. My old Ma would have had a good deal to say about lying in for all hours. Never taken breakfast in bed in my life, though I keep a parlor maid now and a kitchen one too.”
Mina passed her a brimming cup which she took with murmured thanks. “Do you live in Exeter?” she asked politely, nudging the dish of kippers her way.
Dot shook her head. “London,” she said succinctly. “I don’t like to be away from the capital for more than a few days at a time. Can’t abide the backwaters, I can’t.”
Mina was unsure if she was referring to Penarth or Exeter in these disparaging terms, but Effie extended her cup hastily for a refill, so Mina was spared having to answer by her hostess duties.
“Well, well,” drawled a voice from the doorway, making the three of them turn their heads. “What a dainty gathering.”
Mina drew in a breath of surprise for it was none other than Lady Faris resplendent in a royal blue riding habit complete with whip and mannish looking hat which did nothing to detract from her blonde beauty.
“Lady Faris,” she exclaimed. “Is my brother with you?”
Jeremy’s wife had sauntered into her room as if she had every right, and Mina was tempted to point out this was a private room. However, she felt somewhat hampered from doing this as she had so recently visited Vance Park.
“Can I help you to a cup of tea, Lady Faris?” she asked instead with cool politeness.
Amanda Vance gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “I wouldn’t dream of interrupting your little tête-à-tête,” she said with a curl of her lip. Effie sucked in her cheeks and directed a wide-eyed look Mina’s way. Dottie stayed remained unperturbed by the interloper, tucking into her breakfast with relish.
“I understand my husband attended your sordid festivities last night,” Lady Faris continued, sounding nettled. “And saw fit to bring my son with him.”