recesses. His rough treatment practically set the poor child on her backside, Mina thought with disapproval. Surely the girl looked familiar, she thought, her nose practically pressed to the glass at this point.
Then she had it. It was Cecily Carswell, the ward of one of their old patrons at Hill School, Sir Matthew Carswell. Cecily had attended their school for two years before her guardian had deemed, she had received sufficient education and withdrawn her. Unfortunately, he had withdrawn his patronage at much the same time. Her father had been most upset about it. Mina picked up her supplies as she saw the objectionable young man tow Cecily in the direction of the inn. Closing the door discreetly behind her, she retreated into the shadowy corridor, pulling her headscarf down to obscure her features.
“You, there!” the arrogant young man hailed her. “Do you have such a thing as a private parlor for hire?” He cast his eyes around the dimly lit hallway with disdain.
“We have three,” Mina answered him calmly, gesturing their direction with her arm.
“Curtsey when you speak to me, slattern!” he fired up. “Impudence!” He turned back to the shrinking young girl, not waiting for Mina’s response. “There, now you can stop your sniveling for did I not say I would find somewhere we could take some refreshment.”
He flung open the first of the three doors and instantly recoiled. “Faugh! It reeks of vinegar in there! I vow, someone has broken a bottle of it!” He flung open the second and practically flung poor Cecily into it. “If you move before I return, I promise you will regret it, my girl,” he snarled and then was gone in a whirl of his caped riding coat.
Mina paused only for a moment with indecision. She did not like the way Cecily had flinched from her escort. What was the child doing in the company of this flashy looking youth? It looked like nothing so much as an elopement gone sour. She knew from experience that Cecily’s guardian, Sir Matthew Carswell was a stern, autocratic man. Had his ward run away with the first young buck who had made up to her? Mina did not like the look of Cecily’s companion’s face which the lamplight had illuminated briefly. He had a cruel mouth.
Stepping into the first private parlor, Mina set down her bucket and newspapers and removed her apron and headscarf. Smoothing her hair, she approached the second door and softly opened it.
“Cecily?” she said quietly and watched the young girl wheel around, tears streaked down her cheeks.
“Oh! Miss Walters,” Cecily exclaimed in a choked voice. “Is that really you?” She took a stumbling step toward Mina before pulling herself up.
“It really is,” Mina responded gravely. “You seem to be in something of a predicament.”
Cecily’s lip trembled and fresh tears spilled over. “I’ve been so wicked, Miss Walters,” she whispered. “This is a judgement on me.”
“Nonsense,” Mina replied bracingly. “But you would certainly be ill-advised to continue on your current course. Are you yet married to this gentleman?”
Cecily paled and shook her head. “No! Oh no!” she said, shivering.
“When did you leave your guardian’s protection?” From what Mina could recall, she seemed to remember that Sir Matthew’s residence was somewhere in Cornwall.
“Not two hours ago,” Cecily sobbed, and Mina deduced it was likely the longest two hours of Cecily’s life. “Though in truth I left his house for a party and then I left the party for- oh, it’s complicated!”
Mina held out her hand. “Come quickly now, child,” she said. “With me.” The girl did not even hesitate. With a faint cry, she teetered toward Mina and allowed herself to be propelled out of the private parlor and along the narrow passageway leading to the stairs.
“Quickly now!” Mina took her hand and led her up the two flights of stairs to her attic bedroom. When Cecily made to speak on reaching the first landing, Mina raised a finger to her lips to caution quiet. Cecily nodded and clung to Mina’s hand as if her life depended on it. “In here,” she murmured and shepherded the girl into her attic bedroom. “If you sit tight, I will endeavor to extricate you from this mess.” Cecily squeezed her fingers and then obediently sank down onto the bed. “Not a peep, mind,” Mina repeated. Cecily nodded, wide-eyed. “You must be as silent as the grave. As if your life depended on it,” she stressed. “Until I return for you.” Cecily nodded again, and Mina