ridiculously dramatic sometimes, Colfax?” she asked, looking back over her shoulder and Mina saw that the blonde footman had entered the room in her wake.
“I couldn’t possibly comment, my lady,” he said without expression and she laughed.
“My, we are proper this morning,” she commented dryly, turning back to her husband. “Is that due to your schoolmistress of a sister’s presence?” She shot a mocking look at Mina. “Next you will be inviting orphans and foundlings to dinner.”
“My dear,” said Jeremy blandly. “You must not squander your precious company on us like this if our little party is not to your liking.” Amanda flushed. “I’m sure you have a myriad of things you would rather be doing than entertaining my guest with your antics.”
“You—!” His wife bit back her words with effort and Mina saw Jeremy’s cold answering smile with something of a shiver. Clearly there was no love lost between the two of them. She took a deep breath to collect herself. “Oh Teddy,” Amanda said, as if she had only just caught sight of her son. “You still here? Isn’t it time you went back to school yet?”
“As a matter of fact,” Jeremy said before Teddy could answer. “I am not sending him back. There were two cases of consumption last term among the pupils.”
“Good God,” she scoffed. “He has the constitution of an ox. You’re not imagining him some delicate young sprig—”
“Nevertheless,” Jeremy interrupted her. “As you did not supply with me a spare along with my heir, I must take all necessary precautions with the one I’ve got.”
Mina darted a look at Teddy, who was now cleaning his plate of jelly.
“Colfax,” Jeremy said with a charming smile. “After our meal, would you kindly take my son and Mrs. Nye along to the stables?” Teddy caught an ecstatic breath. “He is most desirous to show Bucephalus to his aunt.”
“Of course, my lord.”
“You’ll see now, Aunt Minerva,” Teddy said enthusiastically. “The white star on his brow.”
“I look forward to it,” she assured him.
Mina spent a pleasant hour being shown around the stables by Teddy and once Colfax had a word with one of the stable hands, the head groom also. She admired Bucephalus and told Teddy she did not wonder that the handsome steed was his firm favorite. If it had not been for an ill-judged dart into one of the stalls by the boy, it would have been entirely without incident. Luckily for him, Colfax showed himself to be very quick on his feet indeed, snatching out of harm’s way in an instant.
“And that’s why his lordship don’t let you come down here on your own, you little bleeder,” Colfax told him tightly, setting him back on his feet. Mina looked up quickly, for under the strain, his pronunciation had slipped, betraying a London accent she had not picked up before.
Teddy tugged his velvet jacket back into place and adjusted his lace collar. “I daresay I could have ducked his legs,” he said quite unabashed.
“You would have had your brains dashed out in an instant, Teddy,” Mina scolded him. “Now thank Colfax for saving you from a very nasty injury.”
Teddy scraped a foot along the grown. “Thank you, Colfax,” he mumbled, avoiding the servant’s gaze. Colfax grunted and the Head Groom shot a look of appreciation Mina’s way. The rest of the tour went off without any further mishaps and Teddy bade her a fond farewell on the front steps of the house. “I daresay Colfax will tell Papa I nearly got squashed,” he grumbled. “And I won’t see Bucephalus for a fortnight!”
“You should be grateful you escaped without any longer lasting repercussions,” Mina told him briskly, before bending down to accept his kiss to her cheek. “He may not tell him,” she found herself adding, in spite of herself.
“Colfax tells Papa everything,” Teddy complained darkly. “Mama says they are hand in glove.”
Mina was surprised to hear that, all things considered. “Well, if he does tell, I’m sure it is only out of concern for your well-being,” she said reprovingly. “You need to learn to be a good deal less impetuous Teddy, where your safety is concerned.”
He nodded dolefully and cast woebegone eyes up at her. “Will you come and visit me again, Auntie?”
“Should you like that?” Mina asked, to mask her surprise and uncertainty how to answer.
“Yes,” he nodded. “I don’t have any other aunts,” he gave by way of explanation. “Perhaps you recall my saying?”
“I do,” she admitted. “Well, I too should like to further our