Hearts Entwined (Victorian Love #3) - M.A. Nichols Page 0,42

married but a gentleman who had five and sixty years to his credit; his face held the story of their life together, and Mina knew each mark and had watched it shift and alter over the years, growing more handsome with each one. How dare Mrs. Banfield strip that all away in favor of the young fool she’d known three decades ago!

Yet even as Mina attempted to gather those thoughts and set Mrs. Banfield straight, her thoughts fled. Any misstep would lead to further derision, and Mina’s thoughts refused to order themselves into anything coherent.

“Do not bother spouting your lies, Mrs. Banfield,” said Simon, narrowing his eyes at her. “We will tolerate your company as long as you are guests of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, but we need not exchange false pleasantries. Keep your distance from me and my family.”

Mrs. Banfield straightened, her expression pulled into an affronted sneer that was as earnest as her earlier compliments, and then she turned, dragging her daughter away.

“That is why you cannot have anything to do with the Banfields and their ilk,” said Simon, turning a hard look at their son.

Oliver shook his head. “But—”

“Can you not see how poisonous they are?” said Simon, his arm growing taut beneath Mina’s touch. “Feigning kindness while sharpening their claws on their victims.”

“Simon, please,” whispered Mina as her husband’s tone rose.

Oliver turned a worried gaze to his mother, though his expression remained tight. “I am sorry for what Mrs. Banfield said.”

Mina shook her head. There was no apology necessary—not from her son, at any rate. She cursed herself for being so weak in the face of such meaningless words.

“Would you give us a moment?” asked Simon, nodding at Oliver to leave.

Their son glanced between the pair, his jaw clenching as those muscles twitched. Giving them a jerking nod, he turned away.

“Mina, darling…?”

“I am well, Simon,” she said, giving him some semblance of a smile as they strolled arm-in-arm away from the site of her shame.

“Do not lie to me,” he said, pulling her to face him. “I know she hurt you.”

Mina let out a puff, the tension of the last few minutes easing out of her. “I am more bothered that she has power over me. I am not the cowering little mouse she knew all those years ago, yet one look from her has me shaking in my shoes.”

Simon raised a hand to brush a thumb across the edge of her jaw, and his eyes warmed. “You were no mouse, Mina. You were patient and long-suffering. There is a difference. But I vividly recall when you unleashed your fury on me concerning her, and that was not the action of a coward.”

It was pointless to debate the point, as Mina knew Simon would never concede it, so she refocused on the more important concern.

“I’ve made a place for myself in Bristow,” she said as something stirred inside her heart, though she could not give it a name. “I’ve found my footing and earned the respect of those in the neighborhood.”

With each word, the sentiment took shape, filling her with such frustration at herself, her situation, and those behind it. “I may not be the darling of Bristow society, but I am accepted and well thought of. I have fought and strived to better myself and move past those days when I was held prisoner by the bad opinions of others.”

Mina paused, taking Simon’s hands in hers and holding his gaze with all the intensity of her heart. “I love who I am, Simon. I can say that with all honesty, and I’ve worked hard to achieve it. Yet Mrs. Banfield swans in and undoes all my work with one look and a few foul words. How is that possible? Why am I so weak?”

Simon’s dark eyes held hers in a steady gaze, his heart shining through them as he lifted her hand to press a kiss to her gloved palm.

“You are not weak, darling. You never have been,” he murmured. “Strength comes in many forms, and your heart is too large to be unmoved by those intentionally cruel. Weakness would be for you to embrace their vicious manners. Instead, you fight through the pain, remaining true to the kind soul you are.”

Oh, that wonderful man. Mina’s heart expanded in her chest, filling her to bursting as she held his loving gaze.

“It is only natural that being faced with a former tormentor would stir up old pains and aches you thought had healed,” he added, his