by Ella Quinn
Phinn straightened, and Minerva moved so that he could stoke her without losing Augusta’s attention. “Were they the gray cats your sisters had?”
“Yes.” She held back a laugh. That move was pure Great Dane. “They get along with everyone, especially the Danes.” She glanced at Hector, who gazed up at the sky as if he was saying a silent prayer. “They travel very well. My sister was even kidnapped with her cat and she behaved extremely well.”
“Your sister?” Phinn seemed confused.
“No, the cat.” The Dane’s tail started to thump.
Hector burst into laughter. “Now that I think about it, I have to admit that when Grace was kidnapped, the Danes being able to stop the carriage she was in played a large part in her rescue, and the cats have always been very well behaved.” Taking a breath, he shrugged his shoulders and blew out. “I have no objection to four-legged additions to our little family. Tommy will love them.”
She glanced down at a sleeping child. The cobblestones were probably warm, but they would cool soon.
“I’ll get him.” Phinn gently moved the Dane’s backside before rising and going to the little boy.
After picking Tommy up, Phinn sat in the chair on the other side of her. Naturally, Minerva moved so that she was between them. But this time she rested her head on Phinn’s leg. Did he need help too? No matter what it meant, having the dog grow close to both of them could present a problem when he left.
That night, the dog slept on a pillow next to Augusta’s bed.
The following morning after breakfast, Hector pulled Augusta aside. “Phinn and I are going to the embassy. I would like you to come as well.”
“Of course.” She would have to prepare for the disapproval from whomever they were seeing, probably Lord Stewart. Unlike in London, there was no hiding her intent to attend university. She must meet with either Prince von Metternich or his representative. “When do we leave?”
“It is still early.” Hector did not try to hide his concern. “Can you be ready in an hour?”
“Yes.” Augusta entered her bedchamber. She would have to dress carefully. Not like a bluestocking, but not like a young lady on the Marriage Mart either. Serious, but at the same time fashionable. Perhaps one of the walking gowns she had bought in Paris?
Gobert was directing one of the hotel maids in cleaning Augusta’s room. She waited until the maid dipped a curtsey and left. “I am going to the British Embassy with my cousin. What do you suggest I wear?”
Gobert went to the clothespress, took out the cerulean blue walking dress, and shook it out. “This is darker than what a lady making her come out would wear, yet I believe it will give you the necessary gravity you must project.”
The gown was full from the high waist down and had three rows of thick satin ribbon in a color just a shade darker than the blue of the sarsenet near the hem. The neck was high and trimmed with lace. The sleeves had puffs at the shoulder, but were long and trimmed with the same lace.
“You are exactly right.” Now for the bonnet. “What do you think about the shallow leghorn bonnet I bought to go with the dress?” The hat had the same blue satin ribbons, but yellow flowers had been added as well.
“That will do nicely, my lady.” Gobert gave the gown a hard look. “I shall need to press this. It won’t take long.”
An hour later, brown leather half-boots and a soft, brown leather reticule completed her costume. Augusta had not spent this amount of time and effort preparing for a ball. Then again, the result of a ball had not absorbed her nearly as much as the outcome of this meeting did.
She walked out of her room into the private parlor. Both men carried letter cases. She knew her cousin had Prince Esterházy’s letter to Prince von Metternich; still, she had to ask. “The letter?”
“Safe in my letter pouch. Have you taken care of the dog?”
“Yes, Phinn and Durant took her for a walk this morning. Durant is in charge of her until we return.” She just hoped he remembered the German commands the landlord had explained.
Before Hector could offer to escort her, Phinn held out his arm. “Shall we?”
She had expected to feel the tingles she usually got when touching him. Contrarily, she felt safe, as if nothing could harm her.
“It will all be fine,” he said, patting her hand.
“It is not as if Lord Stewart can stop me . . . Can he?”
“No. You have impressed Prince Esterházy sufficiently to give you the letter of introduction to Prince von Metternich. I imagine Esterházy has written his own missive as well, which will have arrived well before we did.”
They reached the street, which had no pavement for pedestrians, and Phinn drew her closer. She became a bit breathless being that close to him. Fortunately, they did not have far to go.
“His lordship probably has no idea about your plans.” Hector turned the corner.
“And there is no reason to tell him,” Phinn added.
They were both right. As far as Lord Stewart was concerned, she had a letter of introduction to the foreign minister to the Habsburg Empire, and that was all.
Once they arrived at the embassy, they did not have long to wait. Lord Stewart greeted them warmly. “As a host, I am afraid I cannot compare with Sir Charles and Lady Elizabeth. I am a widower. However, as we have a number of our countrymen here at present, my second’s wife has agreed to act as my hostess. There will be a soirée here tomorrow evening. If you would like to attend.”
Augusta caught Phinn’s eye as her cousin accepted the invitation. He was no happier than she was.
He turned his attention to the ambassador. “We have a letter of introduction from Prince Esterházy for von Metternich.”
“I dislike being the bearer of bad news.” The ambassador shook his head. “Unfortunately, Prince von Metternich’s father died in April, and he is in Koblenz.”
Now what was Augusta to do? The foreign ambassador was to have had the final arrangements for her verified, to include the information on the couple with whom she was to have resided.
“To whom can we give the letter?” Phinn’s haughty tone astounded her. “It concerns arrangements that must be made for our travel in Italy.”
“I would have offered to send the letter to the ministry.” Lord Stewart went around to his desk. “But I see the matter is of some urgency.” He scribbled a note. “This should enable you to be admitted to von Metternich’s secretary.”
“Thank you.” Phinn inclined his head. “We shall take our leave of you. I wish you a good day.”
“You are very kind. Have a pleasant stay in Vienna, and I shall see you tomorrow evening.” His lordship walked them to the entrance of the embassy. “Take care on the streets. They can be perilous.”
No sooner did Addison, Augusta, and Phinn walk out than he pulled her up against him and a coach being driven much too quickly sped by with inches to spare. Her heart was beating too erratically to be afraid of the coach. Augusta was afraid she would not be able to pull herself away from him. Fortunately, he slowly set her back from him.
Her senses—she was being ridiculous. Augusta wanted his arms holding her and she should not. She took a shuddering breath. His willingness to encourage her to attend university had to mean he had given up wanting to marry her at all.
From the corner of his eye, Phinn had seen the sporting carriage careening toward them, Augusta in its path. He grabbed her and held her tightly against him. Her heart beat a rapid tattoo against his chest. Damn, if anything had happened to her he’d have murdered that care-for-nothing driver with his bare hands.
He wanted to keep holding her and never let her go, but Addison and Stewart were standing there. Slowly, as if he was moving through water, Phinn eased back from her. “Are you all right?”
“Yes.” She nodded but her pulse was still too fast.
“Would you like to go back to the hotel, or shall we carry on?”
“I want to finish this.” Her words sounded as if she had pus
hed them out of her lips through sheer willpower.
“Very well.” He placed her hand on his sleeve. “Let’s go.”
Phinn walked toward the Hofburg Palace with Addison bringing up the rear. Nothing had changed her determination to attend university. Not even all the time they’d spent together had swayed her from her course. The only thing that had changed was him. After almost losing her today, Phinn knew he’d do anything he needed to do to make her happy. Even if it was finding something useful to do around Padua until she finished her studies and would agree to marry him. He wasn’t looking forward to the letter he’d have to write his brother.
Although the prince wasn’t present, his secretary, Count von Meysenbug, was extremely helpful.
“Prince von Metternich has been called away for most of the year,” the man said to Augusta. “However, I received a note from Prince Esterházy extolling your intelligence and dedication to all you put your mind to.” The count went to a cabinet and took out a sheaf of papers. “I wrote Professor Giuseppe Angeloni in order to verify that you would be accepted to attend lectures in Padua.”
He glanced at Augusta, his round spectacles slipping down on his nose. “You understand that only one lady has been allowed to attend the university in the past two hundred years.”
“I am aware of that fact.” Her hands tightened around the strings of her reticule.
“You will be pleased to hear that his answers to my questions were positive. Now”—the count took out a sheet of paper—“this is the information about Count and Countess Papafava, the family who has agreed to sponsor you while you are in Padua.”
Phinn wondered how the count and countess would feel about a Great Dane being added to their household. He supposed they would find out after they arrived.
“You should write to them as soon as you know the date of your arrival.” Count von Meysenbug handed her several documents, which she in turn gave to her cousin.
“Thank you, my lord. I appreciate the trouble you have gone to.”
“It was nothing more than writing a few letters at the behest of Prince Esterházy.”
Her fingers on the strings relaxed. “If you need to contact me, we are staying at the Weißen Rosen.”
“If I hear anything I shall send a messenger.” The man bowed. “Enjoy your stay in Vienna. I am sure Lord Stewart has sent your names to the court secretary. I shall do the same.”
Phinn slid a glance at Augusta, whose smile had become rigidly polite.
Count von Meysenbug walked them out of the building. “It was a pleasure to meet you, my lady.”
After thanking him again, the three of them headed back to the hotel. Phinn made sure that Augusta was always the person closest to a wall in the event another idiot in a carriage was around.
It wasn’t until they were back at the hotel that any of them relaxed.
“I wish someone would have told me how dangerous the streets here are.” Addison led them to the terrace, where the rest of their party was partaking in luncheon. “I don’t know if I want Jane and Tommy to go out now.”
“I know what you mean.” Phinn glanced at Augusta, who was busy stroking an exuberant Dane. “I think Minerva has decided she belongs to her.” Yet, once the dog noticed he was present, he was greeted as well.
They were so close now, he was sure it would not take much to make Augusta fall in love with him.
“I take it all went well?” Jane asked.
Tommy bounced up and down, holding his arms out to Addison.
“Yes.” Augusta gave Phinn a grateful look. “Thank you for your help. I am positive that if you had not used your haughty tone, Lord Stewart would have insisted on taking care of everything.”
“We have been invited to an embassy entertainment tomorrow evening,” Addison said, now holding Tommy. “We still need our traveling documents.”
“What did the count give you?” Augusta took the glass of white wine Prue handed to her and gave it to Phinn before taking her own.
Placing the letter case on the table, her cousin took out the documents. “Aside from the letter to your sponsors, we have our passports allowing us to travel freely in the Austrian Empire.” Addison handed Phinn several sheets of paper. “You and Boman are included.”
Someone had been hard at work on his behalf, probably his brother. “We should have asked Stewart if we had any correspondence waiting for us.”
“But the letters arrived,” Jane said. “A runner from the embassy delivered them while you were out.”
“There were quite a few,” Prue added. “We separated them and put them in stacks in the parlor.”
One of the hotel’s servants set three more places at the long table and another brought out more food.
“I am too hungry to read them now.” Augusta lowered herself onto a chair. “We can see to them after luncheon.”
Taking his own chair, Phinn chuckled lightly. “Far be it from me to keep you from a meal.”
“Yes.” She waved her fork in the air. “That is extremely wise of you.”
Minerva lay down between them, hopefully waiting for something to drop. This was definitely going to be interesting. Perhaps Augusta would marry him for the Dane’s sake. If he added a cat to their little family, that might help as well.
Chapter Thirty
After luncheon, Augusta went directly to the parlor and found her stack of letters on the heavy walnut table. Shuffling through them, she found a very thick packet with her brother’s seal on it. It would take the rest of today and part of tomorrow to answer all of the missives. Hector had said they’d be departing soon. Mayhap she could wait to answer all but the most important until she was back on the boat. There should be a British Consul in Budapest, and there was one in Venice.
Deciding to answer the note from Grace first—Matt may have sealed it, but she would have done the writing—Augusta took the letters to her bedchamber. Sitting down at the small French-style desk, she popped open the seal and found the letter was dated almost a month ago. How quickly time passed when one was traveling.
Dearest Augusta,
I have enclosed notes from all the girls. I do not have to tell you how thrilled Madeline and the twins were to have received their new bonnets. Mary and Theo were just as pleased with the gowns. There was no need to alter them at all.
Walter has gone on a monthlong hike in the Lake District with several friends. I miss him terribly, but that is part of allowing him to mature. Charlie plans to spend most of his time at Stanwood. Matt and I have visited him with the younger children. Phillip asked to remain a bit longer. As with Walter, this is part of him growing up.
Thank you for sending notes from the places you are visiting. Mary and Theo are keeping account of your travels on a large map that has been put up in the schoolroom. They are also making a list of what they want you to tell them when you return. Much to Matt’s dismay, they both expressed a desire to travel as well.
I trust that by the time you receive this letter, you will have good news concerning your university acceptance. Neither Matt nor I have told your mother we do not expect you to return for a few years.
Elizabeth wrote to me saying how much she enjoyed your visit. I expect she will have written more to Louisa and Charlotte. You should receive letters from them and Dotty.
All is well here. May your travels continue to be safe.
With much love,
Your sister,
Grace
The notes from the girls were as Grace said they would be. Walter said he planned to convince Matt to allow him with a group of friends to visit France or Holland next year. Augusta smiled when she read Phillip’s short letter asking her if she had ended up traveling to Venice by boat. He had met a fellow whose brother, who had just returned from Germany and Austria, said river travel was easier and safer than traveling by land. He also hoped Matt would think he was old enough to accompany Walter on any Continental travel next year. Charlie wrote Augusta about how his estate, Stanwo
od, was coming along.
She settled in to answer all their letters. Once she was finished, she would read the ones she’d received from her friends.
More than an hour later, just as she had sanded and sealed the missives, a knock sounded on her door.
“I’ll get it, my lady.” Gobert went to the door, opening it a crack. A moment later, she closed it. “It is Lord Phineas. He would like to know if you would care to accompany him for an outing.”
The sun was shining, and they had yet to see much of the city. Augusta did not relish the streets, but it would be nice to get out. She would have to change. The gown she wore was sadly crushed. She should have donned a day dress when she’d returned to the room. “Tell him I shall be there shortly.”
“Yes, my lady.” Gobert stuck her head out the door, then went to the wardrobe and took out an emerald-green carriage gown. “His lordship said he hired an open carriage.”
Well, that took care of the streets. “How thoughtful of him.”
“Yes, my lady. The servants here said walking could be dangerous.”
Augusta caught a view of the street. It was filled with people. Still, a carriage ride would be enjoyable.
When she entered the parlor, Phinn was waiting with Minerva, who had a lead attached to her collar. The dog leaned her head just under Augusta’s breasts, waiting to be stroked. “Is she coming with us?”
“I thought it would be a good idea to get her used to traveling with us. I don’t know how she did before.”
“That is an excellent idea.”
When they reached the front of the hotel, a landau waited for them. Durant stood on a platform on the back, in full livery. It was the first time he had worn it since leaving Munich. Augusta placed her fingers in Phinn’s hand as he helped her up the steps into the carriage. Minerva needed no help climbing in after her and making herself comfortable on the backward-facing seat, her head resting on the side of the coach.