Rebel Magisters (Rebel Mechanics #2)(10)

Fortunately, he wasn’t playing the rebel role today. While he’d never pass for a noble in his present attire, he also wasn’t wearing the mixed-up rag bag assortment of clothing that was practically a uniform among the Mechanics, he didn’t have brass goggles perching on his hatband, and he wasn’t displaying the Mechanics’ infamous red ribbon and gear insignia. Instead, he looked like a slightly shabby young working man in a secondhand suit that didn’t quite fit him.

I imagined that my duty would be to throw myself in between him and the girls, but all I really had to do was prevent them from doing anything that might ruin them for a proper marriage or result in magister children of the wrong class. That seemed highly unlikely to occur in the park in broad daylight, so I decided there was no harm in being polite. “Good afternoon, Colin—Mr. Flynn,” I said, barely remembering his surname.

I turned to Flora, who, as the ranking lady present, was the one to whom introductions were made. I cringed inwardly at the snobby rudeness I expected. She’d be mortified if I dared introduce her to such a person, but I considered this to be my stand for equality, and even if she reported me to Henry, Henry wouldn’t care.

But instead of making every effort to pretend she didn’t see Colin, Flora stared at him in something that looked suspiciously like awe. Surely she’d seen a working-class man up close before, so I couldn’t understand her reaction. Was it his red hair that so startled her? I cleared my throat. “Um, Lady Flora and Lady Charity, may I present Mr. Flynn? His sister is one of my dear friends. He’s an engineering student at the university. Colin, this is Lady Flora Lyndon, one of my pupils, and her friend, Lady Charity Spencer.”

I was truly surprised when it took the ever-glib Colin several seconds to respond. He finally jolted himself out of a daze, swept his hat off, and executed a dramatic bow. “Your servant, ladies.” The deep bow seemed to have improved the flow of blood to his brain, and soon he was more like his normal self. “Ver—Miss Newton, you never told me you had such a lovely pupil.” He turned to Flora and added with a grin, “All she said was how brilliant you are.”

I’d never said any such thing. Flora was actually quite resistant to being taught anything that might be useful. She thought that was beneath her, that her position in society was enough to make her worthy. I expected her to give me one of her frightful icy glares, but she turned a fetching shade of delicate pink and fluttered her eyelashes. “I’m sure she says nothing of the sort. I’m a very indifferent pupil who must sorely tax her patience. If I learn anything at all, it is due to Miss Newton’s diligent efforts.”

I heard a choking sound near me and turned slightly to see Lady Charity’s eyes bulging in sheer shock. Perhaps Flora had become overheated, I thought. The sun was rather bright, in spite of the chilly air.

I was so surprised by Flora’s reaction to Colin that it took me awhile to remember that I had a message to pass on to him, if I could think of a way to do so in front of the girls. I cleared my throat again to get his attention, and when he managed to pry his eyes off Flora, I said, “It was lovely to see you again, Mr. Flynn, but we must be going. Please give my regards to your sister. And to Mr. Emfinger. I’ve got a friend who would love to meet with him to discuss a possible business investment.”

He was so addled, I wasn’t sure if the message got through to him, but he put his hat back on his head and bowed slightly as he touched the brim. “I will be sure to let him know, and I look forward to our next chat. Ladies, have a nice afternoon.”

“It was so lovely to meet you,” Flora said with more enthusiasm than I’d ever heard her use for anything other than a ballgown. He gave her a cheeky grin and a wink as he passed us.

Lady Charity barely waited for him to be out of earshot before she turned on Flora. “I can’t believe you! You criticize my attachment to a magister commoner, and then you go and practically throw yourself at someone like that.” She hesitated and turned to me. “He’s not magister, is he, Miss Newton?”

“No, he isn’t,” I confirmed. “And I believe we’ve had quite enough excitement for one walk in the park. Tea will be ready, so we should turn back.”

Lady Charity had to hook her arm through Flora’s to steer her friend down the path, Flora seemed to be in such a daze. I could hardly believe it. Colin was charming, and he put a great deal of effort into being that way, but I couldn’t imagine anyone swooning over him, least of all Flora.

I got the girls back to the Spencer house and turned them over to the housekeeper and maids for tea. My services as chaperone were no longer required, and I wasn’t invited to join them. While they giggled and fluttered, Flora having recovered somewhat, I carried out my errand for Lord Henry.

Approaching the butler in the foyer, I said, “Lord Henry has asked me to leave his card for Mr. Philip Spencer.”

“Very good, miss,” the butler said. He took a silver tray from a nearby stand and held it out to me. I placed a card on the tray. The butler nodded and retreated into the house.

I wasn’t sure where I was supposed to go or what I was expected to do. No one had invited me to sit down. A governess usually wasn’t welcome in the servants’ hall, so I couldn’t go downstairs and have a cup of tea with them. I was left waiting in the foyer, which seemed the height of rudeness to me, but apparently manners only counted for the upper crust when they were dealing with each other.