Rebel Magisters (Rebel Mechanics #2)(13)

“Well, whatever it is, I suppose I’d better face it.” Henry took a couple of deep breaths, straightened his necktie, smoothed his lapels, and headed for the door. I went back to browsing the bookshelves, and a moment later I heard Henry clearing his throat. “Aren’t you coming?” he asked when I looked up to see him still standing in the doorway.

“This sounds like a family affair.”

He shook his head. “Oh no. If I have to face him, I want you there. He likes you.”

“But there’s no reason for the governess to be present.”

“Go intercept the children and bring them in. I know it will have taken Chastain this long to pry Olive and Flora out of their rooms.”

His tone suggested that while he wasn’t making it an order, he considered it to be one, so I didn’t argue further. Besides, I was curious about the governor’s visit.

I hurried upstairs to the bedrooms, meeting Flora and Olive on the stairs. “There you are,” I said. “I was just coming to get you.”

“Chastain already sent my maid,” Flora said with a yawn.

“And your uncle sent me. Come on. We don’t want to keep your grandfather waiting.”

Henry must have taken his time heading to the parlor because he was barely ahead of us when we reached the room. Rollo was already in there doing his homework, and he was in the process of describing some airship he’d either seen or wanted to see. The governor seemed quite glad at our arrival, but whether that was because of seeing his granddaughters or getting a reprieve from Rollo’s technical discourse was uncertain.

Samuel DeLancey was a large man who appeared as though he could be quite jovial under the right circumstances. I’d never seen him in those circumstances. He always struck me as intimidating, and Henry didn’t have to work to fake his bumbling young nobleman persona in his presence.

“Your Grace, this is a surprise,” Henry said, stumbling slightly when he caught his toe on the edge of the carpet as he moved to greet the guest.

Instead of giving his usual disapproving sneer at Henry’s ineptitude, the governor beamed at him. Whatever he was going to say was interrupted by Olive throwing her arms around him and crying out, “Grandfather! Did you bring me anything?”

“Only good news, my dear,” the governor said, patting her on the back. I resisted the urge to glance at Henry and bit my lip so I wouldn’t smile inappropriately. “Good news for all of us. We’re going on a trip!”

Olive squealed and clapped her hands, and Henry cleared his throat. “A—a trip, Your Grace?”

“I have to go meet with the administrators of the colonies to take care of some business matters, and I thought this would be an excellent opportunity for the children to see the land. We’ll take a private airship. What do you say, children?”

Rollo, of course, was overjoyed at the prospect of a trip on an airship, especially if it meant he got out of school. “Outstanding!” he cried out. Olive jumped up and down and clapped her hands.

Henry opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Flora gave a dramatic gasp and said, “Oh no! I can’t go out of the city now!”

Everyone turned to stare at her. I suspected I knew why she objected. “Why ever not, my dear?” her grandfather asked.

Realizing that everyone was staring at her, she flushed a lovely shade of pink—no blotchy redness for her—and said, “Well, um, you see, I have a friend who needs me. Her health, you see, it requires frequent turns around the park, and I feel it is my duty to join her. I don’t know what she’ll do without me, and I’d never forgive myself if I left town and her health took a turn for the worse.”

“Flora! I had no idea a friend was ill. You should have said something,” Henry said, sounding truly concerned. “Who is it? I should probably call on the family.”

Flora froze. After a moment’s thought she said, “Charity Spencer. But please don’t mention it. I shouldn’t have said anything. She swore me to secrecy.”

Henry turned to the governor. “Aside from Flora’s obligation, I really must object, sir. We can’t interrupt the children’s studies, and Rollo has school.”

“I planned for Miss Newton to join us. The girls won’t miss a thing, and Miss Newton can keep Rollo up on his classwork.”

Flora gazed at Henry with beseeching eyes, silently begging him to say no, while the other two silently pleaded for him to say yes. “I’ll have to speak with the headmaster and see if it is acceptable for Rollo to be out of school,” Henry said. Rollo groaned out loud in response. “And I will have to consider it.”

There was a momentary staredown between Henry and the governor. Henry was as tall as the duke, but much slighter, which made him look inconsequential beside the great man. The comparison between the two also brought home just how young Henry was, barely out of his teens. If the governor wanted to use his power, I wasn’t sure Henry would be able to deny him, even if he was the children’s legal guardian as their father’s brother.

“Very well, I will await your answer,” the governor said at last, his voice tight. “I will see you later, children.” With a slight—and unexpected—nod to me, he turned to go.

“Won’t you stay for dinner?” Henry asked, his face suggesting that he was only issuing the invitation out of obligation.