The Governess's Guide to Spells and Managing Misfit Marquesses (The Parasol Academy Book 2)

At that moment, the door opened. "Mr. Meecham?" Even though she was inwardly seething, Mina somehow managed to greet the astonished-looking tutor—a bespectacled man of middle-age with a balding pate—with her most winsome smile. As she slid her umbrella from beneath her arm, she added in an approximation of amiable, "How do you do? Lord Fitzwilliam was just telling me all about you."

The tutor's mouth, which had dropped open, slammed shut, then opened again, reminding Mina of a snapping turtle. "What...? Who...? How...?" he sputtered. Then he rallied and his expression shifted into the territory of cantankerous with a good dash of suspicion thrown in. "What is the meaning of this? Who are you?" he demanded, tapping his cane against his thigh. "You have no right—"

Mina affected a sigh. "I know. I know, it's all rather confusing, finding a strange woman in his lordship's cabin, isn't it, Mr. Meecham? But I think you'll find that this will help."

And then she gave the bristling tutor a short, sharp jab in the middle with the end of her umbrella—the magical Point-of-Confusion, to be exact—at the same time she uttered beneath her breath, "Perplexio."

Almost at once, the tutor's furious demeanor melted into pleasantly puzzled. He blinked a few times and then rubbed a hand across his rumpled brow. "I...Excuse me, miss...There was something...I seem to have forgotten..." His bewildered gaze drifted to Lord Fitzwilliam. "My lord...I came to..." The tutor looked at Mina again as if asking for help.

She smiled. Thank goodness the confusion spell had taken. Although, it would only work for a few minutes. "You came to check on Lord Fitzwilliam," she said, affecting a politeness she in no way felt, "and now you're going to find Sir Bedivere and tell him that everything is perfectly fine. That his ward is alone in his cabin and is diligently completing the mathematical problems you set. Best you make haste and get back on deck."

Mr. Meecham gave an eager nod. "Ah yes. Quite. That's it. Jolly good." He bowed to Lord Fitzwilliam. "I shall see you anon, my lord." And then he turned on his heel and quit the cabin with nary a backward glance.

Mina permitted herself a small sigh of relief as she shut the cabin door. Even though Mr. Meecham had been responsive to her suggestion—and with any luck, would forget the whole encounter entirely—there was no time to lose. Bending down, she caught Lord Fitzwilliam's gaze. "Right. It's time for us to go, my lord. Is there anything you would like to bring with you? Mr. Hopwell, your velvet rabbit perhaps?"

Lord Fitzwilliam nodded. "Yes, but..." His expression grew fearful. "I-I can't swim, Miss Davenport."

Mina smiled reassuringly. "Oh, we're not going to swim. We're going to..." She trailed off. How best to explain the concept of teleporting to a child? "We're going to step inside a magic cupboard, and when we exit the other side, we'll have arrived somewhere safe."

"Highwood Hall?" Lord Fitzwilliam asked hopefully.

Mina's chest cramped. Highwood Hall was the young viscount's ancestral home in Hertfordshire. The house where he'd been born and where he'd lived with his parents before they'd tragically passed away a year ago in a carriage accident. Lady Grenfell had lived with her godson there too. As had Mina when she'd taken up her post as the viscount's governess in March. "I'm afraid not," she said gently. "At least not for the moment. We're going to visit my own mama and sister instead. They live in the country too. In a pretty little cottage by the woods. Sir Bedivere will not think to look for you there. I also think it would be best if I introduce you to everyone we meet as Master Christopher, rather than by your title, or 'my lord.' Keeping your true identity a secret will make it almost impossible for your guardian to find you. If that's all right with you."

Lord Fitzwilliam nodded. "All right. I agree. That all sounds eminently sensible."

While Mina hastily packed a small valise for the boy—she threw in a few changes of clothes that she found in his traveling trunk—he pulled his velvet rabbit from beneath the pillow on the narrow bed. "I'm ready, Miss Davenport," the young viscount said gravely. "But where is this magic cupboard?" He nodded at the one in the corner. "This one is rather ordinary."

Mina smiled. "Ah, but I have a special key that will wake up the magic. Would you like to see how it works?"

The young viscount nodded eagerly. "Yes, please."

Firmly tamping down any last-minute conniptions, Mina again retrieved her leyport key from her magical governess's pocket. In theory, she could use her leyport key in any door to open a leyline portal, but she preferred using cupboards and wardrobes rather than regular doors between rooms. Aside from the fact it was a relatively discreet way to te-ley-port, there was something about the whole act of unlocking the door and discovering the tiny white leylight in the shadowy depths of a cupboard that helped Mina to focus her energy when casting the teleportation incantation.