“This is preposterous!” Bram threw his hands in the air. “You cannot punish me for supporting a fellow scholar in his pursuit of knowledge.”
Uncle Pendleton stepped between him and Grimwinkle, head dipped like a bull on the charge. “Do not commit such a vindictive act, Grimwinkle. It’s me you hate, not my nephew. Catherine never loved you. She loved me—though I was too preoccupied to act on my feelings at the time.”
The gavel banged so hard, the head flew off and ricocheted from the table, bounding its way along the floor until all that could be heard were the great snorts of air huffing from Grimwinkle’s nose. He snapped his gaze to the men on his left, then his right. “Has any man here an objection to my decision?”
Bram scanned from face to face. Only one man opened his mouth, then just as quickly closed it. If anyone naysaid Grimwinkle, their own head would be on the chopping block. And while Bram understood such a truth, nothing but contempt for each man roiled in his gut.
“Mr. Clem,” Grimwinkle thundered down the table. “Be it therefore written the dismissal of Professors Pendleton andWebb was unanimously voted upon and deemed the proper conclusion to this meeting.”
Then he skewered Bram with a razor-sharp stare. “Like your uncle, vacate your office by Monday morning. Furthermore, the two of you are banned from completing the dig at Inman Manor, which I will personally see to finishing.”
Bram’s jaw dropped. This was not to be borne! He sidestepped his uncle, facing the bully man-to-man. “Becauseyouwish the glory of publishing whatwefound. That was your plan all along, was it not? You were the one who hired Trestwell to foul up our work, hampering our progress just enough to get us out of the picture so you could swoop in and claim victory for yourself!”
A collective gasp hissed throughout the room.
“Nonsense. Guards, take this man outside.” A demon couldn’t have sounded any more ominous than the rasp in Grimwinkle’s tone. “This meeting is adjourned.”
“You cannot do this!” Bram lunged.
And was immediately yanked back by a steel grip to each of his arms. His feet slid across the floor, his voice the only weapon in reach. “The Lord judge you, Grimwinkle!”
What a horrid day.
Cold air nipped Eva’s cheeks as she halted the pony cart in the vicarage’s drive. The entire ride here Penny had either been chattering like a magpie or singing at the top of her voice. Not anymore. She went strangely silent when the wheels stopped their grind. Hardly ten feet in front of them, an enameled carriage stood at the ready, horses snorting. Mr. Blackwood strode their way, completely absent of colour in his grey garb, save for those electric blue eyes of his.
Eva looped the reins as the reverend reached for Penny’s hand. “Allow me to help you down, Miss Inman. Mrs. Mortimer awaitsyou in her carriage.” He lifted his face to Eva. “No need to alight, Miss Inman. My man Henry will see to your sister’s trunk.”
Sure enough, the driver from the other carriage loped over to the back of the pony cart, where Sinclair had secured Penny’s belongings.
Eva gave Mr. Blackwood a tight smile. “I should like to say a proper good-bye to my sister, Mr. Blackwood.”
“For her sake and yours, I think it best if we keep emotions to a minimum. Excess is akin to gluttony. Come along now, Miss Inman.” He guided Penny away.
“Good-bye, Eva.” Penny flailed her free hand.
No. This was not how it should be. Not how itwouldbe!
Eva flew from the cart, shoes landing with a crunch in the pea gravel, and dashed over to her sister before Mr. Blackwood could stuff Penny into the carriage like an order of feed to be delivered. In one quick movement, she pulled her sister from the reverend’s grasp and wrapped her arms around the girl. “Good-bye, love. I shall write to you often and expect you to as well, as long as it does not deter you from your studies. I am sure one of the school attendants will not mind taking dictation from you. Make sure you mind your manners and remember that I—oh, poppet.”
Fighting tears, she pressed her cheek against the top of Penny’s head. How could she possibly do this? This would be the last chance she had to breathe in her sister’s rosemary scent. “I love you so much that I have not words big enough to express it. But here, I have something special to give you. Keep it in your pocket, and if you should find yourself missing home, just rub your thumb over the face of it.” She handed Penny the same small rock that Bram had given her.
Penny sniffled as she wrapped her fingers around it, then buried her face against Eva’s coat. “Maybe I shouldn’t go.” Her words muffled out on a cry. “Maybe I ought to just stay here with you.”
“Tut-tut, Miss Penny!” Mrs. Mortimer shrilled from the carriage door, one of her plump hands waving toward them. “We’ve a long drive ahead of us. You’ll feel much better once we begin your adventure. Brother, help the girl into the carriage.”
“My sister is right, Miss Inman. You’ve made your decision to send the girl to school, so let your yes be yes.” Harsh words, yet a surprisingly soft current ran beneath them, almost as if Mr. Blackwood had a heart after all.
One last time, Eva hugged her sister fiercely, then set Penny from her and produced her handkerchief, dabbing the girl’s eyes. An education was the best thing for Penny. She pressed the cloth into her sister’s hand and stepped away. “The reverend is right. We have made our decision, have we not?”
“I ... I guess so.” Penny drew in a shaky breath. “But you will come to visit me soon and often, will you not?”
Eva bit her lip, her hand absently traveling to the outline of an envelope in her pocket. If Bram’s telegram didn’t say money would soon arrive, she’d have no choice but to accept Mrs. Pempernill’s employment. Not that she could tell Penny that, of course. She straightened her sister’s bonnet. “I would never turn down an opportunity to see you.”
“Off we go, Miss Inman.” Mr. Blackwood gathered Penny and lifted her into the carriage.
In light of her father’s warning about Mr. Blackwood, it chafed to see her sister in the man’s hands—but at least he would not be accompanying them to London. Mrs. Mortimer’s maid, sitting pinch-faced opposite her employer, was an improvement over Mr. Blackwood.
Mrs. Mortimer immediately reached for the door handle, then paused and smiled at Eva. “Oh dear, Miss Inman, I neglected to tell you the school allows no visitors for the first year. It is better for the students to acclimate without interruption. Good-bye.” She pulled the door shut with a clack and the carriage rolled off, leaving Eva standing with her mouthagape. A whole year? She was to be parted from her sister for so long?
