Discovery of Desire by Susanne Lord Page B

marriage tonight.
    Seth slapped his hat on his thigh, pretending to knock the dust off it. “You three go on back without me.” He started to plod down the side of the hill. “I got a ride back with a gent I spoke to after the hunt.”
    â€œWho?” Tom asked, stalling him from his escape.
    â€œThe man’s got an interest in South America,” he said. “He offered a seat in his carriage. Wants to hear about my time in Brazil.”
    Tom looked confused, but he nodded. Thankfully, he didn’t press for a name. “Good. Let’s hope he has some influence in the Company. I’ll see you in the morning.”
    Tom and Emma headed to the carriages with the rest of the party. But Mina paused, that worried crease on her brow was back. “I didn’t see you talk to anyone.”
    He waved her off. “Go on now, Minnie.”
    She started to leave, then turned back. “Will I… I will see you again, won’t I?”
    Seth smiled. The little officer…still trying to keep her soldiers in rank and file. “I’d not leave Bombay without saying good-bye to you.”
    Her face looked pale but maybe it was a trick of light. “Will you promise me?”
    The soft words winged his heart and spun it. Just like that little snipe. “I promise,” he said quietly. “Go on now, Minnie. Tom’s waiting.”
    Her hand clutched the pocket of her skirt. Seemed she did that when she wasn’t sure about things.
    â€œI’ll see you again, I think,” she said. “There’s a zoo outing on the eleventh. Thomas has promised to come. You’ll come, won’t you?”
    A tired sigh escaped him. “A zoo, is it?”
    She nodded. “I’d like to see you.”
    And that was a direct hit. “I’ll try, Minnie.”
    With a final plea in her brown eyes, she turned to catch up with her sister and Tom.
    Seth walked toward some carriages and out of her view. Then he kept walking until he was hidden from everyone and found a boulder to sit on and wait. He wouldn’t be asking anyone for a ride. There wasn’t a man here who’d welcome him in his carriage while they were courting. Besides, nine miles was an easy distance when he was used to walking more than thirty a day on expedition. And the exercise would keep his mind quiet.
    He couldn’t think right now about how he didn’t fit with any of these marrying men, or the mistakes he’d somehow made today. Or how maybe the only curse there really was, was one he’d brought on himself with every stupid choice he’d made. He couldn’t think on that. Not now.
    He couldn’t think how he might not be enough to save Georgie.

Seven
    â€œFor an animal that could crush us, he looks friendly,” Emma said.
    The zoo elephant did indeed seem to be wearing a smile. He almost seemed to be winking at them.
    Mina said nothing as she took in the sweet animal. As a social outing, the Bombay Zoological Gardens was a perversely fitting locale for the Company men to examine the female wildlife on display. The cages, the landscaping, the wide promenade—a picturesque habitat for the unclaimed venture girls.
    Mina frowned seeing the small group of ladies and Company men strolling ahead of them. Such a small group of ladies now. Their population was rapidly declining. Facing extinction, actually.
    The elephant nodded his ponderous head as if agreeing.
    â€œHe is a dear thing, isn’t he?” Mina said. “So placid and amiable. And mammoth. The drawings in the Illustrated News hardly did justice to his size.”
    A moment of contemplative silence passed before Emma said, “I wonder how Mr. Mayhew is faring.”
    Mina smiled, squeezing Emma’s hand. “If Mr. Mayhew were an animal, he might be an elephant.”
    â€œWhile my Colin Rivers would be that neckless hyena,” Emma said. “The one with the mange.”
    Mina eyed her