Page 57 of The Duke and the Wrong Bride

Henry groaned and buried his head in his hands. Before him were mounds of tenancy agreements, lease holdings, and financial papers that he had hoped to spend the day working through. Indeed, the last three days, he had set himself the unenviable task of trying to get his financial affairs, and woes, in order.

The rumors about his financial situation, as tied to the troubles with his marriage and a general sense that soon he would be forced to file for divorce and thus see him in complete ruin, were getting worse and worse. Tenants were leaving him. Payments owed were being purposefully delayed. And feelings of unrest were brewing among his workers, which, if left to grow, would lead to complete chaos.

Trying to find a solution was a troublesome process, to be sure, but a doable one. Or so Henry thought. All he needed was time, patience, and peace and quiet…

“Knock knock…” a voice called gently from behind the closed door.

Henry stifled a sigh. “Yes?”

Beatrice, of all people, poked her head around the door. The look she gave Henry was apologetic, almost embarrassed. “I just wanted to check on how you were doing.”

“I might be better if I could get some work done,” Henry said politely, forcing himself to behave, knowing that this wasn’t Beatrice’s fault, and the last thing she needed was to be yelled at.

“Good luck with that,” she scoffed and then stepped into the room. “I wanted to apologize also.”

“For what?” he asked, just as a crash echoed from downstairs. This was followed by Hannah chastising the twins, who laughed with glee. “I see your point,” he then added dryly.

“They’re not usually like this.”

“It’s not your fault.” Henry sighed. “Lord knows it isn’t.”

“Even still, if I hadn’t run off, none of this would have happened.” She shrugged. “So, I’m at least willing to take some of the blame.”

Henry chuckled. “How magnanimous of you.”

“And yet I also can’t help but think that if I hadn’t run off, you and my sister wouldn’t have gotten married. And the two of you seem rather happy together.” Her smile was knowing, possibly a result of overhearing the two during one of Charlotte’s punishments.

Henry flushed and had to look away, but Beatrice continued talking. “So, I suppose that some thanks are also in order. It’s funny how it works sometimes, isn’t it?” She swept further into the room, taking the seat opposite Henry’s. “How a wrong can sometimes make a right. Even this—” She flicked her head back toward the open door, the shouting. “I am sure they will work it out, and when they do, they’ll be happier than ever.”

“And you?” Henry asked.

“What about me?”

“The marriage proposal. You’re not going to run off again, are you?” he joked.

She tittered. “No, once was enough.” She laughed softly at that, and Henry opened his mouth to speak, only for her to continue. “My father is a stubborn man, but he loves my mother, and I suspect that once he is finished blustering, he will relent and admit he made a mistake.”

Again, she paused, but this time, Henry knew better than to try and get a word in. “He better, anyhow. Because if he thinks I’m marrying Lord Malbourne, he has another thing coming. Honestly, I don’t know what he was thinking. He wasn’t, I suppose. Trying to undo the damage I did, which I guess makes it my fault?” She laughed to herself. “Maybe I should marry him? Might serve me right.”

God, the woman could talk. She was like her sister in many ways, he’d come to realize. But in many other ways, the two were chalk and cheese. Having gotten to know Beatrice better these last few days, Henry almost felt as if he should be thanking her for running away, forcing him to marry Charlotte instead. He liked her well enough, for she was friendly and affable and rather amusing when she wanted to be. Yet, somehow, he doubted that he and Beatrice would have had the same… companionability as he did with Charlotte.

He almost laughed when he thought back to how he and Charlotte had begun, a far cry from where they were today. Who would have thought? Certainly not Henry.

“If there’s nothing else…” Henry gestured politely, needing Beatrice gone so he could get back to his work.

“Oh, yes.” She gave her head a shake. “I came in here to apologize for you not having the peace and quiet you need to work, and here I am, being a part of the problem.”

“It’s perfectly fine,” he assured her with a soft chuckle.

“You’re too kind.” She beamed at him as she stood up. “Too good for my sister, anyhow,” she then added in jest. “Just joking, of course. If anything, she is too good for you.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” He laughed. “But don’t let her know I said that. It might go to her head.”

“Your secret is safe with me.”

“Beatrice? What are you doing in here?” It was Charlotte, standing in the doorway. She eyed the two of them curiously, as if she wasn’t sure of what to make of them in here together.

“Nothing interesting.” Beatrice shrugged and started toward the door. “Just being friendly.”

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