Page 103 of His Unwanted Duchess

Beatrice leaned back in her seat, her head spinning. She felt more tired than ever and suddenly aware of all the opera glasses aimed in her direction. People had noticed. She knew she shouldhave been more upset, more concerned about what tomorrow’s scandal sheets would say, but truly, she could not find it in herself to care.

“I think it was an apology,” she said, at last. “I believe she wanted me to forgive her.”

“Oh,” Theodosia responded, blinking. “And did you?”

Beatrice considered for a moment. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, I think I did.”

Beatrice was almost too tired to put a foot in front of another. There had been moments of enjoyment on their night out—the performance was very good, and it was pleasant to see Theodosia enjoying it. Beatrice also had the opportunity to meet Theodosia’s friend, Mr. Harvey Harris, whowasa very nice gentleman and clearly smitten with Theodosia.

Still, it was beyond relief to finally step into her home. Mouse was waiting, ready to take her shawl and gloves.

“Is the Dowager Duchess joining us tonight, Your Grace?” Mouse asked.

Beatrice shook her head. “Just me tonight, Mouse. I’m exhausted. An early night for me, I suppose.”

Mouse nodded. “Before you retire, Your Grace, I should tell you that the observatory has been thoroughly cleaned and dusted, as per your orders. I should be obliged if you would go up and check on the work.”

“I’m sure you’ve done an excellent job, Mouse.”

He hesitated. “Yes, but the maids do not often clean the observatory. I’m sure they would be pleased if you confirm that the cleaning is to your standards.”

Beatrice shrugged. “I’m sure it will be. I’ll check in the morning.”

Mouse said nothing, clutching her shawl and gloves, tight-lipped and clearly disapproving.

Beatrice glanced up at him and bit back a sigh. “You want me to check now, don’t you?”

“If you don’t mind, Your Grace.”

She rubbed a hand over her face. Shewastired, and not at all in the mood to inspect a cleaned room, let alone climb all those stairs.

“Very well,” Beatrice said, forcing a smile. “If it means that much to you, I shall go and check it now.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

Beatrice had expected Mouse to come with her, to take a little tour of the observatory, but he melted away, leaving her to find her way there alone.

I must be the most placid duchess ever,she thought sourly, hauling herself up the stairs.

Something was a little off, and it took Beatrice a moment to figure out exactly what was wrong with the light. Aside from a couple of discreet candles that had been left burning—which was a fire risk, of course—she noticed almost immediately that all of the panels on the roof were open.

The glass dome was almost entirely bare, the full expanse of the sky glittering high above her. Beatrice had never seen the night sky quite as spread out, quite asclose, and she couldn’t quite suppress a gasp of delight.

“I thought you weren’t coming.”

Beatrice nearly jumped out of her skin at the voice.

She spun around, and there he was. His familiar frame was silhouetted against the candlelight, the silvery moonlight and starlight illuminating his black hair and accentuating his broad shoulders.

Beatrice’s heart hammered, and the exhaustion she’d felt over the night vanished in the blink of an eye.

“Stephen,” she gasped. “You’re here.”

CHAPTER 29

They stared at each other for a long moment. Beatrice’s heart pounded in her chest, knocking against her ribs as if trying to pummel its way out.

“I thought you’d left,” she said.

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