Page 28 of A Deviant Spinster for the Duke
Her mother is the problem.She did not say so out loud, but it was common knowledge that Beatrice’s mother—Aaron’s sister—was more concerned with her own entertainment than watching over her daughter. Oblivious to the fact that her absences, and her own ill behavior in society, were mostly responsible for Beatrice acting out.
“I thought we might frame it as a new debut for her,” Valeria continued. “A proper one, this time.”
Aaron pulled a face. “If you think it will work, I have no argument.” He paused. “You did not say when she was arriving.”
“Today, I believe,” Valeria replied, sifting through the letters to find the one that had arrived from her mother to say exactly that.
“Cousin!” Beatrice shouted, tearing out of the carriage and across the gravel, hitching up her skirts as she ran.
Valeria could not help but laugh. “It is a delight to see you, too.”
She opened out her arms to receive her eager cousin, the younger woman pulling Valeria into the tightest of hugs. It had been months since they had seen one another, and though Valeria was somewhat anxious about wrangling the rebellious young woman, there was a thrum of excitement too. The world was always livelier with Beatrice around.
“Free at last!” Beatrice cried, laughing. “I truly thought Mama was going to put bars on my window and lock my door, throwing away the key. Thank you, dearest cousin, for saving me. I fear I would have lost my mind if I had spent another moment in that house.”
Valeria held her cousin at arm’s length, looking her over. “You do not look as if you have been a persecuted prisoner.”
“Yes, well, a gilded cage is still a cage, cousin.” Beatrice grinned. “Now, what is the first exciting thing on our agenda? Are we to dine at a duke’s house? Are we to dance all night at a ball? Are we to attend a country gathering, or race across the groundson horseback? I have all my gowns and riding attire. Mama did not want me to bring them, but I snuck them into the carriage without her knowing.”
Valeria hesitated, suddenly doubtful of her ability to keep her cousin in line. “Actually, we are to journey to London this afternoon. I realize you have already journeyed rather far, but… I thought you might be bored here, and the other girls are already in the capital.”
And I cannot have you seeing that we have no staff, lest your mother find out.It would be easier to hide the truth in London, for Noah and Catherinehadwritten to inform Valeria that she was welcome to use their apartments, and the staff that they already had there. The letter had simply been at the bottom of the extensive pile, hiding.
“Wonderful news!” Beatrice crowed, her eyes alight with excitement and mischief. “Why, this is perfect. I do not need to bother to unpack my belongings.”
Valeria chuckled. “No, indeed.” She paused. “I thought that we might introduce you to society again. You never had a proper debut, and you were out in society far earlier than you should have been. As Teresa and Rebecca are also debutantes this Season, I figured you might like to accompany them. I, of course, will escort you to events with your uncle. What do you say?”
The giddy brightness of Beatrice’s face softened into a fond glow, her eyes misting over as she looked at her cousin. Her hand moved to her heart, and, for a moment, she dropped hergaze. “I should like that very much, dear cousin.” She tapped her chest with her palm. “I doubt anyone will realize that I am already technicallyout. No one has ever noticed; they think I am someone’s pesky sister, who has snuck into a ball.”
“Well then, you shall be my pesky cousin, who has been properly introduced at last,” Valeria promised, feeling a pinch of sorrow for the younger woman.
It was obvious to Valeria that Beatrice’s antics over the past few years were a desperate cry for attention and affection, from parents who barely realized they had a daughter. Like most in society, they had hoped for a son and heir, but the years had gone by, and Beatrice’s mother had never had another child. Disappointed, they had clearly decided to pretend they had no children at all.
“Thank you, Valery,” Beatrice said, raising her gaze. “I promise, I shall not let you down.”
Valeria smiled. “No setting anyone’s horses loose, do you understand?”
“I swear it.” Beatrice grinned. “Although, I should say, no one has been able to prove that it was me. In fact, I do not know what you are talking about.”
Putting an arm around Beatrice’s shoulders, Valeria steered her into the house. “Let us keep it that way,” she said, laughing.
While Valeria would have been perfectly content to spend a day or so settling into the apartments on the very edge of Mayfair, Beatrice was not the sort of lady who liked to waste a moment on peace and quiet. Not when there were places to visit, adventures to be had, and acquaintances to be made.
Indeed, the girl seemed twice as exuberant as usual, now that she had the promise of a fresh start and a fresh debut ahead of her.
“This is what London is for, cousin!” she insisted, pulling Valeria along the pathways of Hyde Park. “It is summer, it is a beautiful day; it is no time to be cooped up inside.”
Valeria sighed. “Andyoushould have a parasol, or you shall freckle.”
“Then, I shall look like you, and be perfectly glad of it,” Beatrice protested. “Freckles are beautiful. I shall not hear anything to the contrary. Every time I see a lady with a dusting of them on her face, I think her all the prettier for it.”
“I agree,” Valeria replied, “but your mother shall kill me if I return you with a complexion anything short of ghostly.”
Beatrice rolled her eyes. “Then, it is fortunate that I do not care what my mother has to say. Why, she would not even notice ifmy face resembled a speckled egg; she would be too busy trying to powder the wrinkles from her own.”
“Very well,” Valeria said in a softer tone, “but at least attempt to stay in the shade of the trees now and then.”
“Consider it a deal,” Beatrice replied, the two women continuing their promenade in a companionable mood.
