Page 11 of A Scandalous Bargain
“I’ll look forward to it, actually.” When was the last time he’d had something to anticipate that didn’t involve reading a story or playing with dolls?
“Excellent.” She turned and went to climb over the railing. As she held on to the trellis with one hand, she waved at him with the other. “Until next time!”
“When you explain to me your catlike abilities.”
She laughed. “There isn’t much to tell. There was a tree in our garden in Bath, and I climbed it almost every day.”
He suspected therewasmore to it than that and hoped she would reveal all—someday.
After descending the trellis, she paused beneath the balcony and looked up at him. “I just thought of something. I am in need of a voucher for Almack’s. If you can help with that…” She winked at him before taking off through the garden.
He watched her until she disappeared into the dark corner with the gate. He looked forward to her next visit with great anticipation.
* * *
“Why are you pacing?” Beatrix asked Selina as she watched her cross their small sitting room.
“Rachel will be here shortly,” Selina answered without pausing. In fact, it looked as if she sped up. Tall, with long legs, she strode the distance in probably half the strides it would take Beatrix.
“Yes, and it’s just Rachel. You like Rachel. It’s not as if Lady Aylesbury is coming. Even if she were, there’s no call for you to be nervous.” Rachel was Selina’s bethrothed’s sister, and Lady Aylesbury was his mother. Both were lovely women.
Selina’s honey-brown brows knitted as she continued to pace. “I realize you were reared to believe you might move in such circles, but I was not.”
Raised in London’s East End and forced to thieve to support herself, Selina was still adjusting to the idea that she was marrying the son of an earl. Never mind that she and Beatrix had spent over a decade masquerading as genteel women. “We’re quite accomplished at pretending to be well-bred, if I may say so.”
Selina tossed her a look that said she wasn’t sure she agreed.
Beatrix rose from her chair. “Besides, they already adore you almost as much as Harry does.” She smiled at her sister who wasn’t really her sister but was the only family Beatrix had. Beatrix wanted to include her father and hoped very soon she could.
Intercepting Selina, Beatrix clasped her hands. “Truly they do.”
“Harry says so,” Selina said quietly, her blue gaze dipping. “I still can’t believe…” She shook her head.
Beatrix pulled Selina close for a hug. “I know you think you don’t deserve him, but youdo. This is a new chapter in your life—in both our lives. Don’t look backward.”
Selina nodded, her head grazing Beatrix’s as she squeezed her in return. “Thank you.”
They separated, and both had tears glistening in their eyes. “You’ve cried more in the past week than in all the time I’ve known you!” Beatrix laughed as she blinked the moisture away.
“It’s true. I’ve become a bloody watering pot.” Selina wiped at her eyes just as they heard the housekeeper’s voice. “Rachel must be here.” Straightening, Selina took a deep breath. She brushed her hands over her cheeks and nodded.
“Mrs. Hayes has arrived.” Mrs. Vining, their housekeeper, appeared briefly before stepping aside to allow Harry’s sister into the sitting room.
With auburn hair and shining brown eyes, Rachel was the middle of Harry’s three sisters, all married. She was also the closest to Harry, and she’d taken a particular liking to Selina. “Lady Gresh—” Rachel rolled her eyes. “Selina.Bad habit, I’m afraid.”
Selina smiled. “Proper address isn’t a bad habit.”
Beatrix suppressed a giggle. And it wasn’t really proper address. Selina was no more Lady Gresham than Beatrix was Miss Whitford. Sir Barnabus Gresham had been one of the many wealthy people they’d sought to swindle. He’d seen through their ruse, something that almost never happened, but had liked Selina so much that he’d given them the money they needed to get to London and said he didn’t care if she called herself Lady Gresham. It turned out he was ill and was glad to help someone in need before he died.
“Let us sit,” Beatrix said. She took the chair she’d vacated while Selina and Rachel sat together on the settee.
Rachel had apparently divested herself of her hat and gloves in the entry hall. Once seated, she arranged her skirt in an elegant fashion and looked between Selina and Beatrix with an expression of barely contained excitement. “I have wonderful news.”
“About the wedding?” Selina asked, for that was the reason for Rachel’s visit—to discuss what needed to be done.
Rachel shook her head. “I have vouchers for Almack’s for the both of you.” She grinned broadly.
Selina turned her head to look at Beatrix, her eyes alight with joy. “Thatiswonderful news.”
