Page 13 of A Scandalous Bargain
“Do you think Rockbourne will remarry?” Beatrix asked, drawing a curious stare from Selina.
Rachel shrugged. “I don’t know him very well, but I think North does.” She referred to Harry’s twin brother, who was the Viscount Northwood and whom most of the family called North. “Perhaps I’ll ask him. I’m sure he and Lady Rockbourne would have been invited to the wedding breakfast. Before her death, of course.”
Beatrix found herself disappointed that Rockbourne wouldn’t be there.
They visited a little while longer before Rachel departed.
“That went very well,” Beatrix said after Rachel had left the house.
Walking back from the doorway after seeing Rachel off, Selina arched a brow at her. “Why are you so interested in Lord Rockbourne?”
Beatrix had hoped Selina wouldn’t ask. She hadn’t told her anything about meeting him. As it was, Selina didn’t particularly care for Beatrix going to spy on her father. Spy? Rockbourne would be amused at her choice of words.
“You’re smiling. Why?” Selina’s eyes narrowed. “Tell me.”
Beatrix exhaled. “Like you told me everything about Harry when you were falling for him?”
Selina’s jaw dropped, and she crossed the room to stand in front of Beatrix, who lingered near her chair after rising when Rachel had left. “What is going on with Rockbourne?”
“Nothing. I don’t even know the man.” That was close enough to the truth. She didn’t say she hadn’tmethim. And shedidn’tknow him, not really.
“I don’t know what you’re hiding, but it’s something.” Selina’s features softened. “Let’s not keep secrets. I am sorry I wasn’t completely honest about Harry. I didn’t think anything could happen between us. It was like a dream. Talking about it would have made it real, and I…I couldn’t bear it.” She wiped her hand over her brow. “You’re right. We both deserve to be happy.”
“Yes, we do, and we’re well on our way.” Beatrix seized the chance to change the subject. There was no point in discussing Rockbourne anyway. If Harry had been a dream for Selina, Rockbourne was more in the realm of utter impossibility. Not that Beatrix was thinking of him in the same way Selina had about Harry.
“Almack’s!” Beatrix exclaimed. “I wonder if my father will be there.” She’d heard he made an appearance there once in a while. His son was in the market for a wife and was deemed one of the prime catches of the Season.
“Hopefully, he will be at Rafe’s ball,” Selina said.
“It’s your ball, not Rafe’s.”
“I suppose, but Rafe is hosting and paying for it.” Selina made a face. “Do you know what we could do with the money it costs to throw a Society ball?”
“I can guess. Isn’t Rafe giving you money for the new Spitfire project?”
Beatrix and Selina had joined an association of Society women called The Spitfire Society. They’d started as a small group of independent-minded women who’d flouted Society’s rules but had ended up banding together to work to help less fortunate women. Their numbers were growing, and next week they would meet to discuss plans for a new school and home of rehabilitation for poor women and children. Selina was driving the project and had found a surprising supporter in the Duchess of Clare, who was as passionate about the idea as Selina. For Selina, it was personal. She meant to save girls like herself from the streets.
“He is,” Selina said. “I don’t know how much, but then I’m afraid to ask how wealthy he’s actually become.”
“I’m not. I’ll do that next time I see him.” Beatrix laughed, and Selina joined.
Sobering, Selina pressed her hands to her cheeks. “I can scarcely believe how we got here. And you’re on the verge of achieving your dream. Your father will see how lovely you are, how welcome in Society, and your relationship will be rekindled.”
“I hope so.” Her primary goal these past fifteen years had been to get back into her father’s good graces. If he rejected her, she didn’t know what she’d do. He was the only blood relative she had. Yes, she had Selina, but they weren’t actually related. And now Selina had been reunited with her brother after nineteen years apart.
Beatrix wanted a family of her own. She’dhadone, and she meant to get it back.
