Page 24 of A Scandalous Bargain
He smiled. “How fortunate for me.”
Bloody hell. “I’m not certain I’m ready for marriage this Season.”
His brow pleated. “Then why bother with any of this?”
“Because it’s entertaining and…educational? How can one determine if they are ready for marriage if they don’t get out and meet people?”
“I suppose that’s true. Be careful, however. Young ladies who aren’t successfully wed within a Season or two are often judged a failure.”
She pursed her lips at him. “And how many Seasons have you participated in without becoming betrothed?”
He laughed again. “You are utterly delightful!” He continued taking her back toward Selina. “May I call on you?”
Beatrix swore to herself again. “Yes, I suppose you may. I can’t imagine your father would approve, however. I’m not from a titled family like you.” Hopefully, that would deter him.
“But your sister is Lady Gresham, and she is marrying the son of the Earl of Aylesbury. And you did get a voucher to Almack’s. You would almost certainly pass his inspection.”
A laugh gathered in Beatrix’s throat, but she coughed instead. Perhaps she should just tell him the truth.
Thankfully, they arrived at Selina. Beatrix withdrew her hand from his arm. “Thank you for the dance, my lord.”
“Please, call me Worth.”
The name brought to mind the word worthy and the fact thathewas worthy and Beatrix was not. She gave him a tight smile. “Thank you, Worth.”
He bowed to her and to Selina, then took his leave.
“Can we go yet?” Beatrix asked, turning toward Selina.
“It’s scarcely one o’clock,” Selina said, blinking. “That’s early, from what I understand. But we can certainly go. Goodness knows I’m bored.”
Beatrix finally let out the laugh that she’d kept trapped inside. “Then let us depart.”
They’d borrowed a coach from Rafe for the evening, and once they were settled inside, Selina kicked off her slippers. “I’ve decided it’s nice to have a wealthy brother.”
“I’m so glad.”
When Selina had been reunited with him a few weeks ago, Rafe had offered support, but she’d declined. After so many years on their own, it was difficult for Selina to accept help. Especially when she’d felt abandoned by her brother. He’d taken her to the boarding school when she was eleven and had stopped writing to her after a while. Like Beatrix, she’d felt utterly forgotten. In Rafe’s case, however, he’d been trying to keep her safe. He didn’t want her returning to her old life in London or to him. But now that he had reinvented himself as a prosperous gentleman away from crime, they had reestablished their sibling relationship. Beatrix hoped for the same with her father.
“That doesn’t mean it’s easy allowing him to pay for things,” Selina said. “I hate that, actually.”
“I know,” Beatrix said softly. “But there’s no reason not to. Our lives have completely changed. You’re getting married. You’re in love. You’re secure.”
Selina turned her head toward Beatrix beside her and reached for her hand. “You’re secure too. Always and forever. I will never abandon you.”
Beatrix gave Selina’s fingers a quick squeeze before letting her go and putting her hand down at her side. There was something in the pocket of her dress, she realized. A flash of alarm sparked through her. Had she taken something? She couldn’t investigate it now.
“So how was your dance with your half brother?” Selina asked. “It looked as if you were struggling.”
“On purpose. I was trying to deter his interest.”
“Did it work?”
Beatrix exhaled with disappointment. “I don’t think so. He asked if he could call on me.” She shot Selina a disgruntled look. “Can you imagine anything worse than being courted by your half brother?”
Selina laughed. Eyes dancing, she clapped her hand over her mouth. After a moment, she lowered her hand to her lap. “Icanthink of worse things, actually, but that would still be rather unpleasant. What do you plan to do?”
“Continue to deter him?” Beatrix lifted her hands and shrugged. “What can I do? Tell him we share a father?”
