Page 37 of A Scandalous Bargain
“Especially cats! Papa says I can have one since Mama is gone,” Regan said excitedly. “She wouldn’t let me have one.”
Aunt Charity looked over at him with a smile. “What a lovely idea.”
“Soon,” Thomas said. He needed to find one.
Regan opened the book and studied the pictures with grave interest.
“I think she likes it,” Thomas said softly. “Thank you.”
“Papa, can your friend read it to me?”
Thomas furrowed his brow in confusion. “What friend?”
“That nice lady. With the hair like mine.”
Aunt Charity’s eyes widened slightly as she turned her gaze to Thomas. “What friend is this?”
Bloody hell. Regan meant Beatrix. So much for her not telling anyone. “I’m not sure,” Thomas lied.
“She comes here sometimes at night,” Regan said without looking up from the book.
Aunt Charity’s still dark brows nearly leapt from the top of her forehead. “It sounds as if you have taken a—” She pressed her lips together. “Never mind.”
“A what, Aunt Charity?” Regan asked, proving that children heard everything.
“Nothing, dear.” Aunt Charity moved the box to the floor and scooted closer to her great-niece to peruse the book over her head. But only for a moment. She returned her attention to Thomas with a thoroughly curious stare.
Thomas knew his aunt would interrogate him later and decided it was best to get it over with now. He turned to Regan’s nurse and asked if she could take her upstairs with the book.
“Of course, my lord,” the nurse said.
Regan closed the book and handed it to the nurse. Turning, she threw her arms around Aunt Charity. “Thank you, Aunt Charity!”
Thomas’s aunt hugged her tightly, her mouth curving into a warm smile. “You are so welcome, my darling girl.”
Sliding from the settee, Regan went to hug Thomas before leaving with the nurse.
“Your daughter is absolutely wonderful. You have more than made up for your former wife’s lack of care.”
“That has never been my goal, not specifically,” he said quietly. “Regan is my entire heart.”
“Yourentireheart? There’s nothing left for your mysterious blonde ‘friend’?”
Thomas rested his elbows on the arms of the chair and leaned forward. “Listen, I would prefer if you didn’t discuss this with anyone. This woman is not my mistress. She is just what Regan said—a friend. I find I have need of one right now.” That was the absolute truth. Beatrix had come into his life at precisely the right moment. He honestly didn’t know what he would have done without her help that night—just her presence had allowed him to navigate an utterly unbearable event.
Aunt Charity’s forehead creased with sympathy. “Of course you do. I would never judge you.” She looked as though she wanted to ask him more.
“I won’t tell you anything else, so don’t ask.” He gave her a half smile. “Just know that she’s a friend. And nothing more.”
“If she’s helped you through this time, she is more than a friend—she’s an angel. I’m grateful for whatever comfort she gives you.”
“Thank you.” He sat back and put his palms against the arms of the chair. “Now, let us talk of something that has nothing to do with me.”
She grinned. “Then let me tell you an amusing story of your cousin’s son, Peregrine.”
“Yes, please do. It’s been far too long since he and Regan played together.”
“We’ll have to rectify that,” Aunt Charity said. “Soon.” Then she launched into her tale, and for a brief while, Thomas laughed.
