Page 44 of A Scandalous Bargain
Chapter 8
“I’m so sorry,” Beatrix said, grimacing and then smiling as Worth offered her his arm at the conclusion of their dance. “I suppose I shall have to accept that I am not the best dancer. In fact, I think I suffer from dancing with someone so accomplished.”
Worth chuckled. “I don’t know about that, but please don’t concern yourself. Perhaps next time, we’ll just take a promenade. You’re a decent walker, aren’t you?”
Beatrix was surprised to find herself laughing. “Yes, I believe so. But let’s not curse me.” She quickly sobered. Perhaps she was already cursed.
She couldn’t stop thinking of what had happened in the library. What a tangle. She was so preoccupied that it hadn’t taken much effort to dance poorly.
Scanning the ballroom, she saw Selina standing with Harry. They were speaking with Harry’s parents, the earl and countess. Selina looked so happy.
Beatrix should tell her about Thomas, that he knew they were pretenders. But would it make any difference? Only if Thomas exposed them, and he’d said he wouldn’t.
She should alert Selina—and Rafe—to the fact that someone knew their secrets. Or at least some of them. That there were still things Thomas didn’t know made Beatrix feel queasy. It was another reason she needed to stop seeing him. And she would. She’d told him goodbye in the library.
That made her feel worse than queasy.
“What say you?”
Beatrix blinked and glanced over at Worth as they made their way off the dance floor. He’d clearly said something before the question, and she had absolutely no idea what it was. More troubling was the way he was looking at her—with unabashed delight and something else…anticipation maybe. She nearly blurted right then that she was his half sister.
Thankfully, however, she was saved by a tall, masked gentleman who stepped in their path.Tom.
He bowed to her and inclined his head toward Worth. Addressing Beatrix, Tom asked, “May I have the next dance?”
He was asking her to dance? She’d thought he left. She’d told him goodbye. She also knew that it was impolite to refuse a gentleman when he asked you to dance. And in this case, she didn’t want to refuse.
“It would be my pleasure.” She withdrew her hand from Worth’s sleeve. “Thank you, my lord.” Then she put her hand on Tom’s proffered arm and felt the connection all the way down to her knees, which turned to water.
As Tom led her back to the dance floor, she cast him a sidelong glance. “You didn’t leave.”
“I was going to, but then I saw you ‘dancing’ with Worth.”
She heard the sarcasm he infused in the word dancing and giggled. “I must appear the worst dancer here.”
“Perhaps, but I admit I wasn’t watching anyone else.” His confession did nothing to help the liquid state of her bones as he took her into his embrace. “It’s a waltz.”
“So it is. I haven’t waltzed with anyone yet. Unless you count that moment on your balcony.”
The connection between them seemed to sizzle, like a spark leaping from a fire to start a new conflagration.
“Do you have permission?” he asked silkily.
“Er, yes?” She looked up at him. “Who would give me permission?”
“Your father, but in the absence of one, perhaps your brother or your sister.” He looked over her head, and some of her enthusiasm at dancing with him evaporated.
“Are you still upset with me?”
His gaze snapped to hers. The music started, and he swept her into the dance. The press of his palm on her back and the feel of his hand entwined with hers sizzled through her with a delicious heat. They were the barest of touches, but it was the slightness that was so inviting. She wanted more. So much more.
“No. You explained, and I think I understand. At least, I hope I do.”
Yes, she’d explained. Partially. What would he do if he knew she stole things? And not only when she wasn’t aware of doing so. She’d developed a skill for picking pockets—and sometimes not even pockets, for she could remove a bracelet from a lady’s wrist without her realizing—and stealing into locked chambers. Sometimes that had been the only way she and Selina had been able to survive. There had been plenty of nights, especially when they were younger, that they went to bed hungry or when they were behind on payments for their lodgings and were forced out into the street. Theft had started as a last resort and then they’d relied on it when their other schemes failed to provide the income they needed.
Their other schemes included Selina working as a fortune-teller, pretending to raise money for a charitable cause, or Beatrix feigning an illness that could be treated with medicine they couldn’t afford. How could she ever tell Tom about any of that? She’d seen how devastated Harry had been when he’d learned the truth and how broken Selina had been as she’d tried to explain the life she’d led to the man she loved.
Seeing them now, happy, about to be married, gave Beatrix hope for her own future. Especially if her father was open to rekindling their relationship. However, that seemed unlikely given he hadn’t even recognized Beatrix. Between that and the disaster in the library, she realized she wanted this evening to be over.
