Page 47 of A Scandalous Bargain
“Of course. Whether he doesn’t recognize you or is ignoring you, this is a matter that requires support.”
She dropped her hand to her side, blinking at him in disbelief. “I never expected this response. I’m…overcome.”
“Well, I’m just glad you told me the truth. When I thought you were merely uninterested, it was a blow.” At her laugh, he smiled. “It’s far more palatable to my self-confidence to know you’re my sister.” He winked at her. “Shall I pick you up tomorrow, or would you like to meet at Father’s?”
That he referred to Ramsgate as “Father,” as if he was their shared parent, which he was, filled her with an indescribable joy. “I’ll meet you there.”
“Three o’clock?” When she nodded, he continued. “You know where?”
“I do.” Oh, how she knew. It would be impossible to go and not think of Tom right next door. In fact, she was desperate to tell him about this development. But would she have the chance?
“Excellent.” He held out his hand. “May I?”
She put her hand in his. “Yes.”
He gave her hand a squeeze. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Then he turned and left, leaving her to stare after him in wonder.
This had been an abysmal night. Or had it?
She smoothed her hand down her dress and felt the bracelet in her pocket once more. Removing the item, she placed it beneath a chair, as if it had fallen off the woman’s wrist. Never mind that she probably hadn’t even come into this room. Ah well, it was the best Beatrix could do. She decided to categorize the evening as somewhere between mild disaster and slightly successful.
She’d lost Tom, but had apparently gained a brother. Perhaps tomorrow, she’d gain a father too.
Except Tom had never really been hers to lose. They’d shared some wonderful, exciting moments. She would remember them, and him, always. And in so doing, she would try never, ever to think of what might have been.
* * *
Thomas couldn’t shake the feeling that Beatrix had meant something permanent when she’d told him goodbye last night. Not once, but twice.
Was it because he knew the truth about her and her “siblings”? Or was it something else?
He’d watched her leave the ballroom with her half brother and desperately wanted to know what had happened. As much as he hoped she might come to his garden later, he doubted she would. And not just because he’d told her not to, that he would help coordinate her visits to keep her safe.
Despite his insistence that she not come to his garden alone late at night anymore, he didn’t necessarily expect her to heed him. Beatrix was an independent and rather self-reliant woman.
Perhaps he should visit her instead. There had to be a way for him to steal into her new residence in Cavendish Square.
“My lord?”
Thomas had been so lost in thought that he hadn’t noticed Baines standing in the doorway of his study. He sat straighter in his chair where he lounged near the hearth. “Yes?”
“Mr. Dearborn from Bow Street is here.”
Surprise—and not the pleasant kind—swirled in Thomas’s gut. He stood. “Is he in the sitting room?”
Baines nodded. “Just so.”
“I’ll attend him at once. This must be a perfunctory visit to notify me their investigation has concluded.” Thomas couldn’t think of any other reason for him to come. Actually, he could, but he preferred not to. The sooner he could put Thea’s death behind him, the sooner he could find some sense of normality.
Thomas entered the sitting room off the entry hall to see Dearborn studying the portrait of him and Thea in the corner. The constable, a young fellow probably five or so years Thomas’s junior, with wavy brown hair that spilled over his forehead and bright blue eyes, turned from the painting.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Dearborn,” Thomas said. “How can I help you?” Thomas didn’t sit, nor did he invite the constable to do so.
Dearborn inclined his head. He looked a bit nervous, his gaze uncertain, before he straightened his spine and squared his shoulders, which seemed to give him a jolt of confidence—at least visually. “Good afternoon, my lord. Thank you for seeing me. I hope you are faring well after your recent tragedy.”
“As well as can be expected.” Better than expected, actually. Was that because he was finally free of Thea’s rage, or was it because he’d found Beatrix?
