Page 58 of A Scandalous Bargain
He silently grumbled to himself. “There has to be a relative somewhere.” He thought his father had a cousin.
“So you don’t mean to wed…ever?” Aunt Charity sounded alarmed.
“I haven’t made any decisions.” While he supposedly needed a wife, he wasn’t sure he ever wanted another one. After everything he’d been through with Thea and all he’d witnessed with his parents, he had no hope for the kind of marriage he’d once dreamed of. He wasn’t sure he could trust anyone, even Beatrix, whom he admired greatly. And who was also an admitted liar.
He looked askance at his aunt. “I implore you to abandon this topic.”
“All right.” She pursed her lips as they continued along for a few minutes. “What about taking a mistress?”
He nearly tripped. “Aunt Charity!”
“I’m sorry, but you don’t have a parent or a sibling. And you have this dark cloud over you. A mistress might help.”
It might. Except the only woman he wanted was Beatrix. And oh, how he wanted her.
Not as his mistress, however. Also not apparently as his wife.
A hollow ache opened up inside him, and he rushed to draw it closed. He was fine. Life was returning to normal, as he’d told his aunt, and normal was good. He had Regan, and she had him. They were a family, and that was enough.
* * *
After bidding goodbye to Harry’s family, Beatrix and Selina, accompanied by Harry, started toward Hanover Square on their way to Cavendish Square. Beatrix braced herself for the inevitable question.
“Who were you talking to?” Selina asked. She walked between Beatrix and Harry.
“That was Lord Rockbourne,” Harry said.
“Oh!” Selina snapped her head toward Beatrix. “You know him?”
Beatrix arched a shoulder. She stuck to her rule of relying on at least partial truths. “I danced with him at the masquerade.”
“You didn’t mention that.” Selina’s tone held a dubious edge.
“I think he was trying to keep his presence at the ball a secret.” She kept her gaze focused ahead as they entered Hanover Square.
“Because he’s in mourning?” Selina asked. “I admit I don’t really understand what’s expected at his, ah, level. Harry, is it odd that he was at the ball and at church today?”
Harry chuckled. “I am not the right person to ask. My brother is the one who has to pay attention to rules. I’d think attending church is something that would be allowed in any instance, surely.”
“Seems like it,” Selina murmured. “Is he still under investigation?”
Beatrix held her breath. She’d wanted to ask but didn’t dare draw more attention to her interest in Tom.
“Yes. Lady Rockbourne’s mother has provided evidence regarding Rockbourne’s temper. Apparently Lady Rockbourne was in fear of him.”
“That’s preposterous.” Beatrix hadn’t meant to say that out loud. “I mean, I don’t know him, but I’ve heard Lady Rockbourne was the one with a temper.”
“Have you?” Harry asked with interest. “Is this a specific rumor we could investigate?”
“Er, no.” Beatrix only knew from listening to the shrew herself. But she couldn’t admit that, nor could she testify to what she’d heard and seen, not without ruining her reputation.
It was tempting, though. She’d been hoping her reputation would appeal to her father. Not only had it not appealed to him, he knew things about her that most didn’t. To him, her reputation was already in tatters.
So what did protecting her reputation even matter?
Because it wasn’t just about her. It was also about Selina. She was on the precipice of a marvelous future, and Beatrix wouldn’t cause her any trouble or pain. Not for anything.
“Pity,” Harry said. “If we had evidence that Lady Rockbourne had a temper, that could justify Rockbourne becoming angry with her.”
