Page 91 of A Scandalous Bargain
Selina reached across the table. “You are much more than friends with Rockbourne, aren’t you?”
Nodding, Beatrix wiped at the tears on her cheeks. “I love him.”
Selina stood and went to hug Beatrix. “My dearest Trix.”
The embrace was a bit awkward with Beatrix sitting and Selina, who was too tall anyway, standing. Beatrix rose and wrapped her arms around Selina’s middle. They stood like that for a good long moment.
Beatrix stepped back and brushed at her cheeks again. “I need to tell Dearborn—the constable—what really happened that night. I should have from the start, but Tom didn’t want me to jeopardize my reputation.” She made a sound of disgust in her throat. “That was when I still hoped the duke would want to be my father.”
Selina touched her shoulder.
“But I was also worried about you—and Harry,” Beatrix said. “I don’t want to cause trouble for you. I still don’t.”
“I understand.” Selina squeezed her hand and sat back down. “Harry isn’t here, but we’ll ask him what to do.”
Beatrix sank into her chair. “I really didn’t want to involve either of you, not when you were about to be married. I never imagined Bow Street would continue their investigation. But then they got that letter from Lady Rockbourne’s mother, and Tom lied to them about what happened because he was trying to keep his daughter from learning what a horrid person her mother was.”
“You’re going to have to explain this in a bit more detail because I’m confused,” Selina said apologetically.
After she did so—leaving out the things Tom had told her about himself and his wife and their marriage—Selina gave her an encouraging smile. “Harry will know what to do. He’s the very best constable at Bow Street. Dearborn is young and likely overenthusiastic. This will all turn out right.”
“I hope so.” Now Beatrix was certain she felt exhausted.
“What about Tom?” Selina asked softly.
Beatrix wiped her fingers over her eyelids, then focused on Selina across the table. “What do you mean?”
“Does he love you in return?”
“I don’t know. He’s in mourning, or at least he’s supposed to be. I haven’t told him how I feel. He… I’m not sure he wants to marry again.” She wouldn’t say more.
“Well, take my advice and tell him. I wish I had confessed my feelings to Harry sooner.”
“I know.” Beatrix gave her a weak smile. “But it all turned out as it should.”
“So far. Hopefully, Deborah won’t try to ruin things.” Selina curled her lip. “Why am I not surprised she would be the one to cause us trouble?”
“Because she was the absolute worst person at Mrs. Goodwin’s?”
“That is true.” Selina grinned. “How lucky you and I are to have found each other there. Can you imagine if we hadn’t?”
Beatrix indulged that for a moment. She envisioned a life where she took a position as a governess or perhaps a lady’s companion. She might have ended up as a courtesan like her mother and ultimately as some lord’s mistress. “We may have done things of which we aren’t proud and which we wouldn’t do again, but I am not sorry,” Beatrix said with quiet certainty. “There is no one I would rather choose for my family than you.”
“I feel precisely the same. And, for better or worse, we are now part of a larger family with Harry’s lot.”
“Plus Rafe.” Beatrix had thought she’d be the one contributing members to their family, but as of now, it was just her. She felt a sudden blast of loneliness, which was silly. She would always have Selina.
Yes, but shewantedTom.
“We’ll sort this out with Harry,” Selina said. “Then you and Rockbourne can decide what to do. I am sure he’s a smart gentleman—he must be if you love him—and will realize what a wonderful woman you are.”
The question was what, if anything, he planned to do about it.
* * *
“Papa, when is the nice lady coming back?”
Thomas set the puppets in the trunk that housed many of Regan’s toys. He’d just regaled her with a silly show featuring Horace the Horse and Jack the Ass. She’d giggled throughout, and it had done wonders for his mood since returning from the picnic.
