Page 48 of Harpy of the Ton
Dear God Almighty—what fresh horror is this?
“It’s our children, Bella, love,” the Beast said.
Heavens—she’d spoken aloud.
Surely these urchins couldn’t beherchildren? Wouldn’t she have remembered having to endure a life with such unpleasant, filthy creatures?
“Stop it!” the Beast roared.
The creatures stopped arguing. Two pairs of bright blue eyes stared at Bella. Then both children tilted their heads almost in unison as they cast their gazes over her. They looked identical with their tangled masses of dirty blond hair and faces caked in dirt, the only difference being that the one who’d slipped onto the floor had slightly longer hair.
“William, Roberta, stop playing the fool,” the Beast said. “Look who’s back?”
Roberta? Surely one of those urchins wasn’t agirl?
“Hello, Mama,” they chorused.
“Very good,” the Beast said, turning to Bella. “You remember the twins, don’t you?”
She shook her head.
“Oh, love!” he cried. “That’s so disappointing. I’d have thought our children would have restored your memory, given how much you’d longed for them—not to mention how vigorously our efforts were to start a family.”
“Don’t be so crude!” she said.
“It’s never bothered you before,” he replied. “You’ve always had a ripe tongue, Bella, love. You curse enough to make a sailor blush.”
“I donot!”
“You’ll remember soon enough,” he said in the good-natured tone that was beginning to needle at her.
Did nothing discompose him?
“Two children…” She shook her head. “I can’t have two children. This must be a horrible dream…”
“Now, Bella, you must stop this nonsense. We don’t have two children.”
The urchins stood, nudging one another as they jostled for position.
“Then—they’re not my children?”
“You misunderstand me, love. It’s—”
He broke off as a high-pitched wail came from upstairs.
“What’sthat?” Bella cried.
“Not again!” he huffed. “William, go upstairs and set him free.”
“But we’re pirates, and he’s our prisoner.”
“Justdoit.”
One of the urchins stuck out its tongue—bright pink against the grime on its face.
“Do itnow,” the Beast growled.
A crash echoed from above, followed by screeching, then a small, red-headed whirlwind descended the stairs with a wail.
