Page 153 of Harpy of the Ton
“No, Aunt.”
“Then you’re a fool as well as a slut. We must wait until we know whether you’re carrying some man’s bastard.”
Bella recoiled at the loathing in her aunt’s voice.
“H-he didn’t defile me,” she said. “I—Oh!” She let out a cry as her aunt gripped her by the neck, pressing her bony fingers into the base of Bella’s throat.
“Did you spread your filthy legs like a bitch in heat to satisfy your base urges, with little thought for the disgrace you bring uponme?” With her free hand, she clawed at Bella’s stomach. “If some rutting beast has planted his seed in your belly, then it must be dealt with before you can marry the duke.”
“Dealt with?”
“I know a physician who’ll undertake the task. He’ll want payment for his discretion, but that’s a small price to pay. Should you survive, you can reflect on the folly of your disobedience.”
“Aunt, I—”
“Silence! I’ll not hear another word. You will remain here until this sordid little affair is settled. Do not distress me any more than you already have by discussing it. And do not discuss itat allin the duke’s presence.”
Bella’s aunt released her, then retreated to the door.
“You’re to remain here until supper. I’ll send Thomas to escort you to the dining room, and I expect you to behave in the manner expected of a woman of your rank.”
She exited the bedchamber, closing the door. Shortly after, Bella heard the key turn in the lock.
She stood, her mind shifting in and out of focus. Then it sharpened into a single thought.
If some rutting beast has planted his seed in your belly…
Sweet Lord—was she…?
She placed a hand over her stomach, nursing the nugget of hope.
“Lawrence’s child…”
Someone to love, without condition or requirement, to cherish and nurture—someone to hold in her arms, to kiss goodnight and read stories to. If it were a boy, she could teach him to love; a girl, she could teach to be strong, like Roberta…
Then her resolve faltered as she recalled Roberta’s wail of desperation, her tear-streaked face. She might never see Roberta again—or William, or Jonathan—but it would be some consolation if she had a child to love.
Only she wouldn’t.
Aproblem to be dealt with, Aunt had said.
Bella stumbled toward the bed and sank back, holding a protective hand over her belly while she surrendered to despair and grief.
Chapter Forty-Four
“Are you saying,Mr. Simms, that you’llgiveme money each quarter?”
The banker, a neat, balding man, eyed Lawrence over the top of his spectacles. “That’s exactly right, Mr. Baxter. One half of one percent of the value of your deposit.”
Lawrence glanced at Trelawney sitting beside him. “One half of…what?”
“I’m aware it’s not much, Mr. Baxter,” the banker said. “If you deposit regularly with us, we can increase the rate to one percent.”
“Percent?”
“It means for every hundred, Baxter,” Trelawney said. “So, for the fifty pounds you’ve just deposited, you’ll earn five shillings each quarter—one half of one per cent.”
Lawrence stared at his companion. “Five whole shillings?”
