Page 12 of Her Tiger of a Duke
Beatrice shook her head, her eyes wide. Helena laughed softly, wiping her eyes. Beatrice pulled out a handkerchief and offered it to Helena while her friend took deep breaths to steady herself.
“I am to leave theton,” she explained. “His Grace has offered to send me and George to one of his homes in the North. He shall be helping with staff and other costs until George finds work and ensures that the baby is cared for. We shall not see one anotheragain, not for a long time at least, but my future is secured and I…I will be with George…who I love dearly.”
Beatrice almost cried for her, but she maintained her composure. She did not know where her husband had found the time to make such arrangements alongside his preparations for their wedding, but she admired him greatly for it.
“Helena, that is splendid!” she gasped, followed by a small pause, and then a sigh. “What have you told your family?”
“Nothing yet. I do not know what to say. I could tell them the truth, but where will that get me? His Grace suggested that I write them a note, and tell them that I am well taken care of and that if they wish to see me, to contact him. That way, he can ensure that they truly wish to see me because they love me, and not because they want to punish me.”
“He seems to have thought of everything.”
“He truly has. He is so kind, Beatrice. He will make a most wonderful husband, and I cannot even envy you for that because my own is… Oh, I do so hope that you are able to meet my George one day!”
Beatrice looked at her friend, her eyes filled with hope and her smile bright and genuine, and prayed that everything would be as she dreamed. In following the Duke’s plan, she would leave her old life behind, and lose contact with her family, but she did not question the matter.
It was admirable, and precisely the sort of thing Beatrice would have liked to believe she would have done, if necessary, but she had not. She was standing in a wedding gown having married a man that she was uncertain of ever loving. He seemed kind, but anyone could be different behind closed doors, and she would soon learn if that was the case for him, for it was time for her to leave with him.
“I must go,” Beatrice sighed. “The manor is a long carriage ride away, and we wish to leave sooner rather than later.”
“Yes, I will not keep you any longer,” Helena smiled, embracing her tightly. “You are most fortunate, Beatrice. Enjoy your marriage and find something about him to love every day. Believe me, there will be something.”
“I am not so certain of that,” she replied, biting her lip.
“It is true! Every day, you will see something in your husband that you love. You simply must look for it.”
“I shall try.”
When they returned, the guests were waiting. The carriage had arrived, and it was time for her to leave. Owen offered her his arm, turning back to wave at those in attendance.
“I shall need to assist you,” he whispered. “Only this once, for they expect to see it.”
Beatrice grimaced. She knew that she was heavier than most ladies, and though Owen must have seen that, she did not want him tofeelit. Regardless, she understood that he was right. Reluctantly, she offered him her hand and allowed him to help her into the carriage. He followed her, and then they left for her new home.
And as the sun shone on him, she thought about how he had been respectful to both her and Helena. It was something she admired about him.
It was something, she admitted, that she could even love.
CHAPTER 6
“Before we arrive,” Beatrice asked as they neared their home, “might you tell me something honestly?”
Owen was curious in an instant, for she had hardly spoken during their journey.
“Indeed, I will.”
“Do you have money?”
It was certainly a question he had not expected, but then the wedding was not as extravagant as one would have anticipated, either. He chuckled, tapping her knee gently.
“Why do you ask? The wedding would have been greater had there been more time to prepare, for what it is worth.”
“I know, but… Helena has told me what you have given her and her love. It is a lot of money, and while I am so pleased that you have offered it, I wish to understand our situation as well as possible.”
Owen did not take any offence to her question. If anything, he liked that she asked him because it meant she was aware of money, which meant she was less likely to squander it.
“And if I told you that we have very little?” he asked.
“I would not care. I do not know quite how much my dowry was worth, but I shall not pretend that I come from the wealth of many others in theton. I know what it means to be frugal, especially considering I was prepared to fend for myself. If Helena and her child are taken care of, then I do not mind living with less.”
