Beauty Tempts the Beast (Sins for All Seasons #6) - Lorraine Heath Page 0,21

if the danger didn’t lessen, at least he wouldn’t be facing it alone.

Benedict Trewlove had a proposition for her. Perhaps it would behoove her to at least discover the terms.

Later that morning, after a restless sleep, Althea rapped on the servants’ door of a house in Mayfair. A young footman opened it.

“Is Lady Kathryn about?”

He furrowed his brow. “Should you not be coming in through the front entry?”

Not any longer. “Will you please let her know Althea Stanwick has come to call?”

With a nod, he closed the door. She’d have preferred not to give her name, because it might ensure her friend was not at home to her, but it was doubtful she’d come to the servants’ entrance without knowing who awaited her.

Looking out over the winter gardens, Althea fought against remembering all the times she’d taken tea with her friend among the greenery. How often they’d laughed. The gossip they’d shared. Kat had been the first she’d told when she developed affections for Chadbourne. Kat had been the only one at the last ball she’d attended not to turn her back on her. Or not turn it entirely. She had lowered her gaze and looked as though she wished to be anywhere other than where she was. But then Althea had wished the same.

When the door again opened, she swung around and forced a smile. “Hello, Kat.”

“Althea, what a . . . surprise.”

“I was wondering if I might have a word.”

“Yes, of course. My parents aren’t about, so they won’t be objecting to your presence. Do come in.” Once they were inside, Kathryn glanced around nervously. “Would you mind if we met in the servants’ dining hall? No one is there presently, and if my parents should return—”

“I can make a hasty and discreet exit.”

“Oh, Althea.”

“It’s all right.” She squeezed Kat’s hand. “I’m just relieved you’re willing to speak to me.”

“Of course, dear friend.” Kat squeezed back. “I think it’s frightfully unfair that you have to suffer because of your father’s lack of judgment. Follow me.” As they made their way to the dining room, Kat called out to a maid to have tea brought.

Once they were settled at the oak table with tea and cakes in front of them, Kat said, “So what did you want to talk about?”

Best to get straight to the heart of the matter before her parents returned and she was forced to make a hasty—and undetected—exit. Oh, where to begin? She took a sip of her tea. “You’re friends with the Duchess of Lushing.”

“Former Duchess of Lushing. Selena prefers to be called Mrs. Trewlove now. I can’t believe she married someone of illegitimate origins, but she’s madly in love with him.”

“Have you come to know the Trewlove family well?”

She knew they’d attended a few balls, when she still attended them, particularly earlier in the year when they were introducing their sister Fancy to Society. But Althea couldn’t recall seeing Benedict at any of the affairs, other than the weddings. Although she did know he was a man of his word. The coal had been delivered that morning. More than a month’s worth, longer if they didn’t have a fire every day. It seemed the man was generous to a fault, having replaced far more than he used.

Kat shrugged. “Well enough to speak with them at balls.”

“What of Benedict? Some people call him Beast. Have you had occasion to get to know him?”

Kat studied her for all of a minute before saying, “The Heathcliff-ish one?”

“Heathcliff-ish?”

“Tall, dark, brooding.”

“Is he really the brooding sort?” Quiet. Observant. Unobtrusive. Not one for seeking attention, perhaps. “I readily admit he weighs his words carefully, but brooding?”

Planting her elbow on the table, Kat placed her chin in her palm and grinned like a cat that had lapped up all the cream. “You seem to know him better than I. How is that, I wonder?”

With a sigh, Althea was beginning to realize her foolishness in coming here. Odd, since her entire purpose in speaking with Kat had been to ensure she wasn’t about to embark on something foolish. “I’ve taken employment at a tavern, and he comes in on occasion.” It had hurt to admit she was working, even more so when Kat’s eyes filled with pity. “I was just curious as to whether you had developed a sense of him during any encounters you might have had or if you’d heard anything untoward about him.”

If she was going to accept his proposition, she wanted to ensure she wasn’t stepping into