the bedchamber before she announced, “I’m going downstairs to find out what time dinner will be and where we are to gather beforehand.”
“Bitsy, Darwell should do that!” Cecilia called from the dressing room, but Beatrice pretended not to hear.
If Papa was so set on an engagement then she would present him with one this very night.
Beatrice hurried along the hallway and down one flight of stairs to the first floor. The footman directed her to the library and she waited impatiently for him to knock on the door and for Roger to call “Enter.”
Storming into the room, Beatrice struggled to calm herself enough to keep from launching into her tirade until the door was closed. “For the love of God, Roger, marrying some dandy because he has money or a title is completely unacceptable.” Beatrice waited until Roger Tremaine glanced up from the plans he was fiddling with. “I will not even do it to please Papa.”
“Then you are not staying for the house party?” Roger paused in his work to await her answer.
“Of course I will be staying. Cecilia needs my support. However—” She straightened and announced firmly, “I am going to stay as a betrothed woman.”
“You’re engaged?” Roger put down his pen and stood up.
“I will be by the end of this conversation.”
“To whom?” Roger looked around as if there were another eligible gentleman with them.
“To you, dear idiot.” She smiled at him.
Roger did not return her smile.
“You can’t be serious, Beatrice.”
It was not the response she had hoped for. “Yes, yes I am. I cannot imagine anyone more perfect for me than you.”
“Nonsense. We are friends. And nothing more. Besides, your father would not hear of it. You know he has his sights set on someone from society.”
“Your father is a retired general, Roger. You would be accepted in society if you wished to be.”
“But the fact is that neither my father nor I are at all interested in the ton. And I would not consider being part of it even if you and I shared a passion that was not to be denied.”
“I have no interest in titles and dandies, either, and I think your work is very important. And it is design. You are not in trade at all, you know.”
He waved that distinction aside. “More and more gentlemen, titled and not, are making investments in a number of ventures.”
“Yes, so you see, you are actually a far-thinking revolutionary.”
“Spare me that, Beatrice. I am pursuing my own interests. No more. There are men among the ‘dandies,’ as you call them, who are the real revolutionaries. Gentlemen who see that land is not the only avenue to wealth, that manufacturing and mining are the way of the future.”
She had just proposed to him and Roger was discussing economics. With defeat certain, Beatrice stood firm on her original thought. “I will not always do what Papa insists.”
“So this is actually about defying your father and not some abiding love for me.” He came around the table and took her hand. “Beatrice, I love you. Like a sister. And you love me like a brother.”
She snatched her hand away, angry even though she knew it was true. “I wish men would stop telling me what I think.”
“But it is so obvious, my dear girl.”
She wanted to yell at him to stop being so patronizing.
“Beatrice,” he spoke softly, “using me as a way to defeat your father is unfair to all of us. It is not one of your better ideas.”
“Perhaps not,” she admitted. “But when will Papa realize that Cecilia and I have enough sense to manage this on our own?”
“He is your father, which means he will do all he can to make sure you are safe and happy. And for Abel Brent that means managing every detail he can.”
“Mama was the only one who could convince him to leave well enough alone.” Beatrice bit back the plaintive I wish she were here.
“The countess cares deeply for you and Ceci. Maybe you can talk to her about your father.”
“I suppose, but would that be disloyal to Papa?”
Roger laughed. “Hardly. The countess knows his failings as well as you do.”
“Really?” Roger would not make that up, but how often had the countess and her father been together? “All right. I will talk to her.” She touched his arm. “Thank you, Roger.”
“You have a fine mind, Beatrice, even if you are given to rashness. I am sure some man will find that charming.”