again.
* * *
“I KNOW YOU weren’t asleep when I came up.” Cecilia watched her sister with an intensity she hoped would make Beatrice tell the truth. “Darwell told me that you were upset, that Lord Crenshaw had something to do with it, and I should leave you alone until this morning. So I did. Bitsy, it was very hard. Now tell me what happened.”
Beatrice sighed and Cecilia knew her firmness had worked. “It was not Lord Crenshaw. But he upset Jess and then Jess and I had a huge, ugly argument.”
Beatrice’s eyes filled and she stopped speaking, staring at the ceiling until she was able to will the tears not to fall. Cecilia waited. She could feel her twin’s pain and her own happiness dimmed a little.
“So,” Beatrice went on, “I had to leave the party because my skin was all red and blotchy. You know how it is when I’m angry.”
Cecilia nodded. Darwell said Beatrice had been crying, too. There was no doubt that she really had been upset, very upset.
“I’m not sure I feel that much better this morning, but my complexion is back to normal and we have so much to look forward to.”
“That’s all you’re going to say? What did you argue about?”
“Lord Jess was in a foul mood. He’d argued with Crenshaw. They were both so angry at each other. Then Lord Jess said that the last thing he wanted was to dance with me.”
“Oh, Bitsy. How awful for you.” Cecilia rubbed her sister’s back, hoping her sympathy was some comfort.
“That was not the worst.” Beatrice looked away, her lips pressed together, and Cecilia was certain she was going to be given only an edited version of the true story.
“Oh, it really does not matter what he said. I understand why Lord Jess was flirting with me and it is not because he found me particularly appealing.”
Beatrice pressed her lips together as if the next words were hard to say.
“Lord Jess made it clear that I was a convenient distraction and nothing more.”
Tears puddled in her eyes and Beatrice brushed them away with an impatient hand.
“It’s stupid for me to cry because I only wanted to practice flirting, not fall in love. Which I haven’t,” she added urgently. “But I fear it’s what Lord Jess thinks.”
It was then that Cecilia noted that her sister was calling him Lord Jess again. He had been Jess for the last few days. “Then perhaps Papa was right to warn us away from him.” She spoke cautiously, not sure of her sister’s true feelings.
“But you know why Papa did that and what a lie that whole story is.” Beatrice paused, obviously thinking. “I liked him until last night.” She bit her lip and stopped the confidence. “I’m tired of talking about this. Let’s dress and find the curator we met last night. Maybe he can tell us about any treasures we have not found ourselves.”
“All right,” Cecilia agreed, though it sounded like a rather boring way to spend the morning. “Lord Destry will be practicing riding sidesaddle most of the day so I decided not to ride myself. I think if I was in the field it might make him too nervous.”
Beatrice smiled, just a little. “Admit it, Ceci, you are the one who would be nervous watching him.”
“If I acted nervous in front of him, he would think I do not believe he can do it.” She considered her next words. “Only to you would I admit that while I know he can learn to handle Jupiter with a sidesaddle I am still concerned for his safety.”
“I know what you mean,” Beatrice said. “It’s just like the way I worry about you when I think you are taking too many risks on horseback, or riding too fast for safety. I know you are the best rider I have ever met, but I still worry.”
Cecilia hoped that Beatrice did not feel as sick as she did at the thought of Destry suffering an injury.
“Ceci, I think that’s what love does to us.”
“Do not use that word, Beatrice. I am not in love with Destry. I am not.”
“But why will you not allow yourself to even entertain the idea? There isn’t anything truly keeping you apart.”
“My birth. His title. His family would never allow him to marry someone so far outside his social circle.”
“Ceci, you do not know that for sure.”
“And I do not want to. I am not made for confrontation like you are. Did you know that the