A Scandalous Bargain (The Pretenders #2) - Darcy Burke
Prologue
December 1804
Mrs. Goodwin’s Ladies’ Seminary
Beatrix Linley tried very hard not to cry as another coach left the school, conveying its occupants home for the holiday season. Though the headmistress had told Beatrix that no one was coming for her, she refused to believe it. How could her father ignore her? It was bad enough he hadn’t written over the past eight months that she’d been there, let alone brought her home for any holiday whatsoever.
“But this is Yuletide.”
“What was that?” Selina Blackwell looked up from her book. They were the only two girls left in the dormitory this morning. The last of the others were on their way home until after Epiphany.
“Nothing,” Beatrix said as she looked out the window once more. The day was as dark and gloomy as she felt, with gray clouds that threatened rain. It was probably a horrid day to travel. She’d take comfort in that.
“Oh!” Maria stopped abruptly as she entered the dormitory. “I didn’t realize there was anyone left here.” Her smug tone grated on Beatrix.
Dark curls bobbing, Maria walked in, looking from Beatrix to Selina and back to Beatrix. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised you two are still here. No one coming to get you?”
Selina, who at fourteen was a year younger than Maria, fixed her with a bored stare. “Don’t bother to ask questions you already know the answer to or that you really don’t care about.”
Maria pursed her lips. “There’s no need to be churlish.”
Selina’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Isn’t there?”
Beatrix stifled a laugh and immediately wished she hadn’t. Maria wouldn’t bother, so why should she?
“Maria!” A familiar singsong voice carried into the dormitory.
Bracing herself, Beatrix turned her back to the door and focused on an oak tree on the other side of the drive.
“Are you ready?” Deborah asked. She and Maria were close friends.
Though Beatrix wasn’t facing the door, she could tell Deborah was now in the dormitory.
“Just about,” Maria said. “I came back to fetch my third-favorite pair of gloves. I can’t believe I forgot them.” Third-favorite. Beatrix only had three pairs of gloves. Selina only had one. Maria and Deborah took every opportunity to show how they were superior.
Beatrix pivoted slightly so she could watch them, mostly so she’d know when they were gone.
Maria went to the dresser beside her bed. “Where are they?” she shrieked, opening every drawer and rifling through the contents. When she’d been through every one, she spun about and looked at Deborah, who was standing behind her, hands on her hips. “They’re gone.”
Deborah turned toward Selina. “I bet she took them.”
Selina peered at them over the top of her book, still appearing disinterested. “What would you like to bet?”
“Nothing,” Deborah spat. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Then choose your words more carefully.” Selina returned her gaze to her book.
Deborah stalked over to Selina’s bed where Selina reclined as she read. “I’ll say whatever I please.”
Selina exhaled, her eyes not leaving the book. “I suppose. Perhaps you could just do it more quietly. Some of us like to read.” The insult was clear—at least to Beatrix. Deborah did not apply herself to her studies, a trait the teachers never seemed to mind while others were punished for the same transgression. That was because Deborah’s father was an earl.
Beatrix distinctly recalled what had happened when she’d been reprimanded for not keeping up with her studies. She’d asked why it mattered since her father was a duke. Miss Everly had said it mattered not at all because of the circumstances of her birth, that no one cared who her father was.
“You think you’re better than me?” Deborah demanded. Beatrix held her breath as she watched the tall, brown-haired Deborah stand over Selina’s bed while Selina continued to read.
“Answer me!” Deborah slapped the book out of Selina’s hands and onto her lap.
Selina pushed out a breath as she picked up the book and set it aside. Then she slowly stood from the bed. Deborah was tall, but Selina had her by an inch.
“Yes.”
The single word sent Deborah into a fit of rage. She launched herself at Selina, shoving her back onto the bed.
Selina grabbed the other girl’s arms and dragged her down too. In a quick motion, Selina rolled on top of Deborah and spit in her face. “Better than you in every way that counts. No one cares about your stupid earl father.”
“At least I have a father,” Deborah snarled as she tried to wrestle Selina off her.