A Scandalous Bargain (The Pretenders #2) - Darcy Burke Page 0,14
as Selina. For Selina, it was personal. She meant to save girls like herself from the streets.
“He is,” Selina said. “I don’t know how much, but then I’m afraid to ask how wealthy he’s actually become.”
“I’m not. I’ll do that next time I see him.” Beatrix laughed, and Selina joined.
Sobering, Selina pressed her hands to her cheeks. “I can scarcely believe how we got here. And you’re on the verge of achieving your dream. Your father will see how lovely you are, how welcome in Society, and your relationship will be rekindled.”
“I hope so.” Her primary goal these past fifteen years had been to get back into her father’s good graces. If he rejected her, she didn’t know what she’d do. He was the only blood relative she had. Yes, she had Selina, but they weren’t actually related. And now Selina had been reunited with her brother after nineteen years apart.
Beatrix wanted a family of her own. She’d had one, and she meant to get it back.
Chapter 3
“Papa!” Regan bounced into his study, her pale blonde curls swinging. “Alice and I came for our hugs.” She stopped in front of his chair near the hearth and held up her doll.
She didn’t look like a girl whose mother had been buried the day before, and for that, Thomas was exceptionally grateful.
“It must be time for your nap,” he said, taking Alice. The doll stared at him with wide blue eyes. “Sleep well, Alice.” He hugged the doll, then returned her to Regan.
“My turn!” Regan bounded into his lap, and he held her close. Love for her filled his soul.
Thomas brushed his lips across the crown of her head. She smelled of lavender soap and the energy only a little girl possessed. “Sleep well, my love.”
“Yes, Papa.” She slipped from his arms and skipped back to the doorway, where her nurse waited with a warm smile.
Inclining his head toward the young woman, Thomas mouthed, thank you. A moment later, his butler appeared in the doorway. “Mrs. Holcomb is here, my lord. I’ve showed her to the front sitting room.”
“Thank you.” Thomas stood to meet his aunt, glad she’d arrived.
Charity Holcomb stood in front of the windows that faced Grosvenor Square. Though her hair was gray, she appeared nearly a decade younger than her fifty-three years. She also reminded Thomas so much of his mother—her older sister. Thomas was certain this was close to how she would have looked today if she’d survived the birth of her second child.
“You appear as though you slept,” she said, walking toward him. “I knew once she was buried, you would feel better.”
“I can’t say better is the right word,” he said mildly. “Are you going to check on me every day?”
“For the foreseeable future. Unless you tell me not to.”
In truth, her presence was a comfort. “You should probably just stay here.”
“Nonsense. The last thing you need right now is someone intruding on your household. I am quite content at my brother’s. How is Regan?”
“Fine. Normal, really. She hasn’t asked for her mother at all.” That wasn’t unusual. She’d grown accustomed to not seeing Thea every day.
“That’s just as well.” Aunt Charity went to the settee and sat down. “It’s good she wasn’t attached to her.” Aunt Charity rarely referred to Thea by name, preferring pronouns. She made no secret that she’d never liked her, though she’d always been polite. Thea hadn’t liked her either. Consequently, Thomas hadn’t spent as much time with his beloved aunt, who lived thirty miles away in Wycombe, as he would have liked.
“It is a blessing,” Thomas said even as he’d wished it had been different. He’d hated that Thea hadn’t been close to their daughter. A child was love in its purest form. How a parent could turn their back on one mystified him. That wasn’t true. It enraged him.
“Only think how wonderful it will be when you remarry and Regan has a real mother.”
In the process of lowering himself into a chair, Thomas sat down rather hard upon hearing what his aunt said. “Er, yes.”
Aunt Charity tipped her head to the side. “You can’t tell me you haven’t already thought about it. After five years of marriage to…her?” She shuddered. “I don’t wish to speak ill of the dead, but I am glad you have another chance at happiness.”
Did he? Thomas had botched things so badly with his first try that he wasn’t certain he trusted himself to make a better choice the second time. “I’m in no rush.”