A Scandalous Bargain (The Pretenders #2) - Darcy Burke Page 0,23

on my own merits.”

Oh dear, she rather had. Wasn’t that a good thing? If he thought her rude, he wouldn’t be interested in her. “It’s my understanding that merit has nothing to do with who’s invited.” She lowered her voice. “Whether one of the patronesses likes you is far more important.” She glanced toward the dais where the patronesses held court and lorded over the attendees. “Which one likes you?”

He laughed again. “I’m not entirely certain, but right now, I only care if you like me. What a captivating woman you are.”

Damn, she hadn’t meant to be captivating. Not to him, anyway. The music began, and she did her best throughout the set to step on his toes and be a generally bad dancer. Fleetingly, she wondered if her voucher could be revoked. Did she even care? Almack’s might be the place to be and be seen, but so far, she wasn’t impressed.

When the set was finished, he guided her from the dance floor. “My, but you’re an…exuberant dancer,” he said.

Beatrix nearly smiled. She was beginning to like him, and with that realization came a desire to forge an actual sibling relationship.

“Thank you, I do try. Do you come to Almack’s every week?” she asked.

“Not every week, no. My father hopes I will wed this Season.”

“Your father is the Duke of Ramsgate?”

He nodded.

“Is he here this evening?” Beatrix hadn’t seen him, but perhaps he’d been hiding in an alcove.

“No, Father has no need to come. Though, he has threatened to attend and ensure I am making good use of my time.” Worth rolled his eyes.

“Why is he so eager for you to wed?” Beatrix wanted to know all she could about her father.

“By my age, he was married with an heir.”

“And what age is that?”

“Twenty-nine.” He looked at her askance. “You are full of questions.”

She lifted a shoulder. “How else can we get to know each other?” As soon as she said it, she wished she hadn’t. There was a distinct gleam of satisfaction in his gaze.

Worth was twenty-nine? That was about the age her father had taken Beatrix’s mother as his mistress. Beatrix wondered if Worth was aware of that.

“My turn for a question,” he said, stopping and turning toward her. “How many suitors do you have?”

“Er, none.”

He smiled. “How fortunate for me.”

Bloody hell. “I’m not certain I’m ready for marriage this Season.”

His brow pleated. “Then why bother with any of this?”

“Because it’s entertaining and…educational? How can one determine if they are ready for marriage if they don’t get out and meet people?”

“I suppose that’s true. Be careful, however. Young ladies who aren’t successfully wed within a Season or two are often judged a failure.”

She pursed her lips at him. “And how many Seasons have you participated in without becoming betrothed?”

He laughed again. “You are utterly delightful!” He continued taking her back toward Selina. “May I call on you?”

Beatrix swore to herself again. “Yes, I suppose you may. I can’t imagine your father would approve, however. I’m not from a titled family like you.” Hopefully, that would deter him.

“But your sister is Lady Gresham, and she is marrying the son of the Earl of Aylesbury. And you did get a voucher to Almack’s. You would almost certainly pass his inspection.”

A laugh gathered in Beatrix’s throat, but she coughed instead. Perhaps she should just tell him the truth.

Thankfully, they arrived at Selina. Beatrix withdrew her hand from his arm. “Thank you for the dance, my lord.”

“Please, call me Worth.”

The name brought to mind the word worthy and the fact that he was worthy and Beatrix was not. She gave him a tight smile. “Thank you, Worth.”

He bowed to her and to Selina, then took his leave.

“Can we go yet?” Beatrix asked, turning toward Selina.

“It’s scarcely one o’clock,” Selina said, blinking. “That’s early, from what I understand. But we can certainly go. Goodness knows I’m bored.”

Beatrix finally let out the laugh that she’d kept trapped inside. “Then let us depart.”

They’d borrowed a coach from Rafe for the evening, and once they were settled inside, Selina kicked off her slippers. “I’ve decided it’s nice to have a wealthy brother.”

“I’m so glad.”

When Selina had been reunited with him a few weeks ago, Rafe had offered support, but she’d declined. After so many years on their own, it was difficult for Selina to accept help. Especially when she’d felt abandoned by her brother. He’d taken her to the boarding school when she was eleven and had stopped writing to her after a while. Like