A Scandalous Bargain (The Pretenders #2) - Darcy Burke Page 0,47

ask if I can speak with him alone.”

“Of course.” Selina stood, smiling. She took Beatrix’s hand and gave her fingers a squeeze. “I’ll be ready as quickly as possible. Did you order the coach?”

“I’d forgotten we have one now.” It belonged to Harry and had been moved to the Cavendish Square mews. “I’ll do that posthaste.”

Selina nodded before dashing from the room.

A short while later, the coach conveyed them into Grosvenor Square. It was strange for Beatrix to arrive in this manner instead of creeping into Tom’s garden under cover of darkness.

“I meant to ask you about last night,” Selina said. “You disappeared for a while. Was that when you were speaking with Lord Worth?”

Beatrix knew she was referring to her time with Tom, not Worth, because she’d overheard her talking to Rafe. She considered telling Selina about Tom, but what would be the point? There was nothing between them. Her gaze drifted toward his house as the coach came to a stop in front of the Duke of Ramsgate’s residence. Was Tom inside? What was he doing?

“Yes, that must have been the case,” Beatrix said, answering Selina’s question.

The coachman helped Selina and Beatrix down from the coach. Selina glanced over at Beatrix. “You say Worth will be here?”

“Yes.”

“And you trust that he arranged this appointment and we aren’t walking into some sort of trap?” It was Selina’s nature to be skeptical, which was to be expected after a lifetime of having no one but herself—and Beatrix—to rely upon. She didn’t trust anyone but Beatrix. Or hadn’t until she’d met Harry. And Beatrix supposed she’d probably begun to trust her brother again.

“I do, actually.” Beatrix realized that made her sound naïve. “I have a good feeling about him.”

“I’ll let you know if I feel differently,” Selina said with a wry smile.

Despite her anxiety, Beatrix laughed softly. “Of course you will, and I expect nothing less.”

They walked up the steps to the door. Beatrix cast another look at Tom’s house to her right, as if she could catch a glimpse of him.

The door opened to reveal a stiff, heavy-lidded butler. “You are Miss Whitford?” His lips pressed into a judgmental line as he looked between Selina and Beatrix.

“I am Lady Gresham,” Selina said with a chilly air. “This is Miss Whitford. We are here to see the duke.”

“Yes.” The butler opened the door wider and wordlessly invited them inside. At least, Beatrix thought it was an invitation.

The entry hall marble gleamed, and the gilt-framed paintings sparkled. A large bust sat atop a small table against the right wall. Large because the head was bigger than a normal human head, which made the sculpture look rather terrifying.

“This way,” the butler said, leading them through the entry hall to another hall in which the staircase was the focal point. The lower half of the stairs was split in two. The butler led them to the right side, which met the left side on a wide landing before continuing up in a single staircase.

On the first floor, he turned to the right and showed them into a large drawing room decorated with several elegant seating areas and enough paintings and sculptures to make it look like a museum. “His Grace will be with you soon.”

The butler turned and departed. Beatrix strolled around the room while Selina stood in the center. The windows looked over Grosvenor Square below.

“Good afternoon, Beatrix.” Jamie strolled into the drawing room, his gaze settling on Selina while his brow furrowed.

“Good afternoon, Jamie,” Beatrix said, moving to stand with Selina. “Allow me to present Lady Gresham.”

“Ah yes, your…sister.”

“After her father abandoned her, she needed someone to care for her,” Selina said coolly.

Jamie inclined his head. “She’s lucky to have found you.”

“Where is the duke?” Selina asked, looking expectantly toward the door Jamie had just used.

“He’ll be along momentarily. He was, ah, he would have preferred more notice before this interview.” Jamie faced Selina. “He wasn’t expecting anyone other than Beatrix.”

Selina pursed her lips. “Surely he would understand that Beatrix requires a chaperone, even to visit her father. Especially so, since no one is aware the duke is her sire.”

Beatrix wanted to cheer Selina’s staunch support and utterly aloof demeanor. “Jamie, I asked Selina to accompany me.”

“Would you mind if she waited downstairs for you? Father would prefer to conduct this meeting privately.”

Selina opened her mouth, certainly to protest, but Beatrix touched her arm. She’d planned to see him alone anyway. “That’s fine.” She leaned close to Selina. “It will be all