from the school, but how would he know what they’d done after leaving?
Jamie gripped one of the arms on his chair. “You can’t mean to just ignore her?”
“Why not? Does she look like she’s suffering? Her supposed sister—another lie—is about to marry the son of an earl and her supposed brother—yet another lie—is apparently one of the wealthiest men in London all of a sudden.” His eyes narrowed, and the suspicion and haughtiness came off him in waves. He didn’t have to ask how Rafe had earned his money or where he came from. It was clear he thought less of Selina’s brother simply because he’d come out of nowhere.
So because Beatrix didn’t appear to need anything from him, her father would give her nothing. Perhaps she should have shown up here ten years ago when she’d had just two gowns to her name, neither of which fit properly.
“I had hoped that I would make you proud,” Beatrix said quietly, shaking inside as she fought to display a collected exterior.
“Father, why not acknowledge her?” Jamie asked earnestly. “Many men do it, and it’s not as if Mother is here.”
The duke—Beatrix wasn’t sure she could think of the man as her father anymore—turned his frosty stare on his son. “You’ve been fooled by this young woman. She is not what you think. She is a swindler and has spent the last decade leading a life of fraud.” The duke transferred his gaze to Beatrix.
The room around her froze in horrifying detail before dissolving into a blur. She wanted to wilt beneath the harsh judgment of his words, but she sat even straighter.
“Shall I detail everything for Jamie?” the duke asked blithely. “I’m certain he would be particularly interested in your thievery.”
Beatrix’s insides turned to mush. At school, Beatrix had twice been caught stealing. The first time, she’d been young and relatively new to the school. Mrs. Goodwin had been kind and understanding when Beatrix had explained that she hadn’t realized what she’d done. Miss Everly, on the other hand, had threatened to tell the duke. Mrs. Goodwin had assured Beatrix that wouldn’t happen, provided she didn’t steal again.
Only she had stolen again, and Selina had covered for her, just as she’d done that first Christmas. But then Selina had left the school and taken her protection with her. Consequently, Beatrix had been caught once more. That time, much to Miss Everly’s glee, Mrs. Goodwin said she had to inform the duke and that if Beatrix was caught stealing again, she’d be expelled.
Since the duke had never reacted to the incident, Beatrix had wondered if Mrs. Goodwin had decided not to tell him after all. Regardless, Miss Everly had harassed Beatrix to such a horrible degree that Beatrix had begged Selina to return and fetch her. A year after leaving, Selina had done just that.
The duke continued, “Shall I tell him all about your activities at Mrs. Goodwin’s?”
Jamie had moved his attention to Beatrix. His eyes, so kind and welcoming before, were now shadowed with distrust. “Is that all true? You’re a fraud?”
Yes, she’d been a swindler, a fraud, and a thief. She’d pretended as though she belonged in this world, but today, her father had reminded her in the most absolute way that she did not.
“As a young woman alone, I’ve done what I must to survive.” She stared at him unflinchingly. “Just because I look as though I am not suffering does not mean I have not suffered.”
The duke cleared his throat. It was as if Beatrix hadn’t even spoken. “Worth, you will forget you met this young woman and what you know of her. Be on your way now.”
Beatrix could see that he was torn, just as she knew the duke would stop at nothing to ensure Beatrix was ignored. If he knew how she’d spent the last decade, then he knew Selina had been part of that, just as he knew they’d lied about being sisters. He couldn’t endanger Selina, not when she was finally happy.
Now she understood why the duke hadn’t wanted Selina there. She was the leverage he needed.
Beatrix kept herself from dissolving into defeat. She stared unblinking at Jamie, sad that they would never have a sibling relationship. “You should go. I can see this was a terrible idea.”
Jamie slowly stood. He looked over at his father and back to Beatrix before leaving without saying a word.
“It seems I’ve made the situation quite plain to you,” the duke said.
“If I try to claim we share