A Scandalous Bargain (The Pretenders #2) - Darcy Burke Page 0,60

dress. Light green with darker green embroidery, it reminded her of a bright spring day, which today was. “Thank you.”

“All finished, miss,” the maid said, stepping back.

Selina pivoted and held her arms slightly out from her sides. “Well?”

“Nearly perfect.”

Lines furrowed Selina’s brow. “Nearly?”

“I have just the thing.” Beatrix looked to the maid. “Would you excuse us for a moment?”

The maid dipped a curtsey before taking her leave.

“I shall never get used to that,” Selina said.

“I might, but then my mother had a lady’s maid.” Beatrix held out the small box tied with a blue ribbon. “I have something for you.” She placed it in Selina’s palm.

“How did you—?” Selina pressed her lips together, her brows drawing together as she untied the ribbon. She opened the lid and gasped. Her free hand shot to her mouth as her gaze lifted to Beatrix’s.

Beatrix moved closer and looked down at the coral necklace. “I know it’s not the one you remember, but I thought it must be very similar.”

“It’s lovely. Dammit, you’re going to make me cry. I told you I’ve become a watering pot.” Selina blinked several times and laughed. “It’s perfect.” She ran her fingertip over the flower. “Truly. This is the best thing I’ve ever received. Except Harry’s love.” She flashed Beatrix an apologetic smile. “Sorry.”

Beatrix grinned. “As it should be.”

“Will you put it on me? I want to wear it today.”

“I rather hoped you would,” Beatrix said softly, happy that Selina loved the gift.

Taking the present, Beatrix removed the necklace and set the box on the dressing table. As she turned to Selina, she hesitated. “I’m going to need a stool. You are, as always, a giant.”

“No, you’re a sprite.” Selina bent her knees. “I’ll squat as I usually do.”

Smiling, Beatrix went around Selina and fastened the pendant around her neck. The chain holding the flower carved in coral was gold and matched the gold-and-pearl earrings Selina already wore. Her honey-blonde hair had been artfully styled by the maid, incorporating pale pink ribbon and pearls.

Selina looked into the glass at the dressing table and fingered the pendant. “Absolutely perfect. I almost think it’s the same kind of flower, but I always thought the one I remembered was a rose and this is clearly a peony.”

There was a knock on the door, and they both turned their heads.

“Come in,” Selina called.

Stepping inside, Rafe stopped abruptly. His gaze swept Selina from slipper to crown. They were clearly siblings, both tall with golden hair and blue eyes, though Rafe’s right one had a peculiar orange spot. He also had a nasty scar that cut through his lip and chin. Beatrix had no idea how he’d gotten it, and she wasn’t sure Selina knew either. It hadn’t been there when he’d sent her away from London.

“I imagined this day for so long,” he said quietly. “You’re a beautiful bride.”

“You imagined it?” Selina asked.

Rafe came toward them. “I hoped you would wed someday and that I would be there to see it.”

“I hope the same for you.”

He shook his head. “That isn’t the path for me, and I’ve made my peace with that.”

Selina frowned. “This conversation isn’t over, but I’m not going to pursue it today.” She touched her pendant, her features relaxing. “Look at what Beatrix gave me.”

Rafe reached out and she dropped her hand. He slid his fingers beneath the coral and ran his thumb over the flower. His lips parted, and he breathed, “This was hers.”

“Our mother’s?” Selina asked.

He nodded.

“Not this exact piece, surely,” Selina said.

Releasing the pendant, Rafe wiped a hand over his jaw. “I don’t know. It’s very similar—the coral, the flower. But it may have been a rose.”

“That’s what I remember.”

Rafe looked at her in surprise. “You remember it?”

“Just the coral and the flower and that it hung around someone’s neck—I didn’t know who. I remember touching it, like you just did.”

“I did the same. She would hold me on her lap. Once, we were on a blanket near a small lake. There was a building behind us.” His brow creased, and his gaze took on a faraway stare. “It was like a miniature…temple.”

“A folly?” Beatrix asked, recalling one she’d visited with her mother once. They’d gone to a country house, but Beatrix didn’t remember why or where. She had always recalled the folly, however. She’d wanted to live there with the fairies her mother said inhabited it.

Rafe and Selina looked at her in bafflement.

“It’s a fake building. I mean, it’s a real building, though I guess some