“You stand before me without a word of welcome or concern. Behaving as if we have not been estranged. You abandoned me,” Beatrice said quietly. “Discarded me. I appear unannounced. Not nearly as disfigured as you imagined. And you expect me to just — ”
“Yes, Henley,” her mother interrupted, patting Beatrice’s arm. “Older. A bit of gout. He won’t mind.” A graceful hand fluttered over Beatrice’s cheek. “A few imperfections, darling. You’re still quite beautiful,especiallyat a distance.”
The Foxwoods were horrible, terrible people. She was ashamed to be related to them.
“Better connected than Castlemare,” her father agreed. “Quite a catch.”
“I don’t have a right earlobe. Are you sure Henley won’t mind?” Beatrice’s tone was brutally sarcastic. “Perhaps he enjoys a lady’s ears.”
“Henley isn’t terribly fussy,” Lady Foxwood said with assurance. “You can be wed by the spring, I think.”
Where was Blythe? She glanced over at the refreshment table and saw Melinda flirting outrageously with a young gentleman. Her friend looked up, saw the Foxwoods, and set down her glass of punch, features hardening in an instant.
Oh dear.Melinda was going to come to her defense and cause a scene.
The light scent of citrus caught in Beatrice’s nostrils. Warmth, comforting and solid, suffused her back.
There he is.Relief flooded her. Bravery could not be sustained by her indefinitely. She’d done rather well, considering. But her parents—Blythe tended to coddle her, but just now she was grateful for his protection.
“I disagree about a spring wedding,” Blythe joined the conversation. “Rains quite a bit. You don’t want that spoiling the day, do you? What do you think, Beatrice?”
Lord Foxwood snapped to attention. “You will not address my daughter with such familiarity.”
“I must remind you once more, I am a widow, my lord. You’ve no say over any aspect of my life, including how Blythe addresses me. Your gentle care of me ended some time ago.” Bile filled her throat. “I’m not living with you, listening to you, or being introduced to a marquess so you can further your own connections. How dare you assume that my appearance tonight is for your benefit.” She leaned toward her mother. “And by the way, Mother, the scars are much,muchworse the farther down you go. Just ask Blythe.”
Lord Foxwood’s lips pursed. “Now see here, Beatrice.”
Unable to endure the horror of her parents another moment, Beatrice wobbled, placing a hand over her mouth. Bile surged up her throat before it could be stopped. Stomach pitching like a ship in a storm, she cast up the contents of her stomach at the feet of Lord and Lady Foxwood, in clear view of Lady Blythe’s guests.
Lady Foxwood shrieked as her splendid gown and matching slippers were ruined.
Lord Foxwood fell back with a gasp, jumping behind his wife attempting to avoid the worst of the splatter.
“Oh dear,” Beatrice muttered as the room swam around her. “My apologies.”
Strong arms, Blythe she supposed, caught her collapsing form just as the edges of her vision grew dark.
26
Beatrice opened her eyes, blinking until she could see only one Blythe hovering over her.
“Dramatic, Bea.” He wiped her forehead gently with something cool. “Clearing a room in such a fashion.”
“I like to make an entrance,” she whispered. “Have all eyes on me.”
“You succeeded, Your Grace.” His lips tilted in a grin. “I will carry the appalled look of Lady Foxwood in my mind forever. Lord Foxwood shrieked as if he were a virgin on her wedding night. Pompous idiot.”
“I suppose Lady Blythe is horrified.”
“Completely,” Blythe assured her before lifting a glass of water to her lips. “Drink slowly. It is a pity you fainted, though I’m sure you can read all about tonight’s events in the gossip columns tomorrow. Mrs. Farthing came running forward, brandishing your fan like a sword, ready to defend you against the vile Foxwoods. I thought she might stab your father.”
Beatrice sighed. “I really cannot force her to return to Vicar Farthing. She detests him. I must keep her with me.”
“Agreed.” Blythe pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Mother’s guests shrank back in horror at the sight of a duchessspewingso profusely.” His shoulders shook as he tried not to laugh. “Andromeda rushed over, demanding you needed air. Granby growled about, waving his massive hands, pushing everyone back.” A snort left him, no longer able to contain his amusement. “When I picked you up, shocking everyone with my overly familiar behavior, the curls around your ear fell away exposing your lack of earlobe. Lady Foxwood, already barely conscious, gasped and fainted. She fell to the floor, and your father tripped over her.”
“I did warn her.” Heat flew up Beatrice’s cheeks. “Humiliation is a state I am accustomed to. I suppose tonight’s events are all anyone will be able to speak of for some time.” She closed her eyes with a sigh. “But it serves the Foxwoods right for already trying to wed me to a marquess,who isn’t terribly fussy,” she mimicked her mother. “Less than a quarter hour after seeing I did not resemble an ogre.”
“Good god. You sound exactly like Lady Foxwood. Don’t ever speak that way again.” Blythe snuggled next to her on the settee, his larger form taking up all the available space.
