“What man? Ford?”
Beth growled, frowning.
“So does this mean you and Ford did not…ahem, were not intimate after the house party?”
“Ha!” What a silly question.
“You were?”
She nodded once.
“And now…are not?”
Beth nodded again, crossing her arms.
“Ah…and you are frustrated?”
“Yes, damn him! Always before now, I’d have simply replaced him with my next bedmate. But not a single footman, maid, or stable boy appeals.” She wanted to stamp her foot.
“That is a relief, in any event,” Althea muttered.
Beth glared. That was her response?
“My apologies, go on.”
“I can’t stand it.” She dropped her arms and stared at her cousin. “Cuz, I tried to help him with sales. My ability to pair people and opportunities is the most valuable aspect of my admittedly shallow life. But he didn’t appreciate it. He rejected it. More, he rejected me. He liked my input and my body, but not the rest of me.” Her eyes burned and one tear escaped.
Althea took her hand.
“He and Cheltie disappeared to Cheltenham,” she whined, “with only a one-sentence note to inform me. Mayhap I should not have interfered, but I really thought I was helping.” She snorted a bitter laugh. “’Tis the story of my life, is it not?”
Her cousin shook her head. “Absolutely not. You help so many people. Look at your conversation with Penelope before our trip south. Through your incredible network, you were assisting Ford. When Evan needed a new nurse for his mother, you found one for him. You connect so many people, and they trust you.”
Beth was shocked into silence. Althea sounded as though she truly valued Beth’s skills, something they’d never had a reason to discuss.
She swallowed thickly, and said, “Thank you, cuz. I needed that.”
Althea’s tilted her head. “So…’tis not only sexual frustration by the sound of it?”
“Ahh. Don’t get me started on that part again. ’Tis not as though he forbade me from relations with anyone else. We did not speak of it.”
She shook her head, unwilling to mention any more of Robert’s concerns about her flaunting of conventions, as his reasons were not hers to share.
Knowing her next statement would reveal the depths of her emotions, she said it anyway. “I just do not want to risk disappointing him, so I cannot bring myself to…play. Besides which, he may have ruined me for anyone else.” She sighed.
Althea’s brows rose in surprise. She squeezed Beth’s hand again, and her mouth twitched up in a sly grin. Her voice held a laugh as she peered at the pile of fabric next to her and said, “I can’t imagine why you thought making, ahem, use of a needle and thread would help. I think a girl’s day out is much more the thing, don’t you? Come on, we’ll wander a few shops and then get pastries.”
“’Tis raining. Again.”
“We’ll take the carriage. ’Twill be fun, you’ll see. Go on, fetch a wrap.”
Beth grumbled but did as instructed. Althea was likely looking for a distraction as well, as she’d been less enthusiastic about her expansion since her falling out with Cheltie.
When they ended the day with Penelope and Charlotte and pastries, Penelope offered them theatre tickets in Michael’s owner’s box.
Beth shrugged, wishing she had a better substitute for Robert’s prolonged ministrations of pleasure. Still smarting over his rejection, part of her also worried about appearing in public. She wanted wine and comfy clothing, not getting dressed and interacting with strangers who would judge her.
Althea ignored her apathetic gesture and accepted for both of them. “Come now. It will do you good to see people for something other than charity work. I’m accepting, and you’re accompanying me.”
