His hands dropped away from her, his muscles turning to stone under her fingers and thighs.
She peered up to find his expression steely.
Oh no. I pushed. Why do I always do that?
He had only just agreed to the catalogue for Sarah’s, a known quantity for him. This was too much, too soon. She’d risked the confidentiality of the school and her future with him when they’d barely reunited.
****
Robert had contemplated how to explain his concerns and preferences to Beth for days. He thought he had found the balance with her willingness to compromise on the catalogue.
Then she took it further.
There is a secret school for girls? Heaven help the men of England.
He swallowed thickly, battling sorrow as he realized their differences were too great to safely continue the relationship. Beth would always push for more. Networking and connecting people was her passion. She would never understand that he did not wish to be connected.
“I confess, I am at a loss. I cannot believe such an education exists.”
“Why shouldn’t it?” Her back snapped straight as she built up a head of steam to defend the concept.
“No, you misunderstand. I have no issue with its existence. Indeed, I am pleased to hear of it. Clearly, its creation has been a well-kept secret. However, they do not know me, and if ’tis run by women, they are more likely to trust women.” He recalled her words introducing the school. “Wait, Beth, did you give them information about me?” His heart thundered in his chest at the thought.
“No, Robert. I would not,” she hastened to reassure him. “I gave them a general idea of the products and noted that my associate preferred anonymity.”
“Ah. Right, then.” He breathed a sigh of relief, but that did not allay his remaining concerns.
“Just as they do not know me, nor do I know them. Having a catalogue there means a significant number of people would be aware of my designs. ’Tis similar to my concern about private parties. All it takes is one untrustworthy person getting my name.”
“But Robert, ’twould also mean quite a bit of growth in your sales.”
He grimaced. He preferred not to talk about his wealth. It led to people looking at him differently when his prosperity was Bags’s doing. Just like in school when Bags’s friendship led to more social invitations. If people did not like him for him, he did not want to befriend them or even work with them.
That’s not fair. She has already proven that she likes you for you. She just finished saying that you needn’t find excuses to continue the relationship.
He sighed. She deserved an explanation after all she’d done to help him. Here goes nothing. “This school sounds wonderful. And I would be happy to support it any way I can. However, it has too many unknowns for me to venture there for business. I hope you will understand.”
She nodded again. “Right, then. Mayhap I will think of something else.”
“I do not want to expand my business to that extent.”
“I thought with a new blacksmith…” she asked.
“Thank you, but you needn’t worry about me. I can afford to decline the school. I can more than afford to. I do not need to work at this. ’Tis more of a hobby or, really, a passion.”
Beth’s eyebrows rose. “I wasn’t aware. I don’t know that I’ve ever met a nobleman, even a second son, who worked a trade if he did not need the funds.”
“Allow me to clarify. I told you Bags managed my money. Well, he made me a very rich man. You know his nickname was earned whilst we were still at Oxford for that very reason?”
“I did not. Interesting. I wonder if Althea and Penelope know…” She tilted her head in thought.
“What I mean to say is, I can be particular about my privacy.”
Her head still cocked, she frowned at him. “But if you have scads of money, then why do you care what the Ton says or thinks?”
His jaw nearly dropped. Had she not listened to his description of his childhood? Could she not see past her own paradigm?
Her upbringing was too different, and she’s spent too long shunning society’s rules. She will keep prodding you further and further until your preferences are out of sight over the horizon. You’ll be living in her world by her rules, prancing around like a puppet on a stage.
