Finding her cousin in her office, Beth knocked and wandered in, all in one motion.
Althea glanced up. “I haven’t seen you in days. How are you?” She put her paperwork aside. “Most importantly, did you ring for tea on your way here?”
“Of course.” Beth’s could barely muster a smile. “Can I steal you away from your work for a few minutes, please? I could use your counsel.”
“You never need to ask, you know that. Come, let us move closer to the fire.” She led Beth to the wine-toned settee and chairs by the fireplace as a servant brought in a tea tray and set it on the low table in the center.
“Cuz, I told Robert about the school,” she blurted out as she accepted a cup of tea.
“Oh? What prompted that?” Althea’s tone was mild.
“You’re not upset? No chastisement?”
“Well, I can if you’d like…” Her cousin grinned. “But I prefer to understand your reasons. They are generally sound.”
Beth burst into tears. Althea had faith in her judgment. Why could Robert not feel the same? Instead, he’d called her reckless and untrustworthy.
“Oh no.” Althea switched from a chair to the settee beside Beth, putting an arm around her. She took Beth’s cup and saucer from her and placed them on the table. “Let’s not dilute the tea.”
Beth managed a watery smile at her cousin’s attempt at humor.
“Come now. Tell me what happened. I will support you however I can.”
She leaned her head against Althea’s shoulder and explained her idea for the catalogue, his acceptance, his backtracking. Then his apology, their negotiation, and her suggestion regarding the school.
“He completely rejected the idea, cuz. No discussion. Simply a no thank you.”
“Hmm.”
Twisting her head to frown up at her cousin for the noncommittal answer, she could only see an open gaze and listening expression. Deciding to ignore the hum for the time being, she continued. “Then he told me he’s wealthy, thanks to Cheltie’s investing on his behalf. But then why is he so obsessed with anonymity?” She straightened from her cousin’s shoulder, throwing up her hands.
“Did you ask him?” Althea’s question paused her forward motion to reclaim her teacup.
Her head swiveled. “No. He said I hadn’t accepted him as he prefers to live. I was trying to change him. And that he struggled to do the same with me. I only wanted to leave.”
“He said that? I can understand you wanting to leave then.” Althea nodded. “You deserve to be with someone who wants you as you are. You are magnificent and deserve the amount of care and respect you give others.”
“Aww. Mayhap ’tis a shame you don’t like girls, cuz.” Beth managed a smile and a wink. “In fact, are you sure you don’t like girls?”
“I am serious, Beth. However, I also wonder if he is right about your struggle. At least he is aware of his.”
Beth frowned but stayed silent to hear the rest.
“Consider this. There are many reasons to dislike the Ton’s attention. No matter how much money one has or how much easier it is for men”—she ignored Beth’s snort—“being exiled from the Ton can be lonely and limiting.”
“He hates social activities anyway,” Beth grumbled.
“Ah, but at least he has the choice. Evan and Michael would also be affected by his identity being associated with the designs. Whilst Evan likely would not care and his reputation could sustain it, there would still be an effect, possibly even a financial one. And you know Michael’s family tries to avoid being the topic of gossip. So Ford might care on behalf of his friends. Furthermore, he might not have ‘more money than he needs.’ What if he dreams of doing something with his savings? Marriage, babies, a country estate, whatever he might be planning.”
Marriage? Babies?Beth pictured Robert holding a son in his arms, a leather cap on the baby’s head hand-stitched by his father. Robert would sit the boy down when he reached the right age and give him scraps of leather to practice stitches on. Or a girl. To be sure, Beth would not be the right person to teach their children stitching.
With a start, she realized she was picturing Robert married to her. Shaking her head to clear the thought, she replied to Althea, “Mayhap, but to call me untrustworthy when I have been the pillar of help and respect for his work is unfair.”
“Hmm.”
“Stop that! Do you agree with him?”
“’Tis not a matter of agreeing or disagreeing. I see both sides. For instance, consider his point about secrecy. I have heard you mention his creations to Penelope. Did he give you permission to do that?” Althea asked.
