Their end didn’t need to be public for the sake of theton.
It needed to be public forher—a clear dividing line betweenbeforeandafter.
Before—the time when their arrangement bound them…whensomething morebound them, too.
After—the remainder of her days.
“Your future is yours to decide.”
He’d paid off Jagger.
It annoyed her.
How very presumptuous and high-handed of him.
It was sweet.
And that annoyed her, too.
“You owe me nothing, Beatrix.”
With those words, he’d set her free.
They should’ve been everything she wanted to hear…a weight lifted off her shoulders.
Except…with those words, nothing bound them any longer.
She was free—free of Lydon’s debt…free of Blaze Jagger’s threat…free of Dev.
Freedom never felt so bad.
“I thought I’d find you here,” came a welcome voice behind her.
Beatrix turned to find Artemis approaching her quiet patch of wall. “Habit, I suppose.”
“Let’s speak our farewell now,” said Artemis. “I’ll be setting out before dawn. It’s a long road back to Yorkshire.” She gave Beatrix a thorough once-over before narrowing her eyes. “Exquisite dress, but you look terrible.”
A miserable laugh chirruped from Beatrix.
“No, it’s true,” continued Artemis. “If this is how being blissfully engaged affects your looks, then you might consider breaking it off.”
“That dire?”
Artemis narrowed her eyes with assessment. “It’s the dark circles under your eyes. Your cheeks have lost their roses.”
“Is that all?”
“What you need is—” Artemis signaled a passing footman. “Champagne.” She plucked two sparkling coupes off the tray and handed one to Beatrix. “Now, drink that.”
Beatrix took a compulsory sip.
Artemis shook her head, as if Beatrix had failed a test. “All the way in one go.”
Understanding she had no choice, Beatrix began drinking. What could it hurt, anyway?
Once she’d downed every last drop—and emitted a small burp into the back of her hand—Artemis nodded and took the empty glass, replacing it with a full one. “Now, sip that one.”
Strangely, Beatrix was starting to feel…not better, exactly…butlighter. “I’ll miss you, my friend.”
