“Tell me what I’m supposed to do.”
“You’re supposed to ask the other person what’s happened.”
“But I know what’s happened. I was there.”
She heaved a trembly sigh. “I suppose you were.” She shook her head, utter disbelief in the movement. “What a family I have.”
Dev judged it best to hold his tongue.
“But I wasso closethis time.”
“None of it has to affect you.” It had to be said.
“That,” she said, “is not true. If I ignore it, say, and buy a modest house in a less fashionable part of London with my money from you, I’ll have to sit by while my scandalous half-brother ruins my father for the entertainment of all London. In which case, I won’t be left with a good name, and what self-respecting, decent man would have me then?”
Dev wished she wouldn’t speak of herself thusly—as if she were chattel. It diminished all she was.
“Or,” she continued, “I buy some time.”
“With the money from our arrangement?”
She gave a tight nod. “Of course, it won’t be enough.”
“Beatrix—” She needed to hear this. “It will never be enough. Lydon won’t change his ways.”
She threw frustrated hands into the air. “What choice do I have?” She appeared to be working herself into another bout of tears. “I’ll be penniless, but I’ll have my name. Nothing new in that.” Misery edged her voice. “Destined for spinsterhood either way.”
Dev was tired of this. “Has it never occurred to you that a man would want you as…you?”
Her brow gathered as if he’d begun speaking German. “One hasn’t yet.”
“Your eyes,” Dev found himself saying. “They are remarkable.”
She blinked. “My eyes are…remarkable?”
“Arresting.”
“Arresting?”
“Beautiful.”
She touched light fingertips to her mouth.
He couldn’t tell if her reaction indicated distress or utter befuddlement, so he continued for some reason absolutely due to a fleeting madness. “And your figure is lissome.”
“Lissome?”
“Comely.”
“Comely?”
“Desirable.”
It was as if all the air had vacated the room.
Dev wasn’t pleased with himself. These qualities of Beatrix’s… They were the superficial.
“Your spirit…” Oh, he was entering some uncharted territory here… “Your spirit is fierce and bold.” And yet he kept speaking… “And your intelligence is without equal.” And on, he went… “And when you give over to an endeavor, it’s with focus and passion.”
