That was simply pride speaking. She knew that love had no place in a sensible match.
All the same, she remembered his vow that he would court her, even if she refused him, and her heart leapt as it seemed inclined to do whenever she thought of or saw Mr. Beckham.
Prudence kicked her feet, seemingly thinking. “Oh yes, there is a house in Devon, near Axminster, a legacy to Lady Beckham from her father, the earl, which she also owns in her own right. The earl’s country house is on an adjacent property and said to be less grand. I believe the situation might vex him.”
“What of the current earl?” Patience was curious about the man who had dared to bet her betrothed’s hand in marriage.
Prudence wrinkled her nose. “The worst manner of wastrel.”
“You said Mr. Beckham was a wastrel,” Patience reminded her sister.
“But he can pay for his indulgences. And he is young and handsome.”
Patience rolled her eyes.
Prudence continued. “Though there are some who find the earl attractive.”
“Not you?”
“He has a look of dissipation about him, to my thinking. Otherwise, he might have been attractive, but never as handsome as Mr. Beckham.”
Patience doubted there were many men so handsome.
“The earl is utterly without resource, for what he has not sold, he had mortgaged. I cannot have any respect for a man who fails to manage his own wealth, especially one who has wasted it so foolishly. The earl is lucky to have a sister who holds him in affection, though that may not last much longer.”
“Indeed?”
“Lady Beckham is said to be heartily annoyed with her brother for this last wager, almost as irked as the Grosvenor family is with your Mr. Beckham over his escape.” She nodded. “I think I like him just for that.”
“Felicia Grosvenor leaves stains in books she borrows,” Patience reminded her sister.
Prudence winced and nodded. “Andshe folds down the corners of the pages.”
Both sisters shook their heads in unison at these most base of all crimes.
“I suppose you do not love him,” Prudence said, scrutinizing her sister.
Patience had nothing to hide. “I do not know him well enough for that.”
“But do you like him?”
Patience considered their recent conversations and found herself smiling. “I do. I fear he is concerned only with his own advantage, but many men are thus.” Prudence nodded wisely in agreement. “And he has a certain charm.”
“He lied to his uncle.”
“But he was honest with me. And truly, in his place, would you not do anything to avoid such a match?”
Prudence laughed. “If only for the sake of my books.”
“Precisely!”
Then the younger sister sobered, and her gaze turned searching. “Will you be happy, Patience?”
“I have no notion, but I shall strive to be. Does any bride know for certain before her wedding day?”
Prudence nodded in consideration of that. “But what if you never love him?”
“That does not mean I cannot be happy in his household, or that I won’t bear children that I love, or that there must be no merit in my life as his wife.”
