“And what’s that supposed to mean?” Blanche asked, with laughter in hervoice.
“I’ve never been so miserable in my life as these last few weeks. Idon’t remember when I last had a good night’s sleep.”
“Well.. .”
“Not for that reason, damn it!”
“Oh.” There was a wealth of meaning in Blanche’s voice, and Beth couldfeel herself color up. She knew she should go down and join them, butembarrassment and curiosity kept her fixed where she was.
“Well,” said Blanche, “even with a guest, I’ve a spare bed here. If Iwere you, I’d just get on with it. You’ll both feel a great dealbetter.”
The marquess laughed out loud. Beth felt herself burn withembarrassment. And longing. She remembered how she’d felt not that longago, before it had all broken into disaster.
“Straight to the point,” said Lucien, humor still in his voice. “I’mdoubtless a fool, but I feel there should be some decorum to the wholething.”
“A total fool. What’s decorum got to do with it?”
“Heaven knows. I’ve got to get out of here before you corrupt me,woman.”
Beth knew he had risen, and she pulled herself together and began todescend the stairs so that when he came into the hall she met himthere.
“How long have you been listening?” he asked tolerantly.
“Awhile.”
“Shall we take one of Blanche’s beds then?”
Beth looked away and shook her head. Though there was a hunger in her,the flames had died, the moment passed. She couldn’t contemplate stirringthem up so cold-bloodedly. Especially not here. She turned to Blanche.
“Thank you again, Mrs. Hardcastle. For everything.” She saw Blancheunderstand as she smiled. Beth realized with surprise that she liked thiswoman. Perhaps just due to the extraordinary situation, Blanche felt morelike a friend than Miss Mallory or any other woman.
Beth and the marquess left the house and stood on the pavement.
“What now?” asked Beth.
Lucien laughed. “My wits are scrambled. We have no carriage, dowe?”
At that moment Robin came dashing up from the basement, a half-eatenbun in his hand.
“What’s the chance of getting a cab hereabouts this time of night,Robin?”
“Not much, milord.”
They set off to walk back to Marlborough Square, Robin a discreetdistance behind.
“I could have left you at Blanche’s and sent for a carriage,” he saidafter a while.
“Why didn’t you?” asked Beth, though she was enjoying this stroll. Thestreets were largely deserted. The theaters had emptied some time ago, andthe grand balls were still in full swing. With Lucien beside her she feltno fear of footpads.
“I’m not leaving you alone with her,” he said. “She’s full of dangerousideas.”
“So am I,” Beth remarked. “Don’t forget I am a follower of MaryWollstonecraft.”
“Then you don’t need any encouragement.”
She looked at him. “Have you ever read any of her writings? I fail tosee how an intelligent person can fault them.”
“Yes, I have. Some of what she says does make sense, but I think she’sintolerant of human nature in both men and women. Not all men areheartless brutes, nor are all women given over to a feeble-minded delightin trivialities. I actually wonder how much she liked women, apart fromthe few who fit her narrow pattern of what a woman should be.”
