Beatrice smiled at her sister’s pride in the place.She had wanted her to feel at home there and she was heartened that, after all of these years, she truly did.
After a long day of travel, they finally reached their stopping place for the evening.This time, the inn was not as large or lavish as Mrs.Bercine’s, and Thomas and Charles were forced to bed down in the stables.
After another tavern meal, they all headed to their separate accommodations.
Except for, when Beatrice arrived at her room, she realized that their basin had no water.
“I will fetch it,” Leith said, when she remarked upon it.
She shook her head at him.“You are already in your nightshirt.And you are a marquess, you forget,” she said, teasing him.“It is only down the stairs.I will be gone but a moment.”
He nodded at her, even though he frowned a bit as she exited the room.
She suppressed a sigh.Beatrice was not sure how to right things between them again.He seemed more tentative with her ever since his declaration and while she wasn’t prepared to say she loved him back, she wanted their easiness with one another to return.
But then she stopped cold.
For she saw Sally,herSally, being embraced by a man.She narrowed her eyes in the dim hall outside the door to her room.It was Charles!
“Sally!”she exclaimed.
The two young people sprang apart.
“Oh, Bea.I didn’t see you there.”
Beatrice wasn’t sure what to think—or how much she should interfere.Sally had told her that she was promised to Fred Larkin.And here she was kissing another man!
Charles was gazing at her sister with an expression that could only be described as “hopelessly besotted.”
Perhaps, she was realizing with rapidity, she had made assumptions about her sister’s innocence that had been either completely incorrect or were becoming wildly out of date.
“Sally, really, I have no idea where to even begin.”
“I can explain later,” Sally said with a shake of her head.
Beatrice supposed she was in no position to give lectures on sexual morality.She bit back more effusions of displeasure.Clearly, she would have to take the matter up with her sister when they were next alone.
“Very well then.I will see you both on the morrow.”
It was very clear that Charles would not be bedding down in the stables.No, instead, he would be bedding down with her sister.
“Good evening, Miss Salisbury,” Charles added, his voice a hair too cheery for her liking.
But Sally was her own woman.She certainly wasn’t about to tell her not to bed men when Beatrice herself was currently endeavoring to be a courtesan.And was at present the paid mistress to a wealthy, powerful man notorious for his love of demi-reps.
That did not mean, however, that, when she returned to her room, she was going to keep silent about what she had seen.
Striding back into the room with their water jug, she hiss-whispered to Leith, “You willneverbelieve what I only just saw in the hall.”
“I am sure I could guess,” Leith said from their bed.“But I’d rather you tell me.”
“Sally!And Charles!Kissing!”
Leith laughed as she placed the jug by the basin and began to wash.
“I must say I am rather proud of him.”
“Well, I don’t know what to think myself.She is supposed to be engaged!She told me herself not long ago.”
