He had her hand now.He rubbed her palm.She sighed into his touch.
“Do you like that?”
“It is heavenly.”
And it was—such a simple gesture and yet no one had ever done anything like that before.He rubbed the tender spot more firmly and she felt tension release from her body.
“It calms you.”
“Yes,” she sighed.
“You carry so much, Beatrice.You don’t have to do it alone, you know.”
She withdrew her hand.It felt too good.And his words were too seductive.They had no solution yet to the problem of Mr.Gordstone other than his money.And it was still a solution that made her uncomfortable.Not to mention what it implied about her future.
“Our trio look very happy,” he said, changing the subject, he was sure, because he sensed her discomfort.
She looked back at Sally and the two men.The men were smiling at each other as if they had been friends for a very long time indeed.That is, when they weren’t each casting adoring looks at Sally.
“I cannot understand it.”
“I am sure one day soon we will hear whatever tale is unfolding.”
“I just hope Sally isn’t getting in over her head.”
“Ah,” said a lilting, feminine voice, from over Beatrice’s shoulder.“Has Sally won herself more than one admirer?”
Beatrice looked up to see her mother.Somehow, she had missed her approach.
“We were only speculating,” Beatrice said.“Being terrible gossips, I’m afraid.”
“Well, Sally deserves it all,” her mother said.“No matter what it is.I was wondering, however, my dear, if I could have a word with you.”
With becoming discretion, Leith stood.“I promised Philip a game of chess,” he said.“I will take this as my cue.”
“Thank you, Lord Leith,” her mother said, with a smile.
“What is it, Mother?”she said, when Leith had gone to Philip.
“I spoke with Daniella—Mrs.Westmore, I mean,” her mother said, a faint blush spreading on her cheeks.Beatrice found herself feeling extremely foolish for having not noticed the special nature of the relationship between the two women before.“And if need be, she is prepared to pay the debt.To Mr.Gordstone.”
Of all the things that she had expected her mother to say, this had not been one of them.
“Does Mrs.Westmore have ten thousand pounds to spare?”
“To spare, not exactly.But she has the money.Mr.Westmore left her a very good fortune and it has increased in the four percents ever since his death.She would be prepared to pay it.”
“That would be quite a favor.I am not sure we could accept it.”
“Well, she is concerned, you see.”Her mother smiled, casting her eyes downward.“That Mr.Gordstone will become too forward with his attentions.”
“There Mrs.Westmore and I share the same concerns.”
“Yes, but—I have never known how quite to tell you, Beatrice.Perhaps it is too shocking.But Daniella and I…” Her mother’s eyes, she could see, were brimming with tears.“We’re such good friends.”
Beatrice reached over and took her mother’s hand.Her mother startled and looked into her face.“I understand, Mama.I really do.”
“You do?”
