Perhaps Livy oughtn’t have been surprised but, like Ben, Aunt Bea was private by nature. What could bring her to ask for help…and from Livy, no less?
Does she know about me and Ben?Livy thought with a frisson of worry.
She and Ben had planned to keep their relationship under wraps until Fong was captured. Even then, Ben was concerned about how others might react…in particular, her papa. Livy had reassured him that her family adored him and, even if they were surprised at first, they would come around. She hadn’t considered how Ben’s family—namely Aunt Bea—might take to the news.
She was very fond of Aunt Bea and hoped the other would support the match. It would take some getting used to, but she thought it would be lovely to have Aunt Bea as a sister-in-law.
Thus, Livy asked with care, “How can I help?”
“I know you and Hadleigh share a special bond. Ever since that time he came to your aid.” Aunt Bea’s smile was wistful. “He told me once that rescuing you was the one good deed he’d done in his life.”
Livy had to defend him. “Hadleigh is a good man with a brave and noble heart.”
“That is why he likes you so much. You are more of a loyal sister to him than I ever was,” Aunt Bea said somberly. “I have not supported my younger brother as I ought to have.”
Livy felt her cheeks burn. Of course, she couldn’t tell Aunt Bea that her feelings for Ben were far from sisterly. At the same time, she heard the regret in Bea’s voice and recalled what Ben had said about the distance between him and his sister. How he’d caused it by his foolish and reckless pursuit of vengeance on Bea’s behalf.
“Hadleigh does not blame you,” Livy said, wanting to help heal the breach. “On the contrary, he holds himself responsible for the estrangement.”
Aunt Bea looked startled. “He has spoken to you about our relationship?”
Botheration.Livy wanted to kick herself for giving too much away.
“Um, not exactly. But I know Hadleigh, and he is a man of honor who tends to take responsibility for things,” she said awkwardly.
Bea studied her with lavender eyes that were a little too perceptive.
“You understand him well,” Bea said at length, “and that is the reason why I came to you. When I arrived in town yesterday, I saw Mrs. Garrity. Out of concern, she told me the recent gossip about Hadleigh. Even if she hadn’t told me, I would have seen it: it is in all the scandal rags.”
“You cannot believe everything you read and hear,” Livy said quickly.
How she wished she could tell Aunt Bea the truth behind Ben’s behavior. But doing so would compromise his mission. And she knew for a fact that he would not want his sister involved in that dangerous business.
“I saw Hadleigh with my own eyes when I paid a call upon him this morning,” Aunt Bea said flatly. “He looked like he hadn’t slept all night. And there were signs that he…he has reverted to some of his old behaviors. You are too young to understand, Livy, but while my brother has good intentions, his actions have not always reflected that.”
Livy could hardly tell Aunt Bea that Ben looked tired because he’d been up most of the night making love to her. As for the other “signs,” Ben had admitted that he had been drinking with the Horsemen. Thus far, he’d avoided taking opium and the Devil’s Bliss; he felt he couldn’t convince his old cronies that he’d reverted to a life of sin if he was a teetotaler as well.
Livy knew the week had taken a toll on Ben, stirring up the demons from his past. His voice echoed in her head:It reminded me of who I used to be, and I am ashamed of that man. He is not good enough for you.She prayed that his undertaking would be over soon so that they could have a fresh start. She wanted to take care of him and lavish him with love.
She also needed to tell him the truth and beg his forgiveness for her deception.
“Did you tell Hadleigh your concerns when you visited?” Livy asked.
A frown marred Bea’s brow. “I asked him what was going on, but he would not talk to me. To be honest, I am not surprised. He and I have been dancing around each other these years past, and we Wodehouses have never been good at discussing our feelings. Nor showing them, in truth.” She reached into her reticule, taking out a handkerchief and dabbing her eyes. “For a long time, I believed that my brother was a destructive force, and I cut him out of my life. Then I met Mr. Murray, and he convinced me that Hadleigh had changed and was deserving of another chance.
“I allowed Hadleigh back into my life, but I always kept my distance. I was afraid to be hurt again,” Bea said, her voice hitching. “In spite of the bad blood between us, he is my kin, and I…I do care about him.”
Livy’s heart hurt for Aunt Bea…and for Ben, too. She vowed that, once the business with Fong was over, she would do whatever she could to help them mend fences.
As her mama oft said,“Where there is love, there is a way.”
“He loves you too, Aunt Bea,” Livy said. “And while he might not seem himself of late, I am certain there is a good reason. You can trust him not to repeat the mistakes of his past.”
“Even if I trusted him, I cannot trust the band of rakehells who have drawn him back into their fold.” Bea’s lips formed a hyphen of disapproval. “Edgecombe, Thorne, and Bollinger were a bad influence years ago; from what I gather, they are even worse now. My brother’s loyalty has always been his greatest strength and weakness. If it hadn’t been for Arabella’s influence…” She shook her head. “I will not speak ill of the dead. But I will say that in recent months, I have seen Hadleigh show the promise of the man he could be. If those scoundrels compromise his progress, draw him into their depraved world again, I vow I will give them a piece of my mind.”
With gnawing unease, Livy observed the determined angle of Aunt Bea’s chin. It took one to know one, which was how she knew Bea was as strong-willed as they came. And the last thing Ben needed right now was for his sister to get involved.
“You won’t interfere, will you?” Livy said desperately. “I do not think that is what Ben needs right now.”
