“Pardon?” Beth looked at the man who was so very much like the one she’d wanted to marry. There were differences, of course, but she saw Nathan in him.
“You were frowning, Miss Carlow. Even I know that every etiquette book ever written suggests that is bad for a lovely complexion like yours.”
He was teasing her, which was a surprise. Surely she was now the enemy of every person named Deville.
“I believe Mary Wollstonecraft was an advocate of frowning, sir.”
“I can imagine she would be.”
Have you read her works, Miss Carlow?” Nathan said from beside her.
Surprised he was speaking to her, Beth turned.
“I have.” She’d read them a few months ago when she’d been desperate for a distraction from her thoughts.
“My sister also. I believe Miss Wollstonecraft was a forward-thinking woman.”
“She was. One of my favorite quotes of hers is, ‘I do not wish them to have power over men; but over themselves.’ I believe the ‘them’ she spoke of was women.”
He wasn’t looking at her, but forward to where Lord Plunge was taking the book from his brother.
“No man should have power over a woman.” The words were softly spoken, but she heard them.
“But that is not often reality,” Beth replied.
His eyes met hers. “No, it’s not.”
“Forsooth, my dear Captain Broadbent!” Lord Plunge roared. “Can you hear me?”
“Aye!” every single person in the circle replied, making Beth laugh.
“I wonder if that man can be any more ridiculous,” Nathan muttered.
“I quite like him,” Beth said, enjoying the truce between them for however long it lasted.
“What? Why?”
“When he is not being an exhibitionist, he’s a wonderful conversationalist.”
“Once you were a woman of insight; it seems that too has slipped.”
His eyes ran over her face, and she saw the anger return, his moment of weakness behind him.
“You at least owe me a reason?”
She turned away and watched Lord Plunge without saying another word. Beth could not give him the reason, and she would not lie to him again.
“Coward,” Nathan taunted her.
“You know nothing about me or my actions,” she said, because she couldn’t stay silent.
“Then tell me the truth. You had no trouble dismissing me in a brief note, and yet you will not speak the words to my face, Miss Carlow?”
“I have no wish to continue this conversation.”
“Because you are a coward.”
“I am no coward, and I will not listen to you insult me that way.” She turned to glare at him.
