Christ, how he hoped that wasn’t the last time he’d ever see her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Frances sat on the foot of her bed while her mother’s lengthy diatribe continued. It had begun the moment they had closed the bedchamber door and it showed no signs of abating anytime soon.
“What were you thinking, you hoyden!” Mama cried, dabbing at her sweating face with her handkerchief.
“Mama, I—”
But her mother was in no mood to listen. The woman continued to pace and wave her handkerchief in the air between dabs. The mottled purple tone of her skin alarmed Frances. The only thing she could be grateful for was the fact that Mama was keeping her voice low, apparently to avoid anyone overhearing and causing a scandal. Their walk upstairs had been perfectly calm and orderly. They’d only seen a few guests to whom they’d both smiled and nodded at as if nothing had been amiss.
“Thank heavens Albina alerted me,” Mama continued, her pace increasing.
Frances’s head jerked up. She searched the room and the adjoining bedchamber until she spotted Albina peeking through a crack in the door between the rooms. The maid had a sly triumphant smile on her face. When she saw Frances looking, Albina immediately darted behind the door.
“Albina told you?” Frances asked, her eyes narrowing, her hands balled into fists on her lap. “Why, that little, backstabbing—”
“We owe Albina a great debt,” Mama insisted. “Do you have any idea what might have happened if someoneelsehad walked in on that display in the library? If Albina hadn’t sent me looking for you, I might never have known, let alone had a chance to stop it.”
Mama continued to pace, while Frances expelled her breath and tried to think of the best way to handle the situation. Normally, when Mama was in such a state, little served to calm her.
“You could ruin your chances with Sir Reginald if he were to find out,” Mama said next.
“I don’t care if I ruin my chances with Sir Reginald,” Frances spit out, still stewing over Albina’s treachery. The last thing Frances was worried about at the moment was Sir Reginald’s opinion.On anything.
Mama pressed the handkerchief first to one cheek and then the other. She looked as if she was about to faint. “How can you say such a thing?” She took a long, deep breath. “You know, I truly believed I was protecting you and your sister by keeping the truth from you, but I now I see I must tell you or you’ll continue to sabotage your own future.”
“Tell me what?” Frances asked defiantly, her arms still tightly crossed.
“You and your sister have no dowries. None! Not just small dowries. Nothing! Your father has gambled it all away.”
Frances’s mouth dropped open. “Pardon?”
“That’s right,” Mama continued. “There’snothingleft, but Sir Reginald has indicated he’s still willing to take you.”
Frances closed her eyes. The weight in her chest felt as if a cannonball had just settled in her middle. The news was difficult to hear, but her mother’s obvious angst over it was even more difficult to watch.
Frances already knew from experience that attempting to tell her mother that she didn’t care if she remained a spinster wouldn’t help the situation. Mama was hell-bent on marrying her off. A flurry of thoughts competed for attention in Frances’s mind. Could it be that her parents did not even have the money to keep her in their household as a spinster? She’d never considered that before. She was being selfish not to listen to her mother’s words. Mama’s fear stemmed from the fact that she was clearly worried for her own future.
“Don’t you see, Frances?” Mama cried brokenly, coming to a stop directly in front of her. “Weneedyou to marry Sir Reginald. He may very well be our only hope for survival. Sir Reginald is wealthy. He’s promised us a purse. Your sister is yet too young to marry. I suppose we could consider a match for her sooner than later, but—”
Frances immediately stood and hugged her Mama tightly. Her mother hugged her back, tears streaming down her face.
“I didn’t know, Mama. I didn’t know how bad it was.” She felt like a fool, a blind, selfish fool. She’d known Papa was in trouble, she’d heard the arguments, seen the men come to the house. But she’d foolishly believed Mama when she’d told her they were poor instead of destitute. Frances knew one thing for certain. There was no way she would allow her little sister to be bargained off for a purse. No. If one of them needed to be sold into marriage to save their family, it would be Frances, without question.
“I know you didn’t know, dear.” Her mother sobbed. “I’m only sorry it’s got to this point. The truth is I’ve spent our last bit of coin bringing you to this house party. Sir Reginald is our final hope.”
They both moved to sit together on the foot of the bed. Frances ran a hand over her mother’s graying hair, while patting her hand softly. “I’m sorry, Mama. I’m sorry I’ve been so difficult. Don’t worry. Please, don’t worry.”
Mama dabbed at her wet eyes with the handkerchief she’d finally stopped waving. “Thank you, my dear. Now, will youpleasethink of your family and accept Sir Reginald’s suit?”
Frances expelled her breath and nodded slowly. However ludicrous the idea that she might somehow have a future with Lucas had been, the notion died an instant death. There was no way she could marry a poor footman. Her family was counting on her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
As Lucas dressed for his meeting with Sir Reginald that afternoon, the roil of thoughts that had been racing through his mind all morning since Lady Winfield found him kissing Frances continued to batter against his mind like rain upon a flapping sail.
He was a bounder. He was a scoundrel. He was the lowest form of life imaginable. The worst part was that when he’d first entered the library, Frances had been hiding in the alcove. If only he had joined her there. But, no,hehad had to stand outside in full view of the doors before acting like an even bigger reprobate and kissing her regardless.
