AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She was scandalous. I wasn’t even allowed to speak to her. My Beatrice, I don’t want you to suffer. I don’t want you to become an outcast.” Tears slid down her mother’s cheeks, and Beatrice moved closer to her bedside and wiped them away with a clean handkerchief. “I wasn’t able to protect you. Not when you were a baby, when they pulled you out of me with their metal instruments and marred your face. And not now, when you’re making such an enormous mistake. Consider the consequences of your actions.”
“Mama,” Beatrice said gently. “I know you want the best for me, but you must allow me to lead my own life. It’s my life.”
Her mother turned away. “Perhaps I’ve pushed you too hard. Pushed you away.”
“We’ll find a way through this. We’ll find a way to forgive each other.”
Her mother sighed. “The scandal sheets won’t be forgiving.”
“They never are.”
“Your friends will cut you.”
“Not if they’re my true friends.”
“So you’ll marry that man?”
“His name is Ford, Mama. And yes, I’ll wed him if he asks me.”
Her mother sat up. “He hasn’t asked you yet? What’s wrong with the man? He ruins you and doesn’t offer you the protection of marriage?”
“We haven’t arrived at that conversation yet.” It was time to change the subject, distract her mother. “Rafe looked well at the ball.”
“He did.” Her mother perked up. “He’s not limping as much now. Do you think he took an interest in any young ladies last night?”
“I’m sure the young ladies took an interest in him,” said Beatrice. “Now that he’s back in London he’ll be the most eligible bachelor, besides Westbury, that is.”
“That’s true. I could plan another ball in Rafe’s honor.”
Beatrice hid a smile. “Our family will survive this scandal, Mama.”
“I only wanted life to be easy for you. I wanted you to become a countess so no one could laugh at you anymore.”
“Let them laugh. At least they’re laughing, and not crying. Now dry your tears, Mama.”
Her mother sighed heavily. “You’ve always been headstrong. You’ve never listened to me, not really. I don’t know why I thought matters of the heart would be any different.”
Ford embraced his mother in the yard of the coaching inn.
“Why, Ford, what’s wrong?” She’d always been able to read his mind.
“Come inside and I’ll explain.” He lifted her small trunk, waving the porter away, and carried it into the coaching inn. When they were seated in her rooms and she’d splashed water on her face and taken some refreshment, Ford sat down beside her.
“There’s no easy way to say this. I made a mistake. I hope you can forgive me.”
“Of course, my darling, I would forgive you anything.”
“You can’t meet with Phyllis while you’re here. You should return to Cornwall immediately.”
“Why, what’s wrong?”
“I told grandfather that you two were secretly meeting.”
“Ford! Why would you do such a thing?”
He ran a hand through his tangled hair. It had been a long night and morning. “Pride. Anger. I was lashing out because I wanted to hurt him—he was so hateful. Sitting there, lording it over Beatrice and me.”
“Lady Beatrice? Ford, slow down. Your poor mother can’t read your mind.”
