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“Further consequences?” Mrs. Stapleton’s eyes darted to her daughter and back. “I don’t under—”
The door flung open, and Seraphina entered, followed by the slinking form of her husband.
No. This was not what he wished.
“We heard raised voices,” Seraphina said, eyes alight and predatory.
“My dear,” her mother protested, “we are in the midst of a private conversation.”
“You do not wish me to be here?”
No, he longed to say, but knew no concession would be made for him. He glanced at Theodosia.
Her lips had thinned. Hmm, she never looked at her sister’s husband, nor he at her. Whatwastheir connection?
“Well?” Seraphina propped her hand on her hip, brow crooked. “If there is private conversation, it’s because my sister here has never liked me to be part of things.” Her gaze fixed on Theodosia. “You have always thought yourself better than me.”
“That is not true,” she said in a low voice.
“Nevertheless, I’m not leaving. When I enquired of Siddons, he said the Bellinghams were here and most upset about something you had done. And I think as your sister that it’s only right and just that I should know of what it is.”
“This does not concern you,” Theodosia answered. “It is my fault, and not your concern, as it will not affect you at all.”
Daniel drew himself up and was about to intervene, when Seraphina laughed. “Your fault? I did not think the great and virtuous Theodosia ever committed a sin. I would dearly love to know what you did wrong. It may give hope for the rest of us mere mortals.”
“Mrs. Riley,” Daniel’s voice burst out. “Your sister has done nothing wrong. The fault is all mine.”
“Yours?” She glanced at him, then at her sister, gaze sharp and calculating. Then her eyes enlarged. “Don’t tell me you have been forced to offer for her hand! Oh, I knew that all the times she spent in your room smacked of impropriety, but never did I imagine—”
“That is enough!” the general roared. “Sit down! You are making a fool of yourself with your stupid carrying-on. You too,” he muttered to the man standing near the window.
A quick glance at Theodosia revealed that she was very pale, her gaze fixed on the floor, motionless, as the cat wove between her legs.
“Oh, my dear girl,” Mrs. Stapleton’s voice wobbled with the tears shining in her eyes. “I cannot believe you would think such a thing about our dear Theo. She would never be so improper—”
“Your sister has done nothing wrong,” the general snapped, “and you should be ashamed of yourself for even thinking such a thing, let alone having the temerity to suggest it.”
“Forgive me, sister,” Seraphina said with a most unrepentant smirk. “I should have realized that even you were not so desperate as to take up with a servant.”
This last was said with a scathing look that made Daniel’s blood boil. But another glance at Theodosia’s pale cheeks and trembling fingers and his anger found a new cause. “How dare you disparage your sister in such a way?”
Seraphina blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
“Your sister has been the epitome of goodness, which you freely take advantage of, coming here without notice because you have nowhere else to be.”
Seraphina’s breath drew in. “How dare you speak to me so?”
He glanced at the general, who watched him with lowered brow. No help seemed to come from there. Mrs. Stapleton, too, seemed at a loss, her mouth parted softly.
“I will take full responsibility for what has transpired, which is certainly not what you dared suggest.” He returned his attention to the general. “I am sorry, sir. Mrs. Stapleton, I truly had no wish for my subterfuge to cause so much pain.”
“Subterfuge?” Seraphina said.
Theodosia raised her chin. “Mr. Daniel is really Captain Daniel Balfour.”
“Who?” Seraphina asked.
“Captain Daniel Balfour,” Daniel finally owned.
