“No one recognizes me anymore anyway,” she replied in a defeated tone. “But with your promise, I shall happily get in this carriage if it is taking me from this awful place. Though I must insist that once we are both inside, you tell me who you are, sir.”
Algernon’s brow perked in amusement, but he tipped the brim of his hat toward her and waved a hand toward the door. He watched as the woman took a deep breath through her small, button nose, raised her pointed chin, and walked with her back straight and her shoulders back to the door of the carriage.
He waited until she was seated inside and then joined her, taking the seat opposite her. It was only after the door was shut, and he felt the wheels of the carriage begin to move, that Algernon took off his top hat and his mask.
“My name is Algernon Fitzroy, Miss. I am the Duke of Morcaster,” he explained, noting the way she immediately began to study his face. To his relief, the green tinge in her complexion was starting to fade.
“Might I have your name?” he asked when the woman said nothing.
A soft pink filled the woman’s cheeks, and she cast her large, beautiful blue eyes down to the floor.Beautiful. Demure. Mysterious. Surely Henry will appreciate such a find.
“My name is Beatrice Cooper, Your Grace,” the woman answered, a tinge of anger in her voice as she kept her eyes to the floor. “I am the daughter of an earl though he never trulyclaimed me as his own—even though my parents were rightfully married before the eyes of God before I was conceived.”
Algernon could hear the bitterness in her voice as she spoke the most startling confession. It was quite a deep secret to share after first meeting one another. Then again, given the circumstances, he was not at all sure what would be appropriate to say or not say. Like her, he’d never had this particular experience either.
“I suppose that is your way of explaining why you ended up in such a place?” Algernon wagered.
Beatrice nodded her head. “I say this to you to let you know that I am not some common or lowly woman meant to be traded—though I believe no man or woman should be traded as I have just been.”
“Well, we agree on that,” Algernon muttered.
“And yet you purchased me all the same,” Beatrice retorted with a quickness.
Algernon’s eyes shifted back to her, wide with surprise, and in her blue orbs, he found a wary look of deep distrust. He took in her body language, confirming his suspicion. Her back was pressed tight to the carriage seat. Her small hands were clenched in fists by her hips, as if ready to strike him and protect her honor if he so much as leaned forward too much. Again, he could not blame her. Not after what she’d just been through.
“My reasonings for your purchase are just,” he stated coldly. “That is all you need to know.”
“If I am to entertain you, I certainly do not agree,” Beatrice replied as her hands moved from her hips to curled around her arms. “Tell me what I am to be for you. A mistress? Surely a Duke such as yourself would have no need to purchase one at an auction. Your face is handsome enough to warrant a willing participant.”
A strange mixture of offense and amusement whirled up in Algernon as he leaned close to Beatrice’s face and glared into her eyes. He watched with satisfaction as those dark blue pools widened, her cheeks flushed red, and her bosom began to quickly rise and fall at his closeness.
“Do you even know what that word means?” he gritted out.
Beatrice’s breath stilled. She blinked, as if confused, and pursed her lips together.
“Yes?” she breathed.
Upon hearing the questioning tone in her voice, Algernon let out a gruff laugh and sat back.
“Clearly,” he stated, his tone dry as the carriage drew to a stop.
“You should not speak of things you do not know of,” Algernon chastised as the carriage door opened. “It more often than notmakes you look like a fool, and as you are about to be a wife, you do not want to appear as a fool. Thetonmight not have known who you were before but once you are married, that will certainly change. Trust when I tell you to be named a fool by thetonis not what any noble person desires.”
Algernon stepped out of the carriage and drew to his full height as he looked upon his London estate. It was not his preferred place of residence, but Henry loved London, so Algernon had made the decision to leave Morcaster for the time being until he could get his brother’s affairs situated.
It was not the build of the estate that Algernon disliked. The house was nice enough. It had plenty of space, an impressive garden, and even a conservatory. It waswhereit was built that bothered him. Unlike Henry, Algernon preferred the quiet life in Morcaster.
“Married?” Beatrice’s voice brought Algernon back to the present situation.
He turned from the large house to her with a blank expression.
“Does that not suit you?” he asked.
Beatrice tsked her tongue.
“I suppose that would be my best option given where I just came from. If I am to marry you though, we cannot stay in the same house beforehand. It would be grossly inappropriate,” shereplied. “I may not have much of an education, but I do know that much.”
“Then it is a good thing it not I you are getting married to,” Algernon retorted, taking a step toward the house. “Now, come along. I do not wish to stand here all night. It has been a long, miserable evening for us both, and we, no doubt, are in equal need of rest.”