She looked at the bottle. She’d never had spirits before.
“Your explanation will settle my nerves, Your Grace,” Beatrice insisted.
“You shall have both,” Algernon commanded, pulling out the chair for her. For a moment, they stared one another down. Then, realizing that the conversation was not going to move forward unless she did as she was told, Beatrice took a seat, and lifted her glass to her lips. Algernon watched her, as if waiting to see for himself that she swallowed, then he too took a seat across from her and drank from his glass.
“My younger brother Henry is in need of a wife,” Algernon stated.
Beatrice’s brows perked with surprise.
“Your younger brother?” she asked.
“Indeed. He is eight and twenty years old,” Algernon explained. “He is smart. Handsome featured. Quite the social creature when it comes to friendships and soirees, but he is quite clumsy when it comes to more romantic relationships. I wish to spare him any unsavory talk from thetonin the event that his clumsiness would lead him to being embarrassed.”
“So, this would be a marriage of convenience?” Beatrice asked.
Algernon’s brow rose.
“You are opposed to that?” he asked.
“Not at all,” she quickly replied. “I do not wish to go into the details of my life before tonight, but I will say that even a marriage of convenience would be far better than what I am used to. As long as there is a kindness and mutual respect, I am willing to go along with almost any ruse we need to create for theton.”
Algernon’s brows rose up, as if he were surprised.
“That is quite a progressive way to look at this situation,” he admitted.
Beatrice shrugged as she brought the glass of wine back to her lips, liking not just the taste but the effect it had on her nerves. Now that she knew a little more, she felt more comfortable with where she was, and she took a deeper sip than before, enjoying the way it made warmth bloom in her head, belly, and chest.
“As I said earlier, I am most determined to live a better life than what I have been accustomed to,” Beatrice replied after she swallowed.
“Well, I can assure you that Henry will be both kind and respectful toward you as long as you can accept him for who he is,” Algernon replied.
“And who is he?” Beatrice asked then took another long sip of her wine.
For the first time since they met, Algernon looked uncomfortable. Once more, Algernon’s face shifted into an expression she could not read. His eyes shifted away from hers and toward the fire. He lifted his glass to his lips, drained it, and poured some more before draining that portion just as fast.
“I believe that is his business to tell,” Algernon replied at last. “Just know that at best, you and Henry could be very good friends. If you gave him a chance, you and Henry could become quite close.”
Algernon finally shifted his gaze back to Beatrice, and as she saw the apprehension—perhaps even a tinge of fear there, she could not help but offer him a small smile.
“It has been a long time since I have had a friend,” Beatrice said, her tone soft as she looked on at the man that had relieved her of her old life. “Perhaps the three of us could all be friends one day.”
For the first time that evening, Algernon’s lips drew toward a smile, and he raised his glass to her.
“Dare I say that would be lovely,” he replied, his deep voice calm, hopeful even.
Beatrice raised her glass toward him, and the two of them drank.
“So,” Beatrice said as she sat her empty glass back on the table, “when do we get married?”
Algernon chortled as he rose from his chair.
“What is so humorous?” Beatrice asked, rising as well.
“I am afraid this plan has multiple steps,” Algernon confessed as he made his way to the door. “Step one was obtain the bride.” He smirked and to her surprise, he even gave her a rather charming wink as he pointed to her. “Step two, have said bride agree to marry him—which, thank you by the way.”
“You are welcome,” Beatrice said, tilting her head slightly as her curiosity about the situation intensified, “And what is step three?”
At this, Algernon gave her a grin so handsome that it made her cheeks flush and her lower belly alight with butterflies.