Always a Maiden (The Belles of Beak Street #5)(36)

His one regret in life was not having enough time with his Martha.

Evan had only the faintest memories of his aunt from his uncle’s wedding nearly twenty years earlier. After Gilbert’s birth, his aunt and uncle had cloistered themselves at the estate. Over the years, Evan had seen his uncle as he came into town to take his seat in Parliament, but his aunt remained behind in the country. After Aunt Martha died, his uncle stopped attending all but the most important of sessions.

I only hope you choose a woman capable of guarding family secrets.

Evan certainly knew one woman who guarded everything right down to her expression, but did he want her for a wife? Even if he did, she wanted a husband with a title, not a man who would be a steward for years to come.





Chapter 10





“What did that man say to you?” demanded Lady Weatdon as they entered the house.

“Which man?” asked Susanah as she watched her father’s form retreat up the stairs with a sense of dread. She didn’t want to be left alone with her mother and her recriminations. She knew which man her mother was alluding to, but thought it best to pretend she hadn’t given Evan any particular notice.

Her mother yanked her into the drawing room and shut the door. “That Mr. Cooper. Are you encouraging him? Your color is always too high around him like you’re some scullery maid lusting after a footman. And what were you doing scowling at Lord Hull? What is wrong with you? I have taught you better than to scowl at a gentleman.”

“I don’t believe I was scowling at him. Perhaps at something he said,” Susanah answered. “He wasn’t offended, and he said I hadn’t been rude to him when he called.”

She shouldn’t have challenged her mother, but she didn’t want to talk about her reaction to Evan. And she was tired. It was well past four in the morning, yet she would have to listen to her mother criticize every move she’d made at Almack’s before she was allowed to go to bed.

Her mother’s nostrils flared. “You are the most ungrateful child. You have every advantage in the world, yet you dare to speak back to me.”

She paced across the carpet. Susanah flinched waiting for a slap, but she didn’t dare duck or raise her hand to stop it.

The door opened. The housekeeper stood there. “Oh, I am sorry, my lady. I thought you had retired and I was coming to put out the lamps.” She nodded her head in the way a maid would have bobbed a curtsy. “Would you like tea?”

Susanah swiveled towards the door and looked at the housekeeper. Mrs. Green never glanced in her direction. Surely, she would have heard them and known they were in the drawing room. Or perhaps it was just a hint that certain members of the staff couldn’t retire until the family did. While Susanah was never allowed to sleep past nine, the staff had to be up much earlier.

“No, thank you, Mrs. Green. That will be all,” said her mother with a dismissive smile. “We’ll ring to have the lamps snuffed when we’re done.”

The housekeeper nodded and retreated, closing the door behind her. But the interruption had forestalled her mother’s strike. More importantly, it had given Susanah enough time to gather herself and realize argument was futile.

“Sit down,” her mother said.

Susanah took a seat, being certain to keep her back straight as a fireplace poker. She folded her hands in her lap and tucked her legs to the side. “Yes, ma’am.”

“You listen to me,” Mother started.

“Yes, ma’am,” answered Susanah.

“You will encourage Lord Farringate from here on. I know he is older than you would wish for a husband, but you have had five years to land an acceptable gentleman and failed. He is respectable, dignified, and titled. He will make you a good husband, and be a strong political ally to your father.”

Susanah felt herself curling into a ball inside herself. She had no defense. “Do you wish for me to discourage Lord Hull? I didn’t want to be rude to him when he asked me to dance.”

“Are you suggesting that Lord Hull is likely to marry you?” demanded her mother.

Susanah dropped her gaze. Lord Hull’s attentions were no more particular than Lord Rothby’s had been after her broken engagement. Lord Rothby had only been dancing attendance upon her because his friend had broken his engagement with her—which was probably more out of loyalty to his friend and his cousin—the woman Lord Ashton had married instead of her—rather than a desire to see her reputation preserved. It would seem Lord Hull’s only reason for asking her to dance was Evan’s request and his curiosity. “I don’t know, but I thought I was supposed to encourage him.”

Her mother sneered. It was a surprising expression on the marchioness’s face, one that wasn’t allowed to appear often and never in company. “He has no need of your dowry, so why would he have any interest in you?”

Why indeed? The words stung, but Susanah couldn’t find fault in them. There was nothing the least bit interesting about her. Her mouth was too small, her fingers too short, and her chest was practically nonexistent. Her singing and pianoforte playing skills were mediocre in spite of being required to practice daily. Her dancing was too precise, wooden. And if it wasn’t, her mother would tear into her. Her blond hair was too dark and dull. Her eyes too pale and tending toward gray—or perhaps lavender if Evan was to be believed. That was probably a lie, from when he felt the inclination to flatter her—an inclination that had passed all too quickly. No, she was colorless, drab, and dull.