Page 68 of The Duke's Vice

Beatrice raised her hand in her mother’s direction. “Please do not pretend the only way to be happy is to be married to a man. I know you loved your time with Papa and you miss him dearly, but look at you,” she now gestured to her mother. “You are not married and you are happy, aren’t you?”

Charlotte sighed. “I am. But I’m happy because of you and your sisters, my grandchildren. The life you want will leave you all alone.”

For the first time since Beatrice and Charlotte began these discussions Beatrice could see the heavy distress this conversation caused her mother.

Charlotte’s shoulders slumped while she looked at Beatrice with great concern.

“I am no fool, Beatrice, and neither are you. Out of all of my children I know you can hold your own. And if given the chance, you would be able to go on and do great things on your own.”

Beatrice met her mother’s eyes. For the first time she saw optimism and support within them. She had hoped it meant her mother was finally coming around to her side.

“Unfortunately for you, Beatrice, you will not be given the chance willingly.” Charlotte’s words hung between them.

Beatrice curled her hands into tight fists. Cursed this society. Cursed this blasted society and its dependence on the male’s ego. She could do anything a man could do and most likely better. Heavens, there were things she could do that a man could not. Between the two sexes, there was no doubt in Beatrice’s mind who was the weaker sex, and it was not the women.

She once saw Charles get a splinter of wood lodged in his finger and you would have sworn someone had cut his hand off.

Beatrice squeezed her eyes shut to stop the tears gathering in her eyes. She felt her mother’s embrace and sighed into it.

Despite their differences, she knew her mother wanted what was best for her, even if it meant giving up the one thing she always sought for herself.

“I’m so sorry, Beatrice. For you, I wish I could change the world.” Charlotte’s soft whisper did little to comfort Beatrice, but she appreciated it just the same.

Beatrice only nodded.

“I know, Mama.” She sniffled.

Charlotte lifted Beatrice’s head in her hands. “Now, not that I want to cause you discomfort, but…” Charlotte hesitated. “Was there someone you were thinking about?”

Beatrice chewed on her bottom lip. She wanted nothing more than to be able to have an honest conversation about this with someone.

She was woefully unequipped when it came to handling matters of the heart. Still, there was no way she could tell her mother of the past few weeks without sending her into apoplectic fits.

Beatrice decided to tread very carefully. “There was someone.”

Charlotte gasped as she muttered, “I knew it!”

“But we were just friends.” Her gaze boor into her mother’s. “I haven’t seen him or heard from him since.” Hearing her own voice say those words out loud to another person left her bereft. Her hands shook and her lips quivered. Perhaps this wasn’t the best idea.

Charlotte frowned. “Oh, my baby!” She enveloped Beatrice in a tight hug before pulling her to the sofa. “Sit. Tell me all about it.”

Beatrice rolled her lips. “Well, I’m not telling you who it is.”

Charlotte tried to interject but Beatrice raised her hand. “You get this news on my terms or not at all.”

Charlotte scowled but acquiesced. “Very well.”

“We’ve spoken to each other several times over the past few weeks and it’s been pleasant each time. We last spoke at Lady Ellsworth garden party. We were just beginning our conversation and he all but ran from me. I don’t understand what I did.”

Charlotte’s eyes narrowed. And just like her mother could see when her thoughts were working overtime, so could Beatrice with her.

“Mama. I’m not telling you who it is, and you can stop trying to remember every social event we’ve gone to in the few months or so to try to discover who it is. And remember, I’m not concernedover losing a potential suitor we were merely becoming fast friends.”

Lies

“I just enjoyed his company and want to know what, if anything, I did to upset him. As I would with any friend”

Lying by omission..

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