Page 21 of The Viscount's Daring Cinderella
How dare he!Was she destined only to meet rakes? “This may be socially accepted or ignored, but it will never be the life I choose. I have done nothing to warrant this unwanted attention. Lord Stanmore, let me be clear, it is unwanted.”
To Lord Stanmore, her feelings seem irrelevant. He would have his mistress to enjoy and his wife to bear his legitimate children. How disgusting.
Lord Stanmore scoffed. “Lady Beryl, when I marry, it is to form an alliance. I know what my family will expect. I could—”
“I think you have said quite enough, Lord Stanmore. I am not interested.” His lips flattened at her interruption, but he said no more. Beryl was relieved when the set came to an end.
He bowed to her and flashed a mocking smile she wished she could wipe from his face. He led her to the corner of the dance floor and left her there. Beryl said nothing further, and she was pleased Grace and Lady Ellsworth were still occupied. She needed a moment to compose herself. At first, she was optimistic about the season and the prospect of finding a husband, but now she was filled with trepidation and self-doubt. She did not want to believe what Lord Stanmore said was true, but what would she do if he was right?
CHAPTER 8
The ballroom was hot and stuffy. Beryl’s fan made no difference to the stifling heat. She lowered it with a groan. Lady Ellsworth and Grace approached Beryl a few minutes later.
“Let us take a walk in the garden,” Lady Ellsworth said.
A simple request but it was said with malice. Lady Ellsworth could not hide her look of disapproval.
“Yes. It will be much cooler there,” Grace replied.
Her cousins led the way onto the terrace and into the garden. Beryl lifted her face to the sky and inhaled the cool night air. It was so fresh that she almost wished she could remain there rather than return to the maddening crush. They walked down the path surrounded by geraniums, petunias, and lilies. The sweet smell of violets reached her nostrils, although she did not see them. They arrived at a secluded place in the garden, and her cousins rounded on her.
“You were brought here to be Grace’s chaperone, but I see you do not intend to perform your duties. After all that we have done for you. You are batting your eyes at every eligible bachelor here and taking away all the attention from Grace, and it is herseason.” Lady Ellsworth sneered, and her voice dripped with contempt.
Beryl was shocked to be accused of such a thing. “Lady Ellsworth, you are mistaken. I did not—”
Lady Ellsworth held up her hand to silence Beryl. “You will be quiet. We are not interested in your excuses.”
Grace snorted loudly. So unladylike. Her hand was folded across her chest, and she drummed her fingers on her arm.
Beryl wondered if it would be best for her to keep quiet and not engage. She pressed her lips together to keep herself from speaking.
Lady Ellsworth’s head shook from side to side in disapproval. “You have commandeered the attention of Viscount Bowden and the Earl of Stanmore. You danced withbothlords.”
“I merely—” Beryl began before she was cut off.
Grace’s eyes were cold. “Why would they choose to dance with you? Unless you beguiled them. You are spiteful and deceitful.”
Beryl felt a tightening in her chest as she bore the brunt of their insults.
“Grace is right, and I am not of a mind to forget your transgression. You cannot be trusted. I want you to return to Chalfont House immediately and pack your things. You are not to be there when we return,” Lady Ellsworth pronounced.
Beryl gasped, pressing her palm over her pounding heart. “Lady Ellsworth, there has been a terrible misunderstanding! I did not invite their attention, and it would have been scandalous to refuse!”
Beryl’s gaze shifted to Grace, who flashed a triumphant smile.
A vein visibly throbbed in Lady Ellsworth’s forehead. “You have taken us for fools. The misunderstanding was taking you into our home. You do not deserve our generosity,” LadyEllsworth said before she spun around and walked toward the house, with Grace following closely behind.
Beryl stood frozen. All she wanted was the chance to find a husband so she would never have to suffer such indignities again, but she failed at even this task. Instead of her situation being better since she came to London, it was actually far worse.
It was more the pity that the eligible gentlemen who showed her attention thus far only were only interested in a mistress. None wanted a wife. The tears burned just as much as her humiliation. Was she to be condemned to society’s scrap heap to live the life of a spinster? Fear rushed through her and Beryl trembled. She dreaded such an unfulfilling life.
If only her father had the foresight to …
Beryl gasped for air. She loved her father, but this was almost too much to bear. The lack of a dowry had placed her in a vulnerable position, and every time she thought things could not possibly get worse, they did. Sobs wracked Beryl and her shoulders shook. She was alarmed by how loud her sobs were. She balled her fist and bit down on it, but it did nothing to numb her pain. She was hurt, angry and disappointed. How could they treat her this way when she had done nothing wrong? Tears streamed down her face, and her heart ached.
She could not remain in London for the season, so there would be no prospect of finding a husband. Beryl’s heart was racing, and she felt hot and flushed. Beryl felt the same fear that she felt when she was asked to leave her childhood home. She did not like the uncertainty, but she had been cast into a sea of it, and she had to think of a way to get out of it.
Her survival depended on it.
