Page 72 of The Beauty and the Boxer
“Miss Beatrice Taylor, my lady,” he saidwith a bow as he was quickly followed by Meredith and Sarah’syoungest sibling.
Beatrice was a perfect blend of her oldersisters. She had fair hair, lighter than Meredith’s, but it curled,like Sarah’s. Her eyes were large and brown, like Sarah’s, but shehad the same straight nose as Meredith. Her mouth was her own,though, a perfect cupid’s bow upper lip atop a full bottom. Shealways seemed rather doe-eyed and serene but in this moment, sheappeared somewhat excited and flushed.
“Bea?” Sarah said, instantly on her feet asshe went towards her sister. “What on earth are you doinghere?”
“Are you well?” Meredith asked. “Is Mamawith you?”
“I—”
“Mama would never come here, not willingly,”Sarah interrupted. “She has not forgiven me for marryingSimon.”
“Then how did she get here?” Meredithasked.
“Well—” Beatrice tried to interject, but shewas cut off again.
“I don’t know, but she certainly didn’t comewith Mama.”
“Well, she didn’t travel here all byherself.”
“If I may,” Beatrice said loudly, causingboth sisters to stop talking. “I ran away.”
Both Meredith and Sarah stared at her.
“Oh, dear,” Meredith said with a frown,while Sarah grinned. “Beatrice, what could have possessed you torun away?”
“Good for you, dear,” Sarah said, puttingher arm around Beatrice to direct her to sit on the settee. “Wouldyou like some tea?”
“Sarah, really. Mama is probably besideherself with grief.”
“It’s her own fault, no doubt,” Sarah saidwithout sympathy. “She’s kept Beatrice locked up for the betterpart of year just to spite me.”
“She has not.”
“Well, notjustto spite Sarah,”Beatrice said, frowning. “She isn’t pleased with me at all.”Beatrice shook her head as she accepted a cup of tea from Sarah.“She’s growing worse and worse by the day. It’s been especially badsince Sarah married Simon.”
“See?” Sarah said. “What did I tellyou.”
Meredith could hardly argue. She had livedwith her mama for years before she herself had needed to escape.Their mama had long laid the blame of nearly all their familyheartaches at Meredith’s feet and while she had always taken thebrunt of her mama’s brash harassment, Meredith wondered if herabsence had left Beatrice alone and without a buffer.
“Her mind seems addled,” Beatrice began.“She obsesses night and day about marrying me off to a prince. Aprince! That is her bare minimum now and she is refusing anyoneless. She refused an offer from the Earl of Summerset, which I amglad for as he is at least twice my age, but her reasoning isbecause he isn’t royal. Can you believe it? It’s insanity.”
“Why is she so set on a prince?” Sarahasked.
“I think to make up for the fact that she nolonger has a countess as a daughter,” Beatrice said apologetically.“She’s become frightful since your nuptials. She throws things anddemands perfection from me and I try, I truly do, but then she’llchange her mind about the color dress I’m wearing, when only thatmorning she demanded it. Or decide suddenly that I shouldn’t wearmy hair a certain way, a way, I mind you, that she herself pickedout.” Beatrice shook her head again. “I cannot bear it. It’s as ifshe’s trying to drive me mad on purpose. She is not herself,sisters. I am fearful, not only for her wellbeing, but for mine. Icannot live another day with her.”
Meredith and Sarah shared a concernedlook.
“We understand,” Sarah said, wrapping herarms affectionately around her youngest sister. “And you shan’tever have to go back.”
“Sarah,” Meredith said again. “Mama willdemand she return.”
“She can’t possibly return home. You heardher. Mama is not well and if that’s the case, she cannot take careof Beatrice anymore.”
“But who will take care of her?” Meredithasked. “I know she is harsh and I know she isn’t very pleasant, atall, but we cannot abandon her.”
“What will you have us do?”
“Perhaps,” Meredith said, dreading her nextwords. “Perhaps, if Beatrice truly cannot stand to live thereanymore, I should return home. If Mama is truly unwell, and we knowit was my fault for causing it, I should be the one to take care ofher.”
