Chapter 14
The Templebourne carriage was silent all the way home. Beside Thea, Sophia stared out the window. Louisa sat with her father.
“So, which ones were your favorites?” he finally asked.
Thea prayed Sophia didn’t say the footman.
“Who was Mr. Beaumont, Father? A business partner of some sort?” Louisa asked him.
The tension in the carriage thickened perceptibly. Uncle didn’t answer for a beat, adding to the awkwardness.
“Yes, Louisa. A business partner.”
“He was different.”
“Any noblemen you favor?” her uncle clarified.
“Wealthy isn’t enough? They must be wealthy and titled?” Sophia asked.
“Watch your mouth, girl. You will speak to me with respect.”
“With respect, Father. It is a valid question, is it not?” Louisa asked.
Thea said nothing and tried to take up as little space as possible as the air seemed to leave the carriage.
“Titled and wealthy are preferable. Wealthy is necessary.”
“Necessary? I thought …”
“You thought we were spending a fortune for this season for fun? You’re here to make a match that will help your family, sooner rather than later.”
“You mean, help you,” Sophia said.
“And your sister,” he snapped back.
“Are you in trouble, Father?” Louisa asked.
“No.”
“Then why did you look so uncomfortable when you were introducing Mr. Beaumont to us?”
Uncle’s expression turned thunderous.
Sometimes, Thea wished she had taught Sophia more restraint.
“Because he is a social climber. No title. Born poor.”
“But rich now, right?” Sophia asked.
“As Midas.”
“Then what is the problem?”
“He has no breeding. Your mother would not approve.”
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but—”
“Sophia, discretion,” Thea interjected, knowing her cousin was about to point out the obvious—that their mother was dead.
“My apologies, Thea. You taught me better. But I think it is fair to say that Louisa and I are feeling a bit shocked right now that this season wasn’t all about fun, but making deals.”
“You’re women. Your worth is in your marriage and the heirs you will produce for your future husband.”
Both girls went as pale as the moonlight that shone through the carriage windows.
“Father, is that truly what you think of us?” Louisa finally asked him.
“It is a fact of life.”
Louisa looked gutted. Sophia’s expression turned furious. Thea felt heartbroken for them both. She had simply wanted them to find happiness.
“Uncle, if I may—” she started.
“You may not.”
Thea shut her mouth. The offer she had received tonight loomed large in her mind. A prince had bought her an estate. He wanted to marry her. He wanted to meet her. But how could she abandon the twins at a time like this?
The rest of the carriage ride was mercifully short and silent.
Instead of retiring to their rooms, the girls followed her to hers.
“What are we going to do?” Louisa said. “Father is … different all of a sudden.”
“Something happened,” Sophia added. “He has never been like this before—short and borderline cruel.”
“He certainly seems to be under some kind of pressure,” Thea agreed, not wanting to share the gossip from the Duke of Carlton about impending financial ruin.
She didn’t know if it was true, but her intuition had told her immediately that her uncle must owe Mr. Beaumont money, and his reaction had confirmed it was a sore subject.
“I haven’t met a single titled man I could imagine going to bed with.”
“Sophia!” Louisa exclaimed. “Delicacy.”
“What? It is the truth of the matter, is it not? Am I to pretend ignorance about what happens after marriage? If they make me ill when I think about them naked, then no is the obvious answer.”
She was right, but before Thea could comment, Louisa spoke. “I’d like to paint Mr. Beaumont naked. He’d be a marvelous subject.”
It was Thea’s and Sophia’s turn for shock.
“Louisa! What happened to delicacy?”
“I thought we were going with honesty. Did you see his shoulders in that coat?”
All three of them dissolved into a fit of laughter. It was welcome after the evening they had.
“Good God, I needed that,” said Thea.
“Where did you run off to while Louisa was dancing with Mr. Shoulders?”
“I cannot say,” Thea replied.
Louisa inhaled. “You saw him!”
Sophia’s eyes lit up. “You talked to him!”
“He wants me to meet him.” Thea couldn’t stop herself from confiding in them, despite the risk. She also knew she couldn’t arrange it without their help.
“Are his intentions truly honorable?” Louisa asked.
“Yes. He asked me to marry him tonight.”
“Thea!” they both squealed.
“Shh.”
“And you’re just now mentioning it? Seriously?” Sophia asked.
“For good reason,” she replied.
“You have to go to him,” Louisa said.
“He bought an estate,” she said, deciding they might as well know it all.
“Here? So, he will stay in England?” Louisa asked.
“Presumably.”
“Did you say yes? Please tell me you said yes,” Sophia said.
“And leave the two of you? With how things stand now with your father? I couldn’t possibly.”
Louisa reached out to touch her arm. “In all seriousness, Thea, if you get a chance at happiness, you must take it. We will figure ourselves out. You deserve to be happy.”
Tears burned in Thea’s eyes. She knew she had not failed these girls. They were kind, loving, sweet, intelligent, and thoughtful. Any man would be blessed to have either of them as a wife.
“I will meet him, but you must apply yourselves to finding someone worthy of you. Promise me. I can’t be happy if you both end up married to old trolls.”
“Never,” Sophia said.
“I’ll marry Mr. Beaumont if it comes down to it—provided he lets me paint him naked as much as I want.”
“I can’t wait for you to ask him that,” Sophia said with a giggle.
Thea was also rather curious as to how that conversation would go. After seeing the way the man had looked at Louisa, Thea wouldn’t be surprised if he chose elopement after that question.
“Well, this night turned out much better than I’d expected,” Sophia said. “Give me a hug, both of you. Who knows how many more nights we will have like this?”
The bittersweet reality that this beautiful chapter of her life was swiftly ending struck Thea hard. As she hugged them both, she thanked God it had lasted as long as it had.
Now, to find Sophia a suitable match so I can consider marrying the prince with a clear conscience.