Chapter Thirty-Two – A New Order
“I was rather surprised to receive your invitation,” Beth admitted, glancing around the drawing room wearily. “After Lord Radcliffe’s reaction at the ball, I do not believe he would wish to see me in his house.”
Her grandmother shook her head and then gently patted Beth’s knee. “Do not worry yourself, Dear. Should my son decide to make a fool of himself, I assure you he will live to regret it.”
Beside Beth, Lady Adelaide drew in a sharp breath at her grandmother’s words, but remained silent as she nervously fidgeted in her seat. Beth suspected that she would have liked to be anywhere but here, where her father’s wrath was likely to come down on them soon.
“You are too kind, my lady,” Beth whispered, enjoying the wicked gleam in her grandmother’s eyes. Although her son had every right to do as he pleased, he had never managed to intimidate his mother. Always did she meet his eyes head-on, her head held high and her shoulders back, pride and dignity resting in her pale eyes that shone with a fire Beth would not have suspected to find in such a frail-looking body. Maybe it was her grandmother’s courage that pulsed in her own veins, Beth wondered.
Shifting in her seat, Beth turned to look at her half-sister. “Has there been a new development regarding your betrothal?”
Lady Adelaide drew in an unsteady breath, and her hands began to tremble as she turned pleading eyes on her grandmother.
Annoyance written all over her face, the dowager pressed her lips together in a mask of displeasure. “It appears that my son has managed to gamble away most of his family’s fortune.” A low grumble escaped her lips. “We’ve only just learnt−and rather by accident−that the situation is rather dire, which is why he insisted Adelaide marry Lord Arlton to secure his financial support.”
“That is most unfortunate,” Beth exclaimed, her eyes shifting to her half-sister, who sat beside her looking like the picture of misery. Apparently, the financial loss was not the whole story! “Has he found any new suitors for your hand, Lady Adelaide?”
Tears brimmed in the young woman’s eyes, and her mouth opened and closed without a sound emerging.
“At the very least,” the dowager interfered when a large tear spilt over and ran down her granddaughter’s cheek, “he is doing his best to weed out potential suitors, merely judging them by the fortune they possess. I suppose in such a dire situation, he believes other characteristics are to be neglected.” Her lips pursed in displeasure, and Beth could tell the anger that coursed through the older woman’s veins at her granddaughter’s misery and her own inability to help.
“Surely there must be something we can do to prevent this,” Beth said, noting the hopeful gleam that came to her half-sister’s eyes. “I offer you my assistance wherever you might need it.”
“You’re too kind,” the dowager said, “and I am certain we will make use of it. However, driving suitors away is not the solution to this problem. It merely prolongs the inevitable. One day, my son will find a gentleman who will not be put off by anything we can bring forth but who will be swayed to consider marriage nonetheless. After all, our family’s reputation and standing is impeccable. Add to that my granddaughter’s charms, and I am certain a gentleman will be found who will generously overlook our current lack of fortune.”
“Then what do you suggest?” Beth asked, realising the truth in her grandmother’s words. Adelaide would never be safe if she remained under her father’s command.
“I should think that is obvious,” the dowager said, a slow smile coming to her lips as she met Adelaide’s eyes. “We need to find you a husband and remove you from your father’s influence.”
Lady Adelaide took a deep breath. “But who, Grandmother? Who do you suggest?”
The dowager sighed, sitting back in her armchair. “I do not know yet. Someone worthy of your spirit.” Shaking her head, she regarded her granddaughter. “Unfortunately, upper society is full of pompous halfwits.”
Beth chuckled, “Then we shall begin immediately for time appears to be of the essence.”
“You’re too right, my dear.”
Turning to her half-sister, Beth gently placed a hand on the young woman’s shoulder. “Do not worry yourself.” She glanced at her grandmother, who nodded her head in confirmation. “We shall not rest until we have found a gentleman worthy of your kind heart and gentle spirit.”
A soft smile came to Adelaide’s lips. “Thank you for all your help. However, I fear that even if such a gentleman can be found, my father will refuse his consent if said gentleman is not also in possession of a large fortune.”
Before Beth could even reply, her grandmother sat forward, shaking her head as though such an endeavour could be accomplished by sheer willpower alone. “Do not worry, Dear. We shall find a way.” Then she shrugged, and an amused smile played over her face. “After all, my son is a pompous halfwit as well.”
As Beth laughed, Lady Adelaide’s eyes opened wide with shock and grew even rounder as angry footsteps approached the drawing room doors from down the corridor. “Where is she?” a harsh voice bellowed a moment before the doors were flung open, and the Earl of Radcliffe strode in, his face slightly flushed and his eyes narrowing even farther when he caught side of Beth.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Beth rose to her feet, forcing her chin up as she met the earl’s eyes. Do not cower before him, she reminded herself, and her gaze narrowed, confidence straightening her shoulders.
While Lady Adelaide seemed to retreat into the background, her head bowed, the dowager strode forward, positioning herself between Beth and her advancing son. “What seems to be the matter?” she asked casually as though nothing out of the ordinary was happening. “You seem distressed.”
“I most certainly am,” the earl snapped, a snarl on his face as his eyes glared at Beth. “What is she doing here? Since when do we receive maids?” He turned back toward the door and gestured to the footmen. “Remove her from this house immediately.”
Riled by her father’s words, Beth stepped forward, a matching insult on her tongue, when her grandmother gently placed a hand on her arm, silencing her. Then she turned to face her son, her hands steady and her voice calm, and yet, Beth could see the anger that straightened her spine. “Do not be a fool, Reginald. Whether you like it or not, Lord Elton married her. Even if she was once, she is no longer a maid, but a peer.” The dowager shook her head at him in displeasure. “Show some respect. Lady Elton is a guest in our house.”
Pressing his lips together, the earl glared at his mother. “Do not speak to me so disrespectfully,” he snarled, his face flushed red like a tomato.
The dowager scoffed, “I thought I’d taught you that respect needed to be earned.” Again, she shook her head. “Unlike Lady Elton, you’ve done nothing that would inspire respect.”
Shaking with anger, the earl advanced. “Mother, I warn you. I shall−”
“What?” the dowager demanded. “I suggest you think long and hard before you speak, Reginald.” The muscles in her son’s jaw stood out as he gritted his teeth. “Why don’t you return to your study and see if you cannot find a solution to those gambling debts that seem to be growing with each day?”
As her father paled before her eyes, Beth felt a hint of pity. Deep down, the earl was not a happy man. For all his influence and power, they had brought him nothing but sorrow. Sorrow that he inevitably passed on to the next generation.
Glancing at her half-sister, Beth wondered what it had meant for the young woman to grow up with such a man for a father, and she realised that she had been by far better off having had no father at all. Her mother’s decision had indeed been wise, and Beth’s heart filled with gratitude. No child should live in fear. Who knew what effects her abusive father had had on Henrietta? From what Tristan had told her, she did not cower, but knew how to hold her head high. And yet, her heart had closed, not allowing anyone near for fear it might be hurt once again.
Neither fate was desirable, and Beth could only hope that the future would be brighter than the past.