Page 26 of Always a Princess

“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!”