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The look that Hugh gave him went hard. ‘Yes, and I have full confidence that you are not visiting such acts upon my sister or I would look at you much the same.’
Briggs ground his back teeth together. ‘She is not your sister,’ he said, indicating Eleanor.
‘No,’ he said. ‘Indeed she is not.’
Beatrice separated herself from her lady-friends, and fixed him with a bright smile. Then she looked at her brother. ‘It is so good to see you.’ He knew that were they not in the ballroom she would’ve flung herself at Hugh and given him a hug.
‘And you. London suits you.’
‘Yes,’ Beatrice said defiantly. ‘It does. I remember a time when you did not think that would be true.’
‘I’m happy to be proven wrong,’ Hugh said.
‘Well, a strange thing indeed coming from you. I did not realise the Duke of Kendal ever thought he could be wrong.’
Her words were strong and clear. She was not saying this to him to goad him, rather she was not allowing him total control of the situation. He recognised a person playing at mastery when he saw it.
It was damnably impressive.
‘In this instance,’ he said, ‘I am pleased to be.’
‘My dear husband,’ Beatrice said. ‘Perhaps you should spare me a dance. We can keep an eye on Eleanor. Which I do think my brother would like. So that he can stop staring daggers in that direction.’
‘I’m not staring daggers.’
‘You are. Do not make this miserable for her,’ Beatrice said, not allowing him to get away with it.
‘Excuse me?’
‘Do not make it miserable for her,’ Beatrice repeated. ‘Whether it be because of protection or because you do not want another man to have that which you will not take yourself, you must not make her miserable. Please let her be happy.’
‘She will not be happy with him,’ Kendal said, bristling, and Briggs felt utterly outclassed by his wife. Who had clearly identified something happening that he had not.
‘You must let her determine that,’ Beatrice said. ‘You must let her decide what will make her happy.’ Beatrice let out a harsh breath. ‘You cannot protect people from everything. You cannot force everyone to live the life that you think is best.’
‘Of course I can,’ Kendal said. ‘I’m a duke.’
‘You are a stubborn ass is what you are,’ Beatrice said. ‘Come. Let us dance.’
Briggs shrugged, and allowed Beatrice to take him to the dance floor, where he took her into his arms. ‘Bold of you,’ Briggs said.
‘Eleanor is miserable with love for him. He cannot act a jealous lover when he has no intention of ever...’
‘Beatrice,’ Briggs said gently. ‘Even if he did see her that way, which he has never indicated to me that he does, you know he never would. She is beneath his station in every way, and under his protection.’
‘I know,’ Beatrice said. ‘And so does she. But it does not change the way that she feels. If he truly wishes to do a kind thing for her, he must let her be happy. He must let her be.’
‘Human hearts are terribly inconvenient things,’ Briggs said.
‘Yes,’ Beatrice agreed readily. ‘They are.’
Her eyes took on a strange light, and he shifted uncomfortably.
Eleanor, for her part, looked like she was enjoying herself well enough, as she traded partners with frequency. She was extraordinarily beautiful, and even though her icy blonde beauty did not appeal to Briggs when he had Beatrice’s lovely chestnut curls beneath his hands, he could see that she was just the sort of woman that many men would like. She did not have a title, or a dowry, but she was under the Duke of Kendal’s protection, and he was offering quite the dowry. She should be able to find herself a good match.
Such a strange thing, to be at one of these events with a wife again. He had not fully appreciated it the first time.
He did not have to avoid women coyly trying to get his attention. Then indeed, even if there were women attempting to get his attention, he did not think he would notice.
