Page 100 of The Duke's Vice

Ezra looked at his friend’s hand then up to his eyes. “It’s over, Frederic. I need to let her be.”

“Will you be happy with that outcome?”

Ezra rolled his lips.

“May I remind you who sent me here in the first place and her mission she wanted completed?” Frederic nudged Ezra’s shoulder with his hand. “Haven’t you ever wondered what your life would be like with someone like Beatrice by your side? Someone who challenges you, cares for you, loves you?”

Ezra ran his hands through his hair again. “I never allowed myself to think like that.”

Frederic pursed his lips. “What will make you happy, brother?”

Ezra took the offered hand and stood up.

“Beatrice.”

CHAPTER 26

“You’d think after all of her hemming and hawing Mama would be here with bells on but instead she is stalking around the vestibule like a caged animal.” Sarah said as she brushed the wrinkles out of Beatrice’s dress.

Beatrice looked over to the vestibule where her mother was pacing back and forth, wringing her hands as she muttered to herself. Beatrice grimaced. Her mother did look distraught.

“Leave her be. There’s a lot to process.” Eleanor added before kissing Beatrice’s cheek. “She has spent the last twenty years of her life worrying over the fate of her three wayward daughters and now her youngest is getting married. I’m sure she’s feeling a lot of emotions today.” She cupped her sister’s cheek. “We all are.”

Beatrice smiled at her two sisters. “I’m so thankful you are both here today. I’m not sure I could do this without you.”

Her mother yelped from the small entryway. All three women turned to see her mother disciplining one of her grandchildren.

Eleanor and Sarah exchanged a look. “Whose child do you think is in trouble?”

Just then Sarah’s youngest came toddling into the room licking his jam-covered hand. Charlotte followed with a small purplish handprint on the front of her dress.

The three sisters tried their best to hide their laughter but failed.

“Devon! What did you do to Grandmama?” Sarah had a long way to go to get that motherly discipline in her voice but she tried. Her son’s blue eyes and cherub cheeks made it difficult for anyone to punish him.

Although, it looked like Charlotte was willing to try. “I swear Sarah, I told you to make sure he didn’t have any sweets with him. Now look at what he did!” Charlotte walked over to a vase of flowers and dunked a handkerchief in to wet it. She began to blot the stain as Sarah hurried her child out of the waiting room.

Once Sarah got into the vestibule she let out a loud groan. “Um, Eleanor? Could you help me? It seems my child decided the vestibule needed some color.”

Eleanor and Beatrice laughed before Eleanor kissed her younger sister’s cheek again. “I’ll see you out there. You look beautiful.”

Beatrice watched her sister leave before turning to her mother who was attacking her dress with the wet handkerchief.

“Here, let me help you, Mama.” Beatrice said as she took the cloth.

“Oh, it’s no use, Beatrice. The dress is ruined. Although, I don’t know why I bother. We don’t have the best luck the first time around.” Her mother said as she rubbed her brow.

Beatrice straightened. “What do you mean?”

Charlotte sighed and looked into the vestibule before returning her gaze to Beatrice.

“Mama? What is it?”

Beatrice’s heart began to race. Did her mother find out about her list? About Ezra? She pursed her lips as her mind started to come up with excuses, reasons, anything that could help ease whatever storm was about to hit.

“It happened with Eleanor and Sarah, it might as well happen with you.” Charlotte sat down into the chair in the corner in a wave of lace and chiffon.

Beatrice titled her head. “You lost me, Mama.”