Portia Costa - In the Flesh

Beatrice grabbed the letter. She had absolutely no shred of doubt it was from him. He was just the type to demand an instant reply. The arrogance of him, all hurry, hurry, hurry, dance to his tune. He wanted to buy her body, on terms to suit him alone, and he wanted the agreement signed, sealed and delivered before she’d had time to entertain first thoughts, never mind second ones. It was a wonder he hadn’t sent a solicitor to notarize the agreement. Maybe one of these men was a lawyer? It wouldn’t surprise her.

Yet now that she had the momentous missive in her hand, she hardly dared crack open its seal, despite the fact that Polly was nearly dancing with curiosity beside the bed. To read the proposal was to make it real. Last night, at the glittering ball, she’d consorted with Ritchie, but now all that seemed like a voluptuous magic-lantern show, as phantasmagorical as the erotic dream from which she’d woken.

This letter represented the cold, sordid fact that she was selling her own flesh to get out of debt. She was an “unfortunate” who was fortunate enough to be desired by a man as rich as Croesus. And the fact that he still excited her was the most disturbing thing of all.

“These men, Poll … how long have they been here? I assume they’re servants, not gentlemen? And if they are gentlemen, what were you thinking not showing them into the parlor?”

“They arrived about five minutes ago, Miss Beatrice. Knocking on the kitchen door … Gave Cook a bit of a start, and before I could stop her, Enid had opened to them. I was going to run round next door for Fred, but it didn’t seem worth it. Either one of them would make ten of him.” Mangling her apron in her hand, Polly seemed to be struck by the same mix of excitement and anxiety that gripped Beatrice. “The fair-haired one said he wouldn’t leave until he had a reply, from your own hand!”

Fair haired? Domineering and bombastic? As the master, so the man … or perhaps one and the same?

But then again, Ritchie wasn’t exactly bombastic. More clever than that, he was a subtle, persuasive libertine, and he’d swept her into scandalous and sensual behavior by dint of making her believe that was what she wanted.

Making her accept, nay, admit that it was what she wanted.

Beatrice set the envelope down on the counterpane and tried to concentrate. What exactly had she said last night?

What did I lead him to expect? Why can’t I remember the precise words?

But it was actions she remembered clearly … and reactions. All else was a delicious, slightly alarming haze. Surely she’d not partaken of all that much champagne? Even the glass of brandy she’d so boldly dashed down had been modest.

It wasn’t the alcohol. If she’d become inebriated, surely she wouldn’t have been able to recall the physical details. His touch. What she’d done, and had done to her. It all still lingered in her memory, every second perfect and crystal clear.

“This man, the blond one. Did he say who sent him? Does he look as if he’s in service with a gentleman?”

Polly’s eyes narrowed and her full mouth took on a sultry expression. Beatrice didn’t need telling that the mysterious message carrier and his associate had made an impression, and stirred up her maid’s frisky side.

“Well, he’s a smart sort of chap. He doesn’t look like a toff, but he’s well set up. Very well set up.” Polly cocked her head on one side, and licked her lips. “They both are, Miss Bea. If I was in the position to get a letter, I wouldn’t mind getting one from either of them, I must admit.” Did Polly wink? Beatrice could swear she had done. She gave the girl an old-fashioned look, and Polly, used to being absurdly indulged, replied with a shrug.

“Did he say who sent him, this spokesman of the pair, who the letter is from?”

“It’s from a gentleman of your recent acquaintance, he said. Said you’d be expecting it too.” Polly nodded at the envelope, where it lay on the bedcover like an incendiary device clad in heavy cream bond. “Aren’t you going to open it now, miss?”

“All in good time, all in good time.” She didn’t look up. Clever Polly had instincts like a razor. Especially when she scented something juicy going on. “You can go back down and inform this man in charge of yours that I’ll reply when I’m good and ready. He and his friend can wait if they so desire, but they might be here all day, and I’m sure whoever sent them has other duties for them.”

“Yes, miss. I’ll tell him that exactly.” Polly’s eyes twinkled when Beatrice finally lifted her gaze, and she adjusted her cap and straightened her apron. “But I don’t really think he’s my man in charge at all, miss. In fact I think his mate is much more my fancy. A bit rough and ready and I like them that way.”

“Polly!”

Beatrice was well aware of what the other woman liked, and it wasn’t always as rough and ready as she’d just claimed.

“Would you like some tea, miss? For while you read your letter?”

Beatrice quelled a smile. Incorrigible as she was, Polly’s heart was kind. The two of them had been together a long time, and circumstances had forged a bond between them far beyond a conventional mistress and servant status. Beatrice was tempted to confide. But she really had to read the letter on her own first, and absorb its import without even Polly to distract her.

“Yes, thank you, Polly. And you might as well give your men some tea too.”

Polly bobbed a curtsy and retrieved the silver tray. “Shall I wake Mr. Charles then?” She paused, her eyes shrewd. “Or will you deal with it, miss?”

To involve Charlie now would only cause a disturbance. He’d want to play his “man of the house” role, as any brother guardian quite naturally would. But it would be easier to present this to him as a fait accompli, with all the financial advantage it entailed already in place. He’d been strangely distracted last night in the carriage, and had barely spoken, his face relaxed and dreamy. It was probably much kinder to leave him in the dark for the moment and let him enjoy whatever it’d been that had put him in such a gentle good humor. He’d only get cross if he knew a certain person had come calling, and be both outraged and enraged—with perfect justification—on learning exactly what that person had come calling about.

“No, let him sleep, Polly. And don’t mention our visitors until I’ve seen him.” Polly’s nod spoke volumes about her understanding of her employers, and Beatrice nodded back with a resigned little shrug.

But as her maid reached the door, Beatrice called out. “This man … the one who seems to be in charge. Does his fair hair have a bit of curl about it?” Her hands shook as she studied her own name, written in strong, energetic script on the heavy, expensive-looking envelope.

“Why yes, Miss Beatrice, how did you guess? That’s him to a tee.”

Beatrice picked at the seal on the back of the envelope with the edge of her nail. “And his eyes, did you by any chance catch a glimpse of them? They wouldn’t happen to be blue, would they?”

Polly’s smile was sly, even more speculative than before. “Yes indeed. Dark as night they are, almost black, a bit like India ink, Miss.”

Beatrice ripped open the envelope, tearing the single sheet inside in the process, and when the faint but distinctive scent of a most particular cologne rose up from the paper, her body quivered as if its wearer was reading over her shoulder.

THE OFFER WAS utterly ridiculous.

You’re buying my body for a month, Mr. Ritchie, not my immortal soul in perpetuity!

Not that Ritchie’s largesse wasn’t tempting. Although she tried not to be a greedy and acquisitive woman, Beatrice was honest enough to admit she enjoyed life’s comforts: books and journals; a pleasantly appointed home and tasty food; the occasional new gown or pair of shoes, and outings or at-homes at which to wear them. Yes, she liked all those very much. But the blinding, almost obscene luxury of the high aristocracy wasn’t her particular aspiration. She just wanted to live a middling life without any debts, and the fear of bailiffs and moneylenders’ toughs she would gladly say goodbye to.