He wanted to know her better, but perhaps she didn’t feel the same about him. Would she accept his proposal?
“Come, let us repair to my supper box to discuss the situation,” Bowles suggested. “Give me a moment to speak with the woman.” He moved to the victim and her husband.
“Your brother lives in London?” Harry worked to keep any hint of hurt from his tone.
Selina nodded serenely. “Yes.”
Harry found her one-word answer frustrating, but then he knew her to be enigmatic, particularly about her family and her past. “You didn’t mention that, or the fact that he owns these gardens.”
“I didn’t know about Spring Hollow. We aren’t particularly close.” Regret flashed across her features, and Harry felt contrite. She didn’t talk about her family or her past because there seemed to be pain.
“That’s too bad.”
She looked him in the eye. “It is indeed.”
Chapter 11
Selina’s mind swirled as she watched Rafe talk to the woman whose bracelet Beatrix had stolen. There was no question that was what had happened. Beatrix and Rachel approached her as Harry joined the conversation between Rafe and the couple.
The fireworks continued overhead as if the theft and ensuing drama hadn’t happened. Most people had transferred their attention to the sky.
“I’m glad I’m wearing nothing of value,” Rachel said.
Beatrix’s gaze met Selina’s and revealed nothing. It didn’t matter because Selina knew, and they’d discuss it later. This was a risk Beatrix never should have taken, not while she was in the presence of Harry’s sister—and when Harry himself was just a short distance away!
Selina kept her face impassive so as not to expose her inner frustration. Beatrix knew her well enough to probably realize Selina was furious. But there were more important things to address at present.
“I introduced our brother to Mr. Sheffield,” she said to Beatrix, who again was careful to guard her expression.
She simply nodded.
“Apparently, he owns these gardens,” Selina continued.
“Does he?” Rachel asked, glancing around. “You didn’t know?”
Selina shook her head. “We aren’t particularly close.”
“And why is that?” Rachel looked between Selina and Beatrix.
“We haven’t seen each other much since we were children. Beatrix and I were sent to a ladies’ seminary.” That was all Selina intended to say. Thankfully, Rachel’s husband arrived and distracted her.
Beatrix moved closer to Selina and murmured, “Sorry.”
Selina looked toward her in displeasure but said nothing. Harry and Rafe came toward them. Taking a deep breath, Selina prepared herself for what would come next. There was always a part to play. She glanced at Beatrix and silently communicated that it was time to focus.
“Good evening, Rafe,” Beatrix said. “Selina just told me you own these gardens. How extraordinary.”
“I purchased them only last year.”
“The renovations are excellent,” Harry noted.
“How is the lady whose bracelet was stolen?” Rachel asked.
“Much better, particularly since Mr. Bowles said he would ensure the area was thoroughly searched tomorrow, and if the bracelet isn’t found, he offered to replace the value.” Harry looked at Rafe with a contemplative expression that made Selina a bit unsettled. “I must tell you, Bowles, while noble, that’s a terrible idea. What if the woman is lying and there never was a bracelet?”
“What a cynical suggestion,” Rafe said, cocking his head to the side.
“It’s my line of work, I’m afraid.”
“That would be an awfully elaborate plan,” Rafe went on. “One that relies entirely on my offering to replace a nonexistent bracelet, which I have never done.”
“Is this the first theft to happen here?” Harry asked.
“To my knowledge,” Rafe replied. “Though I have to think it isn’t, despite the fact that I’ve gone to great lengths to ensure the gardens are very secure.”
Harry nodded. “The wall and the single entrance.”
“It seems to be working.”
“Until tonight.” Harry straightened his coat. “I would still recommend you not reimburse the woman. If that gets out, you will certainly be targeted as softhearted.”
“I somehow doubt that will become a problem,” Rafe said with the dazzling smile Selina remembered from their youth. She had to stop herself from laughing. Softhearted was not a description anyone would have used for him. Except for her. With her, his heart had actually existed. She had the sense, however, that it had long since broken and disintegrated.
Like hers.
She suddenly thought of Harry’s proposal. Not that her heart—or lack of one—had to have anything to do with it. He’d suggested an affair. There’d been no mention of love. It was the best Selina could hope for. She was incredibly tempted.
Rafe looked around the group with a bright expression. “Shall we adjourn to my box for refreshments?”
“Yes, please,” Selina said.
“Allow me to present my sister and her husband,” Harry said before conducting the introductions.
Rafe looked toward Selina as if he were going to offer to escort her to the box, but Harry beat him to it. Instead, Rafe offered his arm to Beatrix. Selina looked at them and could maybe believe they were related. They both had blond hair, anyway.
“How shocking to learn your brother owns these gardens,” Harry observed as they followed Rafe to his box.
“Yes. I’ve only seen him once since arriving in London a couple of months ago,” Selina said, sticking as close to the truth as possible, as she preferred to do.
“Aside from that, I take it you haven’t seen him in some while.”
“Eighteen years.” Again, she adhered to honesty.
Harry turned his head, his eyes widening briefly. “That’s quite a long time.”
“Beatrix and I were sent to a ladies’ seminary.”
“And after, you didn’t return to your family? Or had your brother left by then?”
Selina’s mind stalled. She’d left the school at seventeen to take a position as a governess. It had seemed like such a good opportunity for someone like her—the best she could have hoped for. How wrong she’d been. A familiar tremor shot through her, and she cursed inwardly.
“My apologies,” Harry said softly. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
He’d felt her quiver, dammit. “You didn’t. I did not return to my family.” Thankfully, she didn’t have to say anything more, because they’d arrived at the box, but she knew he’d ask. If not tonight, then some other time. She couldn’t continue to evade him. He worked too hard to unpeel the layers of her protection. He saw too much.
And she was too drawn to him.
She couldn’t afford such vulnerability. Which meant she had to decline his proposal. Even though she wanted to accept more than anything.
They arrived at Rafe’s box, a larger one situated at one end of the ground floor. A rectangular table was surrounded on three sides by chairs, leaving the side closest to the main square open to provide an unimpeded view of the dancing and, perhaps more importantly, the people milling about for all at the table. Rafe went to speak with one of the footmen.