A Foolish Game: A Regency Romance (Regency Brides: A Promise of Love Book 5) by Laura Beers

Author:Laura Beers [Beers, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2020-08-04T04:00:00+00:00

11

“We need to open an orphanage,” Isabella declared as they rode in their coach to Lady Humphries’s ball.

Everett lifted his brow as he sat across from her. “Pardon?” he asked. “Did you just say ‘we need to open an orphanage’?”

She nodded decisively. “I did.”

Everett frowned. “I was afraid of that,” he stated. “May I ask why?”

“Because there are many children in the rookeries who could use our help.”

“That may be true, but…”

Speaking over him, she pressed, “Ewin’s family has an orphanage in East London.”

“I am well aware of that fact,” her brother said, “but orphanages take a lot of work. Who would even run it?”

“I would,” she announced.

His brows drew together in a frown. “You?”

Not deterred by his response, she lifted her chin defiantly. “Yes, me. And I would do so splendidly.”

“Until you got bored with it,” Everett muttered.

“I beg your pardon?”

Everett met her gaze, challenging her. “The only thing you seem to care about is riding Maximus.”

“That is not true!”

“Isn’t it?” he asked. “Besides riding your horse multiple times a day, what other things occupy your time?”

“I read, draw, and practice the pianoforte, harp, and guitar,” she said.

With a pointed look, he asked, “And how does that make you qualified to run an orphanage?”

She pursed her lips together, knowing that her brother had made a valid point.

“You are right,” she conceded. “I’m not qualified. But I have an overwhelming desire to help. Isn’t that enough?”

“No, it is not,” he said. “Good intentions are not sufficient to solve these social injustices.”

Isabella slumped back in her seat. “So, what you are saying is that I am powerless to help those poor children in the rookeries.”

Everett’s voice softened. “Instead of opening an orphanage, perhaps we could find other ways to assist them?” he suggested. “We could donate clothing, food, and other essentials to help the street urchins in need.”

She perked up. “What a wonderful idea!” she exclaimed. “Then I could deliver those items to them.”

“No, we would send along footmen to complete the task. It is not safe for a lady to go anywhere near the rookeries,” Everett warned. “There are dangerous men in East London, and they would hurt you without hesitation.”

“I can protect myself,” she contended.

“No, you can’t,” he replied, “and for you to assume that you can is laughable.”

Isabella held up the white reticule around her wrist. “I could start by carrying an overcoat pistol in my reticule,” she suggested.

“Absolutely not.”

Madalene spoke up from next to Everett. “It is not uncommon for ladies to carry small pistols in their reticules.”

“It matters not,” Everett said. “No sister of mine will carry a gun in her reticule.”

“Why?” Isabella asked.

Everett gave her a frustrated look. “Because it is my duty to keep you safe.”

“Is it also your duty to stifle me?”

“I am doing no such thing,” he argued. “I am attempting to keep you protected from the harshness of the world.”

“What if I don’t want to be protected anymore?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Until you are married, it is my right to take care of you,” her brother explained, his voice rising.

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