The chaos Beatrice stirred up had traveled all the way to the Hale family.

Late into the night, Sir Hale summoned Jeffrey and his wife, berating them with scathing words. “That one—Beatrice—don’t her eyes just scream trouble? And look at what she’s gone and done now, such a disgraceful mess!”

Mrs. Hale tried to defend herself. “But Julian doesn’t even like her.”

Sir Hale scoffed. “And the one he does like—she comes from the same ...