“Indeed,” said Benedict, in a tight voice, staring at her.
Lady Henrietta was a bit uncharitable about her supposed best friend, he thought. It showed him a lot about the lady’s true character.
Emmeline would never talk about her friends like that.
The lady stepped closer to him, batting her eyelashes. “Can I tell you something shocking, My Lord?”
He stepped back slightly, feeling distinctly uneasy. “Of course, My Lady.”
“I have not been able to stop thinking about you,” she whispered. “You have been on my mind constantly since the Ashworth dinner party.” She paused, gazing up at him entreatingly. “I suspect that you feel the same way about me as I do you …”
Benedict felt beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead. Fortunately, Ralph was passing nearby. He almost lunged, grabbing his cousin’s arm, pulling him towards them. Lady Henrietta stepped back, a sour expression on her face.
“There you are,” he said, gazing at his cousin’s surprised face. “I am sorry I was waylaid. We did say that we would head to the croquet pitch as soon as we got here, didn’t we?” He turned to Lady Henrietta. “Will you excuse us, My Lady?”
“Of course,” she replied harshly.
“What was that about?” hissed Ralph as soon as they were safely away from her. “You almost broke my arm, Benedict.”
“I had to escape her,” he whispered back as they walked out of the room. “I think I have bitten off a bit more than I can chew with Lady Henrietta Wynn.”
Ralph stopped, gazing at him. “Ben, what are you doing? You make a great show of flirting with the lady and then turn as cold as ice towards her. It is not very gentlemanly behaviour.”
Benedict felt utterly ashamed of himself. Lady Henrietta had just seemed like a means to an end. He hadn’t once considered the lady’s feelings. It was a rakish and ungentlemanly thing to do.
“I made a mistake,” he whispered, shamefaced. “But I shall not encourage her any more …”
“I think it is rather too late for that,” said Ralph solemnly. “Lady Henrietta has set her sights upon you, cousin, and will not be easily dissuaded.”
Benedict ran a hand over his face. “What am I to do?”
Ralph sighed. “I think you need to sort yourself out once and for all, old chap. Your head is all over the place. And it has all to do with Emmeline Vaughan … even if you will not admit it.”
Ralph walked away. Benedict watched his cousin, feeling as helpless as he had ever felt in his life.
It was all true, of course. Every last word of it. He was a mess. His mind was like a tangled jungle, twisting and turning in every direction. He simply could not see through it.
It had all seemed so straightforward at the time. A mild flirtation with a lady to turn Emmeline against him. But now, he had a lady he felt nothing for half in love with him and the lady he had once loved being pursued by another.
He took a deep, ragged breath. He had created this. All because he could not face his past. He could not face his feelings about Emmeline. He could not face any of it.
He glanced back into the drawing room. Lady Henrietta was standing there, staring at him. Slowly, she smiled seductively. As if they were the only two people in the house. His rapid retreat from her had not put her off at all. Ralph was right. Lady Henrietta would not be easily dissuaded.
Hastily, he turned away, walking swiftly to the door and into the garden. The air felt like a balm against his face.
He must fix this. He was so very tired of being a coward, running away from it all. But how?
Chapter 17
Emmeline gazed out the carriage window. It was a misty morning, but she could see the sun coming out, peeking its way through the clouds. It looked like it would be a fine day. A perfect start to their time away. If only she could muster even a small measure of enthusiasm for it.
She turned to Olivia, who was seated opposite her. “Did Caroline Vickers tell you what was on the agenda for the weekend?”
Olivia smiled. “She was rather tight-lipped about it, but I suspect there shall be a picnic or two as well as a ride over the hills.” She paused. “You are as jumpy as a cat, Emme. You are not having second thoughts about this house party after all, are you?”
Emmeline bit her lip. “I shall try my best, Liv. It is all I can do.”
Olivia’s face softened. “And I shall try not to push you too much,” she said. “I am just so very glad that you agreed to come. When we received the invitation, I was sure you would decline it.”
Emmeline smiled ruefully. She had been very sure that she would decline it, as well. It had been her intention all along. Even though she had started to socialise a lot more lately, it was still a big leap attending a house party for three whole days. Her head had started to ache just thinking about it.
But then Lewis Hardy had called upon her again. During the course of the conversation, he had told her he had been invited to the Vickers’ house party and asked if she were going, as well. Before she could reply, her mother had jumped in, declaring that she was. She could hardly contradict her. It had all been settled, and she knew that her mother would likely march her at gunpoint to the carriage if she even intimated that she might not attend.
As the days had drawn closer, her anxiety had grown. She had sought out Olivia. “Benedict is not on the guest list for the house party, is he?”
Her sister had shaken her head. “No, he is not. You shall be safe from him. The only thing you shall have to contend with is fending off Mr Hardy.”
Emmeline breathed a sigh of relief as the carriage wound its way towards the large greystone house, nestled in a valley. It was not ideal that she must contend with Mr Hardy’s attentions again, but at least it would not be further complicated by Benedict’s presence.
Small mercies, indeed, she thought.
The carriage pulled up in front of the grand front entrance. Before they had even stepped out, the door had opened, and Caroline Vickers was running down the steps towards them, slightly breathless.
“Welcome!” she squeaked, leaning into the carriage window. “You are the third party to arrive.” She turned back towards the entrance, calling out. “We have more guests!”
Emmeline’s heart dropped. Standing in the doorway, smiling smugly, was Lady Henrietta Wynn.
***
“You never told me she would be here,” hissed Emmeline to Olivia as they followed a footman up the circular staircase towards their guest chambers.
Her sister sighed heavily. “I had no idea myself, Emme. Caroline didn’t mention her. She must have been a last-minute addition.”
Emmeline shrugged. “We shall just have to make the best of it. I will just try to avoid her where possible.”
Olivia smiled grimly. “We shall stick together, dearest.”
They were almost to their chambers when a door opened opposite. They both turned. Emmeline gasped.
Lord Benedict Montagu was standing there, gazing at them impassively.
There was an awkward silence.
“Ladies,” he said, bowing stiffly.
They both curtseyed. He hesitated for a moment before turning quickly and walking down the hallway towards the staircase.
Olivia turned to Emmeline. “It seems there is another surprise guest. I am so sorry, Emme.”
Emmeline’s eyes filled with tears. She was stuck here for three whole days. And there was simply nothing she could do about it.
***
Her heart was thumping with pure dread when they descended the staircase for luncheon. Caroline had informed them that the whole party would assemble for it before a short stroll through the grounds.
“A welcome luncheon,” Caroline had said, beaming. “Where everybody can get to know each other if they are not already acquainted.”
Caroline was hovering at the door when they entered. Olivia pulled her aside. “Caroline, neither Lady Henrietta nor Lord Montagu were on the guest list you showed me. Why a
re they here?”
Caroline laughed gaily. “I know! The Colby brothers pulled out a week ago and Miss King only yesterday,” she replied. “It took a lot of last-minute arranging to find replacements. I am clever, am I not?”
“Very,” said Olivia grimly.
Emmeline gazed at the table. Lady Henrietta was already seated. The door opened again, and Benedict walked in, swiftly followed by his cousin Ralph. Lady Henrietta waved at them, indicating that they should sit beside her.
Emmeline’s heart lurched. This was going to be a very long weekend, indeed.
She had just taken a seat when the door opened again. This time it was Mr Hardy. His face suffused with delight when he saw her.
“There you are, Miss Vaughan,” he said, taking the seat next to her. “I was rather afraid that you might cancel at the last minute. It would have quite broken my heart.”
Emmeline forced a smile onto her face. “Well, we would not want that, Mr Hardy.”
She tried to concentrate on him as he kept talking. But for the whole luncheon, the only thing she was aware of was Benedict sitting opposite her, his face like stone.
***
She was only able to breathe naturally again when the luncheon was finally over, and the party were walking through the grounds of the estate. It was a large sprawling garden. Olivia seemed engrossed in a conversation with Lord Ralph Montagu, and they headed away together.
After they left, she took the opportunity to peel away from the main group and set off on her own down a path towards a pond. Mr Hardy gazed at her speculatively as she veered away but seemed to sense her desire for solitude and did not pursue her. Benedict was tied up with Lady Henrietta, who was clinging like a limpet to his side.
The sun was shining as she made her way down the path. There was a line of willow trees, their branches overhanging, sweeping against her as she walked. Once she was at the pond, she sat down beneath one, watching the ducks swimming on its surface. It was so very peaceful after the tense luncheon that she closed her eyes, basking in the moment.
All of it was such a mess, she reflected. How had she got herself into this position? She had known that Mr Hardy would be here but had believed she could convince him she was not as serious about him as he seemed to be about her. But now, Benedict and Lady Henrietta were here as well, complicating the situation further.
I will simply ignore them as much as possible, she resolved. There is nothing else I can do.
She knew that Benedict desired them to keep their distance from each other as much as she did. He probably hadn’t even been aware that she was invited here. And he was so very absorbed in his courtship of Lady Henrietta anyway. They would manage to get through the days without interacting much. She was sure of it.
Suddenly, she stilled. On the opposite side of the pond, Benedict and Lady Henrietta were strolling along. The lady twirled her parasol as she gazed up at him, talking animatedly. His face was impassive as he stared into the distance. He didn’t seem to be attending the lady at all, as if he wasn’t listening to a single word she said. He hardly looked like a man enamoured.
She took a deep breath. It was probably just an aberrant moment when his mind was elsewhere. She had already observed his marked preference for the lady. Hastily, she got to her feet, walking swiftly in the opposite direction. She didn’t want to risk running into them. She had a feeling that the next few days were going to be a game of duck and cover like this.
***
In the parlour that evening after dinner, Caroline Vickers entertained the party on the pianoforte. Lady Henrietta jumped to her feet, sidling up to the instrument, whispering in Caroline’s ear. The next moment, Caroline swept her fingers over the keys, beginning a new song. Lady Henrietta started to sing, her voice strong and assured.
Emmeline sighed heavily. The lady was so very confident in every way. She was always the first to jump into any suggested game, and she almost always won. No wonder Benedict liked her. She would make a perfect wife.
Her eyes swept around the room. Olivia was seated opposite, with Lord Ralph by her side. Their eyes were both fixed on the performance. Mr Hardy was seated beside her, tapping his fingers against his knee to the music. Occasionally he leaned over, whispering something in her ear about the performance. Emmeline always smiled tightly but tried not to respond. Her efforts to discourage him seemed to be falling on deaf ears; he had barely left her side for the entire day.
Finally, her eyes flickered towards Benedict, who was standing against the mantelpiece. To her shock, he was gazing straight at her, a strange, almost yearning expression on his face. The next moment, as soon as he discerned that she was looking at him, it vanished. It happened so quickly that Emmeline almost doubted that she had even seen it.
She forced herself to look away, turning her eyes back to the performance. Lady Henrietta was just finishing her song, her gaze flickering between Benedict and Emmeline. Her expression was watchful, almost like a hawk studying the movements of its prey.
She knows, thought Emmeline, a shiver of foreboding running down her spine. She suspects there is something between Benedict and me.
Emmeline felt the blood draining from her face as she desperately tried to quash down her misgiving. What did it matter anyway if Lady Henrietta suspected there was feeling between them, or once had been? It was the past, over and done with. Benedict was intent on the lady now. She had no reason to feel apprehensive.
The party clapped politely. Lady Henrietta sat back down, spreading the skirt of her gown around her legs. Caroline launched into another song. The moment was over, and she could breathe again.
Mr Hardy leaned over towards her. “A fine effort,” he whispered. “But I rather think Lady Henrietta’s confidence outweighs her talent. Her voice sounds rather like a blackbird squawking in its nest.”
Emmeline couldn’t help it. She burst into loud laughter. Mr Hardy looked surprised and gratified by her reaction, joining in with a deep laugh of his own.
“What is the joke?” asked Lady Henrietta, frowning slightly, her head tilted to the side as she watched them.
“Nothing, My Lady,” wheezed Mr Hardy, trying to compose himself. “A private source of merriment, nothing more.”
They continued to laugh together for a moment longer. Emmeline struggled to control it. She didn’t know what had come over her. His comment hadn’t been quite that funny after all.
She couldn’t stop herself. Her eyes flickered towards Benedict once more. He looked as mystified by their sudden laughter as the rest of the party. And he didn’t look happy about it, either. Not one little bit.
Her heart stirred with longing. Once upon a time, the two of them had laughed together like this. But that had been a long time ago. A lifetime ago.
Chapter 18
Emmeline adjusted the collar of her gown, gazing at herself in the full-length mirror. The harried maid who was assigned to attend to her had just left the room; apparently her duties were spread between the three ladies who were guests here. Emmeline had been the last of her duties, and now she was running a little late for breakfast. With a final look in the mirror, she swiftly walked towards the door.
The hallway was empty as she exited. But just as she was about to head towards the staircase, another door opened. She froze. It was Benedict. He looked preoccupied, his head down. Abruptly, he looked up, his eyes settling upon her.
It was too late to run away. She felt her heart begin to beat rapidly as she took a deep breath, gazing at him. “Good morning, My Lord.”
A Lord's Flaming Return: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 12