And through it all, Ben surreptitiously watched Angelica as she presided over the dinner, her subtle gestures sending footmen off for the next course or refilling glasses. When she seemed resigned to the fact that she would have to converse with him, she asked how he had acquired his title.
“I discovered a comet.”
Angelica blinked. She wasn’t sure why hearing the claim was such a surprise. “But... how did the king find out?” The monarch had just died earlier that year. Without a single legitimate heir, King George IV’s niece, Victoria, had ascended to the throne.
“He didn’t. At least, not until the prime minister informed him.”
Angelica gave him a quelling glance, which reminded him of how she had looked that night she had scolded him for gazing at Venus.
“I wrote up my findings for a scientific journal. When word reached the Continent, some of the news sheets there covered the story, so The Times reprinted part of the article. Which is how the prime minister found out.”
“Have you been searching for more comets?” As much as she wished to remain miffed at him—and she was miffed—she was still interested in his work.
“Not directly. They tend to be something you find quite by accident. You see, if you look at the same celestial body every night and record its appearance as well as the positions of the stars around it, you tend to notice when one of those stars has moved whilst the others have not.”
One of the gentlemen asked, “How do you know it’s a comet, though, and not one of those... asteroids, I believe they’e been called?”
Ben turned to discover most of those at the table were listening to his explanation. “Well, you don’t at first. It may be a planet or an asteroid, but if it’s making its way toward the sun, it will get larger over the course of its travel through space. As it gets closer to the sun, it develops a tail. Starts to look like an angel.” He glanced at Angelica and added, “That’s when you know its a comet.”
“Fascinating,” Lady Anne whispered, her comment eliciting a series of murmurs around the table. Then the conversation turned to everyone’s plans for Christmas as the dessert course was delivered.
Ben couldn’t help but notice Angelica didn’t offer her plans. Then George addressed him from the other end of the table. “What are your plans?”
Having spent the entire day thinking about getting married, he blurted, “I plan to be married.” When the guffaws and gasps ceased, he added, “I am just today in possession of a marriage license, so I was hoping I would be spending Christmas in the company of a wife, perhaps on a wedding trip to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.”
A chorus of murmurs and best wishes circled the table.
From all those except Angelica, for although she had pasted a pleasant expression on her face, she was pale as she stared at her dessert.
“Have you apprised your future wife of your plans?” one of the gentlemen asked, obviously still amused.
Ben leaned forward and directed his reply to the young man. “Not exactly.”
Another round of laughter circled the table, and when Lady Diana seemed about to ask as to the identity of his intended, George made sure to change the subject.
Daring a glance in Angelica’s direction, Ben felt his last bite of dessert turn into a rock as it made its way down. “This dinner was excellent, my lady.”
Angelica allowed a prim grin. “Thank you, sir.”
Bristling at her formality, Benjamin wondered what to do. What could he say to make her understand he meant no offense by withholding his title when he introduced himself?
Once the post-dinner wine was drunk, Angelica pushed back her chair and announced that the ladies should join her in the parlor. Benjamin realized he would have to speak with her later. He stood up, along with all the other gentlemen at the table, and watched as the ladies filed out.
He nearly drank all his port in one gulp.
“That was quite an announcement Sir Benjamin made during dinner,” Lady Anne commented as the five women took seats near the fireplace. A maid hurried in with a tea tray and went about pouring cups for everyone.
“I half-expected my brother might join him with the same sort of announcement,” Angelica remarked, a teasing eyebrow arched high. She thought to deflect attention lest anyone think Sir Benjamin’s proposal was intended for her.
Anne’s face took on a pinkish cast. “I haven’t been led to expect such an announcement,” she claimed, her eyes wide. She accepted a cup of tea and seemed to drink for fortification.
Angling her head to one side, Angelica said, “I would adore having you as my sister, and you would make a fine countess.”
The other young ladies nodded in agreement before talk of fashion and Mayfair gossip prevailed, gossip that included a mention of the hideous building that had gone up behind Bradford Hall.
“I am quite sure we have a Peeping Tom in our midst,” Lady Diana stated. As a daughter of the Earl of Norwick, she lived at Norwick House, only a few doors down in Park Lane.
Her twin sister, Davida, shook her head in dismay. “Astronomers are not Peeping Toms.”
Angelica knew from having grown up with the young women that although they were twin sisters, they tended to take the opposite sides of any argument. She decided to defend the astronomer. “I thought the same the first night I arrived from Torrington Park, but Sir Benjamin was merely gazing at Venus.”
Her cousin, Emily Grandby, straightened. “The planet? Or do you have a neighbor by that name?” A few titters erupted at this query.
“The planet, of course,” Angelica replied, not bothering to hide her grin. “He is an astronomer, first and foremost.”
“One who intends to marry in a fortnight,” Anne said softly. “And given the fact that Wadsworth doesn’t yet have an heir, it’s likely Sir Benjamin, or at least his heir, will be the next Earl of Wadsworth.”
Angelica remembered the conversation she’d had on the train with her brother. He had said all this and more, but at no point had he said just whom it was he was talking about.
He hadn’t mentioned any names, nor any titles.
And I didn’t ask.
No wonder I’ve been caught by surprise, she thought in dismay.
“Is he an agreeable gentleman?” her cousin asked.
“Oh, very much,” Angelica replied. “Very knowledgable, too. He’s a member of the Royal Society.”
“So... you were introduced before this evening?” Lady Davida asked.
Her eyes widening, Angelica nodded. “Of course. My father made mention of him to my brother. Asked that he make his acquaintance. I don’t think any of us expected him to be a neighbor. Would you like more tea?”
The drooping eyelids of her guests had Angelica glancing at the mantle clock. It was half-past ten o’clock, and the gentlemen hadn’t yet joined them.
Emily made her apologies. “Although I dearly love living in the country, the six miles to Woodscastle will take nearly an hour. I really must be going.”
The others bid her farewell as Angelica walked her to the front door and Winston saw to summoning her coach. “Give my regards to my other cousins, won’t you? At least those who still live at Woodscastle.”
Older than Angelica by three years, Emily gave a nod as she allowed Winston to help her with her redingote. “I will. And do consider his proposal. He’s a very nice gentleman.”
“Whose proposal?”
Emily gave her a quelling glance, and took her leave without saying another word.
Angelica turned around, intending to return to the parlor, but her way was stopped by Ben.
“Are you leaving already?” she asked, not sure why she felt disappointment just then.
Appearing a bit undecided, Ben shook his head. “I won’t if I might be allowed some time with you after your guests have taken their leave.”
Before she could give him an answer, the remaining ladies appeared from the parlor. A flurry of ‘good nights’ and ‘good-byes’ occurred as
several gentlemen joined the exodus, although it was apparent they were heading for their men’s club.
“I’m off to White’s, sister. Wonderful dinner. Thank you for being my hostess,” George said as he gave her an exaggerated bow. “I’ll see you at breakfast,” he added as he departed with the younger guests.
Angelica blinked when the vestibule was suddenly empty, and only Sir Benjamin and she were left in the great hall.
“I owe you an apology. I never once thought that omitting my honorific would cause embarrassment,” he said in a quiet voice. “You are, in fact, the first person to whom I’ve introduced myself since the knighting ceremony, and I quite... forgot.”
Angelica allowed a long sigh. “Your apology is accepted, of course,” she murmured. “I suppose you’ve received a letter from my father.”
He nodded. “And one from my brother.”
She gave her head a shake. “When my brother told me, we were on the train. I couldn’t believe it. I... I never thought my father would do such a thing.”
“Nor would I have expected it of my brother,” Ben agreed.
“Were you... angry?”
Ben’s eyes darted sideways. “I was,” he admitted, wincing when he saw how Angelica seemed on the verge of tears. “And then this angel appeared one night in my observatory, and I found my mind changed on the matter quite completely.”
Angelica’s eyes widened. “An angel?” she asked in wonder.
He nodded and then took her into his arms. “Gave me a thorough tongue lashing. Accused me of being a Peeping Tom.” He felt her stiffen in his hold, but he pulled her closer. “Imagine my surprise when I discovered I rather liked her.”
“You do?”
“Oh, yes.” He dropped his head until their foreheads met. “Especially when she kissed me.” He felt more than heard her slight inhalation of breath. “Which had me wondering if she might be amenable to doing it every day for the rest of her life.”
“Kissing you?”
“That, and being my wife.” His lips captured hers then, effectively cutting off any response she might have made.
Angelica was at a loss. She had spent the entire dinner miffed with him. She hadn’t just learned he was a knight. The minute before that, she had overheard him say he needed to marry for a dowry.
Her dowry.
She pulled her lips from his, and stared at him. “Because of my dowry?”
Ben blinked, and blinked again. He allowed a long sigh. “I had never thought it possible for me to take a wife. Because the Wadsworth earldom isn’t exactly flush with funds, you see. So I never... I never looked for one.” He sighed again. “Now I’ve been told if I marry you, we and our children can have a comfortable living. We’ll live in my house next door to your brother.” He gave a shake of his head. “I cannot believe I did not welcome the news when I first read of it.”
Angelica furrowed a brow. “Why didn’t you?”
“Because I didn’t know I would be gaining my very own angel.”
Knowing she had been anything but an angel on this night, Angelica allowed a wan grin. “My brother would take issue with you on that matter,” she murmured. “I can be terribly disagreeable.”
“More so than the night we first met?”
Angelica’s eyes widened before she finally said, “Probably not.”
“Then marry me. Be my countess, should I end up with the earldom, and be the mother of the next earl.” He reached into his waistcoat pocket and pulled out the sapphire and citrine ring, not waiting for her response before he slid it onto her finger. “It’s not large, I know, but—”
His words were cut off when Angelica took his lips with hers, one hand moving to the back of his neck to pull him down closer. When she finally let go, her eyes glazed and her lips red, he asked, “Does that mean you will?”
She allowed a brilliant smile. “Yes. But with one condition.”
Ben stiffened. “What might that be?” he asked, worry evident in his expression.
“That my parents be our witnesses. They will come to London for Christmas if there is a reason.”
“And you’ll wear this gown?” he countered. He leaned over and plucked a rose from the arrangement on the table. “And carry red roses?”
Angelica blinked, glancing down the front of her dinner gown. “If you insist.”
“Good.” He straightened and took a deep breath. “I suppose I should show you the house. Make sure it’s to your liking.”
Turning to discover no one else was in the great hall, she said, “Then let’s be off.”
“Now?”
“My brother has gone to his club. He won’t be home for hours,” she replied, hurrying into the vestibule for her redingote. “The Wadsworth earldom needs an heir. There’s no time to waste.”
Still on duty in the vestibule, Winston helped her as Ben pulled on his own coat and top hat. “I’m going for a tour of Bradford Hall,” she told the butler. “No need to wait up for me.”
“I’ll see to it she’s returned by way of the back door,” Ben said in a quiet voice, ignoring the excitement he felt at what she had just said.
Did she really mean for them to... to make love? Tonight?
Winston’s brows did a perfect imitation of Peter’s brows when he was surprised, and Ben had to resist the urge to smirk. He held out his arm and Angelica placed hers on it.
They said not a word as they made their way down the pavement and to the front door of Bradford Hall.
Chapter 16
Devotion to Duty
Peters opened the door before Ben could lift the knocker.
About to step into the house, Ben paused and instead lifted a surprised Angelica into his arms.
“Peters, I am betrothed,” Ben announced once he was in the vestibule. He lowered Angelica until her feet touched the floor.
“Best wishes, sir, my lady,” the butler replied. “Will you be requiring my assistance this evening?”
Ben gave the butler a quelling glance, wondering if the query referred to something other than his duty as a valet. “I will not. Lady Angelica has requested a tour, and I intend to be her guide.” He helped with Angelica’s coat and divested his own outer garments with Peters’ help.
Angelica pretended to review the hall and its rooms beyond as they made their way to the main stairs. “An excellent floor plan,” she remarked.
“I hadn’t noticed,” Ben replied, glancing around as if he was seeing his home for the first time. “In fact, I don’t believe I’ve even been in all the rooms.” He seemed to struggle with the stairs, never before having to negotiate them with a hardened cock straining against his satin breeches.
Giving him a sideways glance, Angelica was about to tell him that her parents had made love in every single room of Worthington House save the servants’ quarters. Instead, she said, “Are you a man of routine, then?”
“I suppose I have been,” he replied, a brow furrowing. Did the woman have any idea of the agony he found himself in just then?
“If I should say or do something you find... annoying, you must tell me,” she said as they made their way through the first story hall to the next set of stairs. She gave a cursory glance into the parlor and allowed a sound of appreciation.
“I cannot imagine what that might be,” Ben replied, his body reacting in a manner it had not done in a very long time. Desire had him feeling feverish. The scent of her perfume had his head feeling light.
“I intend to kiss you every morning at breakfast,” Angelica informed him. “On the cheek, if a footman is present.”
Ben blinked. “I will do the same. On the lips. I care not if a footman is present.” Before tonight, he never would have thought to kiss a woman in front of anyone.
Angelica allowed a brilliant grin. “Unlike other ladies, I do not write my correspondence before breakfast, but rather afterwards. I find I’m too distracted by hunger otherwise. I would only write about food and dinner parties and the menus.”
&n
bsp; Ben grinned as they climbed the stairs to the second story. Before breakfast he would be thinking only of her, and what she might look like in the early morning light. He might have to rise with the sun on occasion just to find out. “I am terrible at writing letters, which reminds me that I must send one to your father and one to my brother on the morrow.” The thought of his future father-in-law had his cock behaving better, but not much.
“My father did give you his permission to marry me, did he not?”
Nodding, Ben said, “He practically begged me to marry you. Which had me thinking you might be the spawn of the devil.” His eyes widened in horror. “My sweet Angel, please pardon the curse.”
“Oh, you’re pardoned. There are times my brother thinks I am.”
“Brothers are like that,” he remarked.
They made it to the third story and Ben paused. “Where would you like to start?”
A frisson had Angelica gasping. “Perhaps with our clothes. Removing them, I mean.”
Ben blinked. “I meant, which room would you like to review first?” he asked, unable to hide a grin of amusement.
“May I see your bedchamber? And then the mistress suite?”
Amazed at her enthusiasm, Ben led the way to the master suite. “I think I should warn you that one of my windows looks out at your window.” When her eyes narrowed with suspicion, he added, “I saw you a couple of nights ago, after I escorted you to your back door.”
“I watched you regard the observatory and then the moon,” she admitted.
“When spring comes, I’ll have the brick covered in stucco to match the house,” he explained, hoping she would think it more appealing. “I was thinking it looked like a phallic symbol.” He swallowed. “The observatory, I mean.”
“Oh, well I’m sure I wouldn’t know of such things. At least, not yet,” she murmured, hoping her blush wasn’t apparent.
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