Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

" Y our Grace."

Her excitement evident, Selina hurried over to Benedict as he stepped into the library. She was there with her father. They and Lord and Lady Harwood seemed to be engaged in something, each person holding a book and chatting excitedly amongst the small, gathered party.

Benedict offered Selina his most charming smile. "Lady Selina. I am glad to see you. Though I fear I have interrupted something."

"Not at all," replied Jerome from his seat behind Selina. He waved Benedict over. "Join us, Your Grace."

"We are having a competition," Selina explained to Benedict with a smile. Benedict drew up a chair next to her as she retook her seat.

"A competition?" he asked.

"Yes," Lady Harwood giggled. "We have each chosen our favorite poem and now we are reading them out to see who can guess the name and writer of each piece first."

"Lady Selina has guessed mine," Lord Harwood added, "and now she is going to read hers."

Benedict grinned and shifted to face her. "I look forward to hearing her read."

Blushing, Selina ducked her head and lowered her gaze to the book in her lap. Taking a breath, she began to recite her chosen piece.

The duke knew the poem in an instant. It was one of his favorites too. He suddenly remembered how Thalia had remarked upon the similarities in his and Selina's preferences. She would be irate to know that, yet again, the duke and her sister agreed upon something.

Then, reminding himself that Thalia was not here and that he was here to spend time with Selina, he brought his attention back to the present.

Selina finished and lifted her gaze to the group. "Can anyone guess the author?" she asked.

While the others thought carefully, Lord and Lady Harwood whispering together to try and suss out the puzzle, Benedict cleared his throat. "It is William Wordsworth I believe."

Amazed, Selina nodded.

Jerome chuckled, shaking his head. "Ah, I should have known. My daughter is a great fan of his. But I did not recognize the poem itself."

"I can understand why," Benedict replied. "She has chosen one of his lesser-known pieces."

"I am surprised that you know it." Selina was regarding him with unguarded appreciation.

Benedict smiled, raising an eyebrow and cocking his head so that he could be seen to be regarding her with mutual admiration. "It is one of my favorites."

"Indeed?" Selina's reply was breathy.

How easy it is to win the hearts of beautiful women , Benedict thought. How amusing, too.

Selina, it would seem, was not the only one to be won over. Jerome nodded with appreciation. "It would seem you have that in common," he smiled.

"Indeed," agreed Lady Harwood. "A similar preference in the arts – particularly in literature – is a good foundation for a close acquaintance."

She did not say what sort of acquaintance she was thinking of, but she did not need to. As Benedict looked around, the older guests were exchanging amused, excited glances that could only mean they were imagining themselves matchmakers.

Benedict turned back to Selina. "I would be eager to hear why this piece is also a favorite of yours. I believe poetry, particularly the ones that a person gravitates toward most, can reveal much about them."

As Selina's eyes widened ever so slightly in delight, Benedict heard soft steps behind him. Turning, he watched as Thalia made her way into the library.

Instinctually, Benedict rose. But instead of greeting the newcomer, he turned back to Selina. "But I must apologize – I have remembered that I am needed elsewhere first. I hope, Lady Selina, that we may continue this discussion another time."

Selina nodded but seemed a little confused.

"I wish you all luck with the rest of your game," Benedict added, nodding toward the other guests. As Thalia came to stand beside him, he moved away. Before he could change his mind, he offered her a short, curt nod, and then strode from the room.

He had only time to briefly register the confusion on Thalia's face as he took his leave. But it was for the best.

"May I join you?"

Thalia recognized the voice before she saw his face. As she glanced up from the plate of food now being set before her, she expected to meet Benedict's gaze.

But, to her surprise, he was regarding Selina who sat beside her. It was to her that he had spoken. Nodding, the youngest Fletcher offered the duke a smile. "Of course."

Thalia watched as he settled into the chair on the other side of the table, the remaining guests also taking their seats up and down the room. Silently, she chastised herself. Why had she expected him to be speaking to her?

Perhaps it was because he had been plaguing her in just such a way over the last month or so – sneaking up on her at various times with a low, inappropriate remark already halfway off his tongue. She had almost grown used to it by now.

Though, of course, they had not shared any such conversations in the last few days. Thalia had been keeping her distance from the duke for both her sister's sake and out of guilt over what they had done together in the gardens.

But now, Benedict was sitting right across from both herself and Selina. And the meal was only just beginning. She would be obligated to remain here for some time yet, while everyone enjoyed what she knew would be a decadent and tasty breakfast.

"You are looking particularly lovely this morning, Lady Selina," Benedict mused, shooting her a half smile. He watched her appraisingly.

Beside Thalia, Selina giggled. "You are kind to say so, Your Grace."

"It is not kind if it is merely the truth," he replied smoothly.

Thalia opened her mouth to offer a snide remark, but Benedict cut her off. "Besides," he continued, "I think you would look more beautiful than any other woman here, even if you were to be wrapped up in nothing but plain muslin."

Blinking, Thalia could not help but feel that this was somehow a jab at her.

"Now you are being kind instead of truthful," Selina replied, still grinning. "For no woman can look very pretty in such a costume."

"Ah, I still believe you could wear the most unsightly dress and make every other person in the room jealous. And, until I am proven otherwise, I shall hold on to this opinion."

As Selina giggled again, Thalia frowned. "Your Grace, what do you have planned for us this afternoon?" she asked. She intended to guide the subject away from Selina's beauty but also, in consideration for her sister, to remain as polite to the duke as she could manage.

She was perplexed when Benedict merely turned to Selina and continued as if he hadn't heard Thalia. "Have you had a turn, yet, about the gardens, Lady Selina?" he asked. "The weather is perfect today for a walk.

"I have only seen a little of the estate," Selina admitted.

"Then let me be the first to ask if you would join me for a turn around the gardens after breakfast?" Benedict offered her another grin.

"I would be delighted." Selina cast a quick glance at her sister. "And if you are worried about me walking about the gardens alone with the duke, Thalia" she added with a chuckle, "then you will be our chaperone."

Thalia had nothing to say to that. She did not relish the idea of having to be overly civil to the duke for another several hours, but neither could she allow her sister to go about unchaperoned. And Selina had suggested it this time. Her sister was making efforts to show Thalia that she was serious about the man. Which only made Thalia feel all the more guilty.

Nodding, Thalia risked a glance at the duke. "Of course."

As she briefly met his gaze, Benedict frowned. Looking a little irritated, he stood and wiped his mouth with his napkin. "Forgive me, I have just remembered a matter that I must attend to."

"But you have not finished your meal," Selina protested.

He smiled. "You are kind to worry after me, Lady Selina, but I shall steal something from the kitchens later, if necessary. I am afraid my business cannot wait. But I shall join you outside after the meal," he added. "I eagerly look forward to hearing more about the poem you read for me yesterday."

Selina nodded and happily returned to her meal. But Thalia watched Benedict take his leave, retreating from the dining room as if pursued by some unsavory spirit. She could not help but feel as if she were the thing he was running from.

"Are you ready?" Benedict offered Selina his most compelling smile and held out his arm.

The young lady, a delicate parasol resting on her far shoulder, nodded. As she slid her gloved fingers around his arm, he caught sight of Thalia out of the corner of his eye.

Irritated, he turned his focus outward. Benedict was not exactly sure why he was irate, nor why he had been in such a terrible mood over the last few days. He had made a show of being the engaging, welcoming host but, underneath it all, he had been in a foul mood. And now Thalia's presence here, as he tried to woo Selina, dampened his spirits all the more.

"Tell me, Lady Selina," he began, forcing a smile back onto his face, "how much pride do you think a man should take in his estate? Should he trouble himself with the maintenance of his gardens as I have done, or would you say that my attentions have been unnecessary and neglectful of other duties?"

He gestured with his other arm, making a sweeping motion over the immaculately kept gardens that lay before them.

"Your attention to the gardens is just as it should be," Selina replied, her delicate brow furrowed slightly in thought. It was sweet that she should take his question so seriously. Thalia, he knew, would be scoffing at such an indulgent, shallow query. But he did not turn to look. It would only irritate him more.

"I believe that the attention one pays to their home," Selina continued, "speaks of the attention and care with which they treat their friends and family. It shows a pride and a stewardship of what one has."

Benedict considered this. "So, a man with a beautiful garden has equally fruitful relationships?"

Selina nodded. "Indeed." She offered him a darling smile, confirming that she regarded him as being in possession of just such treasures.

How little she knew.

Suddenly annoyed, and feeling strangely inferior to Selina's opinion of him, Benedict glanced around for a distraction. "Those are new," he mused, gesturing to the rosebushes on his right. "They have only begun to flower this year."

With a gasp of delight, Selina let go of his arm. "Oh, they are lovely!"

Quickly, she hurried over to them for closer inspection. Leaving Benedict and Thalia alone.

"Your gardens are indeed lovely," Thalia said after a moment.

She regarded him with surprise when he did not reply, still watching Selina from afar. "I speak in earnest," she assured him. "I mean no insult."

"You always speak to insult. When I am involved, at least." He did not know why, but the statement came out cold and sharp. There was no jest in his words.

Beside him, he felt Thalia stiffen. "I, I do not mean –"

"I must rejoin your sister. She is why I am out here, after all."

"I am merely trying to be civil," she protested. "Do not you think –"

Benedict whirled around to Thalia. He had no idea why he was so angry but now his patience had all but snapped. "Do not presume to know me, Lady Thalia. This has nothing to do with you. When will you understand that?"

As Thalia gazed up at him, mouth agape, eyes wide, Benedict spun on his heel and turned away. He was practically running toward Selina now in his effort to escape from Thalia.

But even as he moved away from Thalia, Benedict knew he had spoken harshly. But why he had spoken so, he could not understand.

He had been suddenly unsettled by her presence, burdened by her watchful gaze. And for her to speak so politely to him – as if they were hardly more than distant acquaintances – that had sent him over the edge.

Benedict was the one to say when their time together was done, not she.

As he reached Selina's side, he sighed, trying to pull himself together. What on earth was the matter with him?

While Selina fell back into step with him, cheerfully picking up the conversation where they had left off, Benedict was still aware of Thalia's presence, carefully keeping several paces back from the couple. Indeed, she was practically out of earshot.

When he risked a glance back at her, Benedict caught her gaze for a fraction of a moment before she looked away, her cheeks an angry red.

Silently cursing, Benedict turned away. What was the matter with him indeed?

Thalia was ashamed to find herself on the verge of tears. She turned away from Benedict's glance as he walked ahead of her with Selina. Her face, she knew, was burning, betraying her inner turmoil.

He had gone too far. Of all the things he had said and done to her, for some reason, this had been what truly hurt her.

And she had given him no reason to speak so harshly. Why, for the first time since meeting him, she had attempted to be civil!

When Benedict faced forward once more, Thalia watched his back, her mind racing. There was only one conclusion to come to, she realized. And she was astonished at how much it hurt her.

Benedict regretted what he had done with her in the garden maze. No, not only that but he was also disgusted by it. That much was painfully obvious. He no longer wanted to speak or look at her.

Tears welled once more in her eyes. I have been avoiding him, too, haven't I? she reminded herself. But that was different. She felt guilty about what she had done. She was avoiding Benedict out of love for her sister – allowing Selina the chance to get to know Benedict of her own accord.

Benedict's behavior had never before been influenced by such duties or by such social propriety. A rogue such as him would have happily carried on flirting with both her and Selina after that night. So why was Benedict behaving so abominably to her now?

He was disgusted by her. He did not want to look at her and be reminded of his mistake.

Thalia wondered if she was the only woman in the world that Benedict regretted having seduced. She must be. For no woman was as undesirable as she. A spinster, with a much prettier, eligible younger sister.

Enough. Thalia silently scolded herself for thinking such terrible things. She may not have much to offer, but no man was going to make her feel bad about herself. Certainly not Benedict.

No, she was not the one at fault here. She was not the one behaving poorly. Nor would she allow Benedict to speak this way to her.

Before this house party was over, she told herself, she would give the duke a piece of her mind.