Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

" H ave you ever seen such a place?" breathed Selina as she and Thalia were led to their rooms.

Thalia could only manage to shake her head.

"And to think that we have been invited to stay here by His Grace himself," Selina continued. She glanced around furtively. "Surely he would not have done so unless he were eager to have our company. I wonder how many others have been invited to share in the party."

Thalia allowed her sister to chatter on, hardly hearing what Selina was saying. Too busy taking in the spectacular sights around them, Thalia could do nothing as her fears grew. How much harder would it be to dissuade Selina from entertaining Benedict's attentions while in a place like this? What sordid behavior of the duke's might be excused with the promise of becoming the duchess of such an estate?

It did not bode well.

As they settled in and dressed for dinner, Thalia once more resolved to be a thorn in the duke's side. He would not find any satisfaction with Selina while Thalia was around.

The pair were no less amazed by the splendor of the manor as they joined their father and were conducted into the drawing room. There, they greeted the other guests.

Thalia recognized most of them, to her surprise. She had encountered them at one time or another over the last few Seasons. Though she only knew most by thin acquaintance, she knew that she must not take their associations for granted; there was a reason the duke had invited them. And as she did not trust Benedict, neither could she trust his guests.

After a little while, they were all invited into the dining room. Thalia, to her great disappointment, found herself seated down the table from Selina. In fact, she was somewhat isolated from both her sister and father.

Glancing around, Thalia watched as an older couple settled into their seats on her right. To her left was a man who could only be a few years older than her. And to her amazement and despair, directly across from her sat Benedict.

Thalia refused to look at him as he settled into his chair. This was some ploy, she knew. Though it could mean nothing good, she was grateful, at least, that he had not immediately seated himself next to Selina.

It was a game. And Thalia would best him at it just as soon as she figured out his next move.

She could feel Benedict watching her as she turned to the older woman on her right. "Lady Harwood. Good evening."

"Ah, Lady Thalia. Good evening. I trust you are well?"

"I am, thank you."

"And your father? I am very glad to see him here this evening. It has been some time since he has joined us at a house party, has it not?"

Thalia nodded. She tried not to be embarrassed about her father's evident absence from the Season. Lady Harwood certainly meant no offense by the statement. "Indeed. My sister and I are very grateful to enjoy the gathering with him. I am sure he will find it most gratifying."

"Ah your sister looks lovely this evening, does she not?"

Following Lady Harwood's gaze, Thalia nodded again. "You are very kind to say so. I must agree. Lady Selina is truly the beauty of the family."

Unable to tell whether Benedict had heard such a comment, Thalia continued. It was better to keep the subject off of Selina as much as possible. There would be no good in reminding the hunter of his unassuming prey. "I trust your journey was pleasant?"

The woman nodded, a relaxed smile spreading across her features. "Indeed, Lady Thalia. I would say that it was no less taxing than any other journey. Though I must admit," she added with a self-effacing chuckle, "that my weary old bones find most journeys difficult these days."

"Well, I am certain we all are grateful for your presence here," Thalia replied kindly. "Even more so knowing that you made great efforts to be with us."

"You speak with both kindness and compassion," remarked the older lady, patting Thalia's hand appreciatively. "Indeed, you seem to have grown into an exceedingly well-spoken lady, Lady Thalia."

"Well, that is no surprise, is it?"

Surprised, Thalia turned to the man who had interjected. It was the gentleman to her left. She recalled a brief introduction to him last Season. Lord Luton was his name, if she was not mistaken.

She inspected him as Lady Harwood replied. "Oh? Why is that?" she chuckled.

Lord Luton shifted to face the ladies to his right. He was not an unhandsome man. Thalia seemed to remember seeing him at the card tables during most social events, preferring to gamble instead of dance.

The glow of Lady Harwood's kind praise wavered as Lord Luton continued. "She must be well spoken," he stated as if it were the simplest fact in the world.

Though Lady Harwood continued to smile, not quite understanding, Thalia couldn't help but feel anxious. She did not like his tone.

"Had to be?" she asked politely.

"Well, you must admit that a woman of your position must possess certain social graces far and above those of the other ladies in the ton ," he replied casually, gesturing to the women up and down the table.

There it was. Her position. An all too familiar shame stirred in the pit of her stomach.

But Lady Harwood still did not catch the man's drift. "You refer to her as yet unmarried position?" the woman probed gently.

It was an exceedingly gracious response. Thalia could have embraced the woman for it. But as soon as Lady Harwood had spoken, Lord Luton let out an unkind laugh.

"As yet?" He laughed again, his mirth making several others at the table turn to see what had amused him so. Thalia could feel an angry, embarrassed heat rising in her neck.

When both Thalia and Lady Harwood did not join in on his laughter, Lord Luton gestured to Benedict who, up until now, had remained silent. "Surely you would admit, Your Grace, that an old maid must make great efforts to make her presence in the ton tolerable. While wives may be allowed their eccentricities because they are raising the future lords and ladies of our society, a spinster offers nothing to her community but companionship. If it may be called that. Thus, she must be exceedingly careful not to make her presence insufferable."

Shame closed Thalia's throat. Her hands were pressed tightly together in her lap, and she found she did not dare to lift her gaze from them.

When no one spoke, the man laughed again. "I merely pose a theoretical question," he continued. "What have spinsters to contribute to society? Truly, I cannot see what about them entreats us to keep their company if they are not, at the very least, entertaining in some way. Thus, Lady Thalia makes herself tolerable by being so well-spoken, as you say, Lady Harwood."

The silence that followed Lord Luton's speech was intolerable. Lady Harwood mumbled something unintelligible, and her husband cleared his throat. Then, together they turned and began to speak to their companions across the table.

Thalia was seriously considering excusing herself from the table when someone finally spoke. To her great surprise, it was Benedict.

"Are you not also bound by the same requirements as Lady Thalia?" he asked, his tone as polite and conversational as if they were merely discussing the taste of their meals (something Thalia had hardly touched since Lord Luton began to speak).

"I beg your pardon?" Lord Luton replied.

"I, too, would be bound by the same stipulations," Benedict continued. "Neither you nor I are married. Thus, we are neither of us contributing to our society by providing heirs. And as such we must also entertain the others of the ton , as you say, lest they tire of our company."

"The situations are not remotely similar," laughed Lord Luton. "And you know it."

"Oh?"

"We are lords. You, a duke. We manage our estates. Our business funds and motivates our economy. There are numerous ways in which we contribute to the run of society."

"Indeed?"

Thalia watched as Benedict sat back and took up his glass, swirling its contents contentedly before slowly taking a luxurious sip. Not once did he look at her. His attention was ever focused on Lord Luton.

Waiting until it was clear that Benedict was not going to continue, Lord Luton nodded. "Yes. Do you disagree?"

"No."

She did not know why, but Thalia's heart gave a little pang as Benedict spoke. It was a short, simple reply, but it somehow meant everything. She had been a fool. For a moment she had somehow imagined that the duke was coming to her aid.

Thalia clenched the skirts of her dress in her hands, rallying her courage to make her excuses and retire to her rooms. Better to have them gossip about her behind their back than to have to sit and take their hard, uncaring words as they appraised her flaws like some animal being bartered for at market.

"Dance for me."

Both Thalia and Lord Luton jerked in surprise at the statement. Watching Luton, Benedict allowed a small smile to slip across his features. "Dance," he repeated.

"I beg your pardon?" Lord Luton blustered.

"Entertain me," the duke pressed, still thoroughly amused.

"Wha-"

"Do not take offense, Lord Luton," Benedict grinned. "I am simply following the societal guidelines which you have laid out for us. My logic is this," he added, leaning forward and placing an elbow and forearm casually on the table before him. "You are a gambler. And a poor one at that. It is no secret that you have lost much of your wealth at the card table. Nor are you an astute businessman. I will be the first to testify to that. You are also unmarried. Therefore – in your own words – you contribute nothing to our society. And so, you must find some other way to earn your place in our company. I suggest you amuse Lady Thalia and myself with a jig."

Lord Luton's jaw fell open as Thalia stared wide-eyed at the man across the table. She could hardly understand what had just transpired. Nor could she keep a small, satisfied smile from tugging at her lips. She ducked her head in a vain attempt at hiding it.

"Now, Lady Harwood," Benedict continued, "tell me more of your time in the country. I have heard it was most refreshing."

Brought back into the conversation, the older woman nodded eagerly. "Oh indeed!"

For the rest of the meal, Lord Luton was as silent as a mouse. Thalia, too, was quiet, but for a different reason. She watched the duke across the table with conflicting emotions. She could not figure out why on earth he had come to her defense, but she was truly grateful that he had. Perhaps he had done it to get on her good side. To earn her trust so that she might step aside and give him access to her sister.

But, even if these were his motivations, Thalia owed him her gratitude. Lord Luton's words had truly hurt her. She was used to gossip and pitying glances, used to the rumors of speculation about why she had never married or what must be wrong with her to prevent her from securing a husband.

Never before, however, had someone been so forthcoming in his loathing of her and her situation. Thalia had never been so brutally insulted face to face.

And Benedict, the Duke of Ravenwood, had been the one to come to her defense.

The conversation carried on to different topics as Benedict and Lord and Lady Harwood discussed everything from the last ball to the early change in season. Occasionally she caught Benedict sneaking a glance at her. But so too did he cast several long looks at Selina, who sat farther down the table, engaged in conversation with a gentleman on her left.

As the meal came to an end, Lord Luton excused himself. Benedict watched the man go with a satisfied chuckle. "I wonder what has gotten into him?" Lady Harwood mused.

When Benedict caught Thalia's eye, she was forced to duck her head, lest she burst into laughter. She could hear Benedict chuckling again as she fought the smile on her face.

"I do not know, Lady Harwood," Benedict finally replied. "Though I am certain it has nothing to do with your pleasant company."

Before long, everyone was up on their feet. They were shepherded into various rooms after the meal – the men to smoke and drink port, the ladies to talk and enjoy lighter drinks of their own. But as Thalia followed Lady Harwood from the room, she was struck with a sudden pang of guilt. She turned to watch Benedict's broad figure retreating from the room in the opposite direction.

Then, before she could think better of it, she turned and followed him.

She would need to be quick, catching him before the others noticed her absence. Hurrying after him, Thalia was led from the room and down a small hall to the right. Several other men sauntered casually along before them.

Just as Thalia opened her mouth to call out to the duke, Benedict stopped and turned to her, an eyebrow raised. "Do you think to join us for a drink?" he asked with obvious amusement.

Embarrassed, Thalia shook her head. "I, I wanted to catch you. Before you joined the others."

"Oh?" Benedict took a step closer, grinning. "And why, may I ask, is that?"

Thalia opened her mouth but, for a moment, nothing came out.

The hall was empty now, the rest of the men having gone. Benedict's grin widened. "Could it be that you have come looking for more of the… conversation we shared the other day?"