“Cressida and I have had long discussions since the night of the ball,” Richard began while glancing at his fiancée. “Miss Pembleton, I wish to reassure you that nothing untoward happened. There was no serious breach of propriety. Nothing so sordid as a kiss occurred. The widow simply wished to say hello to the man her parents tried to once marry her to, but Blake rejected her then, just like he would have if she escalated their reacquaintance. So, you need not worry on that account.”
“There was not,” Blake agreed, deciding that pointing out that a kiss was hardly a sordid act would only heighten the tension.
“As such, I still want you to be my best man,” Richard said.
Beside him, Miss Pembleton gasped, but Blake ignored her. “It would be an honor.”
He held his friend’s gaze, hoping to convey how much Richard’s trust meant to him.
So few people think that highly of me.
He did not want to do anything to jeopardize it, not again. Unbidden, the smell of stale rum and cigars filled his nostrils. He forced the memory out of his mind—he would not think of that now.
“Which brings us to the main problem,” Cressida said, fixing Miss Pembleton with a firm look. “For I have no desire to give up my maid of honor, Jane. Yet, it is clear, just from walking in here today, that the animosity from two nights ago has not faded.”
“If anything, it seems somehow renewed.” Richard looked from Blake to Jane, who was doing her best to look like she hadn’t been glaring at him. “And neither of us wishes to have our wedding disrupted because the best man and maid of honor are constantly at one another’s throats.”
“I would never,everdo anything to ruin your wedding.” Miss Pembleton sounded genuinely hurt as she said this, and even through his irritation, Blake could see that her face held a vulnerability and softness he had not seen before.
“I am sure you would not. But emotions… well, they have a way of spilling out when we least expect it.”
“I wouldn’t let them.” Miss Pembleton shook her head emphatically. However, as she caught sight of Blake, she seemed unable to stop herself from scowling.
He frowned back, raising an eyebrow as if to say that clearly, she wasn’t as in control of her emotions as she thought.
Unfortunately, Cressida saw the exchange.
She sighed. “You can barely stop glowering at each other for this conversation! I can think of nothing worse than having to sit through several hours of you glaring daggers at each other. And I won’t risk your tempers flaring on the day.” She gave both Blake and Miss Pembleton a stern look.
“It is important to both of us that you are by our sides—neither of us will be moved on this front.” The way Richard said it made Blake suspect that both parties had gone through some considerable effort to convince the other to concede on this ground.
I had not expected Glassbury to be quite so loyal to me.
Blake was touched. He could not remember anyone ever valuing him enough to fight for him to be at their side. He would not let his friend down again, not when Richard continued to put so much faith in him.
Though, I suspect Miss Pembleton will make that hard. Especially if she insists on remaining so combative.
The woman was glaring at him again, and Blake found himself unable to resist smiling at her in the most irritating manner he could manage.
What is wrong with me?
“Then what exactly are you proposing?” Blake asked, noticing that Richard and Cressida were both surveying them with a quiet intensity.
“The Banns.”
Miss Pembleton clapped a hand to her mouth. “No, please, Cressida. You cannot.”
Realization hit Blake like a hammer. “The entire wedding party, all of us are supposed to accompany you to Kenton Estate for the reading of the Banns? You expect us to live under the same roof for three weeks?”
“If you plan on remaining in the wedding party, yes,” Richard said. “This has always been the plan.”
“Besides, we think that spending some time together will force you two to be on… well, if not friendly, then at least polite terms. As you know, we will be retiring to Kenton Estate for the reading of the Banns, and you and some other members of the wedding party will be joining us. That will give you plenty of time to get to know each other.” Cressida clapped her hands together.
“But that is ridiculous! I am perfectly capable of keeping my temper!” Blake exclaimed, unable to swallow the barb aimed at Miss Pembleton.
“As am I,” Jane shot back.
“See, this is already giving you both something to unite over.” Richard smiled as both Jane and Blake scowled at him.
