With a nod, he closed the door. She’d have preferred not to give her name, because it might ensure her friend was not at home to her, but it was doubtful she’d come to the servants’ entrance without knowing who awaited her.
Looking out over the winter gardens, Althea fought against remembering all the times she’d taken tea with her friend among the greenery. How often they’d laughed. The gossip they’d shared. Kat had been the first she’d told whenshe developed affections for Chadbourne. Kat had been the only one at the last ball she’d attended not to turn her back on her. Or not turn it entirely. She had lowered her gaze and looked as though she wished to be anywhere other than where she was. But then Althea had wished the same.
When the door again opened, she swung around and forced a smile. “Hello, Kat.”
“Althea, what a... surprise.”
“I was wondering if I might have a word.”
“Yes, of course. My parents aren’t about, so they won’t be objecting to your presence. Do come in.” Once they were inside, Kathryn glanced around nervously. “Would you mind if we met in the servants’ dining hall? No one is there presently, and if my parents should return—”
“I can make a hasty and discreet exit.”
“Oh, Althea.”
“It’s all right.” She squeezed Kat’s hand. “I’m just relieved you’re willing to speak to me.”
“Of course, dear friend.” Kat squeezed back. “I think it’s frightfully unfair that you have to suffer because of your father’s lack of judgment. Follow me.” As they made their way to the dining room, Kat called out to a maid to have tea brought.
Once they were settled at the oak table with tea and cakes in front of them, Kat said, “So what did you want to talk about?”
Best to get straight to the heart of the matter before her parents returned and she was forced to make a hasty—and undetected—exit. Oh, where to begin? She took a sip of her tea. “You’re friends with the Duchess of Lushing.”
“Former Duchess of Lushing. Selena prefers to be called Mrs. Trewlove now. I can’t believe she married someone of illegitimate origins, but she’s madly in love with him.”
“Have you come to know the Trewlove family well?”
She knew they’d attended a few balls, when she still attended them, particularly earlier in the year when they were introducing their sister Fancy to Society. But Althea couldn’t recall seeing Benedict at any of the affairs, other than the weddings. Although she did know he was a man of his word. The coal had been delivered that morning. More than a month’s worth, longer if they didn’t have a fire every day. It seemed the man was generous to a fault, having replaced far more than he used.
Kat shrugged. “Well enough to speak with them at balls.”
“What of Benedict? Some people call him Beast. Have you had occasion to get to know him?”
Kat studied her for all of a minute before saying, “The Heathcliff-ish one?”
“Heathcliff-ish?”
“Tall, dark, brooding.”
“Is he really the brooding sort?” Quiet. Observant. Unobtrusive. Not one for seeking attention, perhaps. “I readily admit he weighs his words carefully, but brooding?”
Planting her elbow on the table, Kat placed her chin in her palm and grinned like a cat that had lapped up all the cream. “You seem to know him better than I. How is that, I wonder?”
With a sigh, Althea was beginning to realize her foolishness in coming here. Odd, since her entire purpose in speaking with Kat had been to ensure she wasn’t about to embark on something foolish. “I’ve taken employment at a tavern, and he comes in on occasion.” It had hurt to admit she was working, even more so when Kat’s eyes filled with pity. “I was just curious as to whether you had developed a sense of him during any encounters you might have had or if you’d heard anything untoward about him.”
If she was going to accept his proposition, she wanted to ensure she wasn’t stepping into a far worse situation than shewas presently in. But if he was to become her protector then Griffith could join Marcus in the quest to reclaim the family honor. And Marcus had spoken true. Under their present circumstance no one would marry her. She was already four and twenty. By the time this matter was sorted—should it ever be sorted—she’d be so high on the shelf no gentleman would ever reach for her. She had no reason whatsoever to save herself for marriage. She might as well do what she could now to relieve her brothers of their worry over her so they could focus their efforts on ensuring no harm came to either of them as they pursued what she feared was a reckless venture.
Shoving her cup aside, Kat took Althea’s hands as though to impart strength because she knew her dear friend was considering doing something rather scandalous. “I don’t know anything about him specifically, but what I do know about the Trewloves is that, in spite of being born on the wrong side of the blanket, they possess a decency that is to be admired. It may be foolish of me, but I have often thought that if I needed to place my life in someone’s hands, it would be theirs.”
Althea found the words extremely comforting because since last night, she’d begun to believe the same thing regarding Benedict. Unintentionally, she had placed her life in his hands—and he had cared for her as though she was precious, even if she’d been somewhat of a termagant toward him.
How well might he treat her if she was more welcoming?
Chapter 5
Within his study, sitting at his desk, Beast repeatedly dipped his pen in the inkwell and scribbled frantically over the parchment, striving not to envision Althea peering at him through the narrow opening in her doorway, looking so delectable, so vulnerable, so beautiful with her blond hair cascading around her.
I haven’t taken a dislike to you.
