“Well, we’re glad you’re here.”
“And to that end”—Gillie entwined her arm around Althea’s—“let me introduce you around.”
With Benedict following, she led her over to where Aiden stood with his wife, the former Duchess of Lushing.
“We’ve met,” Aiden said before Gillie could speak.
“Oh?” Selena said. “At the Elysium?”
He grinned. “No, the Cerberus. She made out like a highwayman.”
Her cheeks warmed. “I had a little help I think.”
“Nothing wrong with a little help when it serves a greater good.”
Selena reached out and squeezed her hand. “I’m glad you could join us.”
Finn and Lavinia were next. She couldn’t help but think that in some ways Finn and Aiden resembled each other.
Once introductions were made and greetings exchanged,Lavinia smiled at Benedict. “Thank you for all the dolls and wooden soldiers you sent. Tomorrow morning two hundred children are going to be overjoyed.”
“Two hundred children?” Althea asked.
“They have a children’s home at their horse farm,” Benedict said quietly.
And he’d provided the children with toys. She’d have never known if she’d not come here tonight, and she wondered what else he did for which he neither sought nor received any credit.
“This is Robin,” Finn said, placing his hand on top of the dark head of a lad with mischievous brown eyes, who looked as though he was holding secrets he was dying to share.
“Hello, Robin,” she said. “I hear you like animals.”
“I love animals. Have you been to the zoological gardens?”
“It’s been a while, but, yes, I have.”
“It’s my favorite place in the whole world.”
“That makes it very special, then, doesn’t it?”
He bobbed his head.
After introducing Althea to Mick and Aslyn, as well as Fancy and Rosemont, Gillie excused herself, and Benedict escorted Althea to a chair where a small woman with dark hair streaked with silver sat, a sleeping child nestled in her arms. When they arrived, he bent and kissed the cheek the woman had tilted up toward him. “Hello, Mum.”
“Hello, lad. Sorry I can’t stand, but I don’t want to wake the little one. She was having a time of it earlier.”
“That’s all right. Better to have Gillie’s babe sleeping than crying. I’d like to introduce you to Thea.”
Her smile was a wreath of happiness. “What a joy it is to meet you.”
“I’m honored to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Trewlove. Your son is a remarkable man.”
“I can’t argue with you there. But then they all make me proud.” Looking up at Benedict, she gave her chin a little jerk. “Move that chair a bit closer so your lass can sit, and we can have a nice chat.”
“She’s not my lass.”
“I’m not his lass.”
They’d spoken at the same time, their eyes clashed, and she could see that his cheeks had gone a ruddy hue. If the heat scoring her face was any indication, hers had as well.
