“Shocked and hurt?” Mrs Armstrong shook a fist dangerously close to Benedict’s face. “I am shocked and hurt by your depraved behaviour.”
“He didn’t—” Julia started.
“Silence! We’re going to pack our things and leave as soon as possible.” Mrs Armstrong folded her arms across her chest.
“That would be a mistake,” Pearl said. She stood up as well and walked over to Julia to offer a hug of comfort. “I’d suggest leave the whole affair secret. If no harm has been done, there is no reason the incident should be divulged. If we rush back to London, rumours will start, and questions will begin to circulate. Julia will promise to behave from now on, won’t you?”
Fresh tears streamed down Julia’s face. “I swear, I’ll do anything Mrs Armstrong asks me to do, but please don’t tell my parents. It’d be too much for them. They’ll be so disappointed, and my older sister is going to marry next month. I’ll ruin her as well if words of my escapade come out.”
“Escapade.” Mrs Armstrong huffed. “I’d use another word.”
“I’ll leave,” Benedict says, glancing at Christopher. “I had no intention of causing trouble for Julia, and leaving is the least I can do.”
“Finally, some wise words from you.” Mrs Armstrong sneered.
Pearl offered her handkerchief to Julia. “So are we going to stay?”
“I’ll think about it.” Mrs Armstrong opened the door and waited. “To your rooms, both of you.” The tone was final.
Keeping an arm around Julia’s shoulders, Pearl glanced at Christopher. He gave her a nod, and she sauntered out of the room.
It seemed she couldn’t find a moment to talk to him alone.
~ * ~
“WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?” Christopher roared the moment the door of his office was shut behind Mrs Armstrong and the girls.
Benedict opened the sideboard and poured himself a generous dose of brandy. “Don’t play the prude with me. You would’ve done the same with Amelia.”
“I wasn’t the one discovered stark naked in a bathtub with an aristocratic virgin, though.”
“Then what exactly are you accusing me of?” The brandy sloshed in the glass when Benedict rotated it. “Are you angry because I dirty-puzzled with Julia, or because I was caught?”
Curse him. Christopher propped an elbow on the mantelpiece. “Both. You could’ve been more discreet, especially since you’re in my house.”
“Apologies.” The tone was flat and not apologetic at all.
“And you could’ve spared a thought about that poor girl who’s going to face the most humiliating moment of her life.”
Benedict’s shoulders slumped. His features softened. “You’re right.”
“You have no restraint.”
Benedict sipped the whiskey. “She’s so damn tempting.”
Hell, Christopher knew everything about temptation. He’d practically begged Amelia to stay with him. Begged. He’d never begged anyone.
“What are your intentions towards Julia?” he asked.
His friend stared at the brandy as if he could divine an answer from it. “I’m not sure. I barely know her. She’s pretty and clever.”
“And distraught. The poor girl was crying.” Christopher helped himself a glass of brandy too and sat in front of Benedict.
“I know.” He reclined his head and closed his eyes. “We were just having fun.”
“So I’ve seen.” Christopher couldn’t stop a grin.
Benedict grinned back. “I swear, I didn’t want to take her, just to play with her a bit. I didn’t want to hurt her.”
