Page 90 of Waiting for Love

Hazard said, “That is an option. But you should consider it will only fan the rumors. And frankly, a man will be leery of a wife who runs back home whenever she is sad.”

“The deuce,” Jasper said. “I wish Crispin were here.”

Benjamin eased himself out of his chair. “This is family business. Perhaps I should not…”

Jasper reached for his arm. “Actually, I was going to ask you if you would stay.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Before Reg and Haz got here, I was about to ask you to stay. I know you need to be at Chaumbers. But I thought maybe Hannah…I’d hoped more time with Hannah might cheer her. Olivia adores her so.” He pleaded with his eyes. “Can I persuade you to stay until we figure this out? For Olivia’s sake?”

Benjamin let out a long breath. Heaven and hell.

“Yes. Yes, of course, I will stay.”

*

Jasper’s solution was Vauxhall Gardens. That very night. Benjamin stood in front of his mirror in a shirt he’d borrowed from Reg, cravat in hand, and attempted a knot he’d seen on others that did not look as difficult to tie as it was.

Jasper had always been a the-more-the-merrier fellow. It never seemed to register with him that not everyone felt the same. At least tonight, the outing was only for family. Family. Benjamin was touched that he was included along with Hazard and Alice.

But to speak as though the only people at Vauxhall would be family? The Pleasure Garden was where people went to see and be seen.

He frowned at his knot—the hell with it—pulled on his jacket, and went to find the others.

The men were gathered in the receiving hall. For partygoers, they looked a bit grim. He thought it was because of Olivia until he got close and saw that the skin around Hazard’s eye was darkened. Benjamin stared.

Hazard screwed up his mouth. “Yes, yes. I had a bit of misfortune.”

“Haz,” Jasper started.

“Yes, all right. As I was explaining, I arrived home to find my parlor a shambles. Bertram was entertaining—I don’t know who. They were not gentlemen. Two were passed out on the floor. The third was playing cards with Bertram. I can only assume the stakes were high and Bertram was losing. I told them to get out.”

When he did not continue, Jasper said, “His cousin insulted him. Hazard hit him.”

Benjamin swallowed hard. He didn’t press for more, but Hazard picked up the tale.

“I did not hit him hard enough. We got into a scuffle. The other fellow picked up a poker.”

“Good God!” Benjamin exclaimed.

“Yes, well, fortunately James burst into the room. He’d heard the noise.”

Jasper said, “His butler.”

“James is a young fellow. Robust you might say.” Hazard huffed as though amused. “He knocked the poker from the ruffian’s hand.” Hazard swung his arm, demonstrating. “Then he laid the fellow out flat with one punch. With my permission, he called in the footmen, and they threw everyone out.”

“Everyone?” Jasper pressed.

“Bertram, too. I was angry enough not to question the wisdom of such a move.” Then he drew himself up. “And this is not something we will discuss any further.”

Perhaps Hazard had heard footsteps, because at that inconvenient moment, the ladies entered the hall all together. If anything could have diverted attention, it was this. They stunned. All so different, they seemed to represent beauty in all its myriad manifestations: Georgiana’s red-blonde, Grecian perfection; Vanessa’s dark, mature sensuality; Alice’s sharp-eyed intelligence and a buxomness that hinted at more. Still, it was Olivia who drew Benjamin’s eye. Her evening dress was a pale shade of turquoise. With her hair piled atop her head, her neck looked long and graceful. He had a fierce desire to press his lips against that neck.

The ladies lined up along the wall. At a signal from Vanessa, they lifted their hems a few inches, demonstrating that they were not wearing dainty shoes but boots. Their Christmas boots. Hessians decorated with flowers.

“Very lovely,” Hazard said, skepticism thick in his voice. “But can you dance in them?”

“We mean to prove that we can,” Vanessa said.