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“If what you say is true, then I imagine it is long past time for someone to ‘fend for you,’ as you put it,” he said. “It is my honor to be of service to you this evening.”
“Hmph,” Hannah said.
Rebecca relaxed—but only a bit. There was still a lot of evening to get through.
* * *
Ben wasn’t sure what he’d expected when he’d anticipated meeting more of Rebecca’s family, but it surely hadn’t beenthiscollection of unusual people, especially after meeting her parents and sister-in-law. During the course of the meal, he’d heard engaging stories about nearly all of them: Lucas serving in the Peninsular campaign under General Wellesley, the newly titled Duke of Wellington; Lucas’s wife, Lavinia, sneaking out of London with Mr. Drake and Miss Weston and Miss Broome under the dark of night like thieves; and Miss Weston feigning her own death in order to nudge Mr. Drake into proposing marriage.
It was all too fantastical. Who lived life in such a manner as this? And yet the stories must be true, for they were recited with earnestness and corroborative input from the others at the dining table, along with a great deal of laughter.
“And now I shall do my duty as hostess,” Mrs. Thomas Jennings, Isobel, said, rising to her feet. She raised her wine glass. “Here’s toMr. Fortescue,who appears not to have been overly scandalized by our stories. It bodes well for his future as our neighbor . . . and for our future as well.”
Ben noticed she leaned a bit heavily on the emphasis of his name.
Everyone chuckled at her toast, however, and raised their glasses.
“And I have allowed for a great deal of informality when I should have been a better host to our new neighbor,” Thomas Jennings said, rising to his feet as his wife sat. “Although I must say, this meal has the comfortable feel of our usual family gatherings.” He raised his glass. “Mr. Fortescue, despite the events leading up to our dear Rebecca’s injury, we are grateful for your due diligence in seeing to her aid and comfort these past several days. We all know what a terrible patient she can be.”
Everyone laughed outright this time except for Rebecca, who looked entirely chagrined, her cheeks beginning to bloom a rosy pink, which Ben found charming. “I amnota terrible patient, Thomas,” she said indignantly, even though she raised her glass along with the others. “In fact, I can recall a certain incident not too long past—you all remember, I’m sure—during which my elder brother suffered from a fever and his moans and cries could be heard—”
“Enough, little sister, I take your point,” Thomas said, grinning. “Mr. Fortescue, I stand corrected: our Rebecca is a shining example to all who suffer the trials and tribulations of life. She doesn’t cry—much; she doesn’t complain—ever—”
“Indeed, I have seen soldiers on the field of battle who could have learned a thing or two from our Rebecca,” Lucas interjected. “In point of fact, my good friend Tony, when he was wounded, near death’s door, said in a weak, pitiable voice that was racked with pain, ‘Oh, Lucas, my loyal and true friend,’” Lucas said in the weak, pitiable voice he had just described, making Ben bite his lip to keep a serious look on his face, “‘if only I could be as brave and stoic as your little sister Rebecca.’” He sighed dramatically.
Rebecca shook her head in disgust as everyone else around the table laughed once again.
“I believe there are more actors in your family than I was originally led to believe,” Ben said. “I can only attest to what I myself have witnessed: that your sister showed great restraint when she was in enough pain to faint from her injury. She has been remarkably forgiving of me for being the cause of her missing out on a highly anticipated Season in London, and she has graced my ears with her fine pianoforte playing.”
“Here, here,” Lucas said, raising his glass. “To Rebecca, who loves her family despite their relentless teasing. And toMr. Fortescue, for his congenial manner and for reminding us that we frequently overlook the fine qualities of our little sister.” Once again, emphasis had been placed on Ben’s name.
They all raised their glasses again, and therefore, so did Ben.
“Shall we adjourn now, ladies, and let the gentlemen relax with their port for a few minutes before rejoining us and gathering in the music room?” Isobel said, once again rising to her feet.
The other ladies followed her lead. Ben stood and retrieved Rebecca’s crutches for her and became aware that her family was watching him rather closely.
He returned to his chair as the ladies exited the room and then reseated himself. The air in the room changed with the departure of the ladies, and Ben began feeling as if, for some reason, he was now a man on trial being scrutinized by judge and jury.
Mr. Drake shot quick glances at Rebecca’s brothers. “I believe I’ll toddle off and join the ladies,” he said, rising quickly to his feet and hurrying after the women, shutting the door and leaving Ben alone with two suddenly serious-looking gentlemen.
“What precisely are you about,Lord Winton?” Lucas Jennings asked him bluntly.
“And what are your intentions regarding our baby sister?” Thomas Jennings asked.
How dare they,was the first thought that entered Ben’s mind.How dare they judge me?“I should think that a gentleman married to a Drury Lane actress who performed under an assumed name and who has family members who also acted under assumed names might be a bit less confrontational with his question to me.”
He paused briefly to regain his composure on the chance that the brothers hadn’t meant to sound as disagreeable as Ben had thought. Perhaps he was overreacting. He took a deep breath. “The answer is a simple one: I chose to free myself for the merest amount of time from the responsibilities associated with my title. I was offered such an opportunity when I inherited my property. I meant no deceit, and my staff is aware of the situation, although in hindsight, I have come to realize that my choosing to do this may have affected, hopefully in the short term, some of the connections I have already made here in Lower Alderwood.” He turned to Rebecca’s brother Thomas. “Why would you suppose, under such short acquaintance and under the circumstances by which that acquaintance came about, that I had other intentions regarding your sister? I was the cause of bodily injury to her and have only felt the desire to make amends in whatever manner I could.”
“We mean no ill will, Lord Winton,” Thomas Jennings said. “We only sought clarification.”
“We only wish to assure ourselves that other seemingly impulsive decisions are not to be expected while our parents are away contending with one impulsive decision already,” Lucas added.
Ben thought he could understand their concerns, even though he had no sisters or brothers of his own, and even applauded their desire to protect their sister. But it didn’t lessen his annoyance at being confronted like this when he’d been given the impression during supper that nothing was amiss, that, in fact, he’d been invited to this gathering with what had seemed to be neighborly hospitality.
“Very well,” he said, “I shall answer your question: I have developed a high regard for your sister. Anyone who becomes acquainted with Rebecca Jennings would surely hold her in such regard. However, I am only recently out of mourning for the loss of my wife and am not of a mind to marry at present, nor can I guarantee when or even if I will be of a mind to marry in the future. To go into further detail would dishonor the memory of my deceased wife.
“My intent,” he continued, “was to, in some small way, make amends for the injury I caused, during the course of which I believe I have made a genuine friend. Now that she is surrounded by her doting brothers and their families, however, I can see that she is in capable hands that will fill her days with amusement and love.” He rose from the table. “Thank you for the fine supper and your hospitality. I think, perhaps, I will refrain from joining you and the others in the music room and allow you all to spend time together as a family. Please make my apologies to your sister and to the other ladies. Good evening.” He bowed and took his leave.
