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Chapter 7
Ben spent the next threedays getting acquainted with his tenants. His wasn’t a large property, so there weren’t many tenants, which allowed him to spend time talking to them and learning more about the village of Lower Alderwood and even about Great-Uncle John.
Ben was satisfied by what he’d seen.
He had also decided he was going to attend church in the village tomorrow. Between the Jennings family, their servants, and his own servants, he was fairly certain the knowledge regarding his arrival—and his title—had made its way through the countryside by now. It had been too much to expect he could remain Mr. Fortescue for long. As it was, he was undoubtedly fortunate his secret had remained a secret for the past couple weeks.
He hadn’t seen or spoken to anyone from Alderwood since the supper he’d attended that had ended rather unfortunately, as he had intentionally been absent from his house during the past three days.
It was just as well anyway. Rebecca’s brothers had pressed him on his intentions concerning their sister, which was only right and was their duty, as they had clearly pointed out to him. He had undoubtedly left too abruptly—they were only being protective elder brothers, after all, and had only presented him with questions that were rightfully theirs to ask. Ben had overreacted. But he also did not want his actions regarding Rebecca to be misconstrued in any way by anyone. His intention all along had been to compensate in whatever way he could for her accident and her loss. That was all.
That was all, he told himself again as he returned his mount to MacKay late Saturday afternoon. The days were getting longer now, and the sun was still fairly high in the sky, requiring Ben to shield his eyes as he made his way from his private lane to the stable yard. Marriage had consequences, and a poor marriage had dire consequences that had not occurred to Ben during a time when he’d allowed himself to be flattered into believing himself in love.
He strode back to the house, ready for tea and refreshment.
“Afternoon, my lord, sir,” Snow said when Ben stepped inside the entry. “Welcome home.” He cleared his throat. “There are two gentlemen in the front parlor who insisted on staying until they could speak to you in person,” he added in a low voice. “I didn’t feel it my place to suggest they return at a more convenient time.”
Ben didn’t need to ask who the “two gentlemen” were. He already knew. “Two gentlemen”—Thomas and Lucas Jennings—had sent a message two days ago asking for permission to call upon him. Ben had sent a return message, in which he’d said there was no need for such a call and had thanked them both. He’d been as polite as possible, considering they were Rebecca’s brothers and Ben’s neighbors. But he could also not allow Rebecca to think he intended to offer her marriage, nor that his calls upon her implied as much. He had grown to care about her too much to mislead her in such a manner.
A dull ache settled in his stomach.
“Thank you, Snow,” he said as he removed his hat. “Have they been waiting long?”
Snow only stared at him as if to suggest the Jennings brothers had been at the house for quite a long stretch of time.
“I hope they were offered refreshment,” Ben said.
“Of course,” Snow replied. “And the tea and biscuits were also replenished.”
Oh bother. They’d been here that long, had they? “And yet, they remain?”
Snow didn’t reply to Ben’s obviously rhetorical question, nor did he need to. He walked to the front parlor door. “Are you ready to greet your guests, my lord?” The fact that Snow had left off “sir” also showed that Rebecca’s brothers had called upon Ben by using his title.
“Yes, Snow, I suppose I am.”
Snow opened the door and stepped inside. “The Earl of Winton,” he announced.
Ben walked through the door, and Snow closed it behind him with a sharp click.
“Gentlemen, welcome,” Ben said with formality as Thomas and Lucas Jennings rose to their feet. “I understand you have been here for some time; I hope you have been made to feel comfortable during your wait.” He refused to apologize for the time they’d remained at his house without their host being present, as he hadn’t invited them to call in the first place.
“Comfortable, yes, thank you,” Thomas Jennings said, looking entirely uncomfortable.
“Please, be seated,” Ben said. He crossed the room and sat as well, making an effort to look as relaxed as possible, although he was anything but relaxed. “How may I be of service to you both this afternoon?” He waited.
Lucas Jennings looked at his brother, Thomas. Thomas cleared his throat. “The ladies in our family did not take kindly to our manner of questioning you,” Lucas said before his brother could speak. “And have rightly pointed out that we failed in our hospitality to you at supper the other evening.”
Thomas seemed to recover his tongue as his brother spoke. “’Tis as he says. We extended the invitation to you for supper and an evening of entertainments in order to become better acquainted as neighbors, and instead . . . well, you already know how things transpired.”
Ben nodded. He waited.
“And while you were gracious enough to reply to our request to call upon you, our efforts did not appease our wives,” Thomas said.
Lucas muttered something under his breath and shook his head slightly.
This was becoming interesting—and a touch amusing. “You may inform your wives that I hold no ill will for either of you. I have no siblings myself, and so, while I have no practical experience regarding the brotherly concerns for a sister, I can appreciate the protectiveness you demonstrated on Miss Jennings’s behalf.”
The brothers shared a glance. “Thank you, Winton,” Thomas said. “But I’m afraid Isobel and Lavinia won’t be satisfied by a mere report of our conversation. We are here to not only make peace with you as gentlemen but to extend an invitation for you to join us for luncheon after church services tomorrow.” He looked away from Ben as though disgusted with himself at having to grovel in such a manner.
