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“Please see Mr. Mandeville to the parlor,” Susan said, using her duchess voice, which earned another glance from Rebecca. She wanted Mr. Mandeville taken to the parlor? All of the bouquets were in the parlor. “You may tell him that Miss Jennings and I will receive him shortly.” When the footman left, Susan said, “I must play chaperone, you know.”
“I doubt that’s your primary motive,” Rebecca said.
“Nonetheless,” Susan replied. “Are you ready to receive your first admirer, Miss Jennings? We’d better inform Mary that she’ll be taking over as chaperone this afternoon, assuming Mr. Mandeville has arrived with the promised phaeton.”
Rebecca dabbed her lips with her napkin and stood, reaching for her cane as Susan left the room to send word to Mary. This was what she’d dreamt about for so long, wasn’t it? A handsome gentleman was here, hoping to spend time with her after showing a distinct interest in her at Almack’s. It waseveryyoung girl’s dream, was it not?
But at the moment, she could see only Ben’s intense blue eyes and feel Ben’s kisses.“You must go; you must enjoy yourself. You must flirt and allow flirtation, and in a few weeks’ time, you must dance. Youmustdance—forme. Only that will free me of the guilt I have felt these past weeks—surely you must see this to be true.”Of all the consequences that had occurred because of her accident, accidentally falling in love with Ben had been the most unexpected, and it left her heartsick and torn.
She clamped her hand around the knob of her cane and set her teeth, forcing a smile onto her face. None of this was Hugh Mandeville’s fault, was it? It wasn’t as thoughhe’dcaused her accident, had he? He’d sought out her companionship, and he had been kind and solicitous thus far. She owed it to him and to herself to enjoy his company and see what would happen.
The footman opened the parlor door for her and Susan, who was nearly at her side.
Hugh Mandeville stood and approached them, bowing to Susan and then taking Rebecca’s offered hand in his for a brief, respectful kiss. “Miss Jennings, how utterly radiant you look this afternoon! You fairly outshine the flowers that fill the room.” He looked a bit sheepishly at her. “I can see that my modest contribution is among them. You have many admirers, which comes as no surprise at all.”
“You are all flattery, Mr. Mandeville,” she said.
“Not at all, I assure you,” he said.
“Mr. Mandeville, what a surprise to see you again so soon,” Susan said. She sat, so Rebecca sat, which meant Mr. Mandeville could also sit. Rebecca was grateful Susan had taken the lead in the conversation. “With our having only so recently arrived in Town,” Susan continued, “I imagine you have much you can tell us about the Season thus far. Would you care for tea?”
“No, Your Grace, but thank you,” he said.
He and Susan chatted briefly about the evening at Almack’s, but then he turned directly to Rebecca. “Miss Jennings, I do hope strolling with me last evening didn’t tire you when you are still”—he glanced discreetly at her foot—“recovering your health. It is why I was so firm about suggesting we sit a round of dances after walking about during the first round. I was honored, by the way, to have your bestowal of your time on my humble self. I hope others didn’t notice unduly, or they might think me rather forward.”
“I doubt a simple stroll or chat would amount to that, Mr. Mandeville,” Rebecca said.
“Well, I’m certainly glad you see it that way.” He glanced once again at the flowers that filled the room. “I drove my phaeton here this afternoon, as I mentioned in my card. Perhaps you read it? Would you care to take a drive through Hyde Park with me? It’s a jolly fun little conveyance, if I do say so myself.”
“Thank you, Mr. Mandeville,” Rebecca said. She presumed her foot was healed enough now to allow herself to enjoy such a drive in the reinforced slipper Aylesham had given her. “I should enjoy that very much.”
He offered her his hand to assist her from her chair, and she accepted it.
* * *
Ben sat at his desk in his study, drumming his fingers and staring at the letter from Rebecca that had stayed in his breast pocket ever since receiving it up until this moment. He’d fully intended to respond to her, per her request, but hadn’t as of yet. A sheet of paper lay before him, and his pen and inkwell were at hand. But he hadn’t written a word.
Next to her letter was the one from Aylesham and the letters from his mother and his housekeeper. He had replied to none of them. He hadn’t wanted to reply, even though he should have responded well before now.
He gave up on the task and stood. He needed air. “I am going for a walk,” he said when Snow gave him an inquisitive look.
“Very good, my lord,” Snow replied. “Shall I inform Mrs. Snow what time you wish to take tea after your walk?”
“No,” Ben said. “I cannot say when I’ll be back.”
Snow bowed his head, looking for all like a wounded puppy, if an older man could appear as such a thing.
“My apologies, Snow,” Ben said. “My mind is elsewhere, and my tone was abrupt.”
“No offense taken, my lord,” Snow said.
“Yes, well, thank you,” Ben said, feeling like a cad. He wasn’t sure what else he could say. “Please inform Mrs. Snow that as I intend to walk and my only plans are to walk until I am done walking, she may rest and not worry herself about tea for me this afternoon.”
“I shall do so, my lord. And, my lord?” Snow said.
“Yes?”
“I dearly hope your walk takes you where you need to go, whether it’s to an actual place or somewhere in your soul,” Snow said in a solemn voice.
