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“The ladies were in need of a drink, Seb,” Benedict declared, lifting his gaze from the women at last. His deep brown eyes that were so like Sebastian’s own were rather moony as they stared at Lady Bella. “There is a teahouse not far from here.”
“Ah, and how do the ladies like their tea?” Sebastian asked as he crossed toward them. If he was going to protect his brother from their advances, then it was high time he was more forthright, even if it became rude.
I do not care what anyone thinks of me, after all.
“Do they take tea only with marquesses and nothing less?” His words clearly hit the mark. As the Marquess of Westmond, his brother was one of the most eligible bachelors of the season.
“I beg your pardon?” Lady Hayes said hurriedly as her sister blushed bright red.
“It is not the tea they want, but the company, Benedict.” Sebastian stepped near his brother, practically putting himself between him and Lady Hayes. At once, she was forced to release Benedict and step back.
“Seb, I –” Benedict’s tone was pleading, but Sebastian spoke over him.
“I imagine their thirst suddenly came upon them when they saw you. What do you say, Lady Bella? Am I wrong?” His question hit the mark for she stepped back too, also releasing Benedict.
“Come, Bella,” Lady Hayes said, striding forward and reaching for her sister’s arm. “It seems the Duke of Ashbury does not want our company today.” Lady Hayes towed Lady Bella away, though the latter kept looking back to Benedict as she went, offering a sweet smile and a wave that seemed to linger.
Once they were gone, wandering around the lake with other ladies, Sebastian heard his brother sigh beside him.
“Seb, I swear, I do not understand you.”
Sebastian smiled a little at these words and turned back to face his brother. Benedict’s fair hair was a contrast to his own, not just in color, but in style. Unlike Sebastian’s that was wild from the ride, Benedict’s was well-coiffed. It went with the pristine nature of his tailcoat and waistcoat. He was even well shaven, and he scratched at his chin now, shaking his head.
“Am I an enigma? Ha! If only, what a man would give to be anything half so interesting as a mystery.” Sebastian laughed and walked around his brother before taking hold of Benedict’s shoulder and steering him to look at the ladies that had just left. “Those ladies are not for you, Benedict.”
“You are becoming worse than a belligerent mother of a young lady of the ton,” Benedict said wryly, earning a deep chuckle from Sebastian.
“I suppose I am, but with good cause.”
“What good cause is that?” Benedict asked, laughing. Despite his laughter, he still waved after the ladies, and his eyes seemed rather dazed as he watched them. “They were perfectly pleasant, they had charm, and were very handsome. Pray tell me why I could not enjoy their company?”
“Do you want the detail or the quick version?”
“The quick version, please, or we’ll be here all day and your horse will be most upset at the wait.” They both shot a glance toward the steed that was already pawing at the ground with his hooves, unhappy to be still so long.
“Come. If he sees us walking away, he will calm down. As we walk, I will give you the quick version of this lecture that you wanted,” Sebastian said and steered his brother away, aware that Benedict drove the fine heels of his hessian boots into the ground, trying to stall their progress.
“I don’t remember asking for a lecture, as such…”
“Then indulge me, for I am your brother.” Sebastian encouraged Benedict to walk the other way around the lake. With late summer turning to autumn, more and more trees above them were turning brown and orange, but their leaves hadn’t fallen just yet. Sebastian ran a hand through these leaves, snapping off a few of them before offering them to his brother.
“This is an odd gift,” Benedict murmured.
“Thisis how the ladies of the ton see you, brother. They see you as something that is easy to pluck.”
“Oi!”
“Hear me out,” Sebastian pleaded. “You are young, a marquess, wealthy, with your own estate –”
“As much as I enjoy your compliments, is there a point to this?” Benedict asked with one raised eyebrow.
“There is.” Sebastian paused in their walk and held his brother’s gaze. “Many ladies seek your company for one reason only. They see you as a viable husband.”
“What a shame!” Benedict said with thick sarcasm. “Was it not you who encouraged me to marry? I know I am the one who wants to marry, but you seem to have alighted on the idea with keenness. Why should the lady I wish to spend my life with, bother you so?”
“Yes, I am very eager for you to be wed and to see you happy.”
“And you? Will you wed?”
