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“Why is it so important to everyone that I attend the Season? You are the fourth person to mention it to me.”
The fourth? Which person in our household had not yet mentioned it? “I cannot speak for anyone else, but I think you need to leave Chelton if you have hope of finding a bride.”
Henry’s mouth flattened to a thin line. “You feeling ready to be shackled to a woman does not mean I want that fate for myself.”
“Shackled?” I lifted my eyebrow to him. “You do not truly see marriage in that way.”
“No, I don’t. But I will not concern myself with finding a wife until I am ready.”
“And until then? You will mope around Chelton and pretend you are perfectly content to do nothing but read all day except for the occasional riding break?”
Henry looked away, unable to meet my gaze. “I considered coming to London, but not to attend the Season. Thea reminded me of the other things Town has to offer.”
“Like women of good reputation and marriageable age?”
“Like museums and bookstores.”
“You are such a bore.”
“And you, brother, are in love.”
He shocked me into silence.
We rode a bit further, then Henry shrugged. “If you can be blunt, so can I.”
That was fair. “I should not speak of your life so plainly. It is not mine to judge.”
“No, it is not. But apologizing for your words does not remove mine. You are in love, are you not?”
I slowed Jasper, dropped the reins, and scrubbed both hands over my face. When I removed them, Henry had turned around and come back to me, slowing his horse to walk beside mine.
“Love is a strong word, and I am not certain it is applicable here.” I swallowed thickly, fearing the repercussions for speaking the quiet thoughts of my heart aloud. But I could trust Henry. “I care for her. I . . . I wish we were not always so at odds with one another, that she would see me and not immediately put up her defensive walls. But I do not know how to take them down.”
“Have you spoken to her about it?”
“We formed a truce, but that has not seemed to open her heart to me as much as I’d hoped.”
“Then you must do more. Because she will not wait forever, Benedict, and if you are going to Town for the Season, the competition for her affections will only grow more robust at an exponential rate.”
“We leave in three weeks, I believe. I have three weeks, then, to win her over?”
Henry shrugged. “At least it will give you a greater start.”
“But how do I win over a woman who will not allow me to win anything?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Henry asked. “You let her win.”
* * *
By the time we reached Chelton, the sun had long since slipped away. We’d stopped in Bakewell for dinner to avoid joining the meal at home when it was already half over. We rode into the stable courtyard and jumped from our horses in the orange light of the lanterns swinging from hooks on the wall.
“You go on ahead,” I said, helping the groom remove Jasper’s saddle and blanket. I planned to brush him down and see that he was fed, for it was a good way to delay entering the house.
“You must come inside eventually,” Henry said, as though he could read my thoughts.
“I will be in soon.” Now that I’d admitted my developing feelings aloud, they were real. Tangible. Something I could no longer deny.
I worried for how I would act around Thea. I only had three weeks to prove to her that I was worth taking a chance on, and it didn’t seem like nearly enough time. She was so vibrant, so bold and full of passion, that she would undoubtedly take thetonby storm. She would sweep in and have a string of admirers begging for dances and sending her flowers before the first week was over.
