Page 76 of Pleasantly Pursued

There were a few polite chuckles, and Benedict’s gaze shot to mine. “Do not throw challenges at my feet, Thea, unless you want me to accept them heartily.”

I was reminded of the moment he told me of his goal: to kiss me in London. I would need to remember his strong affinity for winning things when I spoke, but the desire to put my mind to anything except the looming meeting with my half-brother had allowed my tongue to run away from me.

“Shall we walk to the Pump Room, then?” Felicity asked, eager to put breakfast behind us. She appeared to see more vitriol in Benedict’s and my bickering than we truly felt. Sometimes I wondered if our teasing was lost on her.

James pushed back his chair. “A brisk walk outside sounds lovely.”

Felicity and I left to gather our hats, coats, and gloves and met Benedict and James outside. The road curved down at a steeper pace than I’d expected, and when Benedict offered me his bent arm, I took it.

Yellow stone made up the buildings curving along the road and disappearing into the hazy morning fog. We followed behind James and Felicity, their heads bent toward one another while they were lost in their own conversation.

“I would ask if you are nervous about your meeting today, but I feel that the answer is quite obvious.”

I looked at Benedict. “Because I am so distracted?”

“No, because you’ve been looking for a fight since I walked into the parlor this morning. You do realize there are other ways to distract yourself than bickering with me?”

My neck heated. How did the man know me so well? “But bickering with you is such a pleasant pastime.”

“And pursuing you is pleasant for me, but I don’t intend to do it forever.”

“You don’t?” My pulse thrummed, and it was not just from trying to walk down the hill without slipping. “What will make you cease then?”

“When I’ve well and truly caught you, of course.”

I laughed, though my chest constricted and I rather felt like crying. “Good luck, Benedict.”

“Thank you,” he said, entirely seriously. “I need it.”

My steps slowed a little. “What if my brother is awful? What if he desires an entrance into Society that I cannot give? I must be wary of how my own name will be received among theton. Or . . .” I swallowed, voicing aloud the concern that had vaguely nipped at me. “What will I do if his mother is present at our meeting?”

Benedict stopped walking and faced me, pulling me to stop just beside him. “I had not considered that. Do you have any desire to meet her?”

“I do not have a terribly great desire to meethim, but I will do so because my father wished it. His letter mentioned nothing about the mother, though, so I do not feel compelled, exactly, to make her acquaintance.” Indeed, loyalty to my own mother made the very idea repugnant.

“You do not have to meet her if you do not desire to.” Benedict spoke with such power and authority that I believed him at once. He smiled. “I will come, if you wish. I can step first into the room and give a signal to prepare you for who you will find waiting for you.”

“You mean to say that if the mother is there, you will trill like a chicken?”

“We’ve established already that I have no skill for trilling, but I would be happy to cluck.”

A smile warmed my face, and I took his arm, drawing a little closer to him. Did he notice the shift in proximity? It was comfortable to have him so close, despite how I knew I should be putting more distance between us instead. “I can teach you to trill. It would be less obvious.”

“Or I could bark. I’m certain I could manage that.”

“That might frighten the solicitor. A cat’s meow would be much more the thing.” I tightened my hold on his arm. “Shall we practice now?”

Benedict cleared his throat. “Meow.”

Itsked. “Do you wish to sound as though you are begging for milk or warning your friend?”

“Begging, of course. I am so very good at it.”

“Then you’ve achieved the sound perfectly.”

Felicity looked at us over her shoulder from where she and James now waited at the entrance of the Pump Room. Bath Abbey loomed behind her, its gothic architecture stunning and filling the sky beyond. I marveled at its grandeur and wished at once to step inside.

“We can visit it later today, perhaps?” Benedict murmured, following my gaze to the building. “It might be the very thing you need after your meeting.”

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