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“It’s not funny, Joshua!”
“Youdo! Youdolook like a hawk!”
“Joshua, I swear…” Benedict gave up. He sat back in his chair, folding his arms tightly over his chest and waiting for Joshua to stop laughing.
He did, wiping away tears from his eyes. “Oh, she’s marvelous. Can I meet her, Benedict, please?”
He snorted. “That’s unlikely, since she firmly declined a second meeting with me.”
“You didn’t chase her again?”
“Iwas too shocked. She’d just likened me to a hawk.”
“You do have a very… a veryRomannose, Benedict. There certainly is a certain hawkish quality about you. Especially when viewing you from the side.”
“I’m not going to get anything sensible out of you, am I?”
Joshua composed himself. “I am sorry. It’s just… well, Miss Atwood sounds like a terribly refreshing young lady. Very honest. That’s a rare quality to find in Society these days.” He paused, tilting his head to one side. “You want to see her again, don’t you?”
Benedict pressed his lips together. “I shouldn’t, but yes. I do want to see her again, but she said no.”
Joshua shrugged. “Well, how did you get to meet her in the first place? She was one of the Dowager’s picks, wasn’t she?”
“Yes, she was. I believe that Grandmother spoke to her parents, and they set up the meeting. She clearly didn’t want to be there. I daresay that’s why she was so forward and impolite. She intended to put me off.”
Benedict’s face relaxed into its usual scowl. He hated that. Parents were always keen to force their daughters to spend time with him, and it was always very embarrassed. Nobody wanted to think that a person was forced to sit at a dinner table with them.
Of course, usually the young ladies were every bit as keen as their mamas to impress Benedict, but obviously Miss Atwood was the exception.
“Then I suggest you write to her.” Joshua said. “Tell her you’d like to see her again.”
“What good will that do? I’ll only get another refusal, by post this time.”
“You don’t understand how these things work, my dear Benedict. Come with me.” He got up, moving towards the writing-desk in the corner of the room, and beckoned Benedict to follow him.
“Another thing, Joshua. What is the point of insisting on a second meeting? The lady has said no. What do I have to gain from forcing her to sit down with me again?”
Joshua settled himself at the writing desk, and took out a pen, inkwell, and piece of paper.
“Trust me, that young lady had already decided that she intended to repel you before she entered the tea shop. And why do you think that is?”
“Idon’t know. I’m sure you intend to tell me, though.”
“Indeed I do. You have a reputation, Benedict. They don’t call you the Duke of Ice for nothing.”
Benedict rolled his eyes. “For heavens’ sake. You know how I hate that nickname.”
“Well, it’s apt. You’re cold and unfriendly to people you don’t like, and sometimes you’re even downright rude. Miss Atwood entered the tea shop expecting to meet with the Duke of Ice. Since you did nothing to remove that unfavorable opinion, she refused a second meeting.”
“What are you saying, Joshua?”
“I’m saying that underneath that horribly unfashionable cravat lurks a decent man who’s worth knowing. Unfortunately, you’re hiding that fact very well. If you secure a second meeting with Miss Atwood, you can show her that you’re somebody worth being friends with.”
“Icould make her apologize for the hawk comment.”
Joshua hesitated. “Well, yes, but let’s put that one on the back shelf for now, shall we?”
“Aletter won’t help. She’ll just refuse again, like I said.”
