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“No, but I… I called things off with him, Delia.”
Cordelia sighed, rubbing Rosaline’s back. “I’m sorry, my dear. Ending a courtship is never easy, whether it’s real or not. Still – I know this isn’t helpful – but perhaps it’s for the best in the long run? After all, you two weren’t intending to get married. There weren’t feelings involved. Were there?”
Rosaline burst into a fresh wave of tears, and Cordelia sucked in air through her teeth
“Ithink… I think I cared for him, Cordelia.” Rosaline sobbed. “Oh, Delia, I loved him. What am I going to do? I was in love with him, and now he’s gone. He’s gone forever.”
CHAPTER21
Benedict shouldered past the footman at the door, not listening to the man’s stifled exclamation of protest.
He stormed inside, the ring of his boot heels echoing off the stone floors. He marched straight to the library, kicking open the door so hard that it almost bounced right back into his face.
Joshua was working at a writing desk in the corner and looked up in surprise when Benedict threw open the door.
“Benedict, what on earth are…”
Benedict stormed over to him, grabbing a fistful of Joshua’s shirt and hauling him to his feet.
Joshua gave a cry of alarm, grabbing onto Benedict’s wrist as he was brought almost nose to nose with the larger man.
“What are youdoing, Benedict?”
“What about you, Joshua? What haveyoudone?”
Joshua wriggled, trying to get out of Benedict’s iron grip. “I have no idea, so why don’t you enlighten me? Have you gone mad? Are you in your cups?”
Benedict pulled the tattered remnants of the gossip column out of his pocket, shoving it into Joshua’s hand.
“Read this.”
Joshua sighed. “I’ve already read it, Benedict. It’s scandalous nonsense. I suppose someone who didn’t know you and Miss Wyre might think she was only after your money. I should just ignore it, if I were you.”
“This story came from a source close to us, apparently.” Benedict said, teeth gritted. “A gentleman who is close to Grandmother.”
Joshua was frowning up at Benedict, confused. “I don’t understand what you mean.” He drew in a sharp breath, his eyes widening as the penny finally dropped. “Wait. You think thatItalked to the writer of this scandalous nonsense? You think thatIwould say such things about Miss Wyre, and you?”
“Someone did, and it had to be someone close to us.”
With a wrench, Joshua pulled himself away from Benedict. His eyes were glittering with anger, and he clenched his jaw.
“And you think it was me? Me, Benedict?”
“Who else? It said a gentleman close to Grandmother, and you saw us, Joshua. I know you didn’t approve, and this is how you choose to get your revenge? This is how you chose to split us apart?”
“No, I did not approve. I told you that at the time, if you remember. I didn’t approve because it would damage Miss Wyre’s reputation irrevocably, and I thought thatsomebodyought to stand up for the poor girl.”
Joshua’s breath was coming hard, chest heaving. Red spots burned on his cheeks. He was angry, that much was clear.
Some of Benedict’s anger began to fade away. “You swear that you didn’t tell anyone about what you saw? You didn’t… didn’t do this?”
“No, Benedict, I did not. How could you think such a thing of me?” Joshua took a step towards him. “This is my home. I grew up thinking of you as my brother, as the Dowager as a loved and respected parent. Do you think I’m ungrateful, or just stupid? Why would I ever want to see you hurt? I can’t… I can’t believe that you would think this of me.”
Benedict sank into a chair. The pamphlet had gone fluttering to the ground and sat forgotten on the carpet. The last of Benedict’s anger drained away, leaving him feeling miserable and foolish.
“I’m sorry, Joshua. I shouldn’t have gone about it this way. I just… I was just so angry.”
Joshua sighed. “I ought to be angry with you, but I’m not. Wait, you said ‘split us apart’. Am I to believe that… well, what am I to believe?”
