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“Rosaline ended things with me.” Benedict said dully.
Joshua sat down on the sofa beside him. “Oh.” He murmured. “I’m sorry. Because of the gossip column?”
“Yes, but I feel as though it’s deeper than that. It affected her; I know it did. It wasn’t easy, but she was firm. I don’t know what to do, Josh.”
Joshua placed an arm around Benedict’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Ben. Do you think she’ll cool off? She might change her mind in a day or two.”
He shook his head. “Rosaline’s no wavering miss. Once she’s made her decision, that’s it. I don’t know what to do.”
“And do you want to do anything?” Joshua asked quietly. “You were always firm on not marrying. Has something changed?”
“Yes. Rosaline. I never imagined myself wanting to be with someone forever. I never imaginedher. Oh, Joshua, what am I going to do? I can’t lose her. I just don’t know what to do.”
“Well, I assume that you told her that you cared for her. What did she say?”
There was a silence. Joshua narrowed his eyes. “Benedict, youdidtell her how you felt about her, didn’t you?”
“There wasn’t the perfect moment.” Benedict mumbled.
“There isneverthe perfect moment. You have to create your moment. Do you think she would have still thrown you over if she knew how much you cared? Perhaps Miss Wyre simply intended to jump before she was pushed.”
“That can’t be it.”
Joshua rolled his eyes. “You have to be truthful with her, Benedict. Perhaps she’ll still stand firm and want to end things. But from where I’m standing, she has feelings for you, too. Strong ones, I’d say. What lady would risk her future and reputation by doing what she’s done with you? Why do that if she didn’t feel strongly about you?”
“It’s not real.” Benedict murmured. “Us, I mean. Our relationship. It’s been false, all along, at my suggestion. I don’t know how to convince her that I truly care.”
Joshua was quiet for a moment, thinking. “You need to speak to her.” He said eventually. “You really do. As to what you could say – well, I suggest you talk to the Dowager about that.”
“Grandmother? No. I don’t want to tell Grandmother about this.” Benedict said firmly.
“Don’t want to tell me what?”
The two men flinched, spinning around in unison. The Dowager stood in the doorway, arms, folded, eyebrows raised.
“Well?” she prompted. “What is it that I shouldn’t hear?”
The Dowager paced up and down, not unlike Benedict when he was particularly concerned about something.
Benedict and Joshua sat side by side, glancing at each other. Benedict wondered whether Joshua, too, felt like a little boy being scolded again.
“This is a surprise.” The Dowager said eventually. “I liked Miss Wyre. I thought… but never mind what I thought. Joshua, could you leave us, please? I want to speak to my grandson alone.”
Joshua nodded. He cast Benedict a sympathetic glance and got up and left. He closed the library door softly behind him, leaving Benedict and his grandmother alone.
“You cannot marry her.” The Dowager said, the instant the door was closed.
Benedict’s head shot up. “But Grandmother, I think I am… I think I’m… well, I care for her.”
“You can learn to care for someone else.”
“Joshua advised me to tell her the truth about my feelings.”
The Dowager tsked to herself. “Joshua is a sweet, well-meaning boy, but he knows very little about the real world. You cannot marry Miss Wyre now, and that’s final. You ought to be married, Benedict, before another Miss Wyre gets her hooks into you.”
“Rosaline never had herhooksin me! She doesn’t care about my money.”
“Well, I’m sure her parents do.”
