AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She is nothing like them.”
“If you believe that, you’re naïve.” The Dowager said brusquely. She paused in her pacing, coming to a halt in front of Benedict. “I have a young woman I want you to marry.”
“Grandmother, no.”
“Her name is Louisa. She’s very pleasant, and very pretty. I think you will like her. You ought to at least meet her.”
Benedict shook his head. “I’m sorry, Grandmother, I can’t. If I cannot marry Rosaline, I don’t want to marry anyone else.”
The Dowager’s jaw tightened. “You’d refuse me this, Benedict? After all I’ve done for you and Joshua? Have I not made plenty of sacrifices for you? And now, I’m asking only one small thing of you, and you say no?”
Benedict sighed. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Grandmother. I’m sure that Louisa, whoever she is, is a wonderful woman. But I can’t marry someone I don’t love.” He got to his feet. “I am sorry, Grandmother.”
“Just meet with her, please. I’d like for you to meet her. You might decide that you don’t feel so drawn to Miss Wyre after all.”
Benedict smiled weakly. “I almost wish that was the case. Nobody warns you how much love hurts, do they? It’s all romance and poetry and flowers. It’s more painful than I could ever have imagined.”
The Dowager looked away. There was an odd expression on her face, one that Benedict couldn’t quite interpret.
“Iwant you to marry Louisa.” She said quietly. “You don’t know her, I know, but perhaps that’s for the best. A fresh start, that’s what you need.”
“No, Grandmother. I’m sorry, but no. Excuse me.” Benedict stepped around his grandmother, heading for the door.
She didn’t follow him.
Benedict had written several notes to Rosaline that night. All the notes had ended up crumpled into small balls on the floor. Somewhere around eight in the morning – far later than he liked to rise – Benedict was woken by a sharp tap on the door.
He jerked awake, wincing at the rush of pain through his stiff neck and arms. There was definitely something to be said for not falling asleep at one’s writing desk.
Outside, the morning was grey, the sky heavy with rain. Benedict shivered involuntarily.
“Come in,” he mumbled. “Who is it? What do you want?”
“It’s me.” Joshua replied. There was an edge of something in his voice, something that woke Benedict up completely. “I need to talk to you. It’s important.”
Benedict rubbed sleep from his eyes, stretching his cramped limbs. “Well, come in, then.”
Joshua came in, clutching a paper in his hands. A quick glance confirmed that it was theGazette. He had a grim expression on his face.
“Have you read this?” he asked.
“No, I just woke up. What is it?”
“Read the engagements notices.”
Frowning, Benedict took the proffered paper, and scanned the notices. At first, he didn’t see anything out of place. Then two names jumped out to Benedict and made his blood run cold.
Lord Benedict McCarthy, Duke of Keswick, engaged to one Miss Louisa Parsons.
Benedict choked. “What… what is this? Joshua, is this some sort of joke?”
Joshua shook his head grimly. “No. It’s not. The notices must be sent by yesterday afternoon at the latest. I believe six o’ clock is the cut-off point.”
“Grandmother could have done it.” Benedict murmured.
“What?”
“She wants me to marry a woman called Louisa. I don’t know her, and I don’t know why Grandmother has settled on her, but she was so keen. This isn’t right, Joshua. I don’t know who this woman is, but I won’t be strong-armed into marrying her.”
