Matchmaking the Marquess (The League of Eligible Bachelors #3)

Chapter 27

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Ben walked into the breakfast room, hoping to find Mia. He grunted when he did not find her inside.

“Berwick?” Lord Minton cleared his throat, but Ben suspected it was to disguise a cough. “Are you not staying for breakfast?”

Ben shook his head. “I had an early breakfast at Tweed.” He’d promised Mia that he would be to Hedlund before she awoke, but it could not be helped. His steward had insisted they meet early. Besides, he knew Mia would rather him miss breakfast than an activity during the day.

He looked once more around the room, just to make certain he had not missed her. “Have you seen Lady Amelia, my lord?”

Lord Minton looked down at his plate. “No, I have not seen her this morning.” He leaned closer to Ben. “Truth be told, I’ve rather been avoiding her. I’m afraid she will banish me to my chambers if she hears me cough again.”

Ben smiled. He was likely not without concern. “I won a turn about the garden with her, and I thought to redeem it this morning as there is nothing on the schedule.”

The older man nodded. “Ah, yes. I believe a walk would do her good. She has seemed out of sorts of late.”

Just then, Mia walked into the room. She smiled when her gaze found Ben, but a concerned furrow quickly replaced it as her gaze settled on her father. “Good morning, Papa. I hope you slept well.”

Her father nodded but did not lift his gaze from his plate. “I did, indeed.” He glanced up to Ben. “Berwick says he is to take you on a walk. I think it a capital idea.”

Mia’s grin returned. “I’ve been anticipating it all morning.”

“If you are ready, we’ll leave now.” Ben motioned toward the corridor. “I’ll return her before tea, my lord.”

Lord Minton waved them away. “There is no rush, Berwick.”

Mia stiffened, but it was so slight Ben doubted anyone else noticed it.

“Oh,” Mrs. Meecham gave a startled cry. “I thought for a moment you were His Grace.” She straightened her shoulders. “He is rather an odious man. I should not like to speak to him if it can be avoided.”

Ben nodded. I’m certain the sentiment is mutual , he thought.

“The breakfast room is lacking in dukes this morning. Indeed, I believe he has not ever come over from Tweed as yet.” Mia motioned Mrs. Meecham into the room.

“Thank you, my lady.” Mrs. Meecham effused.

“We should leave before we are caught by some catastrophe or another.” Mia raised a brow and turned to Ben. “Katie is gathering my bonnet and gloves and will meet us in the entryway.”

Ben grinned. “I’m glad you’re ready. We will need all the time we can get.”

Mia looked at him from the side of her eye. “For a walk? Just how far do you plan to go?”

He flicked up his brows. “I have something planned. I think it’s just what you need.”

Mia paused, watching him closely, surely trying to wriggle out any clues she could. But he was giving nothing away.

He helped her on with her pelisse and donned his coat while he waited for her to tie her bonnet and slip on her gloves. He put his hand on the small of her back and ushered her to the front door. His hand tingled, and he had the urge to snake it around her waist and tug her closer. He frowned. Where had that thought come from? “Shall we go, my lady?”

She looked at him slyly, still studying him.

Thick, black clouds hung in the sky. She glanced up and frowned. “It looks as if rain will interrupt our turn.”

Ben motioned to the carriage waiting on the drive. “I expected as much. Which is why we will not be walking.”

“We are not? But did you not just say?—”

He winked at her. “That was merely to throw suspicion off us. We don’t want to waste time answering a barrage of questions, do we?”

She stared up at him. And for likely the hundredth time since this blasted house party started, he wondered what she was thinking. “Where are we going?”

He tsked. “You do not wish to ruin the surprise, do you?”

She lifted a shoulder. “Perhaps…”

He wagged a finger at her. “Patience, my lady. All will be revealed soon enough.”

He handed Mia and Katie up before bounding inside himself. As he shut the door, a clap of thunder sounded. “Just in time.”

Before they had even made it out of the drive and onto the road leading to Tweed, rain pelted hard against the windows.

Mia fidgeted in her seat.

Ben grinned. She had no notion what he had planned, and that made him extremely satisfied.

Before too long, the carriage pulled up in front of the castle. “Here we are,” Ben said as he jumped down and stood in the rain to hand them out. “Do make haste. I’d prefer not to have to change my clothes before we start our activity.”

Both ladies moved speedily out of the carriage and up the stairs of the castle. The front door was open and waiting for them.

Ben hurried in behind them and shrugged out of his coat, sending water droplets flying around the stone entryway.

Mia paused and took in a deep breath, closing her eyes. “I love the smell of Tweed in the rain. It is as if the stones are drinking up the water.”

Ben sucked in a breath. “Yes, there is no other smell quite like it, is there?”

Mia handed off her pelisse. “Now, what are we doing here?”

Ben put his hand on the small of her back, and the chill from their drive evaporated. His chest constricted, but he found it rather enjoyable. “Right this way, my lady.”

He led her through the Great Hall and along the covered exterior corridor, stopping at a large wooden door. He pushed it open with a quiet grunt and stepped to the side, motioning Mia in with a wave of his hand.

She stepped inside and looked around. It was not her first time in this room. Over the years, Mia had been in every room of the castle. But a little gasp escaped her lips when she looked over and spotted the foils in the corner.

She turned toward him and launched herself at him.

Instinctively, Ben wrapped his arms around her and returned her embrace. He closed his eyes and breathed her in. The smell of vanilla and lavender filled his nose, both calming and exciting him.

“Thank you, Ben. You can’t know how much I need this,” she whispered in his ear.

He grinned as she stepped out of his arms, even though he missed the feel of her immediately. “There is a pair of breeches, a shirt, and a waistcoat over there as well. You may step into the anteroom and change if you like.”

Mia looked as if she might burst with happiness. “It’s been many months since I’ve practiced.”

He nudged her with his elbow. “I shall take it easy on you in the beginning.”

She smirked at him. “It will not take me long to come up to snuff.”

“Then make haste and change. I shall be lightly practicing while I wait. As I am surely already at an advantage, you will not wish to keep me waiting long.”

Mia glared at him. “If you had told me beforehand, I might have been more properly prepared.” She turned toward the anteroom and plucked up the clothing off the floor. “Come along, Katie. Lord Berwick is not giving me any concessions. We must hurry.”

Ben shrugged off his tailcoat and tossed it onto the table. Picking up his foil, he took a few practice jabs and thrusts.

Much quicker than he expected, Mia opened the door and emerged.

Ben swallowed and caught himself staring at her standing there in breeches. It was not at all distasteful. He licked his lips, not sure why he could not swallow completely. It was not the first time he’d seen Mia in breeches. But it was the first time he could barely function upon setting his sights on her. Something must be wrong with him.

She ran her hands down the front of her thighs, a nervousness Ben rarely saw when she was with only him. But then she reached to the side and grabbed a foil. She swung it up between them and held it in front of her. “Are you ready, my lord?” She waggled her brows at him.

He shook the fogginess from his brain and took a step back, lifting his foil in front of him. “Ready when you are, m’lady.” He pushed one leg out behind him and swung his foil wide as he bowed deeply.

Mia took her position and put one hand behind her back. “En Garde,” she brought her foil forward as she gave a slight bow to him.

Ben placed his hand on the small of his back and lowered his foil, placing it just a breath away from Mia’s. “Pretz?” He asked.

Her grin turned slightly wicked. “Allez,” she shouted and launched forward, striking her foil against his with a loud clang.

Katie moved off and found a seat in the far corner. Pulling something out, she set to work stitching. It was not her first fencing bout.

Ben gave Mia an appreciative look. “I thought you said you had not practiced in months.”

“I haven’t. You’ve been away. Who else would I practice with? The servants are loyal to me but not over my father.” She cast a glance at her maid. “Except for Katie. But she would not do as a partner.” She parried his thrust and riposted in return.

“You do not show the rest,” Ben lunged, but she parried again.

“I’m certain it’s only because I need to expend all my pent-up frustrations.” She thrust, but he parried.

“What exactly is vexing you so?”

Mia thrust with more force than Ben thought she had in her. “It’s your friend, Lord Montcort. He is making me near bedlam.”

“You and me both,” he muttered. “When I advised your father to invite the gents, I never imagined one of them would show an interest in you. I may have inferred it to Minton, but I didn’t believe it would happen.” There was a bitterness in his voice.

“I beg your pardon?” Mia blinked several times. “What do you mean when you advised my father to invite them? I thought you invited them because you had not seen them for months.” She dropped her foil and stared at him. “And why did you not believe any of them would form an attachment to me? Do you think that impossible? That someone might wish to marry me?”

“No, I what I mean to say is—” Ben tripped and dropped his foil to his side. What had he just done? “It’s true I had not seen them in a few months. But?—”

She lunged hard and narrowly missed his ear.

“Now, Mia,” he licked his lips.

“Don’t you ‘Now, Mia,’ me,” she hissed.

“Your father wanted the names of some eligible gentlemen. He was hoping it might lead to a match. But I knew they wouldn’t be interested in you.”

Mia’s eyes narrowed, and he could hear her breath coming in short, hard bursts. She raised her foil and shouted, “En Garde!” Then, without even taking a breath she followed with “Pretz” and “Allez,” attacking with a force Ben had never seen.

“Of course, they wouldn’t. No one could possibly desire me. That would be unheard of,” her voice trembled, but he didn’t know if it was from exertion or if she was on the verge of tears. Lud. He didn’t like it when she became a watering pot. He had no notion what to do with her.

“No, it’s not that at all,” he fought back, nearly losing his footing as she pushed him backward. “The gents have no desire to marry anyone. It had nothing to do with you. Besides, I was doing it for you. Have you not claimed for years that you do not wish to marry? The men your father had on his list were nothing but a bunch of fortune hunters. They would have pursued you relentlessly.”

She glared at him. “As opposed to your friend, Lord Montcort?” She lunged and thrusted.

Sweat beaded on Ben’s brow and trickled down the side of his face.

“I think I’ll decline your help from now on.” she panted.

A surge of anger burned in Ben’s middle. How could she blame him for Cort’s actions? It’s not as if the man was doing Ben’s bidding. “Cort is my fault? How can you blame me for his attention? Besides, how can you be mad at me for saying he shouldn’t be interested in you and mad at me for his interest, all at the same time?” He pushed her back several feet.

“I’m a lady. I reserve the right to be unreasonable.” She parried and pushed him back several steps.

Sweat ran down the side of his cheek. “It was your father’s idea,” he shouted lamely.

Mia shook her head. “I expect it from him, Ben. But not of you.” She sucked in a breath and let up slightly. “I thought you understood.”

He let up too, and she took advantage, driving him back again.

“No, I don’t understand,” he shouted. “I’ve never understood why you’re so determined to remain unmarried. I only go along with you because…” He shook his head. “Actually, I don’t know why. Maybe because it’s easier than fighting about it all the time. I only want you to be happy,” he whispered.

She rounded on him, thrusting and lunging with a new determination. “And you are the expert on my happiness? I have a good inheritance, Ben. I will do as I please—be beholden to no one.”

His energy flagged. “You act as if marriage is tantamount to a prison. It’s not.”

“And you know this from your experience as a husband?”

Ben’s eyes widened, and he pushed her back. His energy renewed. “No, I learned it from watching my parents. They loved each other and were happy together. There are people in the world who are happy in marriage, Mia.”

“That is fine for others. But why must it be my only option?”

“Where will you live?” He challenged.

She jutted out her chin. “Perhaps I will find something in the neighborhood. Or maybe Bath.”

Ben smirked. “Look around, Mia. It is not as if there are many places to rent around here. And as wealthy as you think you will be, you’ll never be able to afford a place like Hedlund.”

“I do not need a place like Hedlund.” She stomped her foot and glared at him. “I need only a small cottage with a few servants and a garden.”

“And this cottage…it will allow you to ride your horse as you wish or have a fencing room?”

“I need little space to fence. And I will ride my horse down the lanes.” She smirked at him.

“You are determined to live a lonely existence, Mia.” He pushed her up against the wall. “You won’t even have Miss Cartwright or me to entertain you. Will you truly be happy?”

Her lip quivered and Ben realized he may have pushed her too hard.

“It’s all I want for you. It’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”

She shrugged, still pinned between him and the wall, her foil at her side. “It wouldn’t work. I could only marry for love, but love is why I can’t marry.”

He looked down at her, her eyes pleading for him to understand her. Did she think that if she married, her husband wouldn’t allow her to take care of her father? That might be true if she married someone with an estate far away. But surely they could figure out something to satisfy her—if the gentleman really loved her. “You only want that life because you know not what you’ll miss out on,” he huffed.

She glared up at him. “And you know what I’ll be missing, do you?”

He nodded. “I’m certain I know better than you do.”

The act came so close on the heels of the thought, he had little time to change his mind. He leaned close to her, his gaze never leaving hers. But with only a breath between them, he stopped. What if she did not wish to be kissed? He could not take it back once it happened.

“What are you doing,” she whispered, her breath coming fast again, brushing against the side of his cheek.

“I’m showing you what you will miss if you insist on proceeding with your current plans.” Still he paused, waiting for her to duck under his arm and leave if she did not want his offering.

But she stayed where she was, pressed up against the stone wall.

Ben did not wait a moment longer. He dropped his head the rest of the way and captured her lips with his. His heart hammered in his chest, sounding much like the fireworks that were released in the night sky at Vauxhall.

But those fireworks were nothing to what he was experiencing. His mind buzzed with disjointed thoughts, none taking seed except that he didn’t want it to end. He leaned in and deepened the kiss.

Mia’s foil clattered to the floor, and she placed her hands on his chest.

Warmth shot through him at her touch. How had he never done this before? He’d thought about, certainly. But he’d always pushed the thoughts away. Had he known what it truly was to taste Mia, to feel her in his arms, he would never have waited so long. It was as if she belonged there and he could not imagine how he’d ever let her go.

He thought she would push him away but was surprised when she pushed her hands up onto his shoulders and around his neck, pulling him closer to her.

He needed no further invitation. He dropped his foil and deepened the kiss, wrapping his hands around her and lifting her feet off the ground, pressing her tighter against the wall. His mind went blank as the smell of her, warm from exertion, filled his nostrils. Never had he enjoyed the scent so much.

“Ben, are you in here?”

At the sound of Cort’s voice, Ben lowered her to the ground and she shoved at his chest, pushing him away from her.

Her hands jerked to her hair, pushing at the stray locks the stones had pulled free from her knot.

They looked away from each other as Cort walked into the room.

Ben cleared his throat. “I’m in here, as you see.”

Cort’s gaze darted between Ben and Mia, a hint of suspicion evident as Mia stooped down and picked up the foils. She thrust Ben’s into his hand. “You must keep hold of your weapon, my lord. Next time I will not be so merciful.” Her eyes flicked to the corner where Katie sat wide-eyed—her sewing in a heap on the floor beside her.

Ben swallowed, his eyes following her every move. “I would expect nothing less from you.” His voice sounded different. Did Cort hear it too? Lud, he hoped not. What had just happened? Was it a dream? The pulsing in his lips made him realize it had not been a dream. Which begged the question; where did they go from there?

Mia stepped away and walked toward the anteroom. “Thank you for the bout, Berwick.” She waved a visibly shaky hand at Katie. “Please help me change quickly, Katie. I’m certain Papa is waiting on me for tea.”

Cort folded his arms over his chest. “I’m disappointed at the prospect, my lady.”

“Of tea?” Mia shot back. Ben wasn’t certain if the pink in her cheeks was from the kiss or because she worried they’d been caught.

“No, I’m generally in favor of tea. But you changing your clothes?” He clucked his tongue. “That is very disappointing. I rather like you in breeches.”

Ben smacked his friend on the arm. “Lud, Cort. That’s inappropriate. She’s a lady. Watch your tongue and apologize.”

Cort raised a single brow but nodded. “Indeed, it was appropriate. I beg your pardon, my lady.”

Mia swallowed. She flicked a glance at Ben but then dropped it to the floor. “You need not worry yourself, my lord. I know Lord Montcort is only teasing me.” She dipped a curtsy. “Will I see you both at dinner this evening?”

Cort nodded. “Neither hail nor high water would keep me from joining you.”

She smiled but did not look in the least bit happy. Was it the kiss, being caught, or simply Cort making her so disgruntled? Ben frowned. Perhaps it was a combination of the three.

“I shall look forward to seeing you later.” She dipped a curtsy. “My lords,” she said before disappearing behind Katie into the anteroom.