Chapter 2 #3
“It doesn’t bother me. Anyway, I’m not as young as you probably think I am.”
He noticed she didn’t answer his question about how long she’d been in her line of work.
He wouldn’t press. “I’d say you were two and twenty.
So perhaps you’re actually thirty. That would make you older than me.
” He waggled his brows before recalling that she’d instructed him not to flirt with her.
Was he really flirting? Probably. He couldn’t seem to help himself. He liked her.
Her cheeks flushed light pink. “I am not thirty. Nor am I two and twenty.”
“Something in between, then.” He finished the port in his glass and refilled it. Lifting his brows in silent query, he held the bottle toward her wineglass, which wasn’t quite empty.
She gave him a slight nod, and he replenished hers too.
“I really do feel very badly about last night,” he said. “Are you recovered?”
She seemed to be, but she struck him as a stalwart young woman. He doubted she’d tell him if she wasn’t.
“I am,” she said, predictably. “Your hirelings were blackguards, however.”
“I can’t say I disagree, and if I see them again, I’ll beat them to a pulp.”
“All three of them?” she asked in surprise.
“I’d certainly try. You did not see me at my best in the bout last night.” He tried to quash the feeling of self-loathing that rose in his throat. Not because he’d fought poorly but because he’d lost control. “I’m typically a better fighter.”
“I see. Still, I should think it unadvisable for you to challenge three men at once and those men in particular. They seemed rather ruthless.”
He couldn’t disagree. “Which is why I shall never forgive myself for what I did and for involving you in it.”
She opened her mouth, but pressed her lips together before speaking, her gaze moving to the side.
Bennet turned his head to see Logan had come into the common area. “Evening, Logan. This is a very fine port.”
Relief flashed across the innkeeper’s features. “I’m glad. I asked Mrs. Logan to bring it as an apology since you won’t be able to leave on the morrow.”
“What?” The word came from Bennet and Prudence in unison as they both turned more fully in their chairs toward Logan.
Logan’s dark eyes sparked with distress.
“You didn’t know? My goodness, I thought Mrs. Logan had told you.
Young Davy couldn’t get to town today. The road is washed out from the rain, and the wind was just brutal.
We’re hoping things die down overnight, but it will be rough going.
Hopefully he can get the box tomorrow and complete the repair, but I daresay you’ll be here another night.
I’m so sorry to have to tell you that news.
I know how anxious you must be to get to your wedding. ”
Prudence coughed, and Bennet shifted his attention to her.
“All right, darling?” he asked.
She arched a fair brow and murmured, “Fine.”
“I am sorry,” Logan said again.
“It’s not your fault,” Prudence said brightly, surprising Bennet.
“We appreciate your hospitality. I wonder if you might bring some extra blankets to our chamber. As you can imagine, his lordship and I are not sharing a bed until we are wed. However, my dear Ben insists we sleep in the same room for safety’s sake.
He slept in the chair, but now that we are here for more than one night, I daresay he would be more comfortable on a makeshift bed, if you can manage it. ”
If Logan found the request odd, he didn’t show it. But then the entire situation was inappropriate. He trusted that Bennet was an honorable man who was simply impatient to wed the woman with whom he was madly in love.
“That’s no problem at all, my lady. We’ll set it up right away.”
“Would you also prepare a bath for her ladyship?” Bennet asked. He should have thought of it sooner. But now that they were here for two more nights, he wanted her to be able to bathe.
“Yes, of course,” Logan said with a nod. “If you’d also like a bath, my lord, we’ve a room off the kitchen you’re welcome to use.”
“That would be heavenly. Thank you.” Bennet lifted his wineglass. “To your unparalleled hospitality.”
“Hear, hear,” Prudence agreed, raising her glass as well.
Logan blushed before hurrying off.
Prudence closed her eyes. “A bath. How lovely that will be.” She opened her eyes and scrutinized him closely. “Promise you won’t come back to the room for an hour.”
“I will make sure you are finished and the bath has been removed.” He gave her a sheepish look. “I am very sorry we can’t leave tomorrow. This is turning into quite a disaster.”
“Well, it’s not as if anyone is worrying about me,” she said.
There was an edge to her voice, and he couldn’t discern why. “It’s not because they don’t care. I’m sure Lady Cassandra would be quite concerned if not for that stupid note.”
Prudence said nothing as she sipped her wine.
“Since we’re stranded here another day, what can I do to entertain you? You didn’t seem interested in cards or backgammon. Chess? Some other game?”
“I don’t play games.”
“Why not?”
“I never had the time. Or the inclination,” she added hastily.
He wondered about her life before she’d become a companion.
Her father had been a teacher. Had been—was he dead?
What of her mother? Did she have siblings?
He thought about what she’d said, it’s not as if anyone is worrying about me.
Did she mean she had no one? The notion made him feel as though someone had carved a large hole in his chest.
“What do you like to do with your free time?” he asked.
“I suppose I read. Usually. I also like to take walks, though that seems unlikely given the rain and sodden nature of the ground.”
He cracked a small smile. “It does indeed. I could read to you. I often read to my great-aunts. They like me to make silly and dramatic voices.”
She stared at him. “I can hardly imagine. They live with you?”
He nodded. “Great-Aunt Flora has always taken her name quite seriously. She likes to press flowers. Indeed, she’s never seen one she hasn’t wanted to pick and press between one of her beloved newspapers.
She’s also an avid reader of the news, gossip in particular, I’m afraid.
Her sister, Great-Aunt Minerva, is a painter, though she only paints a small number of subjects.
She also rescues animals. Or more aptly, they probably rescue her.
” He left out the other things—how they might stay up all night with their obsessions and even become frantic over them.
Their quirks were different from his father’s and yet similar.
They were all birds of a feather. Well, most of them.
“They sound fascinating.”
He chuckled softly. “That is one word to describe them, yes. I’ve other relatives as well, but I shan’t bore you with them. I’ve already blathered enough. Now, as to reading?”
She took a drink of port and lowered her gaze. “That might be amenable. If we’ve time.”
“I daresay we’ll have plenty tomorrow.” He’d seen a flash of curiosity in her eyes before she’d looked away.
If she wanted to ask him something, she was preventing herself from doing so.
It was likely she didn’t want to form any kind of attachment with him, even if it was only temporary.
“I’m not a bad person,” he said quietly.
“I’ve treated you badly—not on purpose, but it is still my fault.
If there is a way I can make it up to you, I will. ”
She studied him a moment, a light crease running just above her brows.
“I believe that. Which is why I am torn as to how to characterize my disappearance when I return. If I tell them the truth, you’ll be utterly ruined.
I doubt you’d be able to find an heiress at all, even with your title.
Or if you do, she may be someone you’ll regret marrying. ”
“Because any intelligent young lady would stay completely clear of me,” he said.
Her brows and shoulders briefly darted up in response.
He shook his head. “You mustn’t let any of that determine your actions. You must do as you think necessary.”
“That’s terribly gallant of you, especially considering the utter scandal you stirred.”
“I deserve the consequences of that.” He finished his port once more, gripping the stem perhaps a trifle too tightly.
She emptied her glass as well, setting it on the table before her. “While that is true, I find myself wondering if it’s necessary.”
Every fiber of his being froze for a moment. Had he heard her right? “What does that mean?”
“It means I’m still pondering, and it seems I have an extra day to continue doing so.
I’m not sure I can go through with pretending to have eloped with someone, but I won’t rule it out.
However, that would require a story as to who he was, how I knew him, and why I kept it from Cassandra.
I’m just not sure it will be possible.” She rose, and he did the same.
“Do let me know if you think of something else. Good night.”
A quick but beguiling smile passed over her lips, and Bennet found himself staring at her mouth until she turned from him. “Good night,” he said as she started up the stairs.
The companion was proving to be a remarkable woman. He sat back down and poured himself another glass of port. And tried very hard not to think of her lips. Or the fact that she was shortly to be bathing in their chamber.
Instead, he endeavored to dream up a reason for Prudence’s absence and for why she’d leave a note saying she’d eloped. Honestly, if he wasn’t so bloody hard up, he’d just marry her himself.