Chapter 2
“So you are to be married?” Benedict’s best friend, Aaron Bowles, asked, not bothering to keep the astonishment from his voice. “I can hardly believe it.”
“Well, you will have to try,” Benedict said, grinning at his friend as he raised a glass of wine to his lips. “Because it is true. And if everything goes according to plan, the wedding should take place within the next three weeks.”
Aaron shook his head and also took a sip of wine. “Well then, I suppose I should congratulate you. Miss Templeton is very … beautiful.”
“She is very beautiful,” Benedict agreed, and an image of how Miss Amelia Templeton had looked the night before flashed through his mind.
She had been so lovely, and so innocent, so in need of rescuing, that he had felt his heart go out to her in a way he had not been expecting.
“And I believe she will make me a good wife. She is a very humble, gracious young lady.”
“Humble? Gracious?” Aaron nearly spit out some of his wine as he stared at Benedict in awe. “Surely we are not talking about the same Miss Templeton …”
Benedict frowned at his friend. He wished he would lower his voice when speaking that way about his fiancée.
They were at the Wights’ garden party, and there were many people around who would love any chance to report gossip to one of the ton’s many gossip rags.
“Yes, she is very humble and gracious,” Benedict said, his irritation flaring. “She is one of those women who does not know how beautiful she is.”
Aaron raised his eyebrows but said nothing, contenting himself instead to take another large sip of wine.
“You do not think so?” Benedict asked after a moment, unable to contain his curiosity.
Aaron lowered his wine glass thoughtfully. He seemed to be choosing his words carefully.
“I think Miss Templeton is no different from many young ladies of the ton in that she is ambitious. She hopes to marry a wealthy, titled man, and to elevate her position in this life.”
“And what is wrong with that?” Benedict asked. “Why should a beautiful, intelligent young woman not aim for the highest, best match? And am I not that?”
“You are,” Aaron agreed. “I just hope her feelings for you are genuine.”
“They are,” Benedict said, hoping that the firmness of his tone disguised the small flicker of doubt and disappointment that chose that moment to appear in his chest. “In fact,” he added with determination, “I shared with her the secret that I tell no one, and she was very generous in her reaction. She completely accepted the truth without judgement or censure.”
Aaron’s eyebrows were now raised so high that they were in danger of disappearing into his hairline. “I am surprised to hear that,” he said. “If she were to tell someone …”
“She will not,” Benedict said confidently. He was sure that Miss Amelia would tell no one, and yet, he didn’t like the way Aaron was looking at him. It made him wonder if he had been right to tell her. Aaron was right, after all. If she were to tell someone, his life would be ruined …
Aaron’s brow furrowed, and he looked as if he were trying not to argue. “Well then, he finally said. “She must be a truly gracious young woman who holds you in high regard.”
“Thank you, Aaron,” Benedict said quietly.
He hadn’t realized until this moment how much he had needed to hear his friend say that.
“I know the engagement was sudden, but I was struck by a feeling of sureness, and of wanting to settle down, and of feeling as if I am ready to no longer wonder what the future has in store for me. I do hope that you approve.”
“Of course I do,” Aaron said with a kind smile. “Many congratulations, my friend.”
They clinked their glasses together, then Benedict turned and scanned the crowd. He had invited Miss Templeton to the garden party today to introduce her to Aaron, and he was eager for her arrival.
In fact, his heart lightened as he glimpsed her among the crowd of people, looking around as if trying to find him as well, her arm linked with –
Benedict’s heart sank at once as his fiancée’s companion came into view. It was Miss Amelia’s younger sister, Miss Laura Templeton, whom he had danced with the night before.
The unpleasant young woman who seemed to find fault in everything – or at least, that’s how her sister had described her. And in their brief interaction, he had found this description to be very apt.
Nevertheless, he fixed a smile to his face and waved the Miss Templetons over. Miss Amelia was smiling serenely as she walked over to them, but her sister had a sullen expression that immediately put Benedict on edge.
“Lord Rosemont,” Miss Amelia said, curtsying low and then fluttering her eyelashes as she looked up at Benedict. “How do you do today?”
“Lovely, now that you are in my presence,” Benedict said, taking her hand and kissing it.
She flushed prettily, and Benedict’s heart hammered.
She really was very beautiful. “May I introduce Mr Aaron Bowles, a dear friend of mine? Aaron, this is Miss Amelia Templeton and her sister, Miss Laura Templeton.”
“I am pleased to make your acquaintance,” Aaron said, bowing to both ladies. “Although, Miss Laura, I believe we have met before. Or at least, I saw you at the recent charity fundraiser for London’s metropolitan orphanages. You were in attendance, were you not?”
“I was indeed,” Miss Laura said, looking surprised and pleased by Aaron’s words. “I am very sorry; I did not see you there. I was so taken up by the debate that I believe I forgot the name of everyone I met.”
“You attended a charity fundraiser?” Miss Amelia asked her sister, a shocked look on her face. “Do Mother and Father know?”
Miss Laura blushed and looked down at her feet. “I did not … tell them,” she said after a moment. She looked back up quickly. “But my maid was with me! I was not unaccompanied.”
“Your maid?” Miss Amelia repeated, and Benedict was unsurprised to see her flush with anger.
He understood why. A young, unmarried lady attending such an event with only a maid could have plunged her into scandal.
And scandal like that would have reflected badly on Miss Amelia, as well.
It could have hurt her marriage prospects. “What were you thinking?”
Miss Amelia turned to Benedict, a pleading look in her eyes. “I must assure you, My Lord, that I had no idea my sister was behaving in such a reckless way. I assure you, I will put an end to such scandalous escapades.”
Before Benedict could respond, however, that he did not see this as a reflection on her at all, the younger Miss Templeton piped up.
“You will certainly not stop me from attending the charity fundraisers!” she cried.
“It is vital that I be there to show my support. Not enough of the ton is supporting the orphanages as it is. It is a disgrace, really. The charities are essential, but they are still superficial gestures if not enough people are contributing. What the orphanages really need is strong, decisive action from those with real power.”
Miss Laura’s eyes had lit up while she was speaking, and her pale face had flushed with colour – although not with embarrassment, as far as Benedict could tell.
In fact, she looked almost beautiful when she spoke like this, clearly impassioned on her subject. Not as beautiful as her sister, of course …
Where Miss Amelia’s hair was golden, Miss Laura’s was chestnut brown, and where Miss Amelia’s eyes were a deep, unforgettable blue, Miss Laura’s were brown … although surprisingly warm. And her features were very delicate, just like her sister’s, and when animated like this, not unpleasing.
It was easy to see why she was dismissed, especially when compared to her sister. The fact that she was dressed in a modest, muted gown, while Miss Amelia was in a stunning lavender chiffon dress, also contributed to the unfavourable comparison. But really, she was quite handsome on her own …
However, when Benedict glanced at Miss Amelia, he immediately felt guilty for his flattering thoughts about her sister. Miss Amelia looked horrified, and he could not blame her.
Miss Laura’s words – not to mention her actions – bordered on the blasphemous and could endanger Miss Amelia’s social standing if overheard by the wrong people.
Perhaps it was this that made him snap, “Perhaps such charitable events require practical considerations and social cooperation that perhaps someone with limited experience in organizing such endeavours might not fully appreciate.” He felt oddly angry and defensive, as if he had to protect Miss Amelia from her sister’s outlandish remarks.
He smiled condescendingly at Miss Laura as she turned to glare at him.
“Your idealism is commendable, Miss Templeton, but also, I am afraid, naive.”
But to his chagrin, his words did nothing to cool Miss Laura’s ire. Her eyes narrowed, and she snarled, “Or perhaps those in positions of privilege are too comfortable to recognize when their efforts fall short of meaningful change.”
“Those in positions of privilege are the ones with the most opportunities to show compassion,” he retorted.
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Aaron and Miss Amelia exchanging alarmed looks with one another, but he could not stop himself from speaking.
Miss Laura irritated him in a way few people did, and he could not let her get the last word in.
“True compassion requires more than simply attending elegant fundraising events,” she fired back. “It requires meaningful change and meaningful interaction with those who most need that compassion. When was the last time you even spoke to an orphan?”
She had hit a nerve. Benedict felt as if he had been punched in the stomach. All the air left him, and it took all his willpower not to sway on the spot.
Even Miss Laura seemed to have realized she had gone too far. Her eyes were wide and her face pale as Benedict drew himself up to his full height and glared down at her with a look of such utter disdain that he was sure she wanted to melt into the floor with embarrassment.
“I will not countenance this conversation any longer,” he hissed. “Nor will I have my compassion for those less fortunate than me questioned by an upstart young lady who has never even lived in the world.”
He turned to Miss Amelia and bowed low. “I do beg your apologies, Miss Templeton, but I must retire for the afternoon. I hope that I can call on you tomorrow and that we can begin to plan our upcoming nuptials. There is nothing I am looking forward to more and no one I am more eager to spend more time with.”
“Of course,” Miss Amelia said, curtsying quickly, her eyes searching as they swept over him. “I am the one who must beg your forgiveness,” she added in a low voice as he bent to kiss her hand. “I should not have brought my sister with me.”
“Soon it will be just the two of us,” he murmured back. Then he straightened, turned, and strode away, Aaron hurrying after him. He would not suffer another moment in Miss Laura’s company, and the sooner this wedding was over, and he never had to see her again, the better.