Chapter Eighteen
Benedict now had thirty years of age. They were the same age once more.
Eleanor smiled as she watched him. He stood with Lord Daughtry, his face animated as he responded to what the viscount had said.
He wore what he termed his ‘birthday suit’, snickering every time he said it and then even more when she invariably rolled her eyes.
His coat was a rich forest green with emerald silk lapels, his waistcoat embroidered with thread of silver, setting off his dark hair and perfectly hugging his big shoulders.
He looked dazzling, and so handsome he stole her breath.
Someone jostled into Eleanor, laughing an apology as they were spirited away.
The sights and sounds of the ball held at Colgrove House returned in a rush, and Eleanor took herself out of harm’s way.
She had only just arrived, and the sight of Benedict had distracted her so she’d quite forgotten all around her.
He had not seen her as yet, and this was the first time opportunity she’d had to see him on his birthday.
He had been occupied all day with Lord Daughtry and his other friends, and though she had missed him, she’d known they would see each other at Lady C’s ball.
As they had not seen each other, she had not yet gifted him his birthday surprise, one she hoped would render him speechless.
At least, she hoped it would. It was not as ostentatious as his for her only a month past, and one could almost term it modest. However, she was hoping the impact would far exceed its size.
“Lady Eleanor, you have come!” Amanda appeared at her side, beaming from ear to ear.
And why should she not? This ball was in her honour, and it was by all appearances a mad crush and a wild success.
“Have you yet met my dear friend, Miss Lucinda Piper? Lucy, this is my uncle’s dear friend, Lady Eleanor Penhurst.”
“How do you do, Lady Eleanor?” The young lady bobbed a curtsey, her brown hair and dark eyes a contrast to Amanda’s blonde beauty.
“Very well, thank you. Are you enjoying this ball?”
“I am indeed,” Miss Piper gushed. “It is the most delightful ball of the season. Amanda is so very fortunate to have such a hostess for a mother. Lady Colgrove is so very clever. Have you seen the flower cakes as yet?”
“Not as yet.” She knew of what Amanda’s friend spoke.
Lady C was quite famous for her cunning cakes that looked of something else.
For Gregory’s last birthday, she’d had cakes fashioned into tiny frogs congregating around a lake made of window-pane sugar.
Eleanor had always quietly wished a cake of her own, but she was not truly Lady C’s family.
“I shall be sure to examine them most thoroughly, though.”
“Have you yet spoken with Uncle Benedict?” Amanda said. “It is his birthday today.”
“I have not. Have you wished him well?”
“Oh yes. Mama had his favourite cake made and he quite enjoyed my gift. I gave him a pair of onyx cufflinks. You remember those ones I purchased when we were shopping,” she said to Miss Piper.
Before Miss Piper could respond, Lady C swept to their side. “There you are, Amanda! Lord Decker is seeking you to dance. He is quite insistent he has reserved the next with you.”
Amanda rolled her eyes. “He may wait, for I have not yet finished greeting Lady Eleanor. Besides, he has two left feet and my slippers are not sturdy.”
“Lord Decker is an exquisite dancer. I believe you are thinking of Mr Rowley. You did limp somewhat after your last dance. However, you should not keep Lord Decker waiting, and I am certain Eleanor should not mind you excusing yourself to make merry with a suitor. You too, Miss Piper. Viscount Chambers was asking after you.”
Miss Piper’s eyes lit up. “Really? Amanda, we must find these gentlemen. I should like to dance every dance and end the night with my slippers worn right through.”
With a final eye roll, Amanda allowed herself to be spirited away.
Lady C shook her head. “She cannot keep her suitors straight. It is a pleasant problem to have, but honestly, that girl will be the death of me.”
Across the ballroom, Benedict finally looked her way. Catching sight of her, he gave her a broad smile, as if the very sight of her made him happy. At least, that’s what she hoped, if only because the sight of him made her so very happy.
“Lord Colgrove currently plays cards, but he is promised to me for a dance after dinner.” Lady C followed her gaze. “Has Benedict yet promised you a dance?”
“I have not spoken with him yet this evening.”
“Then you have perhaps not yet wished him a happy birthday. Should you wish to do so, I will not notice if you both absent the ballroom.”
Her cheeks heated. There was something about how Lady C looked at her… “Lady C, I should not—”
Across from them, Benedict was issuing his farewells and making his way toward them.
A smile played about her ladyship’s mouth. “See to Benedict.” With a final smile, she left Eleanor alone.
“Where is Lady C to?” Benedict asked upon joining her.
“I do not know.” She stared after her ladyship.
Had she been implying something about Eleanor and Benedict?
No, surely not. Only they two knew of their change in relationship.
Well, she had told Victoria but she highly doubted Benedict would have told Lady C.
She shook such thoughts off. “I am certain she has much to do, however. Your birthday suit is very handsome.”
“I look stunning, do I not?” He flicked at an invisible piece of lint from the emerald green lapel.
“Very handsome.” She studied him. “Happy birthday, by the way.”
“Why, El. Your enthusiasm sets me to blush.”
She looked around them. “I cannot be enthusiastic in full view of society.”
His eyes darkened. “Exactly what sort of enthusiasm are we speaking of?”
Awareness prickled through her. “Not that sort.”
“Disappointing.”
She smiled. “I do, however, have something for you, and I cannot give it to you here. Come.” She took his hand and led him from the room.
Following, he commented, “You are quite confident none shall notice you dragging me about the place, aren’t you?”
“Benedict, no one ever looks at us.”
“If only they knew,” he said with a wolfish grin.
She flushed, but she did not let his teasing deter her. Leading him to the sitting room she knew was empty, she ushered him inside and shut the door. Leaning against it, she grinned at him. “There. Now we are alone.”
His gaze met hers. The smile faded from her as he strode toward her and drew her into him. The back of his fingers brushed her cheek. “I have missed you.”
Her chest felt too small. “Happy birthday,” she said, meaning it with every part of her.
“That is more what I was hoping for.” Taking her hand, he twined his fingers with hers. “We are again the same age.”
“For another eleven months,” she agreed, fitting her palm to his.
Lips quirking, he did not reply, his fingers playing with hers. “I am sorry we could not celebrate sooner.”
“You are allowed friends, Benedict.”
“But you are my very best of friends. I wanted you with me, El.” He lowered his voice. “When I woke this morning, I wanted you with me.”
A thrum started within her as she thought of how she would have awakened him. “How has your day been thus far?”
“Daughtry lost a packet on the racing, which is always amusing, and then Lady C has thrown this ball. It was not for my birthday, but a celebration is a celebration. I am certain my brother knows nothing of the significance of the date.” He shrugged, but his fingers tightened around hers.
“Lady C and Amanda wished me happy with cake, and Gregory gave me a picture of a horse. At least, he told me it was a horse. You could not tell from looking at it what it is meant to be.”
“He is five, Benedict.”
He sighed. “That he made me anything is the true gift.”
Perhaps Benedict’s brothers did not appreciate him as he should, but she certainly did. “As we are talking of gifts, would you like mine?”
His face lit up. “Of course. I should like it immediately.”
Pulling the box from where she had secreted it in her pocket, she fluffed up the decoration. “Happy birthday.”
Taking it, he gave a lopsided grin. “Could you affix any more ribbon upon it?”
Every gift she gave him, she wrapped it as fussily as possible with ribbon and lace and brightly coloured paper. “You are lucky I did not adorn it with flowers also this time.”
Chuckling, he undid the brightly coloured ribbons and unwrapped the paper, and she held her breath as he opened the box. His grin faded. He stared down at it for the longest time, his expression indecipherable.
Nerves leapt in her stomach. What was he thinking? Was he pleased? Did he hate it? Why would he not speak?
Finally, he raised his gaze to hers. “El, this is a Burham-Roberts pocket watch.”
“Yes,” she said brightly.
“A Burham-Roberts,” he said. “They do not even make them anymore. This must have taken you ages to find.”
Months, in fact, but she wasn’t going to tell him that. “It is a significant birthday. Of course I should give you something significant.”
He looked back down at the watch. Silence stretched between them as he stared at the watch and she stared at him.
Nerves forced her to say, “Is it the correct one? I could not be certain, as I recall you mentioning their timepieces but I could not recall you had ever mentioned which specific one you desire. I can only hope I choose correctly, although to be honest it was hard enough to find that one.”
He said nothing, his grip cradling the watch gently.
“Do you not like it? You have always said you would like a timepiece by Burham-Roberts but perhaps your tastes have changed? If you do not like it, please do not hide it from me. It can be returned, and then we can get you something you truly wish—”
Reaching out with his free hand, he cupped the back of her head and pulled her mouth to his. His kiss was gratitude and awe and the deepest of affection. “Thank you,” he rasped against her lips.
The glisten in his eyes set off tears in her own. “You are very welcome.”
The sounds of the distant ballroom fell away, until it was only she and he and the frantic beat of her heart.
Breaking their gaze, he looked back down at the watch. “I cannot believe you have found this for me. It is even the correct time.”
Sound returned in rush. Heart still pounding, she attempted a teasing grin. “I should not give you an unwound watch.”
His lips quirked. “I did not get you anything nearly as fine for your birthday.”
“It really is not a competition, Benedict.”
“If it were, I would be losing soundly.” He turned the watch over, examining it closely.
“El, look, see here? This piece is inscribed with a rabbit. Each watch has a different creature, because Burham believed a touch of whimsy would add delight to their watches. Roberts argued against it, but he was forced to eat his words when Burham was proven correct.”
He continued, pointing out specific features of the watch, the mechanics, even the material used for the face. A smile tugged at her as she made noises of agreement, having little understanding what he referred to but loving his enthusiasm.
Finally, he fell silent with a happy sigh. Carefully, he put the watch back in its cloth and then tucked it in his pocket before holding out his hand.
Immediately, she took it with her own. “Where are we going?”
“Nowhere, but if you think I am not going to dance with you at my birthday ball, you are quite mad.”
“Here?”
“I want to hold you close, El.” Drawing her close, he held her hand to his heart. “Dance with me.”
“We could have done that in the ballroom.”
“But not like this.” Drawing her close, he wrapped an arm around her waist and, humming, he drew her into waltz.
With a sigh, she laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. They were so close, from chest to thigh, and she let his gentle humming flow through her.
There was barely a breath between them, and he hummed mostly in tune with the faint sound of music from the ball.
Closing her eyes, she laid her head on his shoulder. The faint sound of music and laughter faded until all she could hear was the soft whisper of his breath and the steady beat of his heart.