Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
This blasted house party needed to end. That’s all there was to it.
Ben peeked inside the library but only saw Cort, Reginald, and Rags talking quietly. He ducked out before they could see him and summon him inside. He was irritated with Cort and did not need to hear his smug voice.
Where could Mia be? He’d already checked the music room and the parlor. She did not seem to be in her chambers either.
A maid walked past and Ben reached out, brushing his hand against her arm. “Excuse me, Rachel. Have you seen Lady Amelia?”
The woman looked thoughtful. “The last I saw her, she was in the cupboard by the drawing room, my lord.”
“The cupboard?” Ben had not heard of her spending time there of late. When she was a girl, she’d played in the cupboard for hours. She’d pretended it was everything from the ancient library at Alexandria to the Palace of Schonbrunn or Catherine’s Palace in Russia. But it had been years since she abandoned it for more proper past times.
“Yes, my lord. That is where she does her artwork.” the maid dipped a curtsy. She obviously hoped he was done with his questions.
“Thank you, Rachel. I’ll look for her there.” He strode down the stairs and toward the cupboard in question. He looked both ways down the corridor before rapping lightly on the door. “Mia, are you in there?”
The door opened a crack and Mia peeked out. “Ben?”
He nodded, putting his hand on the door. “Yes. May I come in?”
She opened the door only a little wider and squeezed out. “No, there is nothing for you to see in there.”
He tilted his head to the side. “Are you hiding something from me?”
Her head tilted to the opposite side. “No.”
He looked over her head at the door. “Then why am I not allowed inside?”
“You need not know every detail of my life, Benji.” She squared her shoulders.
He smiled lightly. She had not called him that in years. Now that he thought on it, he wondered why she’d ever stopped. He rather liked the name. At least he did when she said it.
“It is a feather art I started before the party, but it’s not yet finished. I will show it to you when it’s done.” She glanced around the empty corridor. “I thought it best to stay out of sight until the picnic, lest Lord Montcort find me and ask to escort me.”
Ben grinned. “Does that mean you are available? I’d be honored to escort you.”
She pushed her lips out in a pout. Lud, he’d missed that pout. “I’m not certain I wish to go with you. After causing me to fall from the boat, I’m not inclined toward either Lord Montcort or you.” She lifted her chin, and the pout turned into a challenge. “Perhaps I’ll see if Mr. Bancroft or Lord Ponsonby will escort me.”
Ben raised a brow at her. “I did not cause you to fall out of the boat. That falls completely at Cort’s feet.”
She tilted her head to the side and pierced him with a look. “Don’t minimize your role in it. You engaged with him just as much as he did with you. You are both to blame.” She tucked her hand into the crook of his arm, and he half closed his eyes. This was as it should be. “But as I have missed you dreadfully, I will forgive you and allow you to walk me to the picnic.”
He relaxed for the first time in days. Who would have guessed this house party would cause such an uproar in their lives? He grinned to himself. Mia, that is who. Had she not opposed the idea from the very beginning? Perhaps he should listen to her next time.
“Do you have a dry pelisse?”
She nodded. “Yes.” She looked at him from the corner of her eyes. “Katie has a few things to say to you regarding my other gown and pelisse. She was not happy to see them so dirty and wet.”
Ben gave her a little nudge with his shoulder. “Katie adores me. I need only bring her a cherry tart, and she’ll forgive me.”
Mia shook her head. “You are a cad, Ben. Using fruit pastries to buy my maid’s affections. It’s unseemly.”
“I do what I must.” He grinned down at her. “I suppose I should go to the kitchens and persuade Mrs. Handley to make some cherry tarts.”
“Do you not have your own cook to buy you out of the briars? Mrs. Handley has no time for your antics.”
Ben nodded. “You are correct. It will work more to my advantage, anyhow. While Mrs. Handley bakes well enough, we both know Katie prefers Mrs. Partridge’s cherry tarts to anything else. I’m certain I will win back her favor in no time.”
They strolled to the entryway to collect their things but stopped when they spotted Cort, Reginald, and Rags. The men, already in their coats and hats, pushed their fingers into their gloves. They all looked up when Mia and Ben entered. Cort looked away. He was likely still embarrassed by his actions at the pond. Or maybe he was still vexed with Ben. He could be assured the feeling was mutual.
“Good afternoon, Your Grace,” Mia curtsied to Rags. “And to you, Lord Stoke and Lord Montcort.”
Reginald grinned. “Are the two of you heading out for the picnic?”
Mia nodded. “We are. I hope you gentlemen will join us?”
They nodded. “We were waiting for my wife. She forgot her gloves in her room and hurried to fetch them.”
Cort and Rags lifted their brows in unison. “Perhaps we will meet you there, Reg? Ben and Lady Amelia can wait with you.” Rags said.
“If you are ready to go, you need not wait.” He looked at them pointedly.
The two men hurried out the door before anyone could change their mind. “I believe Cort is still regretting his actions at the pond,” Reginald leaned forward and whispered, even though no one was around.
“As well he should,” Ben grumbled. “Deuced ungentlemanly, he was.”
Mia nudged him and cleared her throat. “Yes, well, he apologized to me earlier. He need not feel any more embarrassment than Lord Berwick, which as you can see, he’s overcome his embarrassment.” She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. “Perhaps too prematurely, but that is neither here nor there.”
Mia shrugged into the pelisse the footman held out to her.
Lady Stoke stepped into the entry and let out a happy gasp. “Lord Berwick, Lady Amelia, are you to join us for the picnic?”
Mia smiled. “If you are amiable to the company, we should be pleased to join you.”
Lady Stoke smiled at her husband. “We have no objection. Indeed, I’ve been hoping to spend more time with you, my lady. But Lord Montcort has rather monopolized your time of late.”
Mia released a sigh. “Yes, he has. But he and His Grace went on ahead.”
Ben exchanged a glance with Reginald. This was just what he’d hoped for. If a friendship developed between Lady Stoke and Mia, surely Mia would be more inclined to attend gatherings where the other lady would be present. And that would solve the problem of Ben having to split his time between Mia and the gents.
They moved out the door and across the lawns. Ben and Reginald walked along behind as Mia and Lady Stoke chatted.
Ben felt a tinge of irritation, which was odd. While he wanted a friendship to develop, he did not want it to develop at his expense. He’d been looking forward to spending the afternoon with Mia at the picnic. But once again, he was looking on as she spent time with someone else.
“This weather is unseasonably cold, is it not?” Reginald asked.
“Of course it is,” Ben snapped. “It has been for the whole of the year. Did you expect it to change overnight?”
Reginald’s brows rose slowly. “I beg your pardon. I did not realize the weather was so vexing to you.”
Ben sagged, and he sucked in a breath. “My apologies, Reg. I just wanted the weather to be better for the party. Mia spent days planning activities, and this weather has put a damper on everything.” He shook his head. “It’s made me feel out of sorts all day. But I should not have snapped at you. It’s not as if you control it.”
Reginald clapped him on the shoulder. “You need not apologize. I know this house party is important to you. I’m certain Lady Amelia is not the only one worried about everyone enjoying themselves.” He smiled at Ben. “But I can assure you, Sarah and I are having a grand time. I’m certain everyone else is as well.”
Ben looked ahead at the large bonfire at the edge of the pond, and the blankets on the ground around it. “I’m not as certain as you. Lady Charlotte does not seem to enjoy herself.”
Reginald chuckled. “I would not worry about her. When you did not return her interest, she moved her sights to Mr. Lymington and Lord Rayburton. She is hedging her bets by flirting with both men.”
Ben shook his head. “I can hardly reckon it. I’ve never seen the lady speak more than a sentence at a time until this party.”
Reginald twitched his mouth to the side. “She seems determined to find a match. More than in Seasons past.”
“Do you believe it has anything to do with her father?” Ben narrowed his eyes. “You’ll notice the good Lord Grenville is still absent.”
“I don’t know. Although, his reputation can’t be helping her.” Reginald shook his head. “Does the man have no decency? He does nothing to hide his transgressions. Indeed, when last I was in London, I saw him at Covent Garden with his light-o’-love. Even introduced her to me.”
Ben slowed his steps. “Oh? And how was she introduced?”
Reginald rolled his eyes in disgust. “He introduced her as a ‘dear family friend.’”
“Is she a friend of the whole family or just the good earl, I wonder?” Ben asked.
Reginald didn’t reply, but his face said what words did not. They stopped at the edge of the path.
“We are coming closer to the group. Perhaps you should change the subject,” Mia said.
Ben had not realized the ladies had heard their conversation.
“Where shall we sit, do you think?” Lady Stoke asked.
“What about over there?” Reginald pointed to the other side. “Rags, Cort, Ponsy, and Charlie are already seated.”
Ben took in a deep breath. Did he wish to sit with Cort? He twisted his head from side to side and rotated his shoulders. He needed to put his sour feelings toward Cort aside. After all, Cort was his best friend, besides Mia.
“Where are Lord and Lady Heatherton?” Mia asked.
“Mariah is not feeling well. They kept to their rooms this afternoon in hopes that she’ll feel better by dinner.” Lady Stoke put her hand on Mia’s arm and gave her a small tug. “Come, let’s join the others.”
Mia looked over her shoulder and gave Ben a weary look. “That sounds lovely.”
Ben moved over and took her by the elbow. “We can sit somewhere else if you prefer,” he whispered in her ear.
“This will be fine. I prefer their company over anyone else here.”
He looked down at her with concern. “Are you certain? If you are uncomfortable with Cort, we may sit by Miss Cartwright.”
Mia looked over her shoulder at her friend. “No, she is speaking with my cousin, Mr. Lamb. I do not wish to interrupt.” She looked up at him and ran her finger over the spot between his brows. It had been days since she’d done that. He never realized how much he enjoyed it until she’d held back these last few days. “Do not worry, Ben. I’m fine. I grow weary of all the people, but it cannot be helped. At least not for another week or more. It is the nature of house parties, is it not?”
He regretted mentioning this blasted house party more with each passing day. If not for it, he and Mia could take leisurely walks or sit in the library and discuss what they had read rather than entertaining all these strangers. Perhaps not all strangers. But still not entirely welcome for such a long expanse of time.
Mia dropped onto the blanket and smoothed her dress around her. She leaned forward and plucked a small sandwich from the tray placed in the center of their little group.
Ben noticed several other similar trays amidst the other groups around the fire.
“This was a lovely idea. When I read on the schedule that we were to have a picnic, I wondered at the prudence of it with the weather being what it is. But the fire makes it quite enjoyable,” Miss Bancroft beamed at Mia.
“Thank you,” she returned the smile, if a little less enthusiastic. “But the praise should be Ben’s. The fire was his idea.”
Miss Bancroft turned her soft, green gaze upon him. She was a handsome girl, but he could never look on her with any degree of interest. She was Charlie’s little sister. A fact that had not stopped Colin from marrying Reginald’s sister. But Charlie’s sister was young—much younger than Lady Heatherton had been. And much younger than Mia.
She would make someone a fine wife. But that someone would not be him. He enjoyed his bachelorhood far too much to be tempted by such a young thing.
He snatched up a sandwich and leaned back on his hands. He puffed out his breath, the hair on his brow slightly lifting. Mia laughed beside him at something Charlie said.
Ben grinned. It was about time the party went according to plan.