Chapter 2
Two
Victoria had not known that Benedick could be so stubborn and infuriating. Then again, she had only known him a sennight, hardly enough time to come to know anyone really.
Except, she thought she knew him well. He had even captured her heart.
“Even if you refuse to grant me entrance to your home for protection, I can and will find a way in, and your footmen, no matter their earlier fighting experience will not be able to stop me.”
She knew he was correct because Benedick had a reputation not only in his position as an investigator with the Thames River Police, but experience from being a frequent visitor to Gentleman Jackson’s where he fought many, including his brother who was a pugilist of renowned reputation.
Gentlemen rarely betted against his brother, Mercutio, and it was rumored that Benedick had only ever lost to Mercutio.
But those were fights in a ring where the other wanted to win without doing too much harm. It was not the same as someone attacking with an intent to incapacitate or worse, kill.
She also hated to admit that she was scared, but she certainly would not let on to Benedick. Her assailant’s fingers had dug into her upper arms so painfully that he left five bruises behind on each.
Victoria had believed him and had gone straight to her brother-in-law, Dr. Sinclair, who accompanied her back to Westbrook House where there were guards outside every door. He had then sent a missive to someone she had assumed was from Bow Street only to be surprised when Benedick arrived.
And now, Benedick stood in the entry in her home and ordered her butler to have the servants gather in the drawing room so that he could address them directly.
Meanwhile, some of the men that Benedick worked with, who he apparently did not trust to keep her safe, took up temporary positions at each door leading to her home and by windows on either side of the house.
This was all too much and Victoria wanted to object to his barking orders, but it was also the safest she had felt since she had been accosted.
As the butler and housekeeper went to gather the servants, she led Benedick into the drawing room.
“I am sorry that my brother-in-law felt the need to prevail upon you.” Victoria knew that she should offer some form of apology since Benedick did not ask to be here, nor would he have ever requested entrance into her home for any other reason.
“I am glad that I was the one he summoned,” he returned. “Despite our differences, Lady Victoria, I would never forgive myself if you were harmed and I did nothing to stop it from happening.”
Except, he had been the one to break her heart so his words rang false.
She turned away and crossed to the window and looked outside. He certainly did not approve of her position in Society or he would not have emphasized Lady as if it disgusted him.
Was that one of the reasons he resented her? He had known that he was visiting with lords and ladies, as well as those without rank during the house party, yet it bothered him now.
Victoria did not understand him and maybe it was best that she did not try. He had already broken her heart once and she had barely recovered.
The overcast sky matched her mood, nor was such unusual for London, yet it seemed different today. She could not say exactly why, except it was more windy than usual and there was an odd heaviness in the air.
Strange, she had never considered air heavy, but it seemed to be today.
She shook her head. It wasn’t the weather that caused her disquiet but the fact that she had been attacked, then encountered Benedick who now stood in her home, and that was the reason everything seemed terribly odd.
That, and the headache that had developed, pressure at her temples as if her head was being squeezed, the likes she never experienced before, which she blamed on the tensions from the day.
The butler and housekeeper entered a moment later and took a stance on either side of Victoria as the rest of the servants entered and waited to hear why they were all brought together.
“I am certain that you are all aware of what happened to Lady Victoria earlier today,” Benedick began.
The servants nodded.
“As the man has not yet been caught, I will be remaining in this house until he is.”
There were whispers and murmurs amongst the staff and Victoria could only imagine what they were assuming.
“My name is Benedick Valentine and I am an investigator with the Thames River Police. I am here solely for the protection of your mistress.”
His words seemed to calm some of the more concerned and older servants in her household.
“I would like you all to be on alert for any strangers in the area. I would also ask that you check that every window and door is locked to prevent intrusion.”
“I will see it done, Mr. Valentine” the butler assured him.
“As will I,” the housekeeper said as she sent a challenging look to the butler.
The two had always competed with who should truly be in charge of the household, often overstepping and performing the duties of the other.
Victoria did not have the patience for their bickering today, especially when the hierarchy in a household was well established.
These two simply did not like each other, which often made matters difficult for not only her, but the other servants who weren’t certain who to obey when there were conflicting assigned duties.
“The rest of you may go except for the footmen, whose names Lady Victoria will now provide.”
She could only assume that he meant the footmen who had been born in Seven Dials because they had not discussed anyone else. “Charlie, Hank and Jimmy.”
Benedick nodded. “The rest of you may go.”
The three youngest footmen looked at each other with concern. Given where they came from, they were slow to trust and no doubt feared for their positions.
“The housekeeper and butler may also return to their duties,” Benedick instructed. “Please close the door after you leave.”
The two looked at Victoria for instruction. She simply gave a quick nod, much to their disappointment because they believed that they should also know all the confidences within the household.
“Are we in trouble?” Hank asked.
“Are we to be sacked?” Charlie inquired with worry.
“Is it because I was unable to catch that man?” asked Jimmy.
“It is none of those things,” Victoria assured them. “But I did share some information with Mr. Valentine.”
Nervously the three looked at Benedick and waited.
“I understand that you were raised in Seven Dials.”
The three reluctantly nodded as their shoulders dropped in shame.
“Lady Victoria tells me that you came to her when you were around fourteen years of age. Is that correct?”
“Aye,” the three muttered.
“To survive so long, I can only assume that the three of you are quite good with your fists.”
It was with those words that she saw their spines straighten just a little and a shoulder went back.
“If that is the case, then after me you are the next in line to defend and protect Lady Victoria.”
The three were now standing tall, their shoulders back and chins lifted.
“I am certain that you have likely faced men like him before, whereas the other servants in the household have likely only worked in the homes of gentry and I doubt they would do well defending themselves let alone Lady Victoria.”
Hank looked at her and frowned. “Did you know him, Lady Victoria? Is that why you know he is dangerous?”
“He wants his property back,” she answered because she knew the three lads would understand. “Ruby, and woman who recently arrived at Westbrook House.”
“Did he hurt her?” Jimmy asked, a hard glint in his brown eyes, to which she nodded.
“We will not fail,” declared Charlie as the other two nodded.
“How many doors lead to the house?”
“Three,” Victoria answered along with her three footmen.
Benedick shot her a look of warning and it was clear he wanted her to stay out of the matter.
She tried not to take offense, but this was her house and they were her footmen.
But Benedick did have more experience in these matters, so she settled back and let him continue without uttering a single syllable.
* * *
Victoria may be their employer, but Benedick needed to know what the three were truly made of and he needed them to see him as the only authority when it came to Victoria’s safety and not take instruction from her.
He assigned them a door to guard and then questioned them on which other servant would be best to stand beside them as a partner. It was not safe for them to be alone. If the assailant broke he, he trusted that one of the three men would fight and the other servant would go for assistance.
Each footman offered a name and Benedick so that they were also assigned to the door, and made it clear that the first footman, the ones named by Lady Victori, were in charge and then explained what he expected before he dismissed the footmen.
After they were gone, Victoria pulled away from the window and approached with a smile at the corner of her lips.
It was the first time that she hadn’t glared at him today.
“I cannot recall seeing the three stand so proud.” Her eyes watered but she quickly blinked away the tears.
“I remember when they came to us scared. They did not want to have to rely on picking pockets to survive,” she explained.
“None of them have families so there was no reason for them to remain in Seven Dials to protect anyone and they were tired of protecting themselves.”
Had his entire family not been rescued, Benedick would have remained to shelter his younger sisters.
“They were lucky to have found Westbrook House,” Benedick said then strode to check that each window in the room was locked.
It was difficult being alone with Victoria, but he could not let her see even a hint of his turmoil.
She was more beautiful than she had been at the house party. Then again, he only got a glimpse of her face before she pulled away from him and strode out of the ball.
What kind of man still wanted to kiss and hold a woman who had soundly rejected him? He should hate her, or at least experience a deep-rooted dislike, but he didn’t because of the time they had spent together prior to the unmasking.
“Thank you, Benedick. I know that you would rather be anywhere else but here,” she said quietly when he returned to her.
Their eyes held for the slightest moment, her blue ones, filled with warmth and concern stared into his. It took him back to the summer when he had only her blue eyes in which to determine a mood or meaning behind spoken words.
But he remembered those eyes and they had haunted him since.
“Yes, well, I will go see that the doors and windows are locked as I instructed and that the footmen are stationed at their doors then allow those outside to return to their duties away from here.”
Victoria blinked and looked away. “Yes, of course, and thank you.”
Benedick started to leave her, then returned. “You lied to me and Sinclair.”
Her eyebrows rose as her blue eyes widened. “I most certainly did not.”
“You claimed that it was one incident and would likely not happen again.”
“That matters little now since you are here.”
“If that man had a reason for accosting you, and made demands, then you know the likelihood of him returning.”
Lady Victoria pursed her lips and crossed her arms over those breasts he had once enjoyed.
“Who is Ruby and why did you not mention her before?”
She quickly explained who the woman was and why the man had attacked her.
He gave a nod. “He promised to return.”
“If I do not give her back.”
“Is there anything else from that encounter that you have not told me?”
“No, that is all,” she answered.
“I will check the house myself then see that the footman are in place.”
Benedick then stepped into the corridor, closed the door behind him and leaned against the wall. Why did the only woman he could love have to be a lady—daughter then sister of an earl?
Even if Victoria had developed any deep emotions for him this past summer, she knew as well as he that there could be no future and that he was not worthy enough to kiss her hand, let alone the other parts of her body he had kissed and touched, which was likely why she had immediately shunned him upon learning his name.
That had hurt, deeply, but it hadn’t changed how he had come to care about the woman she’d been while masked.
They had shared a passion that had barely been reined in, but they stopped before any true ruination could occur.
It had been important to wait until her identity was revealed.
He did not want full intimacy with a woman when he had no idea what she looked like, though he had planned on whisking her away to his chamber once the masks were removed.
They were going to spend the entire night exploring the other.
He had been so certain of their future. A future that he had been afraid to even suggest when he only knew her by Valerie, and why words of love would not pass his lips until they were both revealed.
When he did see her face then heard her name, and her reaction to his, the best night of his life had turned into the worst.