“Indeed, he asked– only a few minutes ago – if he might call upon me again or even take me for a drive in his carriage, and when I reminded him that such a thing must be discussed with you first, he did not seem particularly pleased. It was as if he thought that I should be eager to consider such a thing, as though he expects me to fall at his feet in happy delight and accept his attentions without hesitation!”
Lady Hayward nodded gravely, letting go of Charity’s arm.
“If Lord Hosmer had not said something, then I believe that Lord and Lady Ramsbury would have spoken up also,” she said, softly. “We have made an excellent connection there.”
“Indeed,” Charity agreed, quietly, her heart quickening just a little. “I confess I do not look forward to dancing with Lord Amundsen again.”
“And it is the waltz also, is it not?” Lady Hayward asked, a little grimly. “Well, it is best to simply remain as quiet as possible and show no indication that you are glad of his company. In time, I am sure he will learn that you have no interest in him.”
“I must hope so,” Charity replied, shaking her head. “And I will make certain to thank Lord Hosmer for his willingness to speak to you about this matter.”
Something flickered in Lady Hayward’s eyes, although her expression remained entirely the same.
“I am sure he would be very grateful for that,” she answered, softly. “Very grateful indeed.”
Chapter Four
Benedict looked at his friend with one lifted eyebrow, refusing to be drawn on the matter.
“You will not say that you have any interest in Lady Charity, then?”
“I have none,” Benedict replied, firmly. “It merely came to my notice that Lord Amundsen was seeking her out and, given that I am attempting to be nothing other than a gentleman, I thought it wise to inform Lady Hayward of the matter.”
Lord Ramsbury looked back at him steadily for some minutes, before letting out a long sigh and shrugging his shoulders.
“I am merely asking, that is all,” he said, as though there had been no other motive than sheer interest in asking such a thing. “Lady Charity is a very suitable young lady by all appearances, and I confess, I had thought that –”
“You know very well how I feel about such a suggestion,” Benedict replied, sharply, his heart beginning to quicken as a faint trace of anger slammed into him. “I care nothing for the young ladies of the ton. I have no interest in acquainting myself with them, calling upon them, courting them and certainly not even a thought of engaging myself to one of them!” He threw his hands up in exasperation, as Lord Ramsbury held up both hands in a gesture of defense. “I thought you would have known better than to even think such a thing, Ramsbury.”
Lord Ramsbury did not appear particularly perturbed by Benedict’s outburst, however. Instead, he simply dropped his hands and looked steadily back at Benedict, his expression quite calm. There was no hint of anger in his eyes, no sharp words ready to come from his mouth. Instead, there was that gentle understanding that Benedict knew very well to be a great part of his friend’s character.
“Do you intend to remain in solitude for the rest of your days, Hosmer?” he asked, as Benedict frowned hard. “It has been some three years now, has it not?”
Benedict’s lip curled.
“Indeed,” he grated, hating the fact that he was even being reminded of such a thing. “And my intentions remain entirely the same.”
“Then no heir?” Ramsbury challenged. “No son to continue on the family line?”
There a sharp retort came to Benedict’s lips but he held it back with an effort. He did not want to argue with his friend but the questions he was asking irritated Benedict a great deal. It was not because they, in themselves, were frustrating but rather that they forced him to consider things beyond his current pain.
“You have a younger brother, I know, but he has responsibilities of his own, does he not?” Ramsbury continued, quietly. “Or are you happy for he and his sons to take on the title of Marquess, should you pass away without a legitimate heir?”
Benedict shook his head.
“There is time for such things,” he said, a little thickly. “A match can be made easily enough, without any need for the entwining of emotions or the like. In time, I will select a lady for my wife and expect the arrangement