she mean? There was not even a single thought of such a thing in his mind and yet it seemed that Lady Norwich had been hoping for precisely that!
“That is why I have returned to London!” Lady Norwich exclaimed, as Benedict began to shake his head. “I have been eagerly hoping that you would look upon me again with favor. I know that I made an unwise choice in setting aside what had been agreed between us and, instead, making my way to another, but I have had time to reflect on such a decision and can only feel regret as to my foolishness. My late husband did not care for me, not in the way that I knew you once did, proven entirely by his lack of consideration for me in his will.” She drew in a shaky breath. “If only you could –”
“I have no interest in considering any sort of acquaintance, Lady Norwich,” Benedict interrupted, speaking as loudly as he dared. “Why you should think so, I cannot imagine!”
“Because I know that you still must care for me,” Lady Norwich said, beseechingly. “I have heard that you have returned to London every Christmas and have been melancholy and utterly distraught!”
Benedict grimaced but took a small step back from her.
“That may be so, but that has been my foolishness,” he declared, as Lady Norwich’s eyes began to glisten with tears. “To my immense relief, I have discovered a new happiness which has pulled me from such things.” Glancing to his right and to his left, he finally caught sight of Lady Charity, seeing how she looked back at him, a glimmer of uncertainty in her expression. “I danced with Lady Charity because I have a desire to be in her company, Lady Norwich.” Turning his gaze back towards the lady in question, he fixed his gaze to hers, praying that she would listen to everything he said and realize that he was quite serious with all that he was about to say. “I have no desire to be in your company for any great length of time. The intimacy which was between us was shattered the moment that you chose to step away from me and I have no interest in securing it again. I have found a new happiness, a new joy and a new contentment that I believe I would never have truly discovered should we have wed. I had believed that you cared for me, but I soon realized just how mistaken I was. But I shall not have such doubts or fears with Lady Charity. I trust her implicitly and the care that she has shown me proves what is in her heart. Remove such thoughts from your mind, Lady Norwich. Throw any hope from your heart. It shall never be fulfilled.”
Benedict stepped away from her, his head inclining for just a moment before he began to walk towards Lady Charity. His heart was quiet and calm, for he had spoken with honesty and distinction, not having any urge to injure Lady Norwich with what he had said but rather, instead, to speak in such a way that there could not be any doubt. The look in her eyes had been one of pain and of sorrow but Benedict had not allowed her emotions to affect him. It seemed that the late Lord Norwich had not cared for her in the way that Lady Norwich had expected and him leaving her with very little in his will, Benedict knew, must be very difficult for the lady indeed. Regardless, Benedict remained utterly steadfast. She needed to understand that there could be nothing between them. It was not his duty nor his responsibility to care for her now.
“Lady Charity.” Reaching out one hand as though he needed to feel her touch, Benedict smiled at her with both relief and gladness as she accepted it. “Might we step out for the supper dance? I have been –”
“You have promised the dance to me!”
Benedict frowned hard and turned his head. Lady Norwich was approaching him, her face set and, much to his dismay, her mother alongside her.
“I have done no such thing, Lady Norwich,” Benedict replied, firmly. “Pray, do not –”
“Your name is written on my dance card.”
Benedict sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, before looking to Lady Charity with a small, wry smile.
“Shall we, Lady Charity?” he asked again, ignoring Lady Norwich entirely. “The supper dance is, as you know, the one I have been