that I’d changed my mind? That I’d be willing to marry you?”
Geoff laughed. “Lord,” he said, once he’d stopped chortling. “How I will miss you, Benna.”
“You don’t believe that I’d rather marry you than go back to my cousin—because I assume that is where you’re taking me. Trust me, Geoffrey, if my choices are you or Michael, you are by far the more appealing option.”
“Well, thank you, Benna. I’m quite flattered. But I’m guessing that I would instantly become a decidedly unappealing choice the moment I freed you. No, I’ve watched you handle that sharp little penny knife of yours for years. I daresay I’d end up with it between my eyes before I could ever get you in front of a vicar.”
“So, what now?” she asked. “Are you planning to stuff me into a post chaise and drive me all the way to Scotland in the hope that my cousin will reward you?”
“No, although that idea did occur to me. Instead, I decided to contact your cousin.”
“And you plan on keeping me tied up until he gets your message?” Benna taunted. “Because if you sent it last night, it might be days before he comes. If he even believes you.”
“I sent the message a week ago.”
Benna gasped. “You’ve been planning to sell me to my cousin even while you’ve spent every night in my bed?”
He hesitated, and then said, “Yes.”
Even for Geoff that was mercenary behavior.
“What would you have done in the highly unlikely event I’d accepted your offer last night?”
“I had a chaise and four ready to take us up to Gretna Green, my love. I daresay we would have passed the earl’s man on our way up north.”
Benna opened her mouth, but then closed it. There was no point in begging; once Geoff made up his mind, he never went back on a decision.
“How long do I have until he gets here?”
“We don’t have much time together, Benna. I’m expecting—”
A sharp rap on the door interrupted his words.
Geoff let out a gusty sigh. “It looks like we have no time at all, love,” he said, his voice empty of all emotion. “I’m—I’m sorry, Benna.”
The thing of it was, Benna really believed that he meant it.
Chapter Eighteen
Cornwall
1817
Present Day
Benna put the seven-year-old bill for window glazing in the appropriate stack and turned back to the towering pile.
The job of organizing what she referred to as the Mountain was simple but tedious work.
“Only spend a few hours each day on that,” the earl had told her on the first morning of her new position. “I also want you to work on the house inventory with Mrs. Gates and Nance. And on Wednesdays you can come with me to inspect the work on the various cottages.”
Each morning they met in the library and discussed her progress the prior day and his lordship’s plans for the next few days.
In the eight days that she’d worked as his secretary Benna had been alone with him only during those brief morning meetings. She saw him at dinner each night, but of course they were not alone.
Benna had foolishly believed that being closer to him would be more pleasurable. Instead, it was agony.
She lived in hope that he’d invite her to another intimate evening of chess. This time, she swore, she would ask questions about him, no matter how aloof he became when confronted with anything personal.
Thus far, however, he’d given no sign of wanting to spend a few hours pitting his wits across a board.
Indeed, Benna got the distinct impression that he was avoiding her.
Or, more likely, she had inflated her importance in his mind. He’d probably forgotten all about her and was consumed by estate business and his frequent meetings with Mr. and Mrs. Worth and the new hospital in Redruth.
Benna had met Mrs. Worth on several occasions, most recently when she came to help Lady Trebolton with plans for the girls’ first Season—apparently both would be launched together.
The Worths came to dinner the fifth night of Benna’s new position.
Benna had not seen Stephen Worth since she had tried to return the expensive livery Worth had purchased when he’d hired her.
“Good Lord,” he’d said, lounging in his chair while Benna had stood in front of his enormous desk. “Where in the hell would I ever find another beanpole like you to wear it?” He’d laughed good-naturedly at Benna’s reddened face. “Don’t worry, boy, you’ll grow into your height eventually, same thing with your whiskers. I was a beardless, gangly youth myself until I