Chapter 15
24th December, 1812
Benjamin stared at the letter but could not bring himself to reread it. Florentina had insisted that he come to the house party alone. She was sick more often than not, and even though he tried to help her as best he could, she did not appreciate his presence.
Not at all.
He crumbled the letter and threw it into the fire. It was very early in the morning, far earlier than he normally woke, but Daniel Stanley, the butler, had given him the letter as soon as it arrived.
Is it too early for brandy?
Although the repugnant toad who had impregnated her had run off with another woman, the toad had come crawling back and Florentina had upped and left him, he who had tried to help her save face. It seemed the toad’s other woman had stolen money from him. Serves him right. I never did like William Walters. As for Florentina… if toads are her choice, well, I can’t stop her, but if she starts to grow warts on her lovely face, I will not feel sorry for her.
Had she ever been sick at all with her pregnancy, or had her symptoms been a ruse all along? Perhaps she had lied about being pregnant in the first place!
Lies and gossip. Benjamin knew he was the source of many a story, and that he didn’t mind. He enjoyed flirtations, but the idea of marriage held so little appeal to him. Yet when he had offered to save Florentina, he had gradually become accustomed to the idea. So much so that he was the one who kept asking her when she would be ready to walk down the aisle.
Now she had ruined their engagement, Benjamin felt as if she had robbed him of something dear, something he hadn’t even known he wanted.
Perhaps it was for the best she had left him. If it had been a boy, his estate would’ve gone to another man’s child, something he hadn’t considered until this very moment. Dimly, he recalled his mother saying something to that effect, but he was often impulsive and did as he wished.
The study was empty at this early hour, the sun not even awake yet. Only a single candle gave the room any light. When he spied the quill, he was seized by an idea, and he found a clean piece of paper and wrote down the names of the eligible ladies who had caught his eyes over the years. Again and again his eye returned to the first name he had written—Lady Anna Wycliff.
Benjamin glanced around, noting where small boughs of mistletoe were hung, and the few ladies bold enough to be standing near them, hoping to ensnare a kiss. Raising his glass, he caught the gaze of one such lady, and she giggled, folded her fan, and placed it against her chin. Lady Pamela, he believed her name to be. He had danced with her on occasions. She enjoyed her sweets and was sweet enough, when she ceased with her flirtations and truly spoke about matters dear to her.
He bided his time, and it wasn’t until after Lady Anna returned from helping Cedrica make up a costume that Benjamin found her, hovering near a hanging mistletoe. Perfect.
He swooped toward her. In a lovely green gown, she had never looked more beautiful. Her cheeks were a rose color, and she reminded him of a precious flower.
“Lady Anna,” he said as he approached her.
She turned and granted him a smile. “How are you? Are you coming with us to the local orphanage?”
“If you wish me to. I would do just about anything for you.” Benjamin moved to stand beneath the mistletoe.
Was it his imagination, or was she trying to take a step back?
He grinned broadly. “You look a little chilled, my dear. Why don’t you give me your arm? We can take a stroll, and…”
She glanced above and shook her head. “Are you trying to catch me beneath the mistletoe?”
“Would you blame me if I am?”
“But what of your—”
He shook his head. “There is no reason for me to not kiss you.”
“What of Florentina?”
“I would rather not speak about her.” He scowled, took a deep breath, and forced himself to relax. “If you will not grant me a kiss, will you at least bestow on me the honor of the first dance at the costume party?”
“Ah, well…” She seemed unsettled.
A sinking pit formed in Benjamin’s stomach. “You and I always have a wonderful time together. You are a splendid dancer and—”
“I know you only became engaged to Florentina because of her… but are you not—”
“I would rather not speak about her,” he said stiffly, adjusting his coat. “She is nothing to me, although I must confess that I am grateful to her, in a way, for accepting me. I am even more grateful to her for leaving me. She made me realize I have a hole in my life. I’ve never thought much about settling down, but I do think I am ready to now, and I will be honest…” He took a step toward Anna, who did not back away. “You are the first lady I thought of. Lady Anna, we have known each other for some time now, and I know you care for me. A part of me has always cared for you in return, and I know these feelings can grow and turn into love if you would only consider me.”
And he narrowed the distance between them and pressed his lips to hers.
Anna didn’t know what to think. For so long, she had wanted Benjamin to look at her as he was staring at her right now, had wanted to hear what he was saying, had wanted him to kiss her.
But now that he was kissing her, she wanted to kiss someone else.
She put a hand to his chest and shifted back. “I am sorry, Benjamin, that things did not work out for you and Florentina—”
He captured her hand and held it there against him. “If you are willing—”
“I—”
His smile died. “It’s Pershore, isn’t it.” His nostrils flared. “I see how he looks at you. You would rather have him than me? I thought…”
“I’m sorry. I… I don’t know what to say.”
“Then this conversation is over.” Tight-lipped, Benjamin walked off.
Only then did Anna come back to reality and realized how many others were in the parlor, and she flushed. So many prying eyes, so many wagging tongues. Why, someone might send in a bit about her and the duke to The Teatime Tattler!
And if one of the gossipers were to find Jasper…
Forget the mistletoe. Anna dashed forward when someone cleared his throat behind her.
She whirled around to see Jasper standing there. Her heart pounded so loudly she wondered if he could hear it. “Jasper,” she breathed.
He gave her a small smile that eased the tightness of her chest slightly. Then he looked up. “Oh, look.”
“Mistletoe.” She wanted to grin but couldn’t.
“What’s wrong?” He lifted his hand to tilt her head up.
“Benjamin kissed me here,” she blurted. She winced. “I really do like to over-share with you.”
His lips quirked. “I do like that you are honest, even when you think I won’t like what you have to say. Now, was he a good kisser?”
“I must confess I have nothing to compare his kiss to.” She shrugged. “Perhaps you could remedy that?”
There might have been whispers around the room, but Anna didn’t care. She closed her eyes and accepted Jasper’s kiss. It was far too quick for her liking, but it sent a thrilling shock through her, from her lips down to her toes.
“Well?” Jasper asked.
Dazed, Anna stared up at him through half-lidded eyes. “I think you might be a hero after all.”
“So you prefer my kiss?”
“I would prefer for you to…” She clapped a hand to her mouth. How could she be so forward?
Jasper merely smiled at her, his eyes sparkling, and she had a feeling he knew exactly what she had nearly said.
After visiting the orphanage—the children had rallied to Anna to hear her stories, and Jasper had delighted in watching her tease and delight them—Jasper wanted to spend more time with her, only she went off with Lady Emily and some of the other ladies. Jasper set out to find himself something to drink when he spied Barnet heading for the front door, a footman trailing behind him and carrying his luggage.
“Leaving?” Jasper asked. “Why not stay through the holiday?”
“I’m not much for celebrating at the moment.” The normally smiling duke was positively frowning.
“What is going on?”
Barnet appraised him. “Anna did not tell you? My engagement is off, and I thought that perhaps she would consider me… and she clearly prefers you instead, and while there are other eligible women here, perhaps it would be best for me to stay away from the ladies and refocus on who and what I truly want. Not jump from the boiling pot to the fire beneath it, if you understand my meaning.”
Jasper clasped his shoulder. “I am certain you will find the right lady for you one day.”
The duke wrinkled his nose. “And you’re certain it’s not Lady Anna?”
“Ah, no.”
“But she is for you?” the duke pressed. His lips curled into a slight smile.
“Well… you see…” Jasper rubbed the back of his neck.
“If you care for her, if you love her, let her know. Go to her. Be happy. And get out of my way. I mean to leave.”
“If you insist.”
Jasper watched as the duke bid a few others adieu before he attempted to seek out Anna. He did not find her however, and he went to bed that evening distraught yet ever hopeful that the morrow would be a much brighter and happier occasion. After all, it would be Christmas Day.