Jemma and Ben watched the people whisper to one another. Their greater concern was whether Zachary remained near the stables and whether this would draw his attention. Ben sighed, knowing the gossip would carry throughout the village and to Polruan by midday. He’d already intended to make it public that they were courting, but now it would look like he said that because the villagers discovered them.
“Go home, Jemma. I’ll follow as soon as I speak to Kent. I need to ensure the barrels can remain a little longer. I don’tthink I’m setting off soon.” They both knew the only place Ben would take gunpowder was to her uncle. William was just as entrenched in the smuggling ring as her father.
“Soon?” Jemma knew on a superficial level her uncle expected him in Dorset, but it hadn’t sunk in that Ben was really leaving until just that moment. She should have known the moment he told her a new shipment arrived. He’d said he wasn’t leaving when they met outside the manor gates, but there was no avoiding it if the shipment needed to reach her uncle. They’d finally accepted their feelings and were spending time together, but now he would depart again. She didn’t know when she would see him again since she doubted it would be before Christmas.
“Yes. But I can wait until tomorrow. Go home, Jemma. I’ll be there soon.” Ben kissed her forehead. This wasn’t how he’d imagined they would announce their intentions, but they’d been foolish to tryst in such a public place. She nodded and led her horse to the end of the building as the villagers stared. Ben followed, and they peered around the side, neither seeing Zachary. “Have a groom accompany you.”
Jemma nodded, neither saying anything more. Ben watched her talk to an adolescent, who soon saddled a horse and rode out with her. By the time she was gone, the people who’d bottlenecked to see what was amiss had returned to their day. Ben made his way to Kent, keeping their conversation brief. He was soon back on his horse and headed to Rowe House.
“Jemma,” Theo called to her from his study’s doorway as she entered the manor house. She sighed and took the path of least resistance. She approached her father and spied her mother sitting in a chair beside his desk. It was a position she oftenoccupied when her father discussed estate matters. He’d always included Vinita when their sons were too young to be a part of the estate management. The habit continued.
“Mama, Papa,” Jemma greeted them as she walked past Theo. She eased into a seat in front of the desk and clasped her hands in her lap.
“You didn’t explain what occurred between you and Ben last night. Why were you at the cliffs?”
“We wished to look at where we met.”
“What else?
“We reminisced.”
“Windsor-Clive insinuated it was far more than that.” Vinita observed Jemma, seeing so much of herself in her daughter. The conversation was eerily like one she’d been part of thirty years ago, when she had been in Jemma’s position.
“I told you. We were remembering when we met. We regret our misunderstanding kept us apart for far too many years. My pride and his guilt kept us from talking when we could have put things straight a long time ago. We want to make out courtship public.” It was Jemma’s turn to lift an eyebrow to her parents.
“And when do you plan to do that?”
“Immediately.”
As if summoned by Jemma’s comment, a knock sounded at the door, and Samson ushered Ben into the study, where he found three sets of eyes boring into him.
“You wish to announce your intentions.” Theo saw no point in prevaricating. He gestured to the seat beside Jemma’s, but Ben remained standing next to her.
“I do.” Ben turned toward the older man, fighting the temptation to wrap his arm around Jemma and hold her possessively against his side. After what happened the night before, he didn’t like her being out of reach, but he didn’t need to worry Theo would separate them.
“Why now?” Theo suspected something else happened besides Zachary’s accusations.
“Because there’s no reason to prolong it. I’d make it public, so we can move forward.”
“Jemma?” Vinita cast her daughter a concerned mien. She recalled a similar conversation between her father, Maharaja Surat Singh, and Theo. There had been an instant and powerful connection between herself and Theo, but he’d harbored the same concerns as Ben. Had time not been so short before Theo was due to return to England, their courtship might have lasted longer. But she’d been determined to join him for the voyage back to England. They’d returned after their journey to England was complete, but neither she nor Theo had known they would. She was certain it also helped that her sister, Sarla, had fallen in love with Theo’s friend William. At the time, her older sister, Suniti, was newly married to the third member of the East Indiamen’s trio, Raj’s father.
“I’ve had seven years to figure out what I want. This is what’s right.” Jemma’s determination radiated from her posture and visage.
Ben’s cock threatened to come to life at the most inopportune time. The last thing he needed was for his attraction to their daughter to become clear for Theo and Vinita to see. He tried to think of anything that would distract him. Recalling Grandma Smith’s expression when she caught them made his arousal wane immediately.
“Mistress Smith, my lord,” Samson announced. No one heard a knock at the door, so all four turned to watch the elderly woman enter the study. It was as though Ben’s thought conjured the woman.
“So, you did the honorable thing, lad.” Grandma Smith narrowed her eyes at Ben, who turned to look at Theo and Vinita.
“I told you why I wish to make the courtship known. Mistress Smith came to tell you we have no choice but to marry.” Ben steeled himself for all of Theo’s goodwill and kindness to evaporate.
“What did you do?” Theo demanded.
Jemma slipped her arm around Ben’s waist. “I kissed him behind The Cock and Bull.”
“Aye. For the whole village to see them, they did.” Grandma Smith grinned, but Ben suspected it was at their expense. For a woman who kept so many secrets, she seemed determined to share this one.
“We’re already courting.” Jemma locked eyes with Grandma Smith, daring her to contradict her.
