She sat taller, stretching to see if the lake’s conditions would be conducive to frogs, bugs, and, with any luck, dragonflies, although it might yet be too early in the season. “I treat adders and vipers with the utmost respect, of course, but I do enjoy watching grass snakes when I happen to find them in the garden.”
“You are an amazing woman, Miss Bening.” Elias slowly shook his head.
“Why? Because I enjoy studying something other than embroidery stitches?” She softened her sarcasm with a coy smile. “The world outside my parlor is full of many wonders waiting to be discovered. I need only lift my head and look around.” She closed her parasol and tucked it into the corner beside the seat. With all the lovely shade, she wouldn’t need it and didn’t wish to be bothered with carrying it.
Elias opened his mouth to comment, but the carriage rolled to a stop and interrupted him. Jamison unlatched the carriage door, then moved to tend to the horses. After alighting with a nimble hop, Elias turned and helped Lady Sophie step to the ground. As he turned and offered his hand to Celia, he gave her a look that made her catch her breath.
“Your world and its wonders await to be discovered, Miss Bening,” he said for her alone, leaving Celia with the distinct impression that he wasnotreferring to bugs.
Determined to snare him just as effectively as he was ensnaring her, Celia leaned in closer than necessary and held tightly to his hand while stepping down from the carriage. “I am ready to discover everything,” she said just as softly, then remembered to tease the tip of her tongue across her lip as Frannie had recommended. For what reason, neither of them knew, but the forbidden novel Frannie had found in her mother’s bedside table drawer had recommended it. Unfortunately, they could not read it in its entirety because Frannie had to put it back before her mother discovered it was missing.
Elias’s jaw flexed, and he held her hand even tighter though she now stood quite solidly on the ground. “I fear…” he said quietly, then his words trailed off as he slowly stroked his thumb back and forth across the back of her gloved hand.
“You fear what, Lord Raines?” she asked just as quietly.
His eyes narrowed and his smile became more self-assured. “I fear you play a dangerous game, Celia. Take care.”
“Miss Bening,” she gently corrected him, while easing her hand out of his. She cast a teasing glance back at him, then hurried to join Sophie.
“Indeed.” He proffered a most gentlemanly nod. “Miss Bening.”
“Admirable recovery,” Sophie whispered to Celia before Elias fell in step beside them.
Celia thanked her with a smile, then turned her attention to the mirrorlike surface of the lake, which was only disturbed by a pair of regal swans gliding across it. “They are so lovely—and peaceful.”
“And devoted to one another,” Elias said. “They mate for life.”
“Oh, to be a swan.” Celia ambled along the waterside, her gaze fixed on the snowy-white birds.
Elias strolled next to her while Sophie diplomatically slowed and fell a few steps behind, feigning interest in the fluffy band of clouds floating just above the tree line.
“So, you do wish to marry someday?” Elias asked.
Celia didn’t answer right away. It was essential she word her response carefully.
“Miss Bening?” he prompted, seeming impatient to hear her reply.
“Only for love,” she finally said. “I will not subject myself to a union that is more of a business arrangement for breeding an heir or climbing Society’s fickle ladder. Marriage should be a true joining of two loving souls.” Before he could comment, she hastily added, “Of course, as a gentle-born woman of no title, I need not worry about becoming a sought-after item at the peerage’s breeding market.” She shifted her gaze from the swans to him. “What about you, Lord Raines? As a second son of a duke and a renowned solicitor who is already a partner in his firm, will you marry for prestige and riches to continue your elevation in Polite Society, or will you marry for love?”
“You insult me, Miss Bening. Do you truly think me so avaricious?”
She tossed a shrug his way. “I simply state the obvious. Gentlemen, even second sons, are trained from birth that it is quite acceptable to do whatever it takes to make one’s mark in this world. Gain land, riches, and prestige.” She fixed him with a look that dared him to deny it. “Tell me your father and mother taught you to marry for love, and I shall heartily beg your pardon.”
“My mother died when I was born, and my father hated me for it because he already had his heir. So, I fear I can neither deny nor confirm the parental guidance you suggest.”
Celia came to a halt, ashamed for allowing a lifetime of bitterness to convict Elias of heartlessness when he had given her no reason to believe he was such a man. Staring down at the tips of her shoes, she fisted her hands against her middle. “I do beg your pardon, Lord Raines. I should not have spoken in such a cruel manner. I am sorry. Truly. I completely understand if you wish to return me to Hasterton House and be done with my company immediately.”
“I do not wish to be done with your company, my dearest Celia. Not ever.” He blew out a heavy sigh while turning to stare at the lake as if it held the answers he sought. “That is the dilemma with which I struggle.” He faced her once more, squinting as though in pain. “And I beg that you call me Elias even with Lady Sophie present. I long to hear you say my name as though you enjoy being with me as much as I enjoy being with you.”
He glanced back at Sophie where she dawdled a few steps behind them, then faced Celia once more with a look that made her catch her breath. “Who are you, Celia Bening? The truth, if you please. Who are you to the Duchess of Hasterton to make her care for you so much that she omitted both her children from her will? Do you not understand that the Duke of Hasterton will not stand for it? The man is ruthless about his vast holdings, and I feel certain that Lady Cecilia will join him in the courts—especially since the transfers from the Hasterton accounts to those of the Bening files have become more frequent of late. The duke has no idea what the dowager intends, but I know he will not allow it. Tell me, Celia. Tell me the truth about yourself, so I might spare you the pain and protect you from what could lie ahead.”
Heart-wrenching disappointment and a healthy portion of fear replaced the guilt and shame she had felt for her earlier poor choice of words regarding his upbringing. Not trusting herself to speak, she turned and caught hold of her skirts, marching back toward the carriage path at a very unladylike pace.
“Celia!” Sophie called out as she hurried to catch her. “Celia! Whatever is wrong?”
“Miss Bening!” Elias rounded on them both and blocked the way. “Hear me out.”
“I have heard quite enough from you, Lord Raines. You will return us to Hasterton House immediately.” Celia had underestimated the man, been foolish enough to allow his mesmerizing smile and winning charm to blind her. That would not happen again.
