Benedict chuckled at her. “I know, however a gentleman never goes back on his word.”
Augusta rolled her eyes. “I’m sure they don’t. however, we are the only two who know about this challenge and I will not fault you for choosing to walk away from this.”
“Are you, by chance, trying to get rid of me, Lady Augusta?” he asked, laughing. “If you are afraid, all you have to do is accept defeat and it will all be over.”
He smirked when she frowned, her eyes fierce with challenge. “I am not afraid because there is no way I will be losing to you.”
Benedict refrained from smiling victoriously. After last night, it had become abundantly clear to him that she did not take well to being seen as a loser. Perhaps he should not have used it to his advantage but now that he did, but it had been so easy to goad her into accepting.
“I believe it is time we return,” she said suddenly. She snapped her parasol back open and without a look back at him, walked off.
Benedict grinned and followed her and soon caught up to her, walking in steps with her. He assisted her into the carriage for the short ride back to her estate.
He followed into the estate, to the drawing room that had now emptied and was left with just her family. The air was deeply perfumed with all of the flowers that had been brought for Lady Nancy by her callers.
“Lord Curtis, if I might speak with you?” he asked immediately.
“Certainly. Do you perhaps wish to go to my study for this discussion?” Evan asked, moving to get up but Benedict stopped him in his tracks.
”You do not have to worry about that. I simply wish to ask you a question,” he said.
“Oh?” Evan looked at Augusta, frowning. “What might that be?”
Benedict looked at her, giving her a last chance to back out of their arrangement, instead, her head tilted upward in defiance. He smiled. She truly did not like to be told what to do.
“I would like to ask your permission to court Lady Augusta,” Benedict said simply. “We talked about it on our walk and the lady has agreed to it. We only need your permission now.”
Sharp gasps filled his ears at his declaration. Benedict looked back to find their eyes on Augusta. She blushed from all the attention, her eyes on the ground, not looking at anyone of them as he spoke.
“I didn’t realize Augusta was interested in courting anyone,” Evan said with a frown. “Augusta, did you really agree to this?”
She nodded, still not looking at any of them. Nancy squealed in delight, wrapping her arms around Augusta for a hug.
“I knew you would one day be open to the idea of courtship. I am so glad I get to see it,” she said.
“Yes, Augusta. We are happy for you,” Jane reiterated.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her breath catching in her throat.
Benedict’s gaze was focused on Evan as the man looked between the two of them, puzzled by the sudden announcement.
“Is anything the matter, Evan?” Augusta asked. “I would have thought this would make you very happy.”
Evan shook his head. “It is not that I am not happy, dearest sister. You have only just met the duke who is, of course a wonderful man. However, you know nothing about him. I am simply baffled that you accepted his proposal for courtship quite easily, considering you swore never to let a man near you.”
“I changed my mind,” she said. She looked at him, eyes drilling into his soul, Benedict was pulled to her. “He is different which is why I have chosen him.”
Her words cut through him like a knife as their remained locked together. The sound of the women gushing pulled them away from their trance and Evan who had been looking between the two of them smiled.
“Well, I believe I have seen and heard all that is necessary. If this is what you want then I cannot stand in your way,” he told Augusta before turning to Benedict. “You have my permission, my friend.”
“Thank you,” he said gratefully.
“Thank you for a wonderful promenade, Lady Augusta. I will see you soon,” he winked at her.
Augusta blushed, sending heat running through him as she looked around to see if anyone had noticed. Her previous nervousness was gone from her eyes replaced with a challenge.
She will not lose their bet.
