He watched her face diligently for any change in her expression. He sighed, ready to look away when the corner of her lips trembled.
* * *
Augusta turned away from him. She had been trying not to laugh earlier as she saw the battle going on in his mind. She did not know if the slight tremble of the corner of her lips had ruined it. She simply could not bear the look on his face anymore and knew if she did not look away soon, she would be reduced to fits of laughter.
She knew very well what he meant when he said that she was no longer sweet. She had, however, been unable to stop herself from messing with him. seeing how incredulous he had looked when she appeared surprised by the fact that she was no longer sweet was hilarious to say the least.
Although he had teased her in a different manner, she loved that she was able to get him back in the way that she did.
Her shoulders shook and Benedict scoffed. “You were messing with me after all.’
She grinned, laughing as he lectured her on never doing something like that again. “It is only fitting that you get payback for the way you acted earlier, don’t you think so?”
He scoffed once more. “Do note that with every one of your stunt, I find it harder to believe that there was ever a time that you were ever sweet.”
“Good,” she shrugged, grinning. “I much prefer the reputation I have curtailed in the past years, if you don’t mind.”
“Now I’m certain your brother only said that so I would not run for the hills,’ he said. “It is no wonder Lord Colin quakes in his boots whenever he sees you. You have always been a menace.”
“Well, Your Grace, you seem to love being around this menace. Are you certain you were not dropped on your head as a baby?” she asked, reminding him of their very first meeting.
Benedict laughed and she smiled at that. The sound vibrated through her where their bodies were pressed together. She bit her bottom lip, feeling his strong thighs pressed against her much smaller one, almost protectively.
Her breath caught in her throat and she swallowed the groan that threatened to rip through her. Ever since he climbed on behind her, his arms couching her body, she’d been reduced to a blushing mess. Her nostrils had filled his strong scent. She closed her eyes now as she perceived breathed it in even more.
“Perhaps, I should try something else I read in the books,” he whispered, his warm breath on her ears like a gentle caress. “I just might have something to end you reputation and return you to the sweet young lady you once were.”
Augusta smiled sadly. She doubted there was anything that could be done to make her the innocent and naïve young lady she once was before her father ruined it all.
She shrugged off the negative emotions. She was on a horse ride with a man who did not frown upon her differences. She would not allow her mood to be dampened.
“I don’t believe I recommended a book of magic spells to you, now did I?” she asked him, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Benedict laughed. “Perhaps I found it all on my own. You would be a lovely subject to practice it on.”
“I do not think my family will be quite accepting of that, Your Grace. I don’t believe that was quite what they had in my mind when they agreed to your offer of courtship,” she laughed.
“I am certain they will be more amenable once they realize it is for the good of all,” he said. “But for what it is worth, I quite like you as you are.”
Augusta’s heart beat faster in her chest just as Benedict began to turn the horse around, heading in the direction they had come. She did not know how to reply him. He had disarmed her likely without truly meaning to.
Despite her indifference to horse rides, this was the best horse ride she had ever been on and she knew that it was only because of the man behind her.
As his strong arms jostled the reins, there was only one prevalent thought in her head.Why am I beginning to enjoy spending time with him?
CHAPTER10
The night came with tosses and turns as sleep plagued Augusta with nightmares she had not had in a long time returning to the surface. In her dream, she was a child again, cowering while her parents fought.
“Why do you always act like it’s the end of the world? How many noble men have you seen that do not have mistresses?” The former Lord Curtis screamed, pulling his hand away from his wife’s. “Is it so bad that men have mistresses?”
Eight-year-old Augusta whimpered as she hid behind the chair while her mother remained on the floor where her father had pushed her, her face wet with tears and her eyes filled with a deep sadness.
“What happened to us, Arnold? I thought you loved me. why are you doing this to me?” she asked in a voice soaked with sadness, the words coming out in broken conversations.
Her father laughed scornfully, looking at her with disgust. “Loved you? the only reason I married you was because I had no choice. You were an exciting goal to chase after since I couldn’t get you in any other way than through courtship and marriage. I didn’t mind marrying you. I needed a wife after all and it might as well have been you. So, why can’t you just focus on your wifely duties and take care of the children while I live my life without your constant nagging in my ears?”
He kicked away from her but she continued holding on to his leg. Anger brewed in Augusta as she watched her mother’s heart break at his words. Why did he have to hurt her the way he did. He didn’t have to love her to treat her like a human being and yet, he went out of his way to treat her like she was the lowest form of scum he’d ever had the misfortune of meeting.
