Benedict had met his friend at White’s after a meeting he had with another Lord ended. They’d exchanged greetings and soon buried their heads in the papers and in his case, a book. It was a trait he liked in Matthew. How they were able to simply exist in the same space without having to speak every single minute. The man understood him.
He chuckled, looking up from his book and staring at his friend in fascination. “You’ve always stood for what was right, Baker, but not as much as you do now. Is this, by chance, an influence of your trip to India?”
“Perhaps it was,” he said with a grin. “There is a great distinction in their caste system, mind you. But when you visit such a place and you’re treated in such a friendly manner by all, without the necessity by which the British operates, it teaches you a few things.”
“I see India was quite good on you then, my dear friend.” Benedict clapped him on the back, his eyes returning to his papers.
“Yes, quite so. I would suggest that you join me on my next trip, whenever that may be,” he added with a wave of his hand. “But I already know the answer to that question and so there’s not much of a reason to ask, now is there?”
“Ah, I don’t believe I could leave my family alone here in England to go on some trip. That is out of the question but you on the other hand, I certainly hope you’ve had the experience and have put the travels behind you,” he said.
“Trust me, old chap. If I ever do find a reason to stay, there’ll be nothing that can force me away from here,” he laughed, the sound merry and unburdened.
“You haven’t found a reason? I thought you had,” Benedict lowered his voice, his eyes light as he teased the man.
“Whatever reasons you seem to have conjured up. They are reflected at you,” Matthew said. He folded up his papers and stared at Benedict, his eyes showing his curiosity.
“Tell me, my friend, what do you think of Lady Nancy?” he asked Benedict.
“Lady Nancy? Well, she appears to be a charming young lady. There is an intelligence to her, however much subdued it is next to her sister’s stubborn stand for what she believes in. However, she will make a good wife for whoever she chooses to marry,” Benedict said.
“She will, won’t she?” Matthew smiled. “I have had the pleasure of her companionship in the days past and I do believe, if she will have me, that she could be my reason to stay. I do not think I have been as drawn in by anyone as I am by her.”
“Yes, and understandably so. She is beautiful after all,” Benedict said, watching his friend with a smile.
“Much so. However, it is more than that. It is the way she carries herself. The way she says so little sometimes and yet, you can see the answer in those beautiful eyes of hers. The way she laughs with eyes and lips in an elegant manner. I do believe, were I a man given to poetry, I would have many a sonnet dedicated to her,” he added proudly.
“I think you are well on the way, Baker,” Benedict said.
The words Matthew spoke reminded him of another. He did not know why he continued to think of her the way that he did, but he was drawn to her like moth to a flame.
“I am truly happy that the lady and you seem to be of like minds. Hopefully, of like thinking also,” he added, shaking away the thoughts of Lady Augusta.
He set his book aside and took a sip of his drink. It was not like him to drink in the afternoons, no matter where he was but she had invaded his mind so much that he allowed himself a glass.
“Thank you, Harris. I certainly hope that your activities with Lady Augusta ends in much happiness as mine just might,” he added.
Benedict nodded. While his courtship with Lady Augusta had started in a manner that members of High Society would frown upon, Benedict was not certain himself what he was doing.
He had reminded himself that their courtship was not a true one and by the end of the season, they would go their separate ways, with one emerging the winner of their bet but it never seemed to do much to stop the constant thoughts of her from flooding his head.
After he’d told her everything about his engagement with Juliet and how it had soured, he had returned to his home, his mind in a daze, stuck in an endless wonder of what had possessed him to tell her such.
There’s no way she would have carried on with the courtship had I not explained to her what happened with Juliet.
With her fascination with putting an end to the reign of rakes during the season, it did not bode well with him to let her go off thinking that he was one of the men she fought against so passionately.
Despite his excuses, Benedict knew that it was not the only reason why he had told her about a topic he never cared to speak of, not even to his family who already knew what happened with his engagement to Juliet.
“Have you heard anything I said in the past minutes or has your mind wandered with thoughts of your charming Lady Augusta?” Matthew asked, wiggling his eyebrows playfully.
Benedict laughed. Matthew was always so free and quick with his jokes until he was faced with a lady he admired. It was a wonder how he managed to speak so freely with Lady Nancy.
“My thoughts have been otherwise occupied, admittedly, but I am certain it is not by what you think,” he said, unable to keep a straight face.
“Certainly.”
“Lady Augusta sought me out during the ball a few days ago and found me in Lady Juliet’s company,” he said.
