“No, that is unnecessary, thank you,” Benedict answered for the two of them.
Benedict watched Matthew and Nancy as they broke off from the group and headed to the lake nearby. They walked along the bank, chatting and laughing.
“They do make a lovely pair, do they not?” Augusta asked and Benedict tore his gaze from them to give her his full attention.
“Yes, they certainly do,” he said, before adding, “I can assure you that you have nothing to worry about with him. He has nothing but the best intentions for your sister, if she will have him, of course.”
“I believe you. However, she will have to make that decision on her own as I cannot make it for her,” she said.
She had not looked him in the eyes since they appeared at her door.Does this have anything to do with how we almost kissed?
He cleared his throat sharply and looked away from her for a moment. “You are right, of course.”
Matthew and Nancy waved them over and he heaved a sigh of relief as he spoke. “Perhaps we should join them by the lake,”
As they walked towards the pair, Benedict fought to stay out of his head. Everything he’d decided on the night before, in his moment of drunken clarity did not seem to be working for him. He did not think he could stay away from her even if he wished it. He was drawn to her and he could not help how he felt.
He needed to find a way to sort through his feelings in a way that did not hurt anyone. He could not deny it any longer. He had begun to grow attached to her and he needed to stop them as soon as possible.
CHAPTER17
“Hurry up, sister, the carriage has arrived,” Nancy said, looking at Augusta with part exasperation and part excitement. Augusta rolled her eyes as she slipped her earrings on. She had dismissed her lady’s maid on Nancy’s order as her sister begged her to let them do it themselves so she could say all that she wanted.
“Hush, Nancy. Perhaps if you had been as helpful as you claimed you would be, I would not have to hurry so,” she said, slighted by her sister’s frustration with her.
After she had dismissed her maid, Nancy had sat down while Augusta arranged her hair in an intricate bun with some pieces falling to the side. It was something they had done together when they were younger and Augusta had enjoyed every moment of it. She didn’t realize how much she’d missed it until Nancy begged her to let them do it again.
However, when it came time for Nancy to dress her up and style her hair, her sister had been too jittery to be any help.
“Oh, I cannot wait for him to arrive. This will be our very first double date together. Can you imagine it?” she gushed excitedly, plopping on the bed.
“Can you hear me, Augusta?” she snapped her fingers in front of her face, frowning now. “Where has your mind gone?”
Augusta, admittedly, was as excited as her sister was. Other than the stroll around the park and the few outings she’d been on with Benedict, things had been relatively calm between them. She shook out of it and fixed her sister with a mock angry glare.
“I hear you just fine, Nancy. Now, why don’t you come help with my dress as you were supposed to and then we can see about joining them soon enough,” she asked.
Nancy looked out the window longingly before going to do as Augusta asked. She styled her hair in much the same style as hers, minus the strands that had been strategically placed to frame the face.
“There, now we can be on our way,” Nancy said, hurrying out the room before Augusta could stop her. Augusta rolled her eyes once more before following her out the room.
She stilled her hands by her side, not caring how unnatural she looked and felt as she walked down the stairs to the drawing room where she could hear voices. She paused at the entrance and took a deep breath before walking into the drawing room.
“Lady Augusta, you look lovely as always,” Benedict said, standing up and walking towards her.
“Thank you,” she responded softly, not looking him in the eyes.
The carriage ride from their home to the lake was a short one. Augusta’s brow furrowed when she saw a wooden bucket sealed shut, sitting by the side next to the mat.
“What’s in there?” she asked when she sat down.
“Oh, just something I hope you haven’t already tried,” he said, offering her a little smile, although he remained elusive.
“Oh, I want to know what’s in there too,” Nancy said excitedly. She reached for the bucket but Matthew slapped her hand, chuckling when Benedict moved it out of reach.
“It is cake,” Matthew said, leading Nancy towards the blanket.
“Cake?!” Nancy grinned. “I haven’t had that in so long.”
