She sighed and nodded at her sister. It was a fake courtship after all. Nothing of what she felt for him, no matter how real her feelings were, would amount to anything more. She would end up and alone when the season ended and he finally withdrew.
“Thank you for a lovely afternoon Your Grace,” she said before taking her sister’s hand in hers and walking off.
CHAPTER18
“Oh, how wonderful everything looks. I have been looking forward to attending the garden party since the beginning of the season. I can’t believe it took so long to have one,” Nancy said, looking around at the colorful decorations that surrounded them.
Augusta smiled. “Yes, I was beginning to tire of balls and the late nights.”
It was a sunny afternoon and Augusta and Nancy were in attendance at the garden party hosted by Lord and Lady Fairchild, the Duke and Duchess of Thornefield.
“You will enjoy this. The Duke and Duchess are known for having the best garden parties. No one dares opt out for fear of missing out on something interesting,” Augusta added.
She glanced around. The colourful displays on different tables and the flowers in the gardens were like staring into the rainbow, the gowns and coats of all in attendance adding very much to the beauty of the setting.
Augusta was dressed in a soft pink gown designed with intricate white threads stitched at the lower part to form spiralling line. Nancy beside her, wore a dress of sunflower yellow that brought out the color of her eyes and her naturally cheerful disposition.
They had lost Evan and Jane somewhere along the way as they walked around, taking in everything around them.
A tingling sensation rose in her neck as she felt eyes on her and she turned to see Benedict staring in her direction. Her breath caught in her throat at the intense look in his eyes. She looked away for a moment, to compose herself and faced him once again, expecting that he would have looked away but his eyes remained steadfastly stuck on her.
She jumped when Nancy poked her on the side. “You did not hear a word I just said, did you?”
“I apologize. My attentions were elsewhere,” she said truthfully.
Nancy followed her line of sight and smiled when she saw Benedict, her eyes taking on a teasing glint. Augusta grimaced as she prepared for the barrage of questions and teasing that was sure to come, when Nancy’s smile faltered.
Her expression darkened, lips curling into a frown as she glared. Augusta looked in her direction and sighed, her suspicions confirmed. She had hoped that to have a lovely afternoon but now, with the sudden dark cloud settling on her sister’s otherwise cheerful disposition, she did not know if that would be possible.
“I’m terribly sorry, Augusta. I know you must want to speak with His Grace, but I absolutely do not wish to have a conversation with Lord Baker right now. You can go to him if you choose to, I will find Evan and Jane,” she said.
Augusta looked between her and Benedict. It had been a few days after whatever had caused them to argue. She had asked Nancy about it but her sister had not been forthcoming with any information. Augusta did not wish to upset her any further and had refrained from asking any further questions. She would tell her when she was ready to do so.
She shook her head. “No, Nancy. It is your first season and I want to be with you as you experience everything. Besides, Evan is not as forthcoming with the gossip as I am. I will stay by your side and we will have the best time together.”
Nancy smiled gratefully at her, taking Auguta’s hands in hers. “Thank you, sister. I do so enjoy your company.”
* * *
Benedict watched Augusta as she laughed and talked with her sister. He had noticed her from the moment she stepped into the garden. She was so magnetic, she’d drawn his eyes and he knew she was there even before he confirmed it.
He smiled self-deprecatingly. He had never been one given to poetry and yet, here he was. Although one could hardly blame him. It was the first time he had seen her in soft pink. Now, although surrounded with the beauty of the gardens and the vast array of colors, she stood out.
His hands clenched and unclenched repeatedly as he watched her. He still felt the softness of her skin in his hands from when he had caught her just before she fell the last time they were together. It was a memory that had been seared into his mind and would no doubt remain there.
“Would you help an old friend then?” Matthew’s voice from beside him pulled him out of his thoughts.
“What do you need help with?” he asked curiously, his eyes never tailing Augusta’s every move.
“I do need to find a way to speak with Lady Nancy,” he said.
Benedict cocked a brow at his friend. “Would it be better for me if I did not know what it was you did to offend her so much?”
Matthew sighed but did not respond. His eyes strayed to Nancy. Although he likely had not noticed, Benedict had seen her watching Matthew herself but if she was anything like her sister, which he was beginning to believe that she was, she would not give in to her feelings until he apologized for whatever he had done to offend her.
“Please help me with this, Benedict. I need to find a way to speak with her alone so that I can apologize for what I have done. I cannot let her continue on with her hate for me,” he pleaded.
Benedict regarded his friend. He had never seen Matthew looking so desperate like the way he was in that moment. He sighed.
