It was his fault that she was experiencing all of this. if he hadn’t been involved with Juliet in the first place, she would never have thought to harm Augusta, however, he had been weak against his father’s desire and now it had come at a cost.
He sighed once more, resting his head on the seat as he closed his eyes. They were going to the Donwards Manor to speak with Lord Terell. Benedict had hoped that he would have no reason to speak with the man concerning his daughter’s behavior but now that it had come to that, there was nothing he could do about it.
The carriage remained silent for the rest of the ride until they arrived at the Donwards Manor. Benedict helped Augusta out of the carriage and walked up to the door. He rapped on it and did not have to wait long before the butler made an appearance.
“Your Grace,” the butler greeted, opening the door wider to admit him.
“Gerald, I wish to speak with the Marquis,” he said.
“Certainly sir, I will inform him of your presence at once. If you and the lady will follow me to the drawing room.”
Benedict followed him as Augusta looked around the hallway that they passed. The Marquis had always been a fan of artwork and he often had them displayed ostentatiously for his guests to see and fawn over.
They sat as they waited for him to arrive. They did not have to wait for long before he arrived, his lips spread out into a smile.
“Benedict, to what do I owe this visit?” he asked, still maintaining his smile.
Benedict managed a small smile as he glanced at the friendly face of the marquis. Lord Terell was a large man in height and body. Much like his art, he preferred to be adorned in the finest silk and vast arrays of color. His blonde hair had thinned at the edges and his blue eyes were weathered with the experience that had come with age.
“Lord Terell, I apologize for not letting you know of my visit. I only just decided to visit,” he said, looking at Augusta. “This is Lady Augusta, my betrothed.”
Lord Terell looked between her and Benedict in shock. “I did not know that congratulations were in order. Would you care for some refreshment to celebrate your betrothal?”
He moved to get up but Benedict stopped him. “I’m afraid I have not come for that. The issue that has brought me here is not one that requires drinks and celebration.”
“Has something happened that I can help with?” he asked Benedict, his face contorting into one of worry.
Benedict was grateful that the man leaped to help even without knowing what it was that he had come for. Lord Terell had been friends with his father, which was why his father had been quite adamant on his marriage to Lady Juliet. He had known him right from when he was a child and had always had a wonderful relationship with him.
Lord Terell’s favorite phrase whenever Benedict visited was his father was “I wish I had a son like you.”
This was what had brought up the idea of him marrying Augusta.
“Thank you, Lord Terell. I have come because of Lady Juliet’s involvement with my betrothed. When she left, I held no ill will towards her and only wished her the happiness that she couldn’t find with me. However, Lady Juliet has sought to harm my betrothed for her own selfish reason.”
“What? How is that possible?” Lord Terell looked at Augusta who remained silent still.
“She conspired with the known rake, Lord Colin, to find a way to ruin Lady Augusta’s reputation. Had someone else happened upon them instead of me, there’s no way anyone would have believed het to be innocent of the assault that was leveled against her by Lord Colin on your daughter’s instigation.”
Benedict filled him in on the details, how he had come across them and the lies that Colin had told, thinking that he would be able to get away with all of that.
“It is true that my daughter has always gotten whatever she wanted. Perhaps I am at fault for spoiling her that way but she’s my only child and I only sought to make her happy. However, this has gone too far. I cannot have her hurt people in the way that she has hurt your betrothed,” he said with a remorseful expression.
“When her mother died, I vowed to take care of her and see that she lacked nothing. Perhaps I overdid it with her. I should have been more cautious but I admit I feared that she would feel the absence of her mother if she didn’t get what she wanted and that was the last thing I wanted for her.”
Benedict sighed. “I truly am sorry to bring this to you. Your daughter has always been this way even when we were kids but I hoped that she would grow out of it and we would all be able to laugh about the times where she thought only of herself, but that has happened. she has grown even more volatile and I cannot think of a way to put an end to any of this. however, I also cannot allow her to hurt the woman that I love any further.”
“I apologize for bringing this to you and causing you so much strife but it needed to be done, otherwise she will continue to get out of hand and I fear the trouble that she will bring to you when she is caught or deals with someone who can go the extra mile to see that she pays for her offences.”
The marquis sighed. “You are right, of course. It pains me to admit this as her father but I don’t think she is capable of change. At least, not until she is made to see the consequences of her actions. She has gone too far.”
He turned to Augusta who had remained completely silent throughout the time that they spoke. “I have to congratulate on being able to win him over. Benedict has always been very skeptical of people and of change. Having him with you is a testament of the growth that he has experienced and I dare say that you are a part of that growth. Please, take care of him. He is like a son to me.”
Augusta nodded, offering him a shaky smile but her face still held the disbelief and shock from finding out the person responsible for her experience was Juliet.
“I understand I have no right to ask anything of you, of course. Especially not after how my daughter has treated you when you did nothing to her. I hope that you can forgive an old man for asking for compassion on his daughter’s behalf. I do not ask for forgiveness. Only that you do not judge her harshly.”
Augusta nodded, this time her smile was more genuine. “You have nothing to apologize for, Lord Terell. It is only right that a father looks after his child the way that you look after yours.”
