Benedict fixed the man with a look, satisfied when his face turned down in embarrassment. He looked at the other men who laughed at the man.
“I- I didn’t mean to assume that she was unfeeling, of course. And I assure you, I have done nothing untoward that would have her coming for me, however, I only said what I had heard people say about her,” he stammered, his face turning a shade of red.
Benedict smiled. “Of course. I’m sure you did not mean to do so. However, my wife has done nothing wrong for her to be the object of scorn or used as a joke. I’m sure you can see why that wouldn’t sit right with me, especially on this very special day.”
“Certainly. I believe I spoke out of turn.”
Benedict clapped him on the back. “Well, now that we have that out of the way, how about we enjoy this lovely breakfast and you can properly congratulate my wife and I on our marriage later when we can finally get a moment together?”
* * *
“Lady Augusta, I cannot believe you have finally married after you chased off all of your suitors and allowed yourself to become a spinster for so long,” Lady Mariam said with a sneer. ‘I suppose congratulations are in order.”
“Yes, it’s quite an amazing feat. Not only has she married but she married a Duke no less. You ended up with the best catch despite going against all the rules,” another lady said, wearing the same thinly disguised look of disgust and hate.
Augusta steeled herself. She knew these ladies. They had been with her during her presentation into society on her first season. They had tried being friends with her, however, that had ended almost as early as it began. She’d known it would be difficult to have friends when she made the decision to stop rakish men from doing as they pleased with naive young ladies and she’d been prepared to accept it.
What she hadn’t anticipated, however, was the fact that they would not only distance themselves from her but they would also antagonize her. Augusta had tried her best to avoid them as much as she could and she had soon not needed to after they got suitors and wed.
In her next season, things had been more interesting. They’d taunted her with their marriage and children, thinking that would be enough to cause her grief. When she didn’t respond in the way that they thought she would, running away and crying in envy from the lives they had made for themselves, they soon left her alone.
Augusta had managed to go the rest of her seasons without any interaction with them, however, now they had shown up again. This time, however, she didn’t back away and she would not let them think they could bully her during her wedding breakfast. She had never been one to back down and she wouldn’t start now. She would stick up for herself and ask them to leave if they continued to bother her.
Augusta stood up taller, her lips open as she readied to defend herself when a lady walked to them.
“I couldn’t help but hear your conversations. I apologize for intruding Lady Augusta but I simply cannot listen to them speak to you that way,” she said before turning to the ladies.
Augusta vaguely recognized her face. There was no doubt in her mind that she had seen her before although she couldn’t where she had. Perhaps in passing during a ball.
“Lady Augusta deserves only the best. All this time, she’s been looking out for the ladies younger than her. Were it not for her, I would have ended up in the clutches of a rake,” she said.
“Yes. She helped me too when I would have ended up ruined. Had it not been for her quick thinking, I would have brought shame to my family,” another lady said.
Augusta remembered her. She was the daughter of an Earl. Her mother had been in conversation with another lady when Lord Colin had approached her. She’d been so taken with him and had almost followed him out into the garden when Augusta took her away from him.
“Me too,” others said, all of them coming up to stand by her as they faced the two ladies who had shrunk backwards in fear.
“How can you speak ill of her when she’s ever done was help those who didn’t even realize they needed her help?” the first lady asked incredulously.
Augusta’s heart warmed as she remembered how little she had thought of herself after she ended her courtship with Benedict. She’d been so sad that none of this had seemed to be worth it but now she could see that she had actually touched lives and she’d made an impact on her.
The ladies stomped off, their faces red with anger and embarrassment. Augusta waited until she could no longer see them and turned to the others.
“Thank you, ladies, for coming to my rescue. I’m glad you all could join in my wedding breakfast,” she said gratefully, her heart filled with so much happiness.
“No, thank you. You cannot imagine just how much you’ve done for each and everyone of us here. We will never be able to forget all that you’ve done for us,” the first lady said.
“Please sit and join me,” she pointed at the empty seats, smiling as they sat around her. Her grin widened when Nancy took the seat right next to hers.
“See how much you’ve made an impact? I do believe that this was one of the best wedding present you could ever have received. Aren’t you glad you went after that lady now?”
Augusta laughed. “Yes, quite glad.”
“Good. Here comes your husband,” she said, getting up from the seat beside her and going to seat next to Matthew.
“I do not think I can take another moment of socialization,” Benedict said as he dropped into the seat Nancy just vacated. “Why don’t we leave for our honeymoon tonight instead?”
Augusta laughed. She was happy that they could finally speak. After the wedding ended, they’d been separated the moment they arrived at the wedding feast. This was the first time they were speaking to one another.
