William raised his eyebrows. "I didn't realize that had happened."
"It did. About five years ago. She acted as if she wanted to mend things between the two of us."
"Well, I'm not surprised you weren't interested in that."
"Of course not. I didn't even attend her funeral when she died, though I'm sure Benjamin was there."
"I'm sure he was. She was his mother, after all."
"Well, she wasn't my mother. I didn't owe her anything. Especially after what she did. It seems to me that the most sensible thing I could have done in regard to her was to keep my distance."
"No," William agreed. "I quite agree with that decision. I wouldn't have advised you to do anything different had I known what was going on at the time."
A member of the staff came by with a tray of drinks. James accepted one and took a long swallow. "Maybe I made a mistake in bringing Victoria out tonight," he mused. "Maybe she wasn't ready for all this."
William looked at him. "She wasn't ready? Or do you mean that you weren't ready?"
"I don't know what you mean by that."
"You've been staring at her this whole time."
"I've been staring at Benjamin."
"I don't think that's it. I know there's tension between you and your brother, but I think if that's all you were responding to, you would look away from him. You wouldn't stand and watch him like this. You're not watching him. You're watching her."
"Well, it is my responsibility to monitor her during these events."
"But she isn't doing anything that requires monitoring. She's only dancing. You brought her here to dance. And I know that there is tension between Benjamin and yourself, but you must admit that he is not a morally questionable gentleman. You can trust him on the dance floor with a young lady. She's in perfectly safe hands."
James nodded. William was right. Whatever his feelings toward his brother, he could admit that that much was true.
"So why can't you look away from her?"
"Don't be ridiculous. Of course I can look away from her."
"Then why don't you?"
James turned to look at his friend. William was smiling knowingly. The expression on his face sparked irritation deep within James. "I don't know what you think you've understood," he said, "but you're wrong. I'm only here to help her find a husband. I'm only watching her to see the measure of her charms, so that I will be better able to present her to interested parties."
"All I can say is that it sounds a bit like an excuse to stare at her to me," William said with a shrug. "Not that I blame you. That fetching figure, those bright eyes, that soft hair—I can see why any gentleman would be captivated! It's just that I never thought to see you fall in love."
"You overstep," James said severely. "We are friends, William, but this is beyond undignified. I'm here as her escort, nothing more, and if you continue to speculate you run the risk of jeopardizing her reputation. You wouldn't want that, surely?"
"What harm can it do to her reputation for people to see her as an object of desire?" William asked. "Remember, James, no one has ever seen you take an interest in a lady before. I'm sure any lady who was seen to catch your eye would immediately become a subject of speculation and conversation. Truthfully, I can think of no better way to gain her attention. I think you ought to go and dance with her."
"And I think you ought to mind your own affairs," James said sternly.
William held up his hands in surrender. "Very well," he agreed. "It was only an idea. An idle thought, nothing more."
"Keep your thoughts to yourself. Especially where the Duchess is concerned."
"Especially then?" William raised his eyebrows. James could have kicked himself. He was doing his best to convince his friend that there was nothing particularly noteworthy about the relationship between himself and Victoria. Of course calling for special treatment would raise eyebrows.
"I want to keep my focus on her future," he said. "It's as simple as that."
"Very well," William said. "You sound sure of yourself."" I'll just say this?—"
"You haven't said enough already?"
