Silas’s brow furrowed. “Put herdown, Richmont. She’s no longer a child.”
Benedict grinned, an easy, infectious smile that made Amelia giggle, and reluctantly let go.
“Such a spoilsport,” he teased, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Amelia nodded in agreement, pouting, and Silas huffed, pulling his sister away from Benedict’s playful grasp. She already looked at him like he was a knight coming to rescue her, and Silas wasn’t entirely sure he trusted his friend not to break her heart one day.
“Allow me to introduce you to my guest. This is Lady Helena Porter. Lady Helena, this is Benedict Linton, the Marquess of Richmont.”
Benedict’s gaze flickered over to Helena, and his charming smile deepened. He took her hand with a flourish, his lips hovering above it in a gesture that was almost theatrical.
“Such a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lady,” he said with an air of gallant flirtation, his eyes glinting with playful admiration.
Helena’s cheeks flushed under his gaze, her voice a little shaky as she responded, “Th-thank you, Lord Richmont. I am pleased to meet you too.”
Benedict chuckled softly, taking a step back to admire her, his tone warm but with a hint of teasing. “You have the grace of a goddess, my lady. If I had known such beauty awaited me here, I would have made my visit sooner.”
Silas rolled his eyes.
Don’t you go throwing your kerchief at him too.
“Thank you, my lord,” she said earnestly, eyes sparkling as she basked in the compliment.
Amelia, not to be outdone, smiled brightly, hands clasped in front of her.
Benedict turned his attention back to her, his grin widening. “And you, Lady Amelia, are the very picture of youthfulexuberance. I daresay the garden will bloom even brighter now that you’ve graced it with your presence.”
“Oh, thank you, my lord,” Amelia beamed, clearly pleased with the attention, though Silas felt a twinge of irritation.
His sister had a tendency to fall for these compliments too easily. Especially if they came from Benedict.
With a final, lingering glance at Helena, Benedict turned his attention to Silas. “And you, my old friend, are clearly blessed with excellent taste in company. I see no reason for you to sulk in the corner. You have plenty of good people here to enjoy!”
Silas rolled his eyes again, already fed up with the scene unfolding in front of him. He could only hope that his friend’s charm didn’t lead to trouble.
“Benedict, come with me,” he said firmly, putting a hand on his friend’s back to quickly steer him away.
Benedict gasped, placing a hand over his heart with mock offense. “Ah! To be torn from such delightful company! You are truly cruel, Silas, denying me the pleasure of basking in these fair ladies’ smiles. But very well, lead on, my stoic friend, and I shall follow…though I shall mourn the loss of this radiance with every step!”
Silas heard Amelia giggle loudly, while Helena half-smiled in amusement.
Silas’s jaw tightened, and he guided his friend towards the corridors. “Do us both a favor and hold your theatrics, Richmont.”
Once they reached his study, Silas closed and locked the door.
He turned to Benedict with a large exhalation of breath. “You really must stop making eyes at my sister. She does not understand that you’re not serious.”
“I was not making eyes at her! I was simply happy to see her. Lady Amelia is a delight.”
“Yes, a delight who makes moon eyes at you. You should know better than to encourage her.”
“All right, all right! My sincerest apologies, then. I promise to be more circumspect in the future. But let us turn our attention to the matter at hand. Lady Helena…you did not mention howlovelyshe was.”
“Yes, because that is not thepointof this meeting. She is a possible witness to the murder of one of the crown’s agents. But something is preventing her from speaking freely.”
Benedict made himself comfortable on the sofa. “Pour me a glass of brandy, and then tell me everything.”
Silas did as he was asked, apprising Benedict of the entire tale right up to the possibility of St. Margaret’s nuns showing up at any minute.
